Remembering

“HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUIJI BOARD LITTLE KIRSTY?” the board spelled out as Kirsty watched before saying “well, me, my brother,my mommy and daddy just moved into this house and I was looking around in the basement when I found it.”

“WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FRIENDS?” the board spelled out.
“I don’t know, my mommy said that I shouldn’t trust what I can’t see” Kirsty replied.
“DO YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT MOMMY TELLS YOU, LISTEN UP LITTLE KIRSTY YOU CAN TRUST ME I AM YOUR FRIEND AND FRIENDS TRUST EACH OTHER.” Kirsty was a little nervous but nodded her head.
“Ok, if you say so.”
“THAT’S A GOOD GIRL, TELL ME KIRSTY HOW OLD ARE YOU?”
“I’m ten” Kirsty said. Before the glasso n the board moved again, Kirsty’s father called her upstairs.Kirsty sighed and turned back to the board.
“I have to go now captain howdy” she said.
“WILL YOU COME AND PLAY TOMORROW?”
“It depends if I’m busy or not” Kirsty replied.

“VERY WELL THEN”the board spelled out.

Two weeks had passed since the Jacksons had moved in next door to Chris and Regan. Regan had become close friends with Jamie, Chris had got to know Holly jackson and her husband, Terry and little Kirsty was beginging to act pretty strange lately.
“It could be the stress of moving house” Chris said as she, Regan and the Jacksons went shopping together one day.
“Well when we first moved in, she started talking to her imaginary friend” Terry explained “she calls him captain howdy.” Chris suddenly stopped walking and looked at Terry in a very weird way.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“She’s got an imaginary friend that she calls captain howdy, is there a problem with that?” he asked. Chris shook her head.
“Hey watch where you’re going you old bat” Kirsty hissed at an old woman who almost walked into her.
“Kirsty jackson” Terry said, grabbing Kirsty by the shoulders “what has gotten into you lately?” Kirsty didn’t respond, instead, she spat in his face. Jamie and Regan both looked on in horror.
“She’s not always like this is she?” Regan asked.
“No, she’s usually quiet, dad’s talking about taking her to see somebody” Jamie explained. Suddenly, their came a high pitched screamed. Kirsty was on the floor, kicking her legs and waving her arms about. Holly was looking on in horror whilst Terry was trying to calm her down.
“Mom, Dad what’s going on?” Jamie asked as he a Regan came running over to the scene.
“I don’t know” Holly replied “she just fell to the floor and started kicking and screaming.” Many people who were passing by were quite horrified to see a ten year old girl having a tantrum like a two year old in the middle of the street. After five minutes, Kirsty suddenly stopped and burst into tears.
“What on earth was all that about Kirsty?” Terry asked as Kirsty sat up.
“It was captain howdy, he was kicking me and calling me nasty names.”
“Captain howdy?” Regan muttered before simply shrugging it off.
“How many times do we have to tell you honey, Captain Howdy is not real, he’s just a made up friend” Terry said.
“But he’s real daddy and he called me a spoilt little piglet” Kirsty said.
“That’s enough now kirsty, I think we should get you home now” Terry said. Kirsty nodded and Terry helped her to her feet.
“I’m really sorry you had to see that” Terry told Chris “like I said, she hasn’t been herself lately.”
“Don’t worry about it, I hope she’s ok” Chris said. After the incident, they went home. Before Chris and Regan went inside, Holly went to ask Chris something.
“Listen, it’s my birthday next saturday, I’d be happy if you and Regan could come along” she said.
“Sure, waht do you think about that honey?” she asked Regan.
“Sounds ok” Regan replied.
“Ok, see you both then.” Chris nodded and went indoors.
“Do you reckon Kirsty’s going to be ok?” Regan asked as she put her coat on the hanger.
“Yeah, course she will be” Chris said “come on, let’s go make something to eat.”

