The Butterfly Ethic/6

If everyone did know I was insane, then they didn’t make it known to me. Other than my dance with Gwen, there were no particular incidents in which someone brought up the subject of time travel to me. There were insults thrown here and there, but it was apparent that my fifteen seconds of fame were up, but I didn’t care. I had ambition. I came to the past to live my dreams, and my first dream was to poison everyone with my cookies.



           I got onto the bus on Monday and gathered everyone who didn’t get cookies last time. I wanted to be sure that everyone got one at roughly the same time. It would so happen that one other kid had to make cookies too, so I worked out a deal with him. I would give mine to those who I didn’t last time, and he would give his to everyone else. As he started to carry his part, Nephi took his cookies and passed them out himself. He then took one of mine, and I passed the rest out. I watched in anticipation as Christopher ate his. He took a bite with a smile, and the smile slowly faded from his face.

           “What-“ He struggled to swallow it as the cookie turned to powder in his mouth. “What did you put in these?” Everyone else joined in with him.

           “You’re the worst cook ever!” His friend said.

           “I need a flippin’ drink!” Nephi shouted. Somewhere off in the back, a kid moaned: “My leg! My leg!” I laughed at their misfortune as they had all their saliva drained by my cookies.



           The next day, Sam congratulated me on yesterday’s victory.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “It would so happen that I planned the same thing.” He told me. “I guess great mind’s think alike.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Hehe, yeah.” I said. It was a warm morning with a light breeze, so nobody had a problem with staying outside.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I’m working on a little something, you interested in helping for a while?” Sam asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “This doesn’t involve Sierra Mist, does it?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “No.” Sam said. “I didn’t forget what happened last time. I just need help with my evil plot.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “What are you planning?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Over in the room by the principal’s office, the old infirmary, I can bring school back to the way it should be, I can get rid of study hall.” That idea was irresistible. If Sam succeeded, school would be cut short to seven hours. I told him I’d meet him there, but it slipped my mind by the end of the day.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           On that day, Philip Woodall, Amber’s husband, came to the school. He felt the weather was warm enough to start teaching cross country. Our choices were cross-country, dodge ball, or kitchen duty, and as much as I loved working for Cassandra, or getting bombarded by the eighth graders, I decided that cross-country would be more suitable for me. A lot of other seventh graders agreed with me. We all went with Phil to his navy blue Volkswagen with no seats in the back. I got a nice spot by the back tire where I had a pleasant view of the TV hanging from the ceiling, but it did no good; the TV didn’t work.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           On the way to the track, we had to cross the railroad tracks, where the signals were flashing.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You can make it. You can make it!” Joseph Fradin said, but Phil slowed to a stop and let the train pass by. The train took less than a minute, but that time was filled with Joseph complaining about the missed opportunity.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           The forty seconds it took for the train to go by were miniscule; we still had plenty of time to do our exercises. Our training took place at the track of Murray High School, which was empty because their students were lucky.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “This track is a quarter mile around.” Phil said. “I want each of you to run around it without stopping to walk. You should be able to at least do that.” Phil overestimated us; the only ones able to do that were Ross, Joseph, and Ishmael. The rest of us walked across the finish line exhausted. Phil sighed at the pathetic sight.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “What do you guys eat for breakfast?” He asked. For most of us, the answer was raw oats and milk. “What about for lunch and dinner?” Phil asked. The answer was the schools lunch, which varied with each day, except for the bread. We ate the most bread, for we could always count on that tasting the same. For me, there was even more bread, for sometimes there wasn’t enough dinner, so I had to make a sandwich.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “There we go.” Phil said. “Eating too much bread hampers your endurance.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Really?” Joseph asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yeah, it says in the Bible: Man cannot live by bread alone.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I know that, that’s why I put butter on mine.” Joseph said. He high-fived his friend.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Alright, alright.” Phil said. “We’ll go for some light training.” What Phil called light training was an intense workout for us. We did jumping jacks, relay races, and one exercise where we had to run, quickly pick up a book from the ground, and then run back. It was so bad that Ross took off his jacket, hoping nobody would notice his shirt that read “Don’t Waste Utah, Waste BYU.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           We stayed and trained until the cold wind compelled us to leave. Ross jumped in the front seat. When Phil got in the driver’s seat, he noticed Ross’s shirt.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           ‘Is that Tristan’s shirt?” he asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yeah.” Ross said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Did he show you his more offensive ones?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes.” Ross said. “I saw his fascist collection.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Don’t wear them!” Phil said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I won’t.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 35.45pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">By the time we got in the van, snowflakes lazily drifted toward the ground. We all got excited and wished that school would get cancelled tomorrow, but by the time we got to the school, the snowfall stopped with less than a half an inch, reminding us that the drought was far from over.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           The next day, I sneaked into the school to escape from the cold weather, and got a card pull. I received three more card pulls from Kolleen, Amber, and Shelly, who wasn’t even my teacher. The result was getting sent home, which annoyed me at first, but when Rachel came home that night, all was forgiven.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I can take you to the college whenever you want to go.” Rachel said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Can we go tomorrow?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Probably, but I don’t think you’ll actually find anything.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           By noon, I found myself, once again, in the business building, seeking out my treasure. Rachel led me upstairs to the finance lab, the most likely place she’d be.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           The lab had computers against the walls, and tables for writing in the center of the room. On the far side of the room was a faculty desk with a window behind it, from which we heard the wind howling outside. At the door were two signs that read: “No Food or Drink in the Lab”, and “No Children Under the Age of 10”. The signs were apparently not being followed, for in the air was the scent of mayonnaise, and on the floor was a red mark where a ten year old had probably spilled something on the carpet.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You see her?” Rachel asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I don’t.” I said. There was no one in the room with a headscarf. For safety, I looked at every woman’s face, but I didn’t find her.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “So are you going to go back home?” Rachel asked as we left the room.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “No.” I said. “I’m already going to get in trouble for being here.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “How so?” Rachel asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Josef doesn’t want me sloughing anymore.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Didn’t you get kicked out of school yesterday?

