Invisible?
A one lesson, mini ghost story for ages 9 and up
Here is a mini. There will be a couple of mini stories every month - stories perfect to do in one lesson. This is a strange ghost story that gets kids talking and thinking. The classroom activities are designed to get progressively harder. Your students who struggle should be able to answer the first ones, and even your most confident students will find something to provoke and challenge them. Have fun! Click on the links to access the classroom activities and quizzes. I’ll add a video next week. I am in the UK at the moment (raining cats and dogs right now) so it’s perfect to get a bus stop author movie. You’ll understand when you read the story.
Get stuck in!
Before reading classroom stuff
Invisible?
Chapter 1: Bench cat
You want me to tell you a story? Sure, I travel a lot. I know a lot of stories. What kind of story do you like?
A ghost story? Sure. You’ve come to the right person. I can tell you a ghost story. I know a lot of them.
Let me think. Okay. Got it.
And I bet you've never heard a ghost story like this one.
This ghost story starts one evening, on my way home. It was a windy evening. A cold and rainy evening. People walking past quickly. Hats pulled down. Hands in pockets. Something made me turn my head. I don't know what it was. Maybe a sound or just a feeling. And there, under a bus stop bench, I saw a small white shape. It was a cat. Not really a kitten, but not fully grown. It was shivering and yowling softly at a puddle.
I walked over and sat on the bench. Then I knelt on the floor and put my hand under towards the cat. The cat hissed at me; its ears flat against its head. And then its paw flew out, sharp claws trying to scratch me. I pulled back quickly. Instinct. This was not a friendly cat. This was a scared and angry cat.
The next evening, on my way home, the cat was still there; curled up and shivering. I sat on the bench. This time. I waited for longer before I got to my knees. People walking past. Hurrying. Always busy. So busy. Nobody looking at the cat. I sighed. How sad.
After 10 minutes, I thought the cat might be used to me. So, I got to my knees and put my hand out again. But no. Hiss, and attack with razor claws.
Chapter 2: Good girl
The next evening, on my way home, I sat for an hour on the bench. The cat under me. And then, something wonderful. The clouds moved and a ray of sunlight hit us both. Me on the bench, the cat under. The sunlight streamed through the cracks between the wood and metal and I heard the most amazing sound. A purr. Soft and low. The cat purred! I got down slowly and put my hand out again. This time the cat just watched the hand get closer. And then, as I got close to the top of its head with one finger, the cat pulled away. But then purred again and started to lick its front paw. It was getting comfortable. I stood up. Smiling and happy. I wanted to point out this lovely snow-white cat to someone walking by. But no one would stop. Nobody would even look at my invisible cat.
The next evening, on my way home. I sat on the bench for two hours. A miracle! The cat came out from under the bench and stretched its back and legs. It looked up at me and then rubbed its head near my foot. But let me tell you the best bit! Somebody else saw the cat! A young boy, ten or eleven years old, maybe on his way home from school. He stopped, stroked the invisible cat and smiled.
“You're a good girl!” he said. The cat purred. And the boy walked away. He kept looking over his shoulder back at the cat and grinning from ear to ear. Somebody had seen the cat! It was like she was becoming real. My invisible cat was becoming a real cat!
Chapter 3: Home
The next evening, on my way home, I collected the invisible cat from her bench, and we went to the park. We played. I blew small leaves, so they twisted and spun in the air. And the cat chased them. I tried to gently catch the invisible cat's tail, and the cat twitched it away playfully. I danced and the cat danced. I spun and the cat spun. I laughed and the cat miaowed happily. I don’t think I have ever felt such joy before. And when the invisible cat went to sleep under her bench that night, I knew she was more real than ever.
The next evening, on my way home, somebody had beaten me to the bench. It was the same boy from before. And now he was with a grown up. The grown up was carrying a soft basket, and they gently put my beautiful real white cat in. I thought she might jump out, but she curled up and settled in. I followed them when they walked away. I followed them quietly. Unseen. Back to their home. A little fence. Garden. Big apple tree. I watched as they took the cat from the basket. And the cat jumped into the boy's arms. Family. Love.
I followed the new family through their front door and into a cosy room. A fire played in the corner. The soft basket was already down, and a bowl of food was waiting.
“I’m going to call you Lucky!” said the boy. “This is your new home, Lucky,”
And the invisible cat jumped down, swallowed some food, and then curled up in her new basket as though she had always lived there. And before she fell asleep, she looked at me once more, my real cat, and blinked slowly. Thank you.
You’re welcome, I whispered, and wiped away water from my eye.
It was time to go. The doors were now closed. No matter. Doors don't trouble me. I walked through the closed kitchen door, through the wall, and through the front door into the garden. I stood under the big apple tree, my arms stretched out and up, fingers pointing to the coming night, and watched as small stars popped bright silver into the dark infinity. I felt my spirit body fade in the red-orange evening light. My work was done. It was time to go home.
Quiz and think about, plus after-reading, videos and projects
If you’d like me or the artist to have a chat with your class, get in touch about setting up a zoom chat or something.