Vision of Secrets Read Online Free

did.”
    The silence hung in the air for a moment. I
almost told her I didn’t want to finish. Then I gave in.
    “When we got home,” I said, “the answering
machine was full of messages. One parent after another talking
about what happened and how horrible it was. Dad looked like he was
in a panic, pacing back and forth. Mom just listened to each
message, but I could tell she was pissed. One woman left a message
that said, ‘Thank God Bristol wasn’t in today to see what
happened.’ I rolled my eyes,” I continued. “And I said, ‘I did too
see what happened. I just saw it last night in a dream like
usual.’”
    Mary waited a moment, but I was silent. “What
happened?”
    I dried a tear that was rolling down my cheek.
I felt like such an idiot here. “Mom slapped my face,” I said.
“She’d never hit me before. And she hasn’t since. Just that one
time. And she said, ‘Don’t ever talk like that again, or people
will think you’re a freak!’ I looked to Dad, but he was too upset
to defend me. I ran to my room. The next day, Mom and Dad pretended
that nothing unusual had happened, but they were distant. Dad
didn’t smile and make silly little jokes. Mom didn’t smile and hug
me. It was like living with strangers.”
    “How long has that lasted?” Mary
asked.
    “Going on eleven years now,” I said. “Can I
talk about something else? Please?”
    Mary nodded. “You said you had a feeling that
going to the school wasn’t the best thing to do. What did you
do?”
    “I waited,” I said. “I listened to Jerry belt
out that song over and over again until Holly came and found
me.”
     
    * * * *
     
    “I think I know who you’re talking about,”
Holly said. “His name is Brady Lowell. I heard one of his teachers
talking about it. He wasn’t in last year on this day, but he didn’t
bring a note. They were going to ride him, but that someone told
that teacher that today is the day his mom died in a car accident
and he always went to see her. I’ll bet he’s there now.”
    I nodded. “Makes sense,” I said under my
breath. “I have another problem.”
    I told Holly about what happened with
Michelle.
    “She’s is such a bitch,” Holly said with relish.
“Poor Jen. She’s always been too shy to even talk to a boy. I heard Michelle
telling Jen this morning that she should offer to meet the boy at
the food court and bring their relationship to ‘the next level.’ Of
course, Jen didn’t like the sound of that, but Michelle convinced
her that if she didn’t say that, the boy would think it’s just to
be friends. And the next level for them was just meeting face to
face.”
    “Great,” I said. “I guess I’m going to the
mall.”
    Holly pouted. “I miss the
mall so much.”
    However, Holly didn’t follow me. I never saw
her anywhere but school. Some ghosts are tied to a location. I wish
I could say the same for Jerry, but he tagged along. Now, not only
was he singing, he was dancing as well. If you can call it that. I
never realized that even ghosts could have two left
feet.
    I took the bus to the mall, but halfway there I
noticed a woman. She was in her early forties, wearing a pretty
flower dress and smiling at me. I nearly asked her if she knew me
when some guy walked right through her.
    She got off at a stop around the corner from
where I needed to go, so I followed her. We were right by a
cemetery. Believe it or not, ghosts don’t go to those very often,
but this one did. She never said anything, so I just followed.
About two minutes later, I realized where we were going.
    Brady was standing by the foot of a grave,
crying. I approached him just as it started to rain
lightly.
    “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I wish you could
forgive me.”
    “Brady?” I said. “Are you ok?”
    Brady jumped at the sound of his
name.
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to startle
you.”
    He quickly wiped his tears away. “It’s ok. What
are you doing here, Bristol?”
    “I need to