Guest Post: "The Ghosts Are Out on Burnside Ave." by John, 8th Grade

The Ghosts Are Out on Burnside Ave.

by John T.

          It was summer, four years ago. I and my friend, Dejean, from Belize, were up pretty late goofing off and eating junk food. Summer was probably the only time of the year not to worry about education. It was getting late, but we weren’t tired. After hours of playing with action figures and watching TV, Dejean suggested that we’d head for bed. Though reluctant at first, I eventually agreed.

             It was two a.m. I was in my top bunk bed, and Dejean was in the extra bunk bed on the other side of the room, for guests. My older brother, Patrick, was already asleep in the bunk below mine. Even though it was late, I wasn’t tired. The thrill and excitement of the summer spirit was still in me. So I laid there, in the dark, staring at the ceiling. 

            Another hour passed. I was pretty sure everyone was asleep now. Tossing and turning as the hours passed, I was bored. Honestly at this point, I wondered why I even agreed to go to bed. At some point I got really thirsty. I imagined getting a can of soda and chugging it down until my stomach couldn’t handle the acid of the drink. And so, after minutes of deciding, I pulled myself up to go get a drink. 

           Then I heard a noise. Then I felt my bunk bed start to rattle. 

           At first I thought it was my older brother, who moved in his sleep. But it wasn’t. The bed started to rattle again, slightly more violently than it did the first time. I started to get frightened. The bed rattled again, almost as if an earthquake had rattled it. I was paralyzed with fear; I couldn't yell for help.

            Hours later, I was still awake. The rattling had stopped, but the fear remained. I was still panicked. I was so thirsty. As soon as the sun started to rise, I finally fell asleep. 

           When I woke up everyone in their beds was gone. I inhaled a deep breath. I could smell the hash browns and eggs in the air. I hopped off my bunk bed, and headed for the kitchen. My mother, father, sibling, and friend were all sitting around the dining table. 
           

          My mom handed me a plate of food. After the long night I had, I wanted to share the story with my family. Everyone was fascinated, and they began to suggest I had been haunted by a ghost. Chuckling from behind me, Dejean finally came clean. He confessed HE had done those things to me, not a ghost. I had no idea how he pulled it off, but he pranked me. It turns out I was haunted by Dejean.