The Pink Sneakers Club: Sometime Around Midnight. Christian Bertoni

. . . I know you’re a very private person but if you ever want to talk I’m always here.”

      I smiled. What else could I do? It was getting really awkward.

      “So? Do those hurt?”

      “What?”

      “The piercings on your lip or eyebrows?”

      “A little but, you push through the pain.”

      “I’ll bet.”

      Caren came outside with her damp hair in a bun on top of her head, “c’mon guys it’s freezing out here I’m ready.”

      “Honey come outside and sit with us for a little bit.”

      “My hair’s wet, you want me to catch a cold?”

      “Okay, do me a favor and check on the cookies, let me finish this cigarette and we can start the movie.”

      Caren turned around and headed back inside while we sat, talked and smoked. I can’t remember the last time I sat with an adult and just chatted. Without the judgmental looks. It was nice.

      “Transfer’s done.” I said.

      “I’m almost done too. This is nice. It’s not often I can sit and talk with one of Caren’s friends.”

      “You’re pretty cool. For an old lady.”

      She laughed, “who are you calling old?” We finished our cigarettes then headed inside.

      Deirdre

      Chapter 6

      It was 7:30 before I got home I had gone to visit Ben in the hospital. He’s doing better still a little weak. Today proved to be another interesting day. We kinda seem to be having those a lot lately.

      That’s odd? All of the lights in the house were on. My parents never leave the lights on if anything they would leave maybe one light on. They left this morning for some conference in Seattle. They’d be home in a few days.

      I checked the fridge for something to eat but I wasn’t really hungry I had eaten some of Ben’s Jello and half of his ham sandwich.

      I made my way through the house turning off all of the lights except the one in the downstairs hallway and the one upstairs. I’m not afraid of being home alone but I like to feel like there’s somebody here. Somehow a few lights helps. Strange how the mind works.

      I turned on the shower, went into my room grabbed my pj’s -- when my radio suddenly went off at full volume.

      “What the hell!?!?!” Oh my God that scared the crap out of me. I ran over, turned the volume way down and then turned off my Bose Wave radio. “God, what was that?”

      I walked back into the bathroom when I suddenly stopped cold. All of the lights were - on again! I could feel my heart beating so loud I swear you could hear it. I went to turn off the shower when I saw words written on the mirror from the steam. It read: sometime around midnight.

      Part 2: Sometime Around Midnight

      Randi

      Chapter 7

      “Deirdre what’s wrong? Is it Ben?” I asked.

      “N-n-no. M-my house, help me I think th-there’s somebody in it.”

      “What!?!? Are you sure? How do you know?”

      Deirdre came in slowly and told me about what happened with the lights and the bathroom mirror. My mom and dad were both listening to her. “Deirdre I’m going to go and check it out. I want you to stay here, okay?”

      “N-no I want to go with.”

      “I don’t think-“

      “Please?”

      My dad just couldn’t say no, “okay but stay in the car.”

      Deirdre nodded.

      “I’m coming with.” I said.

      We drove up to her house and noticed all the lights were turned off.

      “That’s weird. I didn’t turn them off when I left.”

      “Stay here I’ll check it out.” My dad got out of the car and walked into the house with his gun drawn.

      “Hey listen if you want you can stay at my house tonight.”

      “Yeah okay. I need to get my stuff though.”

      “As soon as my dad says it’s clear you can get your stuff.”

      “Okay.” She let out a sigh of relief.

      I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, “it’ll be okay. I promise.”

      She gave a faint smile.

      After a few minutes my dad strolled back out and sat in the car. “It’s clean. There’s nobody there. I checked everywhere.”

      “You sure?” Deirdre asked.

      “Positive.”

      “Nothing?”

      “I’m sorry Deirdre nothing. I even checked your basement. It’s locked up good. If they came in, they’re gone now. You probably scared them away.”

      “Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly what I did.”

      “Dad? I told Deirdre she could stay with us just for tonight.”

      “It’s fine.”

      “Can I run in and grab my stuff real quick?”

      “Sure. You want us to come with you?”

      “No. I’m fine. I’ll be right back.” Deirdre ran quickly inside.

      I asked. “Did you see any writing on the mirror?”

      “No. Shower was off too. You don’t think she was making it up do you?”

      “It’s not like Deirdre to make stuff up.“

      We heard Deirdre scream.

      My dad and I quickly ran inside the house, “Deirdre! Where are you!??!” My dad shouted.

      She screamed again.

      “It’s coming from her room!” we bolted upstairs and my dad burst through the door gun drawn. There was nobody in the room except Deirdre who was pale as a ghost and staring at the walls. We both looked over and saw someone had written all over the walls in her room with the exact same words that she said had been written on the bathroom mirror - sometime around midnight.

      “What’s going on!?!?!” I asked.

      “Deirdre? Are you okay?” My dad asked, putting his gun back in his holster.

      Deirdre didn’t say a word my dad gently took her by her shoulders. “Deirdre? Let’s go.”

      She shook her head. “Okay.” We took her back to the car. As we were driving off I happened to look back and saw the lights in the house turn on. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to freak Deirdre out anymore than she already was. To be honest I was freakin’ out too now.

      We got back to my house I sent Deirdre up to my room while I’d get us some hot chocolate.

      My mother approached me and said softly. “What happened?”

      “It was weird mom. She said all her lights were on when she came here but when we went back to her house? The lights were off. Dad checked the whole place. When he said it was clear Deirdre went in to get some clothes and that’s when things got weirder.” I explained to her about the writing on the wall