If Levi had thought that his parents’ divorce was the worst thing to happen to him, just imagine the shock when he learned that his grandmother was possessed. He had stood in the doorframe of his grandma’s house, wrapped up tightly in her embrace for what felt like eternity.

Levi wasn’t object to affection or hugs in general, but his grandmother was. In the 12 years that he had known the woman – granted, he’d only seen her a few days a year so in reality he’d probably seen her a total of 36 or so times in his life – he knew she wasn’t a hugger. His mother had once told him she’d always been that way. A wonderful, sweet woman. Just not prone to physical touch. His mother had only stood behind him, laughing. Shocked? Perhaps. Happy her mother was working through personal things? Sure.

Not at all concerned that there was a demon inside of her.

“Oh?” His mom laughed when they were left alone to unpack in the spare room and he had gotten a chance to bare the bad news. “Who is it then?”

“A demon.” His mom let out a squawk like laugh that had him frowning. She pulled him in for a hug before crouching down to his level, grabbing his shoulder gently.

“I’m sorry for laughing.” She wasn’t, but she wouldn’t have said that.

“I know the change has been difficult.” It had been. Not the divorce itself, but the sudden switch in schools. When his parents told him they’d be separating, he had at least expected to live in the same state. Maybe he wouldn’t live with his dad anymore, but he would like to at least see him.

Oh god, he was going to see him roughly 36 days – give or take depending on the length of each visit – over the next 12 years of his life, wasn’t he? It would be grandma all over again. Next thing he knows, his father will be possessed by a demon.

“Levi, hun, are you listening?” His head bounced up and down automatically. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was that she had asked. Only that the last word fluctuated in that high pitched, question mark kind of tone he had learned meant ‘say yes. It’s likely the expected answer’. Meanwhile, he was busy trying to figure out how to save his father from his impending doom.

“Levi-” His mother tried again, sternly this time. His eyes flicked up towards her, to see her frowning. Was yes not the answer? Why was it not enough? “Look, just do me a favor. Don’t start accusing your grandmother of being possessed. It isn’t nice.”

“Neither is letting her continue be possessed. It’s not her fault.” He argued. It was, as always, returned with a glare. He pursed his lips and nodded. “Of course. I’d never hurt grandma’s feelings.” Her glare softened.

“I didn’t say you would.”

“I’m excited for school on Monday.” He lied. Her entire demeanor brightened, sunshine radiating in from the windows at the same time in a way that it made her glow. She had been going on about his new school the entire journey. The entire 3 day drive, because apparently a flight wasn’t as fun.

Also not as convenient to pack things up, his mother would have argued.

You get stuck in a car for 3 days with a tennis racket you don’t even like stabbing you in the side and see how you feel. It was like the tennis racket had something against him. He considered tossing it in a river but was concerned it’d find it’s way back again.

“It’s going to be wonderful. I’ve spoken with the principal, your new teachers. They all sound so lovely.” Lovely wasn’t the word he’d use, but his mother deserved to be happy. And if lying to herself brought her happiness, then so be it, he’d play along.

“Now, I have a few things that need to be settled today for the stay. You’ll stay with your grandmother and so help me, Levi -”

“Don’t accuse her of possession.”

“Or anything else supernatural.” They gave eachother a knowing look and Levi nodded.

“I won’t.”

“Good. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

***

His grandmother was certainly possessed.

There was no other explanation for what he was witnessing.

His grandmother held out the small tray of cookies in to him, offering him to take one. He stood there as she waited with the cookies. Her smile grew more worrisome as each second ticked by and she let out a nervous laugh.

“You can have one. They’re not going to bite.”

But whatever you are might. He thought.

“What’s in them?”

She raised a brow in question. “They’re chocolate chip. You love chocolate chip.” It was true. He did. But she didn’t. Last time they had seen his grandmother, she had told him that it wasn’t the taste that bothered her, more so the blandness. There were so many exciting cookie flavors, some you could possibly invent on your own (he had his doubts), and you choose to settle for chocolate chip?

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Stop, mom. It’s a classic. Not everything needs to have extra “pizazz”. He recalled the argument between his mom and grandmother like it was yesterday. His dad had sat at the table silently eating his chocolate chip cookie.

Levi took a cookie, his eyes never leaving his grandmother.

She smiled.

He narrowed his eyes in return.

“You’re not going to make me wait until after dinner?”

