Short Stories

The Undead Boy Next Door

Okay, so I found this little paper-clipped collection of paper that had a story written on it and I just had to put it here. It's some writing from when I was younger and it sure is cringey, but I think it's a bit entertaining. I do try to think I wrote this as a metaphor or a message or it was the tiny romantic within me. Who knows? 

I had moved to Wilsonbury because my parents had gotten new jobs. I had made friends super quickly, but I really miss my old home. It's a nice neighborhood, but our neighbors are weird! I've seen them, talking quietly and they watch for others. At night, they are always running around upstairs. Thing is, I've seen more than just their shadows. A third one. Maybe they've got a hidden child. I wouldn't know, that couple is super crazy. I don't wanna get murdered.

One night, I went outside to put something in the shed. It was my box of secrets and made sure no one would be able to find my secrets. Even our creepy neighbors were asleep. Thank goodness. I did not want ANYONE to find this box.

While I was going to the shed, I noticed a shadow walking behind my neighbor's. I tried not to get involved, but that shadow was coming my way! I, of course, threw my box at it. It yelled out in pain.

When I went closer to confront the shadow, it turned out to be a boy! Yet, he was funky looking. Some stitches on his face and his left eye was all white. He wore a long shirt and baggy sweatpants. His hair was a soft mauve color, sticking up and out in many directions. I think he's homeschooled.

"Why would you throw this big box at me?" he asked, trying to get up from his fall. I didn't trust him. "I'm Wayne, I live next door with my parents!" He's strangely friendly.

I could only stare at Wayne. I then demanded, "Why are you out here, stalking about?! You spooked the life out of me!" I collected my box and stared at him. Wayne seems uncomfortable.

"Well, my parents never let me go out. They say my appearance will scare everyone away. I look a little bit different," he explains, "But who are you? I've never seen you before."

"I'm Ella. Me and my parents just moved here. We arrived four days ago. Not my style, but whatever." I go towards the shed, hiding my box in there. They'll never find it! "I better get back to bed. School tomorrow. Good night!"

Before I could leave, Wayne shouted, "Wait!" This got my attention and I stopped. "Can we chat after school tomorrow?" Okay, this dude just met me, but I guess I can be a nice person.

"Okay, but at 4:30 pm, 'kay? My parents don't really approve of non-female friends. Don't be late or early! Meet by my shed!" I told him. He nodded before slinking away to his home. I feel bad that he can't go to school based on how he looks. Well, he could, but his parents are preventing that. But if it's just how he looked, people can go past that. Not all, but plenty. What else could it be?

*

I was walking to school, enjoying the scenic route. As I kept walking, I saw a graveyard. Why was it so close to the school? That cannot be an easy thing to deal with. Especially if they lived here and a loved one is buried there, watching the school.

On my way up the stairs to the school, my friend, Kara, ran up to me. "I know you aren't a fan of Jared yet, but let him wow you! You two would be a cute couple!" she was cheering, a big grin on her face. Kara loved to pair people together.

"I don't like Jared! He's rude to others, mean to younger boys, and he's just... he's Jared! He's not my type!" I tried to jeer back. Kara just held a smirk on her face. "It's true! I like nice guys and Jared is not like that!" She's still smirking.

We got through school and I noticed there's a locker to the corner of my eye. It's a locker surrounded by flowers and other objects. What really disturbed me was the picture on the locker. The boy in the photo looked like Wayne! But this whole look and the locker made it seem like he was dead! Maybe that's why he's so... unique-looking.

I went straight home, planning to ask Wayne what that scene was all about. It was 4:28 pm, so he should be here soon. I set up a table and two chairs in the shed. This could be our hang out space if we really became friends. A knock came from the door as I opened it to see Wayne. "Wow, right on time. Good job! Come in, come in!"

He walked in, sitting on the left of the table. He seemed a bit nervous. "So... how was school?" his fingers nervously tapped the table. I only shook my head. I better ask him now.

"On, it was alright, but I saw a strange thing at school! I saw a locker with a picture of you and a whole bunch of flowers and stuff. So, when are you gonna tell me you are a corpse?! With the accusation, he lets his head hang in guilt. I knew it! Aren't there things to tell your neighbor/friend?"

"Well, I hadn't expected you to find out this fast, but yeah I died in a car crash 2 months ago. My parents were super depressed about it, since I'm their only kid. Somehow, I woke up and I was not dead anymore! My parents were super afraid at first. They said after the undertaker left, I woke up. So, they thought he had brought me back! My parents decided to hide me. Now, I'm just an undead boy hidden from society. I'm sorry for not telling you yesterday," he explained. I decided to forgive him.

I forgave him and grabbed something from my box of secrets. It was a little scrapbook that I held near and dear to my heart. This dude can't be with others because he's back from the dead. "This is my book of memories from where I had previously moved from. It's all pictures of me and my best friend, Lily. But with the move and all, we stopped being friends. This all I have left as memories of our friendship. It may not make you feel better, but it can show how similar we are in the friend category."

He looked through it, smiling out some pages. He closed the book and gave me a pity smile. "Seems you two were the greatest of friends. Sucks that you moving destroyed the friendship," he put his hand on top of mine, trying to comfort me. I smiled.

"I better get home. My parents should be coming home soon. It was nice to know the truth. Same time tomorrow?" I started to leave. He followed after, nodding his head. He goes back to his house and I return to mine. For someone undead, he was quite nice.

My parents arrived home around 6. My dad worked half an hour longer than my mom, but we have just one car so she hangs out at my dad's work. We had to cut costs somewhere and one car is the way to go. I did my homework quickly and we had a movie night. I love my romantic comedies, just like my dad. My mom's not a fan, but she loves family time.

*

Morning came quickly and I just went through my day. After school, I went straight to my shed. I started to make it more homey, like a treehouse. But this was a grounded treehouse. I put some board games, snacks, drinks, and other things. Wayne might like the setting. A harsh knock came from the shed's door. I opened it to see Wayne's mother. She held an angry face with slight fear in her eyes. She poked my chest's sternum with her long and bony finger. "You! Girl! Stay away from my son! Stay away from him! You'll hurt him like that vicious girl from the car crash!" she ran off, screaming.

After that encounter, Wayne only met me at night when his parents were both asleep. We had to meet like this, because of his overprotective mom. It was kind of romantic in some way and we both became best friends. We even started our own scrapbook of ourselves. It wasn't bad having the undead boy next door as a best friend.