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yeah, but I’m still sloughing from work.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Shoot, if I’d have known you were disobeying Dad-“

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Why do you call him that?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “What’s wrong with me calling him that?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Nothing, it just sounds weird.” I said. “Listen, is there anywhere else we’d find her?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “There is a student lounge downstairs.” Rachel said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 35.45pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">“Well, let’s go!” I said. Rachel sighed as I dragged her (not literally, mind you) downstairs to a lounge. Through a window, we could see the rain pouring over an outdoor lounge. The indoor lounge had some vending machines by the walls, and tables where some students sat with their laptops, while others sat with their cell phones. There was a man who was lamenting that his current problems were a result of him leaving his girlfriend five years ago, and he wasn’t even sure why he did it.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 35.45pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">Next to this pitiful sight was a woman wearing a headscarf. I looked at her face, and found my target. What were the odds?

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           She was handwriting an essay for one of her classes. On the table sat an economics book and a half-eaten, non-saturated, granola bar. I thought she wouldn’t recognize me, but even if she didn’t, the anticipation showed on my face.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You.” She said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yep, it’s me.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “So, how have things been?” she asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Well, it’s none of your business.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Oh, really? Because I was going to ask if you were missing anything, but I guess it’s not my business.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “As a matter of fact, we were.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “So now it’s my business?” she asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes,” Rachel cut in. “It is.” Rachel stepped next to her chair. “I’m Rachel.” She held out her hand.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “My name’s Nima.” She shook Rachel’s hand.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “So you think we were missing something?” Rachel asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Well, he might have been.” Nima said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You know that picture I bought from you a couple of weeks ago?” I asked her.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You missing that?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Do you have it?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes,” she said. “But I was going to ask you: who is that guy with the beard?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You saw him?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes, he gave me the picture.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Do you have it with you?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I don’t.” she told me. She packed up her stuff and left her seat.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           ”So he really does exist?” Rachel asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Of course.” She said as she walked out the door.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Hey, she left this behind.” I grabbed her granola bar. “I wonder if she still wants it.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Come on,” Rachel said. “I’ll negotiate with her.” We followed her upstairs to the writing center, where she was handing her essay over to an editor.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Can you bring it to us?” Rachel asked when she finished.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yyes.” Nima replied. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “At ten o’clock.” Rachel said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Eleven o’clock.” Nima corrected. “I have philosophy at ten tomorrow.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Eleven, then.” Rachel said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Hey, do you still want this?” I asked, holding up the granola bar. She swiped it from my hand.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Come on, Martin.” Rachel said as she led me out of the room.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I wanted that.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “She bit off of it.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I can tear that part off.” I said. Rachel made a disgusted face. “So I guess you can’t give me a ride to Lodestar.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “No, I can’t.” She reached into her bag and felt around for her bus pass. She handed it to me. “This will get you there, they don’t check for the name, so you should be fine.” She said as she handed it to me.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Thanks, Rachel.” I said as I took it.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I didn’t think we’d actually find her.” Rachel said. I didn’t either.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">Because I had her bus pass, and Rachel had the van anyway, Rachel gave the kids a ride home. On the way, she stopped at a red light and came across a gut-wrenching crime: someone forgot to close their fuel valve. Rachel persuaded Freya to get out and close it for them, but Freya only questioned Rachel’s sanity. Perhaps Rachel wasn’t all the way there, for she was so distracted by this problem that she made a left turn when it was forbidden. What happened next, I assume you can guess.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           After taking the van to an auto repair shop, we all crammed into my mom’s car and gave rude remarks to Rachel for breaking the van. When we got home, Freya scolded Rachel, and then went to the kitchen to make herself a sandwich.