Teenage Ghost

    Kiesha, Jody, Inja, and Belenda were all practicing in the gym an hour before school started like they did every day. Inja had special permission to go to games and cheer, but nothing else. The principle and coaches talked to her parents personally to make sure she stayed on the team.
    Her parents forced her to wear ankle length dresses with long sleeves anytime she left the house. So she carried her trendy clothes in her backpack to school and changed after practice. Kiesha always carried extra make up for her to borrow. Jody was keeping a colorful array of extra accessories in her locker for Inja to wear.
    During the school hours Inja felt like a completely, normal, teenage girl. She ate lunch with her boyfriend, Evan, every day. She looked as pretty as she felt, and she felt like she was on top of the world. She felt that way for a few hours, til she had to return to the harsh reality that was her home life.
    She never thought about it during the school hours. She forgot about it completely, it was a place that didn’t exist. Though with Halloween approaching there was no avoiding it. Her friends were ramping up for a party at Belenda’s house, a party she couldn’t go to.
    “But if you convince your parents to hand candy out, then you can be the one answering the door and handing it out. Then Evan could drop by, pretending to be a trick or treater and say hi.” Jody pointed at Inja. “Your parents would never know.”
    Inja sighed deeply. “There’s no use. They are never going to go for it. I already tried to tell them it was a study group, but they know about Halloween.”
    Keisha asked, “Did you get in more trouble?”
    “They already don’t trust me.” Inja shrugged. “What’s the point.”
    Belenda hugged Inja. “It’ll be ok.”