“Caspernia,” said her instructor, “I recommend getting some practice at the Haunted House. Final exams are next week.”
Caspernia sighed as she looked at her midterm grade. An empty oval drawn in blood red ink. Zero for failure.
Filled with anguish, Caspernia floated into a nearby village.
She noticed a girl who looked oddly familiar.
Curious, Caspernia followed her all the way to a cozy looking home.
Caspernia peered through the window.
Her eyes widened.
The mom was cooking in the kitchen, the dad watching T.V.
The girl hung her jacket on a hook.
It was Caspernia’s family.
“Since when did I have a little sister?” Caspernia thought.
Just then, Hillary and Pattison from Ghost School floated next to Caspernia.
“This looks like an easy family to scare,” Pattison said.
“Let’s practice what we learned on them!” Hillary agreed.
They reached for the door, but a hand stopped them. Caspernia was surprised to realize it was her hand. Confidence rising, Caspernia lifted her voice.
“Go away!”
Hillary and Pattison flashed Caspernia a look of contempt, but floated away.
Caspernia let out a relieved sigh and turned to the window again. She grinned when she noticed a picture of herself on top of the fireplace. They hadn’t forgotten, after all.
Caspernia watched as her mom brought fresh baked Halloween cookies.
“Yay!” Her little sister exclaimed. “You said Caspey liked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies too, right Dad?”
Her dad smiled. “She did, Polly.” He scooped her up. “She passed before you were born, but you two have so much in common. She would’ve loved you so much.”
“Polly,” Caspernia repeated, rolling the word around her tongue. “Polly.”
It felt right.
And so.
Caspernia stayed right by her family’s window, protecting them from unwanted spirits. She celebrated with them, she cried with them. She scared away some robbers, who tried to break in the middle of the night.
Caspernia watched Polly grow older, go to high school, and all of a sudden, graduate.
The night before Polly left for college, she had a nightmare. Caspernia decided to talk with her.
“Hi, Polly.” Caspernia whispered.
Polly jumped. “Who are you?”
“It’s me, Caspernia. I’m a ghost.”
Polly frowned. “Really?”
“Who else would I be?”
“You’re right. I wish you didn’t pass.”
“I’m sorry. I am here for you now…and forevermore.”
Polly no longer suffered nightmares and left for college. Caspernia decided to open a new ghost school that trained ghosts to guard their loved ones. It became the most popular ghost academy in the spirit realm!
This earned Caspernia a new nickname—Caspernia the Friendly Ghost—or as others said, Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Caspernia was a ghost, and it turns out she was a good one after all.