7. The Ghost of Now

7 The Ghost of Now

This was turning out to be the worst night in the history of nights. When would it end? The clock that I didn't have struck one. "A.J.... A.J.... A.J...." "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" There was another weird-looking ghost floating over my bed! It took me a few seconds to realize it was the ghost of Dr. Brad, our school counselor. He has crazy hair and looks like one of those mad scientists in the movies who straps people to a chair, removes their brain, and puts a monkey brain in its place. "I am zee ghost of vut's happening right now," said Dr. Brad.* He talks funny, and his eyebrows jump up and down as he speaks. "Wait," I said. "Right now has a ghost? That's weird." "I vud like you to come vis me, A.J.," said

the ghost of Dr. Brad. "Vee are going on a leetle journey." Another journey? The journey with Mr. Klutz wasn't much fun. Oh, well, I figured. At least I would get to fly again. Flying is cool. "When are we going?" I asked. "Right now, of course," the ghost of Dr. Brad replied. "I am zee ghost of vut's happening right now." He floated out the window, and I followed him. I wasn't afraid this time. "Come," said the ghost of Dr. Brad. "Zare is much to see." We flew about a mile or so, and then we swooped down over a playground. But it wasn't the playground of my school. It was the playground of Dirk School, another school in our town. The guys and me call it Dork School. It's for really smart kids.

该页暂无翻译

There were lots of kids running around the playground. It must have been their recess time. There were some big posters on the walls with slogans like RESPECT OTHERS and BE CONSIDERATE. The ghost of Dr. Brad and I floated low over the playground. "Do you notice anyzing different about zis school, A.J.?" he asked me. "Uh... the kids are dorks?" I guessed. "No," said the ghost of Dr. Brad. "Zuh children are being nice to each uhzer." He was right. Nobody was pushing and fighting or saying mean things to anybody else. "Zee vut I mean?" said the ghost of Dr. Brad. "Zuh children are sharing. Zay are cooperating. Zay are helping each other. And zay are having fun, A.J." Hmmmm, interesting. Everybody at Dirk School seemed so happy.

"Wait," I said. "Are you telling me that kids can actually have a good time without saying mean things to each other?" "Yes! Zat is exactly vut I am saying." I had no idea this was possible. I always thought the only way to have fun was to say dumb stuff about other kids and make everybody else laugh. This was blowing my mind!