Page 9 of Defined and Defiled (Ghostlight Falls)

To-do list:

Plan Twyla’s birthday party

If Melon was put out by Richard taking up her space in my bed, she doesn't show any signs. I thought we'd gotten to the school early, but clearly not early enough. When we pull into the school Mike’s already in the front talking to Tony.

“Tell your kids to be more careful with the crickets, I spent my whole afternoon chasing down Toad-O's lunch yesterday.”

Another reason my class will never get an amphibian class pet. A jumping animal that eats jumping bugs? No thank you.

I try to squeeze past them but Mike reaches out to grab my arm. He must register that he's holding on to me too tightly because he quickly releases and rubs his hand on his chest. His work shirt is already wrinkled and features a prominent black stain. What could have gotten him so ruffled before seven am?

“Excuse us, Mr. Rogers.”

Tony shoots me a smile, clearly glad that a new sucker has to talk to Mike as he walks off. Mike leans close to me, his breath warming my cheek.

“When do you want to go to the basement again?”

I jump.

“Oh, I. I need some more time with the book, it's not fixed yet.”

Mike leans back and looks at where I'm hugging Richard to my chest. He quirks an eyebrow.

“Then why is it here and not at the bookstore?”

I don't know why I don't want to tell Mike about Richard. I'm sure he'd understand it but I still feel the way his fingers had dug into my arm.

“I wanted to let my students use him for their papers before we returned him to the basement.”

“Him?”

Mike's eyebrows come together.

“Oh,”

I laugh but it sounds too high-pitched.

“Just something I've been doing with the kiddos. Working on empathy and all that. 'Don't snap your binders like that, she wouldn't like that. Make sure you take your jacket home, he's lonely!”

Mike looks down at Richard and then back at me nodding slowly.

“Of course. You know, I'm sure it's fine if a couple of pages are ripped, I'd rather just return the book and be done with it.”

Mike reaches out to grab Richard but I hold him firm to my chest.

“Oh, but then my class wouldn't be able to use him as a resource.”

“They can always just look it up online.”

“And that's,”

I pull Richard away from Mike's hands.

“the problem, I'd like them to work for it.”

I take a minute to catch my breath, no one should have this much excitement in the morning. Then I put a stand of my hair behind my ear and put on what I hope is a sweet smile.

“I promise we'll bring the dictionary back. Just not yet.”

Mike looks at my hands and for a second I think he’s going to try to grab Richard again, before he puts his hands in his pockets.

“Tonight then.”

“Tonight?” I squeak.

“Yes, you can show it to your students today and then we can return it after class today.”

Mike smiles.

“then maybe that dinner?"”

He walks off before I can deny him, waving down Lucy who starts walking faster into the building.

I lean Richard away from my chest so I can see his face.

“What are we going to do? You can't go back there.”

Richard's eyebrows are pinched, and he is lost in thought.

“Let's go talk to Marge.”

I hurry us into the office. We only have about fifteen minutes until I need to be in the classroom for the first bell. Marge is already seated and ready to go. I would not be surprised to find out she sleeps at the school. She smiles at me when I walk in but her smile quickly grows cold.

“Mr. Diction! You are awfully late.”

Marge looks positively affronted. I look behind me, but nobody is there. Marge clucks her tongue and sends Richard an ice cold glare I've only seen her reserve for parents trying to pick up their kids early without the proper identification.

“Marge! I was trapped in this body in the basement!”

Richard protests.

Marge huffs and unlocks her filing cabinet.

“That is no excuse Richard, you were missing for years. You never even picked up your last check. If you were really dedicated to your job you would have found a way to put in your notice at least.”

She searches her drawer for a minute before pulling out a dusty envelope.

“Here. Anything else?”

I take the envelope from her, "Richard Diction?" I lift my eyebrow at Richard, before my brain catches up to what Marge said.

“Yes, of course, there's more. You knew Richard when he taught here. Do you know who cursed him or why?”

Marge waves my questions away with her hand.

“Someone was always getting cursed back then, love, I can't keep up with each one.”

“But you're the one who sent me to the basement, did you suspect he would be there? Do you know anything that could help us?”

Marge just purses her lips.

“If you can help us, I'll ask Twyla to make those molasses cookies you love.”

Marge claps her hands together.

“A bribe! Attagirl, I've taught you well.”

There is no denying the twinkle in her eye. The only thing Marge loves more than sweet and a steady paycheck is mischief. “Hold on.”

Marge walks through the door to Richard's office and gestures for us to follow.

I hang back for a moment.

“Should we be doing this?”

“Bailey is having a meeting with the superintendent so I'm sure he won't mind us coming in, and if he does, what's he going to do, fire me?”

Marge’s laugh is quick and loud before dissolving into a cough. She pokes her head into Bailey's filing cabinet. It's unsettling to see her ass sticking out of the metal while the rest of her disappears.

“Ah! Here it is, I'll need some of your strength dearie.”

Marge has only asked me to do this a few times since I've joined this school but it's awful every time. I lay my hand on her back and feel cold as she takes some of my energy so she can carry out whatever it is she found.

The second she pops back up, I remove my hand and wrap my sweater tightly around myself. She shoves a yearbook into my arms.

“This is from Mr. Diction's last year.”

She gives Richard a pointed glare.

“Before he abandoned us.”

“I was trapped, Marge!”

He argues.

Marge rolls her eyes.

“I swear, you young bucks never want to work.”

“Thank you, Marge, and I'll talk to Twyla about getting you those cookies.”

“Please do.”

Before Richard and I can leave, Marge grabs my arm, and I feel my skin grow cold.

“Be careful, Shirley. Richard wasn't the only teacher to abandon his post that year. I'd never want anything to happen to you.”

“Thank you, Marge.”