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“So,” Sheldon said, “are we ready to go now?”

“Just one more thing,” Charlotte said, looking pensive. “I had another thought.”

“Another thought? Really? Are we in a story or are we in a philosophical treatise?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“OK, I give up,” Sheldon shrugged his shoulders. “What’s this new thought?”

“Well, according to Applin and Fischer, this whole complicated intersection we’re doing between ways of communicating and modes of physical existence is actually a kind of PolySocial Reality.”

“How do you even know about this stuff? You’re only thirteen.”

Charlotte gave Sheldon an exasperated look. “This ‘stuff’ is totally relevant to thirteen year olds. I mean, how do you think I got through ‘Harry Potter’? I never would have finished those last three books if I didn’t have my copy of AACSI to help me figure out what was going on.”

“AACSI?” Sheldon asked weakly.

“‘Asynchronous Adaptations to Complex Social Interactions’, silly.” Charlotte rolled her eyes. “You don’t get out much, do you?”

“I’m a ghost,” he sniffed. “We don’t do ‘Harry Potter’. I got to Headless Nick and stopped reading out of principle.”

“That’s beside the point. What I’m saying is…” Charlotte began.

“You’re wrong, you know.”

Charlotte and Sheldon turned in surprise. They had both forgotten the cat was there.

“What am I wrong about?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes, we’re in a PolySocial Reality,” the cat continued, “I mean, who isn’t?” She paused for a moment to clean her left paw. “But that’s not what’s important here.”

“OK,” Charlotte frowned, “So what’s important?”

“What’s important is that we are in a Social PolyReality.”

“I’m sort of ready, but…”

“But what?”

Charlotte looked apologetic. “While we’ve been standing here, all these questions have been coming up in my mind — I’m not sure from where.”

“Like what, for instance?”

“Well, like what does it mean that we came back to a different reality? I mean, how do I still know that there was any other reality before this one? And does the book talk about that different reality at all? Or does it now talk about both realities?”

“Wait — all those questions came into your head just this moment, while we’ve been standing here?”

“Yeah. Weird, isn’t it?”

“Maybe, but they are very good questions. What’s different about you that allows you to pass between realities and still remember the one you were in before? Is it because you’re the only one of us who’s not a ghost?”

“No, that can’t be it,” Charlotte said. “Remember, in the other reality my parents weren’t ghosts either.”

“So you’ve said. I don’t actually remember them not being ghosts, but I remember that we’ve been changing realities, so I’m going to trust you on this one.”

“Oh wait — that’s a clue!” Charlotte said. “You remember some of the other realities, but not all of them. So whatever gives me the ability to think about more than one reality, it’s also given you some of that same ability.”

Sheldon shook his head. “It’s a puzzle, isn’t it? I still can’t believe all those questions came into your head between one moment and the next. Sometimes I think there’s more than one person in that mind of yours. I wonder just which one, exactly, I am talking to now.”

Charlotte just smiled. “No comment.”

“Wait,” Charlotte said, “my parents aren’t ghosts.”

“Apparently they are,” Sheldon said. “I’m surprised you didn’t know.”

“No, really.” Charlotte walked up to the desk and started reading. “Oh my, we seem to have come back to a different reality. This is not good.”

“What’s wrong with being a ghost?” Sheldon said, looking offended. “Are you saying you have an issue with ghosts?”

“Well no, being a ghost is ok. I mean, if you’re really a ghost. I believe in diversity.”

“So what’s the problem?”

Charlotte thought about this. “I’m saying that it’s not ok to suddenly turn into a ghost just because you’ve somehow moved sideways within some kind of fictional five dimensional parallel space-time continuum.”

“Oh great,” Sheldon said. “We’ve gone from Ashton Kutcher to Christopher Nolan. I’m not sure that’s any better.”

“Sorry, I got carried away.”

“No worries. So does Christopher Nolan.”

“Right. Anyway, what are we going to do about it?”

“I suggest,” Sheldon said, “that we follow them to where they’ve gone.”

“But how do we know where two ghosts would go?”

“You realize, I hope, that you’re talking to an expert.”

“Oh … good point.”

“Thanks Charlotte. Glad you’ve been paying attention. Anyway, I can take you to them. Are you ready?”

