Maisel’s Neighbourhood Watch Log: September 17th, 2023 – 11:25 AM – Outside Sasheen’s House
Operation Locate Pocket
The Butterfly Mystery
I ran outside and spotted the butterflies fluttering together down the road. My house was on the corner of a quiet section of Harrington. It looked like the butterflies were heading in the general direction of Sasheen’s house, which was great news. I didn’t want to take my eyes off of them for a second longer than I had to.
Sasheen and I were best friends, and had been since kindergarten. We used to do everything together; we went to the same school, played the same sports, had the same hobbies, but we’d barely seen each other over the past year. She’d been too focused on school to hang out with me, and even at school, she said she needed to focus on listening to the teacher rather than talking to me.
I am an excellent listener, although maybe a slightly better talker.
I couldn’t wait to see her reaction when I got to tell her about the duplicating butterflies. I loved supernatural stuff, but Sasheen always got especially nerdy about it. She loved nothing more than figuring out how something worked. She loved the process from beginning to end, discovering a paranormal mystery, determining the cause, and then figuring out how to stop it.
The butterflies stopped by a bench along the side of the road. Sasheen’s house wasn’t far from the bench, so I figured I could leave the butterflies for a minute to go get Sasheen. Hopefully, they wouldn’t go far.
Just wait right here. I’ll be right back.
I could see that the light in Sasheen’s garage was on, which meant she was probably in there working away on some school project.
I don’t remember any homework; maybe it was a personal project.*
*Note: There was definitely homework. – Sasheen
Sasheen had argued with her dad to use half of the garage as a workshop, and… she had won. Now there was a line of chalk going down the center of the garage, dividing it between her workshop, and her dad’s “magnum opus,” which, as far as I could tell, was an old car that did not start.
I knocked politely on the garage door.†
†Note: A rhinoceros would have knocked more gently than Maisel did. I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard that banging. – Sasheen
Mom! I’m in the middle of a science project!
I walked around the side of the garage. Right above Sasheen’s workbench is a large window. It was too high for me to see through, but I thought I could use it to get her attention. I picked up a few pebbles and threw a couple of them at the window. They pinged off.
When she didn’t respond, I realized I needed to ramp up the pressure; those butterflies weren’t going to wait around all day. I reached up to the window and could just barely feel the windowsill. I pulled myself up so I could support myself on my elbows and see through the window. It was really difficult, and I could feel my face turning red.
Sasheen—
I tried to say more, but I lost my grip and fell to the ground.
I pulled myself back up, but this time, I managed to get my foot onto a pipe. That way, I was able to awkwardly hold myself up.
Sasheen! Up here!
She looked up at me from within her garage. She was wearing these massive rubber gloves, an oversized apron, and a welder’s mask. She pointed behind her to a corkboard which read “Banned from Sasheen’s Lab.” My photo was directly under a photo of one of her golden retrievers, Einstein, and above a photo of her dad, Mr. Ansari. I let go of the ledge and dropped down to the ground.
I’m banned?
Yes, until you apologize.
I already did. Like right away. Multiple times.
You need to mean it. You always say sorry, but then you go and charge into a situation without even thinking.
I’m sorry, Sasheen…
There was silence for a moment before I heard footsteps walk over to the side door.
Sasheen opened the door.
Fine. I’ll forgive you, but I need real action, not just—
I pulled her into a tight hug.‡
‡Note: Try, you jumped into my arms and wrapped your arms and legs around me. You’re lucky I didn’t fall over. – Sasheen
Thank you! I promise I’ll be better!
Okay, okay, now you’re overdoing it.
I’ve got something really super-duper important to show you.
I started walking to the bench where I had left the butterflies.
Maisel, I—
Come on!
I didn’t wait for her, I just rushed over to the butterflies.
When I reached the park bench, I realized I couldn’t see the butterflies anywhere. I felt a wave hit me, and I suddenly felt like crying. It wasn’t fair. Nothing supernatural happens for all this time, and then the first new supernatural event flies off. I was torn between two bad options. I could have followed them and not told Sasheen, but that would have broken our agreement, or I could have left them to tell Sasheen, but that would have left me where I currently was: butterfly-less.
I glanced up to see that Sasheen was crossing the street to me. She had taken off her protective equipment and was wearing overalls and a t-shirt.
They’re gone. Forget about what I said.
I slumped down on the park bench.
The really super-duper important thing?
The butterflies flew away.
You wanted to show me… Butterflies?
Yeah, but now it’s too late. You can go back to whatever you were working on in your garage.
Like…
She pointed at something behind me.
Those butterflies?
No, they were specific butterflies—
I stopped myself when I saw what she was pointing at. My two BEAUTIFUL teal butterflies were fluttering around each other just down the road.
I jumped up, feeling a rush of excitement and relief. They weren’t gone! I knew they’d never leave me!
Sasheen…
I motioned grandly to the butterflies like I’d seen people do at the circus.
After a full year without anything supernatural, I am honoured to announce that the weird and the wonderful have returned to Harrington!
Those butterflies are supernatural…?
Just you wait, any second now, they’ll be normal butterflies and then… BAM! They’ll duplicate.
Sasheen’s face sank, and I could tell she was trying to pick her words carefully.
I know as well as you do that strange things used to happen in Harrington. BUT outside of the angler, there hasn’t been anything paranormal, magical, what have you, since Pocket vanished.§
§Note: See the Red Cedar Incident from August 19th, 2023
I know! I know. I don’t understand it, but this…
I once again motioned wildly at the butterflies.
…is undeniable.
Okay. I’m just trying to understand.
Harrington became normal for a full year, and then, when something magical finally happens, only you see it?
Well, my mom was also there.
Okay… She said she didn’t see anything, but she’s an adult. She can’t see the supernatural. So if anything, that only proves my point.
So, it was just you…
She took a deep breath.
I’ve got a science project to finish.
But… The butterflies…
I looked back at them and realized they had begun fluttering down the street, away from us.
Come on. Let’s just follow them for a minute. They’ve got to duplicate again soon.
…Fine. But if we don’t see any evidence soon, you need to admit that you imagined it.
I spat in my hand and held it out to shake on it. A proper gentleman’s agreement.
Deal.
There’s no need for a handshake.
No handshake, no deal.
She looked a bit sick to her stomach, but she stuck out her hand.
I excitedly shook it.
– Maisel
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