Page 6 of The Totally Typical Tale of Mappy McMapface (Ghostlight Falls #1)

Chapter five

Ghostlight Falls School

Mappy

I s Miguel right? Should I be concerned that I’m missing chunks of time? I’ve always assumed that’s just a normal part of life.

“Mabel?” I call as I walk into the Visitors’ Bureau.

“What now, Mappy?” Mabel doesn’t even look up from her magazine as she answers.

“Is it normal to have chunks of time you can’t remember?”

She drops her magazine. I’m not a fan of the look she’s giving me, though. It’s a mix of pity and fear. Not a combination I like to see. “No, Mappy. Is there a reason you’re asking?”

Taking a seat on a chair near her, I blow out a breath. “There are whole days I can’t remember. And sometimes I wake up places and don’t know how I got there.”

“How long has this been happening?”

“My whole life, I think. Or, as long as I can remember.” Truth is, I can’t remember my life before a few years ago. I assume I had a normal childhood. I just can’t remember it. At all. And the more I try, the more my head hurts.

She nods, then pats my hand. “I wouldn’t worry too much. I doubt there’s much you can do about it.”

Shrugging, I stand and head back outside.

I'm not feeling as passionate about my map duties as I usually am. Maybe I’m getting sick?

That doesn’t explain my urge to check out some of our more popular tourist attractions to see if a certain tourist is hanging out there.

Unless that’s also some sort of symptom of disease?

I could visit Rebecca, she’s a nurse, after all, just to be sure I’m okay.

I think she worked in a hospital before taking over at the school.

I wait outside the school until the kids are dismissed for lunch.

Nothing weird about a giant map standing on school grounds during the day by himself.

Once I make it into the office, I’m able to locate Rebecca.

There’s a kid sleeping on a little bed, and I feel guilty about intruding, but she waves me in.

“What’s up, Mappy?”

“I think I might be sick.” She nods, cleaning off a thermometer with a cleansing wipe before sliding it across my forehead. As she’s double-checking her reference sheet for my normal temperature range, I continue, “I can’t seem to focus. I’m really distracted.”

“That doesn’t seem like a sickness.”

“That’s what I was afraid of. Thanks anyway, Rebecca.” I turn to leave, but then add, “There’s also these blackout periods?” If I’m sick, she can fix me. Although Mabel said there was nothing I could do, so maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it.

“Blackout periods?”

“Never mind, I don’t think those are related.” I try to leave, but she grabs my arm. It’s nothing like when Miguel was touching me. Should I tell her about that? That’s new.

“Mappy, what blackout periods?”

“There are some times I can’t remember. It’s not that big of a deal, except…” I trail off.

“They sound like a big deal, Mappy.”

“No, I’ve had them my whole life. I think?

” Have I, though? “I, uh, get confused sometimes, but yesterday, I was so excited, but then it happened, and Miguel… It doesn’t matter.

” The more I try to explain, the more my head hurts.

I can barely think anymore, and I just know I need to get out of there now.

“You’re not making much sense.”

“Thanks for your help. I’ll see you around.

” I race out of the office, even as she calls my name.

My head hurts as I think about the missing times.

It’s like running into a brick wall over and over again, which I’ve done, so I know.

Shaking my head, I push open the doors to the school and walk outside.