“No, you can’t do that, dear,” said Charlotte’s mom. “Schrödinger’s a boy’s name, and this is a girl cat.”

“I was being conceptual,” said Charlotte’s dad, clearly hurt.

“Can you two please concentrate?” Charlotte said impatiently. “This is important.”

She waited a few moments, until she was sure she had everyone’s undivided attention. “Ok, now watch.”

“Watch what?” Sheldon asked.

Charlotte looked toward Sheldon, but as though she were looking right through him. “OK, let’s do this.” And she held out her arms.

“Do what?” Sheldon said, clearly perplexed.

But Charlotte had not been talking to Sheldon. She had been talking to the cat, who at that exact moment was standing directly behind Sheldon. With a graceful leap the cat jumped into Charlotte’s arms, passing cleanly through Sheldon’s body.

Sheldon looked startled for a moment at the sight of a cat jumping out of his chest and into Charlotte’s arms. Then a look of understanding dawned on his face. “I remember now!”

“Tell me what you remember,” Charlotte said, observing him carefully.

“That I’m a ghost, of course. I mean, isn’t that obvious? After all, cats don’t go jumping clean through people who aren’t ghosts, now do they?”

“No they don’t,” Charlotte said triumphantly. “That’s the sort of thing that can only happen in a fantasy universe. And look!” She pointed at the desk.

“The writing,” Sheldon said, “it’s all there. You did it!”

“Did what?” Charlotte’s mother looked confused. “What are you two going on about?”

“Don’t you see?” Charlotte said excitedly. “Once Sheldon realized that he’s a ghost, he remembered that we are all in a fantasy world — characters in a book. And then everything returned to normal.”

“Of course he’s a ghost,” Charlotte’s dad said, taking his wife’s hand. “What’s so special about that? After all, we’re ghosts too.”

And with that, Charlotte’s parents vanished.

“OK,” said Charlotte’s dad, “we’re listening. How are you going to prove we are in a book. Apparently a book that hasn’t been written yet.”

“That part is temporary,” Charlotte said. “Anyway, you all agree that there is a difference between reality and fantasy, right?”

“Of course,” Sheldon said, “in reality, only possible things can happen. In fantasy, anything can happen. What does this have to do with us?”

“Suppose, just suppose, that I could convince you that we — those of us right here in this room — are living in a fantasy world. Then you’d have to agree that this isn’t the real world, right?”

All three looked dubious. “OK,” Sheldon said, “I think I see where you’re coming from here. But if we were living in a fantasy world, why wouldn’t we know it?”

Charlotte looked toward the desk. “I think the not knowing part has something to do with that book. When we started to rewrite the book, we created a kind of schism, like we were suddenly between two worlds, but not quite in either of them. The book is going to come back, and then you’ll be able to remember it, but first we need to land in some actual plot line. Until then, there sort of isn’t a book. There’s just …” she shrugged “… the possibility of a book.”

“Wait,” said Charlotte’s dad, “What if we land in a different plot line?”

“I’m willing to take that chance,” Charlotte said. “I mean, right now we’re not anywhere.”

“We’re in this house,” Charlotte’s mom pointed out. “Then again, I have no idea who’s house this is, or how we got here.”

“Exactly!”

“But how are you going to do that?” Sheldon said.

“The cat!” Charlotte replied. “I can use the cat to prove to you that we are in a fictional universe. If I can do that, then we’ll actually be in that universe.”

“Hmm,” Charlotte’s dad said, “maybe we should name the cat Schrödinger.”

“What was written on them?” Sheldon asked.

“The book we’re in, of course,” Charlotte said.

“Wait, are you saying we are in a book? That’s crazy!”

“Wow, you don’t remember anything, do you?”

Sheldon snorted. “That’s not very fair is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I can’t very well answer a question about whether I don’t remember anything. I mean, how would I know?”

“He has a point pumpkin,” said Charlotte’s mother. “What are we doing here anyway? What is this place?”

“I suppose it wouldn’t help to tell you that it belongs to the author of the book we’re in.”

“There she goes again!” Sheldon said, and both of Charlotte’s parents gave him a sympathetic look.

“Let’s go home dear,” said Charlotte’s mom to Charlotte’s dad. They started to head for the door, with Sheldon following.

