Sheldon, part 7

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Charlotte said, motioning for Sheldon to be quiet.

“It’s your mother. Who did you think it would be?”

“I don’t know mom, I was hoping for a surprise.”

“Sorry to disappoint you Charlotte. It’s just me.”

“I’m already in bed. What’s up?”

“I heard voices.”

“Maybe it’s the television.”

“We don’t have a TV, pumpkin. We’ve never had a TV. The voices were coming from your room. One of them wasn’t yours.”

“School play.”

“What?”

“I’m practicing for the school play mom. I am supposed to play … a ghost.”

Sheldon rolled his eyes, and Charlotte, turning from the door, looked at him helplessly. She was improvising. “Whoooo. Whooo. You know mom, lots of haunting sounds.”

“Dear,” her mom said.

“Not now, I need to rehearse.”

“Really dear,” her mom said again, “there’s no point. I’m in the room.”

Charlotte turned back around to face the door, only to see her mother standing there, staring.

There was a moment of silence. Finally her mother said “You’ve got a ghost in your room.”

Before Charlotte could answer, Sheldon jumped in. “You must be Charlotte’s mother. I’m glad to see you’re taking this so well. Very pleased to meet you. I’m …”

“Yes,” Charlotte’s mom interrupted, “you must be Sheldon.”

Sheldon looked pale, if a ghost can look pale. “How did you know that?”

From behind him came another voice. “Because,” said the cat, “it’s the name of the book.”