#fromspectra

I never understood why so many monsters held Ghoulia in such high esteem. I mean, she's a zombie for groaning out loud. Hello? Can you say lowest rung on the monster ladder? What is it about her? Does she have some kind of special power? Has she cast some spell over everyone? I needed to know. So today, I followed her because, as an investigative journalist, it's part of my job to find the real truth. You'd think it would be easy, seeing as how she's so slow, but several times she managed to give me the slip. Other than studying and hanging out with Cleo and the Fear Squad posers, I couldn't find anything remotely remarkable about her. I thought about just giving up until she wandered down a back passage in the library to a room that I thought only I knew about. It's where they keep the really old reference books and stuff. I was sure she was just hiding out so she could read that stupid Dead Fast comic book she's always carrying around, but she wasn't. She was looking through old newspapers. I don't know how she knew I was there since I was hiding in the shadows, but she pulled out the chair next to her, looked straight at me, and patted the seat for me to sit down. I was so startled that I just floated over and sat down. The headline of the paper in front of her read "The Real Vondergeists" It was my family's story...I had forgotten... Oh, my soul. I must have broken down because the next thing I knew, Ghoulia was patting me on the back, and I was soaking her shoulder with ectoplasmic tears. I couldn't stop for a while, and when I did, Ghoulia just looked me in the eye and said in zombie, "Your secret is safe with me." I guess now I understand.

I am going to address this incident in tomorrow's column.

I like to believe that my game is scary well balanced, but if I had to pick one part of it that is the strongest, I would have to say it's my ground game. I rarely ever miss a ball that bounces on my side of the net. This ghastspect of my game can really wear down and frustrate even the strongest opponent.

SUNDAY

When Spectra Vondergeist floats onto center court, fans and opposing players know that the normally chatty and gregorious spirit isn't there to dish and delve on the latest rumors haunting the halls of Monster High. Her focus is purely on the match at hand and how she plans to serve up another win for the Nightmares. Spectra may have the reputation as a ghoul who's never been afraid of a little self-promotion, but that reputation vanishes when she puts on the MH colors. "I am proud to represent Monster High, and I would never scream of doing anything on the court that would embarrass the school," Spectra said recently after a hard-won match. "Of course, you can always read a stunning shot-by-shot recap of my exploits on my blog." Certainly, if Spectra continues to play at such a high level, her blog will be getting a lot more than just love from her fans.

My best match ever? Oh, fear, they're all so memorable. I suppose if I have to choose one, though, it would be an epic showdown that I actually lost. It was my first year on the team, and I had already won my first five matches without scaring up a sweat. My next opponent was this little zephyr of an air elemental that barely looked like she could lift a racket, much less return one of my serves. I was already planning out my career as a pro; the magazine covers, the fashion shoots, my own signature perfume-all coming on the heels of major tournament victories in Londoom, Scaris, and Boo York. I guess, in preparing for my future stardom, I didn't do a very good job of listening to my coach, who tried to tell me that the ghoul I was about to face was an excellent player with great ability. I learned soon enough, though, as she beat me in straight sets 6-1,6-2,6-0. When we met at the net to shake hands, she told me, "You're a good player; I was really worried about facing you, so I practiced extra hard for this match." It was a hard lesson to learn, but it taught me to never underestimate any opponent and to practice like my dreams depended on it.

Players with multiple arms may still only use one racket.

5 pm – 6 pm: The spirit is willing and this dress is chic.