“Wait,” Charlotte said, “I can prove it. I can prove we’re in a book!”

“Why would I want to know why I am here?” Sheldon asked, looking confused.

“Wait, you really don’t remember why we came to this house?” Charlotte stared at him. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Yes, why did we come to this house?” Charlotte’s mother asked. “I’ve been wondering that.”

“Me too,” chimed in Charlotte’s dad.

“Wow, none of you remember.” Charlotte looked confused.

“I remember,” said that cat, “but then again, I’m the cat.”

“True,” Charlotte said. “Wait, I’ll show you. It’s right here in the book.” She walked up to the author’s desk, and started looking through the pages.

“Pumpkin, I don’t think you should be looking through that. It could be…”

“Blank.” said Charlotte.

“Excuse me?”

“They’re all blank.” Charlotte was staring down at the desk. “All the pages are blank. And they weren’t when we got here.”

“I’m sorry Charlotte,” Sheldon said.

“Oh, it’s ok. I suppose it’s a good sign when you meet a boy and he changes your whole world. I just didn’t expect it to be so, um, literal.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I prefer the word ‘literary’.”

“I’d quit when I was ahead if I were you, young man,” Charlotte’s mom said.

“It’s true,” Charlotte’s dad chimed in, “she’s still holding the pen.”

Charlotte smiled. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? I could write anything here. That’s a cool thought.”

“That’s a dangerous thought,” said the cat.

“Yes,” she said, nodding slowly. “Changing the story in the middle isn’t always a good idea. Unexpected things could happen.”

“True,” her father said, “You could end up in an Ashton Kutcher movie.”

Charlotte shuddered at that last thought. She gave the paper in her hands a last regretful look, and then folded it up and put it in her pocket. “We have other things to think about.”

“Like what?” Sheldon asked.

“Don’t you remember? Like why you are here.”

Charlotte turned to Brandon. “What is he talking about?”

Brandon looked sheepish. “There are things about me that I haven’t told you. It’s part of my, you know, mystery.”

Charlotte looked angry. “Well that’s great. Just when we were getting to know each other. So now they’re just going to take you away from me? Lock you up somewhere?”

The captain jumped in. “I sorry ma’am, but we’re on a schedule. This isn’t the only literary violation we need to deal with today. I think it might be best if you two say your goodbyes, and then we’ll be on our way with your friend here.”

“Sorry sir, but maybe it would be better if we knew the nature of Brandon’s offense. An informed citizenry is a safe citizenry, right?”

The captain considered this. “You’re right, of course. Here, let me show you.” He pointed to a piece of paper on the desk.

Charlotte started reading, and her eyes widened. She looked at her ghost friend. “Sheldon?” she said, “your name is Sheldon?”

“I’m sorry Charlotte. Not that it matters now. I guess they’re going to take me in.”

Charlotte turned to captain Rosnkranz. “It’s ok. We can fix this.” She picked up a pen from the desk. “Sheldon isn’t such a bad name,” she said to herself, more than to anybody else.

“Hey,” the captain said, “you’re not not really supposed to touch that. We are in the middle of an investigation and that’s government prop….”

The room shimmered for a moment, and captain Rosenkranz and all of his soldiers vanished.

“I don’t think you were supposed to do that,” said the cat.

Charlotte gave the cat a hard look. “Are you sure you want to discuss this? I’m still holding the pen, you know.”

Charlotte’s mother was incensed. “Whoever you are, I don’t think you have the right to just barge in and start arresting people.”

“Ma’am,” Captain Rosenkranz said, “I’m going to have to ask you to back away.”

“Mom!” Charlotte said, “Don’t you know who these soldiers are?”

“Who are they?”

“They’re from the Literary Violations Bureau.” Charlotte looked at Captain Rosenkranz with a mixture of awe and dread.

“Wow,” said Charlotte’s dad, “I’d heard about these people, but I didn’t think they were real.”

“Real is relative,” said the cat.

Pointedly ignoring this last comment, Charlotte turned to the captain. “But why are you coming after us? We haven’t done anything.”

“He has,” Captain Rosenkranz said, pointing at Brandon, who was starting to look very pale, even for a ghost.

“Brandon? Whatever you think he did, I’m sure he’s innocent.”

“Oh, is that what you call him? Why don’t you ask him his real name.”