She swatted a hand across the air, and laughed. “What do you think I am? Your mother? Now eat that cookie.”

He sat, cross legged on the chair, slowly eating the cookie in hand, as his grandmother recalled her history. Telling him stories of her younger days. Days before Maples and the days of her moving and settling down in the town she now calls home.

“I’d never leave.” She said, haven’t had touched any of the cookies herself. “It’s my home now. Where I belong. I wouldn’t know where else to go even if I tried to leave. gosh, I’m not sure I can leave.” She stared off into space for an uncomfortable amount of time.

Well, that wasn’t scary at all.

“I think I saw some kids outside-” He said slowly. He wasn’t sure if there were even kids in the neighborhood, anything to get him out of that cursed kitchen.

“Oh, well you should take these.” She handed him a plastic plate of cookies, ushering him outside. Outside, he got a good look of the neighborhood for the first time. There were, in fact, other kids playing. He looked at the tray of cookies and then at the kids.

He knew exactly what needed to be done.

***

What’s the best way to build a team?

A cookie stand. He didn’t have a cookie stand, but a decorative plastic plate and a positive attitude would have to work.

Free cookies made friends.

“Hi!” He happily made his way to a girl who had just left her yard. She was likely his age, and frowned when she saw him approaching. He put on the same face he had seen the sample man from the grocery store made when he offered his mom and him a free sample. He was good. A skilled professional. Levi aspired to be more like him. He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. He was going to be fine. It’s just a kid. A kid his age who was not as friendly looking as he had presumed from afar.

“My names Levi.” He greeted, approaching her with the cookies. She stared back at him, the look on her face filled with disgust. He looked back at the cookies. Maybe there were people who agreed with his grandmother.

“I’m Francesca.” Her eyes flitted away towards her friends, not maintaining the eye contact.

“It’s nice to meet you. I just moved in with my grandmother.” He pointed to the house at the end of the street and she laughed.

“You live there?” She giggled, glancing towards the group of kids waving her down.

“Yeah, just moved in!” He had already said that and he didn’t like that she couldn’t listen. Not a good candidate to help save his grandmother.

Strike one.

She snatched a cookie from his plate and took a bite.

“These are gross.” She said, dropping the cookie back down and giggled. “Have fun living with the ghosts.” She ran past, taking off towards another group of kids at the end of the street. They laughed and he had caught the girl pointing back at him, saying something he couldn’t hear.

He didn’t know what her problem was.

Definitely not a good candidate. There’s a strict ‘no jerks allowed, policy,’ for this team and he will not waiver.

Strike number infinity, jerk.

Have fun living with the ghosts. That would explain so much. As awful as the encounter had been, he at least had come to the conclusion that his grandmother was possessed by a -

“Sorry about her.” Levi had nearly dropped his tray of cookies, but caught them before they slipped from the plate. Behind him, a boy stood, his hands deep in the pockets of his hoodie. He rocked on his heel as he waited.

For what?

“Uh-” Levi stuttered. “I’m Levi. I live there. Sorry, you nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought I was going to die.” The boy laughed and shook his head.

“Let’s hope not. Don’t need anymore ghosts around here.”

Ghosts again.

“Yeah, about that. What did she mean? Is that house haunted.” The boy turned towards his grandmother’s house and shrugged.

“Depends on the day of the week and time of day, I guess.”

“What does that mean?”

“As I said, sorry for my sister. She’s not always the nicest. She once put two frogs in my pillow. Not the biggest fan of frogs, if I’m honest.”

“What weird things have you seen around here?” Levi pushed further.

“Um, just Francesca.” He says, pointing to the group of kids now playing a game of their own.

Levi gestures the tray forward, offering him one. When he shakes his head as a rejection, he frowns.

What was it and everyone in this town not liking chocolate chip cookies?

“I’m Mateo.”

“Levi.” He greets. He shifted the cookies into his left hand and reached out his right to shake. He heard shaking hands was the most important part of any business deal. His hands are still shoved into his pockets, avoiding Levi’s outstretched hand.

He doesn’t take it to heart. Perhaps he wasnt much of a business kind of person. “I like you. You’re perfect for the job.” Mateo’s brows lower and his mouth deepens into another frown.

“What does that mean?”

“Mateo, welcome to the Save Grandma from the Evil Demons Association.” he’d work on the name.