A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius
Page 12
One night, Kaylee’s parents went out to bowling, leaving her alone. The rain started around six, and by seven there was a huge lightning storm. The storm fueled Jack’s ghost powers, making him super-strong.
Jack started off small. He swooshed the curtains around. He rattled the glasses. Kaylee shivered when he moved around her. He slammed the bathroom door. He jiggled the doorknobs. He pushed her pens so they would roll off the table.
“Ghost?” she called out to Jack. “I know you’re here!” she cried. But the only answer was the sound of her pencil clattering to the floor. “Go away!” she yelled into the air.
“It’s so cold,” she whispered to herself as Jack moved back and forth, causing her teeth to chatter. Finally she stood up and went upstairs to get a sweater. She grabbed a hoodie off her floor and struggled to pull it on.
Jack took hold of one of the sleeves and pulled as hard as he could. The sleeve twisted around to the back. Kaylee had her head in the sweater and was pulling on the sleeve, trying to unwind it from the back. She walked toward the stairs. Just then there was an earth-shattering crash of lightning.
Kaylee was caught off guard, and she tripped. Jack watched helplessly as she tumbled headfirst down the stairs. She lay still at the bottom. Her hoodie still covered her face. Her neck was at a funny angle.
Jack yelled, but there was no sound. He cried, but no one heard him. Finally, he curled up next to Kaylee and cried. He tried to hold her hand. “I love you,” he wept. “I really, really love you.”
Then he felt something cold and clammy tighten around his fingers.
Kaylee’s ghost blinked at him. Then she smiled. “Are you a ghost?” she said. Jack nodded.
She sat up and looked down at herself.
“Am I a ghost?”
Jack nodded.
“Will you show me around, Ghost?” She smiled at him and flipped her ghost hair.
Jack nodded.
“You’re cute, Ghost. What’s your name?” she said.
“Jack,” Jack whispered.
“Jack,” she said. “Did I know you before?”
Jack nodded. “I’ve loved you forever.”
Kaylee smiled shyly. “I guess I better catch up then.” She kissed his cheek. “Now, can you show me how you do that curtain thing?”
And they died happily ever after.
The End
Hiya, Arthur!
Your story looks great. I’ll add it the to pile of finalists. I’m going to be working on the science fair (and, hey! I didn’t get your proposal…) and track-and-field tryouts are this week, so I might not get to read everything before printing—there are a few “hurdles” for this new track coach!
The newspaper will be out just before spring break, and voting will start after we get back, so watch for the ballot. I’m sure you will want to cast a vote for yourself; you can get a leg up on the competition!
Speaking of spring break, the Spring Fling Dance is coming up. It’s a Sadie Hawkins theme, which means that the girls ask the boys! Very old-fashioned thinking, in my opinion, but I’m not leading the social committee, am I?
Would you be able to cover the dance for the newspaper?
Let me know!
Cheers,
Mr. E.
Dear Mr. Everett,
I was thinking that I could write my own article for the next edition. I was thinking it could be like “An Insider’s View on the Competition.” It would be about winning the writing competition and stuff. I’m pretty sure that I will win, and I’m sure that other students would be interested in what that is like.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
Hiya, A,
I’m glad you’re so confident, but let’s not count our chickens before they hatch! I think I hear some clucking coming from you! Plus, we really need a piece on the dance after spring break. Are you ready to bust a move?
Cheers,
Mr. E.
• • •
Romeo and Juliet—a Star’s Reflection
By Romeo
Act 2, Scene 4
In this scene I am planning something with the enemy. Well, not really the enemy anymore, but Juliet’s nurse. We have to be devious to get away with what I am planning, so we make secret plans that no one knows about. I feel good and bad about it. I am glad that I am getting what I want (marrying and kissing Juliet), but I have to give up something as well (my family). I feel very torn about it. It is like the time when I was seven and my cousin Luke wanted to switch Christmas presents with me. I really, really liked my present, but I really, really wanted his present too. But I couldn’t have both, so I chose his present over mine. I still think about that Christmas. I don’t know if I should have switched. I miss my real present, even though it was only mine for a day or two.
Arthur, you’ve tapped into a strong memory to work from, and I think this will translate nicely into your acting. This week we’re heading into some of the scenes with some heavy feelings. Keep digging into your memories and building your character!
Mr. Tan
• • •
From: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 4, 15:54
i saw u in the drama room today practissing R&J. u r NOT in the play anymore anyway.
u better tell mr Tan tomorrow or i will tell some one about “ur” storey
robbie
From: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
To: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
Sent: April 4, 20:14
Dear Robbie,
You hadn’t brought up the play in a few days, so I thought maybe you had decided that you didn’t want to be in it. I figured that you would have thought about that over the weekend and realized how much work it is.
