Chapter 8

2015.11.12

I handed the nature diary book with heaps of colorful photos with black and green notes and also the software presentation on 'Water is Life'. We are attending a school fair. The school was at a walking distance. Grade 10 classes (there are five classes in each grade) and grade 11 classes attended. I was partnered with a classmate. We are 11 in our team right. And I was the class president so I had to stay in front and leave my friends behind. My friends tend to stay behind all the time. Be it the classroom or tuition class or in school trip bus or when standing in line for an assembly (They are all taller than me and also than many others in the class). I am bit close to some of my classmates in my class, so it isn't an issue if I wasn't with my friends I always enjoyed. We started exploring the fair and I kept checking if the whole class is following and then suddenly a teacher room my school and some of her kids came in pushing. I and my three of my classmates got pushed to a corner and we lost our class and Mrs. Beth. We made a small effort on finding them but it was no use. "We will just keep on watching and will catchup them in some other place." I suggested and they said okay. We were listening to their explanations and also asking questions on some. Ad sometimes we just watched because we had no idea what they were telling us. There was some quizzes to play and one of the friend with me won. She got a chocolate and a pen as a gift. We came near a geography section and all four of us are doing geography and it was a good opportunity for us. And the same time we met another 4 of our classmates who were lost like us. We joined and visited the geography section.

While we were at the solar system. I saw a tuition boys standing to explain. I was bored of not having fun. "How about we tease that class boy." I suggested. Now, now I am not a bully or a girl make fun of them. It is just that him and his friends are show-offs. I admit it this boy was innocent. I shouldn't have but still we did. I asked "Can you explain this." I was kidding. The way I asked was "Explain!" I didn't exclaim it that hard. Like medium level. I sounded like a gangster, didn't I? He started explaining quickly. He had memorized really hard. He was sweating too much. I felt bad. I smiled at the end and nodded. I just shouldn't have. A feet or two Samuel's friend was there and they quickly turned towards to the wall when they saw us. No, I didn't ask them because I already felt bad for that boy. We met more of our classmates and they joined us and we went to the last stop the music section. It was really nice. The friend of the obsessed boy in science class was there. He was explaining to some of my classmates and some other kids in front and he was absolutely polite. I am a bit interested in music so I went near to get an explanation too. He saw me and also quickly ran to the other side of the room to avoid me. When I was passing his current location, he quickly went back to his previous place. I was a bit dumbfounded. No one wanted to explain to me. I deserved it though.

Last stop was at the St. John's Ambulance Club. They taught us how to do first aid, CPR and how to carry injured patients around, specially injured soldiers. To be honest I loved this segment a lot. Sadly, we couldn't wait for a longer time because the place was getting crowded and they wat us move fast. We were unable to go out due to the crowd so they showed us another path that was solemnly for the teachers of this school. The school building is vintage, so the stairs are quite small in width than the regular stairs we have today. Some of the seniors were at the foot of the stairs while we were getting down the stairs. "Sisters, be careful when you getting down. The stairs are quite small." I slowly got down to last step and a sir was standing. I slightly bowed and said "Thank you." Before I turned away from the sir. A classmate screamed out of her lungs. I turned. Sandra was sliding down the stairs. Meanwhile a senior brother was at the foot of the stair waiting to catch with his both hands wide open squatting. Sadly, Sandra stopped at the middle of the stairs. It was a sight. And her best friend on the top of the stairs was laughing so hard. I was trying not to laugh. I was about to go help her but the sir said, "Let her get up by herself." Within a minute both of them joined us. I asked Sandra "Are you okay?" "It is funny that I didn't even scream." Her best friend said, "I thought I fell so I screamed." "But Sandra was the one who fell." I finished the sentence. We were laughing the whole time until we got to the school.

2015.11.13

There was no teachers today. Many were absent. We are dong bucket subjects so some of us have no teachers and we stay at the class. While some leave the class to their subjects. I and some of my friends were gossiping about yesterday and we were bored so we thought of singing some childish song.

"One and two buckle my shoe

Three and Four shut the door

Five and six pick up the sticks

Seven and eight lay them straight…" And we kept singing the song in a loud voice. After the song was finished we laughed and we played run and catcher in the classroom.

2015.11.14

"Weren't you the ones that were singing in the song? I heard Kate, Anna, and Amy very well. " Mrs. Beth questioned us. We smiled. "The deputy principal and some other teachers. They even asked me and I said I have no idea. You all stopped at the right moment. If you had continued they would have found you and punished." "Sorry madam" we answered in a chorus. "I am fine with you all having fun but don't attract any trouble. Try to keep it low." Mrs. Beth was a bit amused.

2015.11.27

We are having our holidays soon. We talked about meeting each other. But you know it never works out. We made fake promises and left school waving goodbye. And also our reports. I came in 9th this time. I had improved a lot.

