Adapted and Illustrated by Alice Twydell
Girl In White
Fred was sulking a little, standing at the sidelines while he watched all his friends dance. His crush had not come to the school disco that night which gave Fred a sour attitude.
His friend, Eddie, came up to him when the song ended to see if his friend was okay. “After all, Anna isn’t the only girl in the world,” Eddie said. “There are many pretty girls here. Dance with one of them.”
Bolstered by his friend’s words, he started looking around. His eyes fell upon a beautiful girl standing at the edge of the floor beside the main door. She was dressed in a white dress and her skin was as pale as the moon.
Her eyes watched the dance hungrily from her postion in the corner, and he felt his heart beat faster. Such a lovely girl should be dancing with him! He made his way through the bustling crowd to the girl in white. She looked startled by his adresses, as if she had not expected anyone to notice her that night.
But she readily agreed to dance with him, and he proudly led her out onto the dance floor. All thoughts of Anna had gone from his mind.
Eddie and some other friends gave him odd looks as he danced with the girl in white. A few times, people kept bumbing right into her as if they had not seen her at all. Fred was furious and wanted to stop the music and make them apologise to the girl in white, but she just laughed and hushed him.
When the song had finished, Fred hurried to grab a drink for his new friend. Eddie approached him at the refreshment table. “Who were you even talking to over there?” His friend teased him. “I was dancing with my new friend.” Fred replied, irritated by his friend remark. “The prettiest girl at school.” “I think you’ve had too much sugar tonight.” Eddie sniggered, “There was no-one there!”
Fred glared at his friend and turned away without answering. He made his way back to the girl in white to continue to dance and get to know the beautiful stranger more.
But when Fred reached her, she grabbed his hand and pulled him with her. She didn’t say where she was going, Fred just followed in silence. They arrived outside on the playground and the night sky was full of stars. With his heart in his eyes, he starred at the girl in white.
The girl turned to him with a sigh and said: “Thank you for tonight. But I must go now.� The spark in her face had vanished and she now looked glum.
“Let’s dance again then.” he said enthusiastically. But she shook her head. “I’m sorry but I must leave.” she said beginning to walk away. “Please don’t go.” Fred pleaded, following her. “I must,” she said, turning to look at him. Her eyes softened when she saw the look on his face. “Come with me?” she invited, holding out her pale hand.
His heart pounded fast at the thought. More than anything in the world, he wanted to go with this lovely girl. But then his mind realised the fact that he could see the wall of the school through the girl’s hand. She was a ghost.
The girl saw his shock and the scared look on his face. “I know it’s a big ask. But I’m so lonely and don’t have anyone to play with. Day in, day out, I’m forever alone and nobody sees me.” she explains her misery and can’t look at Fred in the eye.
As Fred listened to the girl in white’s story, he became to relax and actually feel sorry for her. Maybe it would be fun going with her, he thought. “I’ll come with you.” He smiles warmly. “Really?” She asks and her face lit up. “Yeah! It’ll be fun.” He holds out his hand for hers to hold onto. At first she hesitates but eventually grabs onto his hand.
And with that..
..he was never to be seen again.
Fred is feeling bitter when his crush doesn’t arrive at the school disco. All is boring until his eyes lie upon the most beautiful girl in white. But who is this mystery girl that he’s never seen before?