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">With her trial temporarily passed, Rachel invited me into her room for a game of chess. I played the black pieces and she played the white pieces. As she moved her first pawn, paving the way for my inevitable defeat, she told me what happened.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I think I know what the Istari was.” She said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Istari?” I asked. “You mean the guy who thinks he’s a wizard?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes, that one.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Well, what is he?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I can’t say for sure, but I’ve heard about these things before.” Rachel said as she took out my queen with her bishop. “What was it that made this picture so valuable?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I don’t know, I think it just is.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Martin, things aren’t valuable just because you say they are.” Rachel said. “Everything’s only worth what people are willing to pay for it.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Okay.” I said. Rachel was only confusing me, and it showed in my chess playing. “What does that have to do with the wizard?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “The date on this picture is 1935, right? This thing’s old, and its original owner is probably dead by now. That might be who this wizard is.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Wait a minute!” I said. “Are you saying this is some kind of ghost?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Something like that.” Rachel said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “But he’s solid! He grabbed me when he first saw me!” Saying this brought back memories of when I first looked at him. I remembered seeing the lifeless look in those black eyes. “and, he beat Giovanni up.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “That proves nothing. Check.” Rachel said. I moved my king out of her queen’s path, paving way for my rook. Rachel quickly moved her queen out of harm’s way. “Have you ever heard of a poltergeist?” she asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Well, check, I saw the movie.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Don’t pay attention to that movie.” Rachel said as she moved her bishop on my rook’s path. At this point in our conversation, Freya threw open the door.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Rachel, may I borrow a book from you?” She asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “After we’re done,” Rachel said. “This shouldn’t go on much longer. Check. Poltergeist means racketing ghost in German. It’s a ghost that makes mischief in houses. Checkmate. There are spirits who can do things like this. They are rare, but they do exist.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “What are you talking about?” Freya asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “None of your business.” I told her.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “You are in my room, so it is my business.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “He’s in my room, Freya.” Rachel said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Rachel.” I said. “Why would the ghost of- what was the guy’s name again?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “The picture says Middlemiss. That might’ve been the guy’s last name.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Okay, Middlemiss. Why would his ghost dress up like Saruman and quote Lord of the Rings.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I really don’t know. Maybe he just liked Lord of the Rings.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Oh, so you are talking about the man who believes he is Gandalf?” Freya asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Shut up, Freya.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “No.” Freya replied. I groaned at her obstinacy.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Rachel, this really doesn’t make sense.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “I know.” She replied. “That’s why I want to keep this picture, in case he shows up again. I want to get a look at him.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Freya was bored of our conversation and changed the subject: “May I receive a book now?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes, you may.” Rachel said. I didn’t feel comfortable talking any more with Freya in the room, so I went to my room to do my homework. I was just finding the area of my first circle for the night when Elijah, my brother who is rarely mentioned in this story, told me I was wanted on the phone by “some guy” and gave me the cordless.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Hi, is this Martin?” the man on the other end asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “This is him.” I replied.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Hi, Martin, I’m Jared Reynolds, I was called by Dr. Gregory Pratt. Do you remember him?”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes, I do.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Good.” Jared said. “He recommended that I meet with you and get to know you.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Hold on,” I said. “Did you say you were looking for Martin Carter?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Yes, I did.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Well he’s not here right now.” I told him.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “But I thought you said you were Martin.”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">           “Well, um, I changed my mind.” I hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief. Somewhere in me, I knew that would come back to haunt me, but all that mattered now was that I was in the clear.

<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif""> [i] Clash of the Titans - Argos

<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif""> [ii] FF5-Final Fantasy

<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif""> [iii] Klonoa For the time we spent