We went to the super market to get some groceries. I loaded the cart with spaghetti noodles, 3 liters of chocolate milk (1 liter for each of us), crisps and some nuts. Mom was buying groceries needed for home and being that typical mother and housewife.

It was evening when we got home. Dad has gone on another business trip. He will be arriving after 2 days. I and my siblings sat with a glass full of chocolate milk and spicy snacks on a bowl in front of the television. We were going to watch 'Underdogs'. Little bro was very excited.

The movie finished at 7.00 p.m. We had dinner at 8.00 p.m. Mom and my siblings slept. I was awake doing my Holiday assignment. I wanted to finish it quickly because I want to spend my holiday in the ground or on a trip or at my relative's place or in an arcade. I finished my assignment at around 11.46 p.m. and then a feeling of something unusual. Like someone was watching me. The curtains were plain white lace. You can see through but I was in the 3rd floor. I was starting to creep out a bit. I still continued with my work. The clock struck at 12.00 p.m. My curtains started to move with the wind. And there was no wind but it moved in a rhythm of wind blowing on to the curtains. I started to act casual and I said in a little louder voice "We better sleep now" stretching my arms. I was freaking out like crazy. I kept saying to calm down. My heart pounded fast and my gut kept saying to run faster. I turned out the lights. I love sleeping in the dark. I never thought I would regret sleeping in the dark. I rushed to the bed. I slid under the blanket and pulled the blanket over my head. Suddenly there was a little girl calling out for me. Her voice was angelic. Even though the blanket was over me covering every sight I could tell that she was around my sister's height. She started to sing a song in a different language but that strangely seemed familiar. I held the blanket even tighter. I didn't dare to open the blanket and look for myself. The voice came nearer and nearer. She bumped her leg to the bed and she stopped singing. There was silence for 56 seconds. But I could feel her presence-she was closer to me and she was indeed staring down at me. After 56 seconds suddenly she jumped upon me. She strangled me. I was gasping for air. Tighter and tighter she strangled me. My hands and legs they won't move, as if it was being tied to the bed. I tried to calm myself whilst of her wanting to kill me. I slowly gathered my strength and turned to my right. She stopped. I turned back again facing upwards. Before I removed my blanket she got on to me and began to jump on my rib cage harder and harder in every jump she made. I moved again to the right and quickly I opened the blanket. There was no one to be seen. Was I dreaming? Or was it real? Am I being haunted? I was sleepy and tired. I wanted to go to sleep but I was too frightened. I decided to sleep with my mom. I carried my blanket, pillow and went to my mom. Engel was sleeping on the right and mom on the left. My little bro was on his cradler. I smuggled in between Engel and mom. "You okay Anna?" My mom asked me. "Yeah, I want to sleep with you" I excused. "Hmm..." she said and went back to sleep.

2015.11.28

I wanted to tell yesterday's incident to mom. But I had no courage to do so. Because my mother believes in spirits and stuff. She will be terrified for sure. I decided to keep it to myself. Maybe it was a dream after all. We played badminton in the backyard until we were tired and sweaty. Later we had a bubble bath in the tub. While we were having our bath about watching another cartoon in the evening.

We got refreshed up and sat in front of the television to watch 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of the water'. My sister loves SpongeBob. She sometimes sings the theme song when she is bored or hyped. We had our dinner and I finished the assignments which I was doing yesterday. I went to bed around 11.30 p.m. I was in the water drowning. Flapping my hands like a helpless fish. Suddenly I got pulled down in a whirl of water to a ground. I was in front of my classroom dripping wet. The classroom was dark no one was there. But you can hear their voices only. I can her my math teacher telling the answers to the entire class but she wasn't also there. I went and sat on my chair near the window. I saw Mrs. Beth down the staff room. She was talking to someone I couldn't see. I moved to get a clearer picture. I heard water splashing under my feet. I looked down the whole classroom was flooded. I saw everyone's shadow in the water but mine. I wasn't there. I don't have a reflection. It was almost as if I was invisible. I didn't exist. I was like the- an outcast. I heard Lily gasping, as if she was about to die. I turned and saw her sitting on the chair with her head facing the ceiling. She stopped and sat back upright facing me. On her uniform purple house batch was pinched. She winked at me and started to laugh in evil. From behind Kate slammed my head on to the desk. I shook her hand off my head. My forehead was slightly bleeding. From behind she said "I am so sorry Anna. I didn't mean to. It is just happened." I nodded in return. Masha started rubbing a cactus on my back. I was silent. I felt pain but I didn't scream. I kept quiet. My torso bled. There were cactus thorns in my blood. I was bleeding even more. My uniform was not white anymore. I slammed my bloody hand on to the window. I saw Mrs. Beth rushing to the class. She came towards me and knelt down. There was no more a desk in front me. "Breathe! Don't worry it will be okay. Don't lose focus. Keep your focus only on your studies. Do you hear me?" I nodded and grunted. I woke up sweating. My heart was pounding as if it will pop out at any time. I felt pain in my back. I turned to right. And went back to sleep.