But I will tell Mr. Tan this week.
You do know there are rehearsals through spring break, right? If you are going away for the week, you can’t be in the play.
Are you going to visit your mom? I bet she misses you.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
From: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 4, 21:13
dont make me come after you
r
From: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
To: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
Sent: April 4, 20:14
Dear Robbie,
No need for you to join me. I will talk to Mr. Tan tomorrow, I guess.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
Dear Mr. Tan,
I’ve realized that I can’t participate in the play anymore. My duties as a student are more important, and I need to focus on my writing.
Acting is really a secondary skill for me, and since I want to be a writer and not an actor, I am hereby dropping out of the school play. Robbie Zack, my understudy, has agreed to take my part as Romeo very seriously.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
Dear Arthur,
PLEASE come and see me anytime today. I would like to discuss your decision with you. This is not something I take lightly.
Mr. Tan
• • •
From: Kennedy Laurel (imsocutekl@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 5, 19:39
ARTHUR!! What is up?!?!?! Mr. Tan told us today in rehearsal that you QUIT the play?!?! I thought you LOVED being in the play!! We missed you today! I mean, Robbie is really nice but we have to start rehearsing scenes ALL OVER AGAIN! What happened? Why aren’t you in the play anymore? I tot
ally don’t understand!
Kennedy :(
• • •
April 5th
Dear RJ,
I hate myself! I can’t believe I am stupid enough to give up my ONE chance to make Kennedy fall in love with me just so that I can be famous! Does every famous person have to make difficult decisions like this? What if she falls in love with Robbie and then they get married? I’ll be famous and alone, and people will always look at me with pity in their eyes. It will be worse than when Mom died because they will look at me like that FOREVER. I’ll go on talk shows to promote my book and I’ll have to joke about “the one that got away”…but it won’t be a joke!
Now it’s spring break and we’re not even going to visit Luke’s family. I’ll just be at home or sitting at Nicole’s house, thinking about how I will be alone forever.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
From: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
To: Kennedy Laurel (imsocutekl@hotmail.com)
Sent: April 5, 23:03
Dear Kennedy,
I’m sorry to quit the play like that. I did what I had to do for my art. You know, my novel and such. I really didn’t want to, but I had to do it.
It’s too bad you’re away for spring break. At least, I think you are. I accidentally overheard you telling Catie you were going away. I hope you have fun!
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
April 12th
Dear RJ,
This is officially the worst spring break ever. There’s nowhere to go and nothing to do. My dad only took a couple of days off, but even then, we just went to my grandparents’ house. It snowed the whole time, and my grandma just wanted to go to the drugstore. I wish she would make a list of stuff she needed so that we didn’t have to go every day.
When we got home yesterday, Dad told me that he thought I was responsible enough to stay at home alone on the days when Nicole is at work. I thought it would be cool, but it’s really not. Daytime TV sucks, and Pickles wasn’t used to having someone around, so she just kept clawing my hand every time I tried to get the remote from under her. I got so bored that I did all my homework, and I even tried writing my short story for Ms. Whitehead’s class. I didn’t get very far. I thought maybe working on Robbie’s story would get my brain going again, but I’m still sitting here with the computer on, staring at a blank screen. I wish there was something, ANYTHING to do. I’m desperate, RJ. I’m debating buying a bus ticket and going to see Luke. I won’t, because I don’t want my dad to think I ran away, but still. It’s SO BORING!
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
From: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 13, 11:04
hey artie
i heard u r in town for the break. no 1 else is. anyway i won these tickets to a play and none of my real frends wood want 2 come with me. i bearly want to go but i figur its good 2 see other plays now that im staring in 1. anyway, did u want 2 come 2 a play with my brother and me. my dad was gonna come but he cant and now we have a spare ticket and i bet u like plays and stuf. the play is on tomorro nite so let me kno. And can ur dad drive us?
Robbie
From: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
To: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
Sent: April 13, 12:29
Are you serious?
From: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 13, 12:36
No nerd i am writing u for fun. OF COURSE im serious. do u want to come or not. i don’t care either way.
From: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
To: Robbie Zack (robbiethegreat2000@hotmail.com)
Sent: April 13, 14:15
Dear Robbie,
I can go to the play I guess. I asked my dad and he can drive us. We can pick you guys up at 7:00. See you then.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
April 14th
Dear RJ,
Weirdest night ever! I went to a play with Robbie and his brother. I know what you’re thinking—and, I know, it WAS weird. Robbie’s brother is a total jerk. Robbie actually even apologized to me because his brother was so strange. I thought Robbie was bad and annoying sometimes, but his brother was yelling at people in the lobby and laughing, and he kept trying to get people to spill their drinks by bumping into them in the lobby. It was super embarrassing. I was glad to get into the play.