Later that night, over at the Jacksons, Kirsty was coming out of her bedroom dressing in a yellow nightgown and clutching a stuffed doll under her arm. She looked shaken and her eyes were red like she’d been crying, nervously she made her way to her parents bedroom where they were discussing kirsty’s sudden behaviour.
“Look, we need to take her to see somebody” Terry suggested.
“Let’s just give it a few days nad if she gets worse, we’ll take her to see somebody but right now I just wanna get settled into our new home.” Suddenly, the pair were interupted by a dark figure stood atthe end of the bed.
“What the…?” Terry said, switching on the light to reveal a scared looking Kirsty stood at the end of the bed.
“Kirsty, what are you doing in here?” Holly asked.
“Can I sleep with you, my bed was shaking” Kirsty told them in a shaky tone.Sighing, Terry got out of bed and lifted Kirsty off the ground.
“You were probably having a bad dream darling, now come on, let’s get you back into your bed.”
“Oh please” she begged “I’m too scared to sleep in my room, it smells funny and I can hear scratching in the attict.”
“It’s probably squirrels honey” Holly reassured her.
“It sounded alot bigger than squirrels” Kirsty said “will you come a take a look daddy, my room smells funny.”
“Ok” Terry said before turnign to Holly “I’ll be right back” and left the room with Holly still in his arms and walked over to Kirsty’s room were there was a strange burning smell.
“Have you been burning something in here?” he asked. Kirsty shook her head.
“It started a couple of days ago” Kirsty replied. Suddenly, there came a scratching like noise from the attic.
“Please can I sleep with you and mommy, I’m scared” kirsty pleaded.
“Ok, but tomorrow night, you’re back in you’re own bed ok.”
“Ok daddy” Kirsty replied before Terry carried her back to his and Holly’s bedroom.

That afternoon, Chris had gone over to the Jacksons for cup of tea and a chat.
“So, how has Kirsty been since yesterday?” she asked.
“Well last night, she had a nightmare about her bed shaking but the weird thing was, there seemed to be a funny smell coming from her room” Terry said.
“What kind of smell?” Chris asked.
“Sort of burning and there was noises coming from the attic” Terry added before shaking it off “probably squirrels or something.” Chris noded and took a small sip from her tea.
“So, how was she this morning?” Chris asked “I saw her and Jamie across the street waiting for the school bus this morning.”
“She was fine” Holly replied “quiet but she insisted on going to school today.”

Over at Kirsty’s school, the little girl was sat on a bench in the playground watching the other children playing. A group of four girls made their way towards her and one girl who looked like the leader stood in front of her.
“Hey freak” she taunted as her friends snickered behind her “been talking to your imaginary friend lately freak.”
“Go away Tasha” Kirsty hissed. The girl, Tasha just chuckled and threw a stone at Kirsty.
“You know, you could hang around with us but you see, I don’t want freaks in my gang who go around talking to themselves little freak, freak freak freak from freak land.” Kirsty could feel something burning inside off r, like someone or something had taken over her body, giving her strengh beyond that of a ten year old girl and before she could stop hersefl, she launched herself at Tasha amnd pushed her to the ground as her friends screamed in horror.
“You need teaching a lesson you little b*tch” Kirsty hissed before viciously clawing at Tasha’s face whilst hissing like a wild animal. Many kids in the playground gathered round to watch as Kirsty viciously attacked Tasha. “B*tch,you f**cking B*tch” she hissed as she clawed away. Luckily, one of the kids had gone to get the principal MR. Johnson becauseh e was now running towardss the scene.
“Let me through” he said as he pushed his way through the circle of kids before seeing Kirsty on top of Tasha hissing vicioulsy and clawing at her face.
“Kirsty jackson” Mr. Johnson said in horror as he grabbed Kirsty off Tasha. Kirsty screamed, fell to the ground and began twisting in a disturbing manner. Many of the kids looked on horrified as the girl twisted violenlty before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and fainted to the ground.Mr Johnson ran over to her and picked her up off the ground.
“I want you all to get inside now and someone take Tasha to the nurse’s office” he instructed.
“She’s a phycopath” Tasha yelled as two of her friends helped her to her feet. Her face was covered in scratches. “She needs locking up” Tasha yelled.
“Enough Tasha, I’ll talk with her” Mr Johnson said.

