Secretly, Joe was glad to get his mind off everything and make himself too busy to pay any attention to the awkward silence, disturbed only by Mrs. Soto's quiet and soothing voice, which was reigning in the classroom.

"He comes downstairs," Mrs. Soto said the next sentence.

Before he was able to translate it in his own head, he heard a low voice coming from the front, "Èl va abajo," someone said.

His hair standing on end, Joe raised his head to see the speaker and next moment his mouth dropped open. Daniel Norton was there, standing behind Ms. Soto’s desk, his glazed eyes staring at someone in the class again.

Feeling his throat getting parched with anxiety, Joe turned his head to see who it was and his heart sank. It was Biff Hooper.

"Él va abajo," Daniel said again, his eyes on Biff who was busy writing something in his copybook. "Él va abajo," he said louder and this time Biff looked up and, to Joe’s utter horror, stood up from his seat.

"Biff, what are you doing?" Joe asked hoarsely as he watched his friend go to Daniel, whose hand was reached out in a welcoming gesture. "Biff, don’t do it!!" But Biff seemed to not have heard him. He reached out his hand too, ready to let Daniel take it and lead him to wherever he had come from…

While Joe was staring pop-eyed at them, he suddenly noticed something – a reflection of a window that seemed to be just hanging in the air behind the teacher’s desk. This can’t be true! It must reflect from something…. An invisible wall?? Swallowing hard, Joe remembered the previous lesson when he thought he had seen Daniel’s hand touch something… Was he talking Biff with him now? Gosh, what is happening here?? Biff, stop!!…

"Él va abajo…."

Biff’s hand was inches from Daniel. "STOP IT!!" Joe shouted, squeezing his eyes shut, unable to see it anymore. He knew that if he saw it Biff would be in big trouble soon. "Stop it right now!"

"Stop what, Joe?" Ms. Soto asked perplexingly.

Joe opened his eyes and saw all students’ eyes on him. He looked round the classroom. Just like an hour ago, Daniel was nowhere to be seen and Biff was sitting at his desk, a worried expression on his face. "Joe, you ok?" he asked his friend.

I'm mad! I'm totally mad!! Joe thought, trembling with sudden angst. All around him were people, looking at him as he was indeed crazy. Of course, none of them saw Daniel, of course, Frank was right, it was my imagination, my sick head…

"Joe?" Mrs. Soto asked worriedly. "Are you ok? Do you feel fine?"

Joe shot a glance at her table, hoping to see Daniel behind it and to hear everyone say, "Look! It’s Daniel! He’s there!"… But no one stood there and no reflection hung in the air.

"Joe?" he heard Biff ask again. He turned to look at his concerned face, glad to see him safe and sound, but worried about his possible future. Biff snapped his fingers in front of his face to get him out of his trance, "Joe? What’s wrong?"

Joe suddenly felt his cheeks burn in shame as he was brought back to reality. "I'm sorry," he said quietly to the teacher, hoping to see a huge black hole nearby so he could jump into it to avoid everyone’s derisive or concerned glances. "I didn't mean to.. to..." he nervously licked his parched lips. "Sorry…"

"Never mind," Mrs. Soto nodded rather reluctantly and continued the lesson. "Next sentence...."

Joe caught Biff’s worried stare. He waved his hand as if saying he was alright, but truth was that he was not.

~~

"Hey, Joe, wait!" Biff caught up with his swiftly running away from the classroom friend. "What was it all about?"

"What are you talking about?" Joe dully asked, never looking at him and continuing his way to the third floor for his next class.

"About what happened during the lesson?" Biff said, smiling at him. "First you tell me "not to do it", then you shout "stop it". At first I thought you told Soto to stop - that was exactly what most of us wanted!"

Joe forced a wan smile, "Let it be this way, then," he said, coming to the stairs and starting downstairs. "Please, don’t ask me about anything…." he almost begged his friend.

"What hap...." suddenly Biff stopped as he stumbled over something.

"Él va abajo," echoed in Joe’s head. Before he could do something…. "Ouch!" was all Biff Hooper exclaimed before starting to fall from the stairs!