Tales of Ghosts. Playing Another Reality. Edgar Allan Poe award

Before Christmas, I announced the PTA meeting, after which the parents could take their children home for the holidays. Returning to the teachers’ building in the evening, I noticed a little girl in a squirrel coat who seemed to be waiting for someone. It was Christina from my class.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Is my dad coming?”

“Of course, he is! Go to your room, it’s getting late!”

“Come on, Alice… Talk to me!” Christina said almost in a whisper, averting her gaze to the side.

I didn’t know how to react to her words. None of the pupils addressed me like that, and I was about to reprimand the girl, but then, looking into her sad eyes, I changed my mind. Besides, the Christmas atmosphere was in the air: the blizzard had turned the edge of the forest into a fairy tale, it was still snowing, and the lanterns were winking mysteriously…

“Go back to your place, Chris!” I repeated, but the girl didn’t move and remained silent, forcing me to add categorically, “I have to go, see you tomorrow!”

I told a lie, there was no need for me to rush, I just didn’t want to stay alone with her. After walking about ten meters towards the teacher’s building, I heard her voice calling me,

“Alice! You look like…”

However, I didn’t turn around…

***

On the eve of the PTA meeting, I planned to take a walk along the lake with my friend, a seventh grade teacher, but she was suddenly called by the chief, and I had to wander alone. As I sat down on the bench, Christina materialized next to me, as if out of nowhere.

“Why are you alone, Chris?” I asked.

“I like it this way.”

“Don’t you like to play with other children?”

“I don’t.”

“Why?”

“I’m not like them.”

I wanted to ask ‘why’ again, but I said nothing.

“Come on, Alice… let’s talk,” Christina added quietly.

“Well-bred girls don’t talk like that to those who are older!”

“I will talk like that only to you!”

I saw tears in her eyes, however, I’d been sickened by crybabies since childhood.

“That’s no way to behave! Go to your friends!” I said in a semi-commanding voice.

Christina got up silently and walked away.

***

I held the the PTA meeting successfully enough. When everyone had gone and left me alone in the office, Christina appeared at the door.

“Haven’t you gone yet?” I asked.

“Dad hasn’t arrived,” she said sadly.

“And your mother?”

The girl shrugged.

“Will you call home?” I suggested.

“Come on, Alice…”

“Oh, these familiarities again!” I thought.

Christina dialed some phone number and was answered, but she remained silent and hung up.

“Wrong number?” I supposed.

Christina silently left the room. I made her come back and called to their house myself. Her grandma answered me. She said that Christina’s dad would definitely come to college in a fortnight, after his business trip. I passed that information on to the girl, but got no response.

“Why did you hang up?” I asked again.

Christina got up and silently walked away.

“Chris!” I shouted, and she didn’t even turn around!

I got angry and decided to complain about the girl to her father.

***

Two weeks of vacation flew by in a flash, and the kids were back to studies. I must admit, my class was excellent! Only Christina made me feel uncomfortable, but willy-nilly, I saw that strange girl every day. She pierced me with her gaze, I lost my temper and nagged her about little things. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t help it.

Finally, Christina’s father arrived. He brought her lot of toys and sweets. The girl didn’t want to let him go.

“I’ll come back for you in the summer, when your classes are over, and we’ll go to the sea. You love the sea, don’t you?”

Christina nodded in agreement, and I suddenly imagined her as an adult – she would turn into a beauty and drive a lot of men crazy!

After the meeting with her father, Christina behaved much better and didn’t approached me during her free time. However, the girl seemed to become even more withdrawn.

***

One day, when we were singing a cheerful (but, to be honest, very stupid) song at a music lesson, I suddenly noticed that Christina wasn’t singing. As usual, she sat at the last desk alone, but with headphones on…

“Is she listening to music?! What a spoiled girl! What does she allow herself! She can do everything she wants, being only eight years old!”