Back at the Jackson house, Terry was tidying around in Kirsty’s room and swore he could feel another presence in the room with him. Holly was downstairs making dinner when the phone rang.
“Hello this is Holly Jackson speaking, what, oh my god, when, jesus, waht happened, oh my god, well we’re on our way right now.” She put the phone down and called Terry from the bottom of the stairs.
“What is it?” Terry asked as he ran downstairs.
“There’s been a situation with Kirsty, we need to get to the school right now” Holly said. The pair of them got in the car and quickly drove to Kirsty’s school.The girl had regained conciousness and was now sat in Mr Johnsons office.
“You’re parents are on their way” he told her. Pretty soon, Holly and Terry came through the door.
“Oh Kirsty, what has happened?” Holly asked as she sat with her daughter.
“Apparently, she attacked one of the girls” Mr Johnson replied “like a wild animal she was.”
“But she hasn’t been herself lately” Terry said.
“Well in that case, you should take her to see a phyciatrist, find out the reason as to why she is acting like this” Mr Johnson informed.
“I don’t even remember doing it mommy” Kirsty said as tears fell down her cheeks “all I remember is Tasha benson and her friends teasing me and then I woke up in here.”
“I don’t believe this” Terry muttered. Holly looked at Mr Johnson.
“What’s going to happen to her?” she asked.
“I have no choice but to suspend Kirsty until she learns to control her violent outbursts.”

A few days after her visit to Doctor farham’s office, Kirsty’s condition was becoming worse. She would walk around like she was in some kind of a trance,talk in a voice which sounded like it was far away,had fits, claimed she could see Captain howdy and that he was hurling abuse at her.On the day of Holly’s birthday party, she and Terry discussed whether Kirsty should be around the other people due to her recent strange behaviour.
“She’ll be fine” Terry reassured her “she’ll probably have a good time and forget all about this captain howdy nonsense.” At around six thirty, the guests were begining to arrive. Chris and Regan were the first to arrive.
“Where are the kids?” Chris asked.
“Oh they’re just threw here” Holly said, pointing tot he living room where Jamie and Kirsty were sat on the sofa. Kirsty seemed at ease at the moment and was dressed in a pretty pink party dress.
“Hey Regan” Jamie greeted as he stood up and walked over to his friend. Kirsty stood up and slowly followed her brother.
“Hi Kirsty” Chris said.

“Hi” Kirsty replied in a dreamy voice. Chris looked at Terry and Holly with a confused expression.
“Is she ok?” she whispered.
“She hasn’t been feeling too good lately” Holly replied before turnign to Kirsty “honey, why don’t you go with your brother and Regan, see what there is to eat.”
“I’m not hungry” Kirsty replied.
“Maybe later then” Holly replied kissing Kirsty on the forehead. Kirsty nodded and went for a wonder round. Meanwhile, Jamie and Regan were at the buffet table.
“How’s Kirsty been since monday?” Regan asked.
“No chance, she’s still acting pretty weird and I think she’s got worse since that fight at school” Jamie replied. At that moment, Kirsty arrived.
“Hey, you alright” Jamie asked.
“I’m fine” Kirsty replied “I’m sleepy, where’s mommy?”
“I think she’s in the lounge” Jamie said. Kirsty nodded and went to look for Holly.
“Wow, it’s already seven o clock and she’s tired” Regan pointed out.
“She hasn’t been getting much sleep lately, she’s been saying that her bed has been shaking, been seeing this scary face andh earing noises in the attic.” Regan suddenly fell silent,like she was getting a sense of dejavu before having flashbacks of her own bed shaking, the noises in the attic and the scary white face glaring back at her. She was beginging to wonder whatever happened to her was happening to Kirsty.
“Regan?” Jamie was waving his hand in front of her face “regan?”
“What?” Regan replied, snapping back into reality.
“You were day dreaming” Jamie replied.
“Oh yeah” Regan replied giggling a little. Meanwhile, Kirsty had found Holly and told her that she was tired and wanted to go to bed.
“But it’s too early baby, why don’t you stay and enjoy the party” Holly said.
“I’m sleepy” Kirsty replied in her dreamy voice again.
“Ok” Holly replied before turning to her guests “will you excuse me a minute.” She took Kirsty by the hand and led her away.
“Where do ypu think you’re going young lady?” Terry asked Kirsty as she and Holly emerged from the lounge.
“She wants to go to bed” Holly said, indicating to Kirsty who was looking down at the floor.
“Sleepy” she whispered.Holly pikced up Kirsty and carried her upstairs and into her bedroom, changed her into a nightgown and put her to bed.
“Here, take you pills” Holly said, bringing a cup of water and two pills over to her. Kirsty took one pill, swallowed it with the glass of water before doing the same with the second pill.
“Do you want me to leave the water on your bedside table incase you get thirsty?” she asked. Kirsty nodded and fell asleep. Holly gave her a kiss on the forehead before going back down to the party. After sheh ad left the room, Kirsty’s eyes suddenly snapped open, she slowly sat up, got out of bed and made hr way slolwy towards her bedroom door like she was in a trance.