Spooky Little Girl Like You: Queer Ghost Stories, #9

By Foxglove Lee

A young girl's obsession turns terrifying after her tragic death is witnessed by everyone at summer camp. All Melinda wanted in life was Zachary's undivided attention. Didn't matter to her that he was five years older or that he was her camp counsellor or even that he was gay. She wanted to be with him always. Now, in death, will she get her wish?

Queer Ghost Stories are standalone tales that can be read in any order.  Download Spooky Little Girl Like You today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rainbow Crush
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463240984

Foxglove Lee

Foxglove’s fiction has been called SPECTACULAR by Rainbow Reviews and UNFORGETTABLE by USA Today!Foxglove Lee is a former aspiring Broadway Baby who now writes fiction for children, teens and young adults. She tries not to be too theatrical, but her characters often take over. Her debut novel, Tiffany and Tiger’s Eye, is set in the 80s and features an evil doll!

Book preview

Spooky Little Girl

Like You

from the

Queer Ghost Stories

series

By Foxglove Lee

Chapter 1

Zachary didn’t exactly rush out of the changing rooms.  The other camp counsellors were already out there with the kids.  Out there in the pool.  He stripped off his top, then gazed at himself in the mirror.  He couldn’t leave the change rooms looking so bloated.  And spotty!  As an aspiring actor, it was bad enough he had facial acne.  Really hampered his confidence level.  But did his back need to be pimply as well?

He put his top back on.  He could swim in a T-shirt.  Anyway, it would be easier for the kids to identify him in case they needed help with something.

The last day of Arts Camp always left a bittersweet taste in Zachary’s mouth, but none so bittersweet as this, because this was the final session of the summer.  After the long weekend, he’d go back to school, just like all these kids.  Of course, they’d go back to primary school.  The campers were all twelve and under.  But Zachary would be starting his final year of high school, which made him feel old, on the one hand, and excited on the other. 

Zachary wasn’t yet sure whether he’d apply for a college program, or to university.  To theatre school.  He might try his hand at acting right out the gate.  Finish high school, get some acting gigs.  Maybe do a little extra work and look for an agent.  You needed to be in a union to do film and TV stuff.  Although, who would hire him to work on camera with a face like his?  He sighed as he considered his reflection in the mirror.

His parents weren’t the type to pressure him into one thing or the other, but sometimes he wished they would.  He didn’t like to admit it, but he needed guidance, and his drama teacher had other pets.  Every year, she had her favourites, and she groomed them for success.  All her other students sat around wanting to be noticed.  Maybe this was Zachary’s year.  Maybe she’d notice him now. 

He’d be graduating soon.  It was now or never.

Shoving his bag into one of the lockers, Zachary moseyed into the shower room and pressed the button on the pole.  Cold water struck his face, and he jumped back before it could wet his T-shirt.  Maybe he’d skip the shower.  Maybe he’d skip the pool.  He wasn’t much of a swimmer anyway.

When he emerged onto the pool deck, a twang of sadness played on his heartstrings.  Corny, but true.  All these kids, all these adorable little kids!  He’d miss them, he really would.  As stressful and aggravating as this job could be, the final day of camp sparked so many big emotions.  And it happened four times per year, since every camp session was only two weeks long.  After that, it was two more weeks with all new kids.  A complete turnover of campers.

Well, almost a complete turnover.

Zachary cringed as Melinda popped out of the pool and raced toward him.

One of the lifeguards blew his whistle so sharply Zachary hopped.  No running!

That didn’t stop her.  Nothing could stop her.  Melinda was obsessed.  She was the only kid who’d attended all four sessions of Arts Camp, and all the counsellors knew why: she wasn’t there for acting lessons, she was there for Zachary.  His co-workers teased him about it, called him Dreamboat, which was hardly the case.  It was light-hearted, for them—the mocking. But for Zachary, Melinda’s attention felt awkward and humiliating.  She was always telling him how good he smelled and how handsome he was, what a great actor, great teacher, great everything.

Hi Zackie, she said, grabbing for his hand. 

He pulled away from her, clasped both hands behind his back.  Hello, Melinda.

No, call me Mellie, she said, her mousy brown hair clinging to the sides of her ugly little face while her pre-pubescent body dripped pool water all over his feet.  You’re Zackie and I’m Mellie.  That’s our special names for each other.

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