It was pretty good. I thought it was going to be a little kids’ play when he told me we were going to see Peter Pan, but it was actually pretty cool and professional. The actors were awesome, but I think I would have been better as Peter Pan. I liked the way the actors flew on harnesses, and I thought Tinkerbell was pretty hot. And Robbie totally loved the play. I think he even cried at the end. But I’m sure he was wiping his eyes when Wendy and the boys came home. His brother saw him crying too, and made fun of him the whole way home.
Anyway, when they got out Robbie asked me if I wanted to come over and play video games this weekend. I kind of hate video games, especially if you have to shoot things. I think they are super boring. But I said yes anyway. I don’t know why he asked me. I kind of had to say yes. I mean, would he beat me up if I said no?
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
April 17th
Dear RJ,
Happy Easter! The week is almost over! Finally! And my dad is cooking a ham tonight with scalloped potatoes. I didn’t even know he knew how to do that. I don’t know what came over him. He even put out chocolate eggs for an Easter egg hunt for me this morning. I was so surprised, especially since I haven’t done an Easter egg hunt for, like, five years or something. I didn’t say that though. He said that he always hid the eggs, and this year he made it really hard. It’s funny. I guess I always thought my mom did that kind of stuff. I guess it makes sense why she was always so surprised to see where the eggs were. I just thought she was a good actress.
So I did the Easter egg hunt, and then we went for a walk to the farmers’ market to get stuff for supper. It was pretty quiet while we walked, but it was quiet in a good way this time. He even asked if I wanted to invite my “new friend Robbie” for supper. I told him that Robbie was definitely not my friend, he was just bored over spring break and needed another person to compete against in his video game (which I hated, by the way. I suck a lot at video games, RJ. Robbie made sure to tell me that a lot).
Anyway, it’s been a pretty good day, RJ. I don’t know why, but I even sort of felt for a minute that Mom was just away somewhere, like she was visiting her sister or something.
I almost feel bad for feeling good about Easter. That’s weird, isn’t it?
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
• • •
From: Kennedy Laurel (imsocutekl@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 19, 15:50
Hi, Arthur!
Sorry I didn’t respond about spring break! I went to visit my grandma and she has NO INTERNET! It was TORTURE LOL!! Well, it was OK but kind of boring! My little sister was SUPER annoying too and wanted me to HANG OUT with her! So frustrating! It’s way better when there’s something to keep her busy like the computer LOL! At least I had lots of time to learn all my lines for the play!
Speaking of the play, I can’t believe you aren’t in it anymore! I went to rehearsal today and you weren’t there and it wasn’t as fun! You always make me laugh when I see you! I mean Robbie tries
really hard and he’s super sweet, but it’s just different, you know? Anyway, I guess you’re really busy writing and stuff!
Kennedy :)
From: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
To: Kennedy Laurel (imsocutekl@hotmail.com)
Sent: April 19, 18:22
Dear Kennedy,
I had a nice break. I had some time to work on my writing. I also saw a good play with Robbie and his brother and went to a bunch of really cool parties. It’s too bad you weren’t here to come to the parties. They were really fun. It’s too bad that I am no longer in the play, but I told Mr. Tan that I will learn all the lines just in case Robbie gets sick or too scared to go onstage. One of the reasons I stepped aside for the play was to give Robbie a chance to play Romeo. I know his mom left and I thought it would be good for him to have something good.
Yours truly,
Arthur Bean
From: Kennedy Laurel (imsocutekl@hotmail.com)
To: Arthur Bean (arthuraaronbean@gmail.com)
Sent: April 19, 19:23
Arthur, that is so sweet! I knew there was something behind your motives to leave the play! I had no idea that you and Robbie were so close! That is just the nicest thing I’ve ever heard! We’re both so lucky to have you as a friend, Arthur!
Kennedy :)
• • •
Spring Has Sprung, Fling Is Fun
By Arthur Bean
Terry Fox Jr. High hosted its fourth dance of the year and finally got it right. The Spring Fling Dance held last Friday was a Sadie Hawkins Dance. Sadie Hawkins was originally a character in a comic strip from the 1930s. She was the ugliest girl in the town, and then her dad had a race in her name. If Sadie Hawkins caught a man and dragged him across the finish line, he had to marry her. The comic strip was pretty popular, and soon Sadie Hawkins races and dances were celebrated in Canada and the United States.
The highlight for most was definitely the opportunity to dance with some of the prettiest and most popular girls in school. For example, Kennedy Laurel’s invitation to dance was met with enthusiastic yeses. Those of us lucky enough to be asked by such a graceful and energetic dancer as Kennedy were clearly watched with envy by the less fortunate of our gender.