Hello, friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Red and the gang are feeling defeated when they don't catch anyone during their stakeout. They talk to Taylor and realize she is not the person they are looking for either, but she gives them a photo she took, hoping it might help. Red has the gang over to try and go over everything again to see what they are missing. They come up with a new plan for when they get back to school on Monday. The Transfer Student Volume 3, Part 5 Saturday morning, up before Blue, Red sits at the kitchen table with her notebook spread open, reviewing everything she and the gang know about the locker notes. Upstairs, Blue singing drifts down Some terrible made-up song about being a code-breaking genius At least he's in a good mood And no gags yet either Her mother hums while making breakfast Flipping pancakes that actually look normal today You're up early for a Saturday, she observes The gang's coming over, Red says not looking up from her notes. We're working on a project. A mystery project? Her mother smiles knowingly. Something like that. Red can't stop thinking about yesterday. Senna's note. Others understand what it's like to be far from home. Someone at school knows their Martian. Someone who watches carefully. Someone who cares. The doorbell rings. That'll be them, Red says, gathering her notebook. Her mother opens the door to find the entire gang standing on the porch. Alexa with her tablet, Charlie clutching his notebook, Rachel with a book tucked under her arm, Kurt bouncing on her toes, and Senna looking nervous. Come in, come in, Red's mother ushers them inside. I made extra pancakes if anyone's hungry. Always, Kurt says immediately. Ten minutes later, after Kurt ate most of the pancakes, leaving few for anyone else, they are all crammed into Red's room, door closed. Blue tried to follow them up, but Red successfully deployed the official club business defense. Okay, so here's what I don't get, Charlie says, spreading his notes across Red's bed. We know the note writer helps people. We know they watch carefully. But why these specific people? What's the actual pattern? Actually, a voice says from the doorway, I figured that out. Blue's standing there with his laptop, grinning. You're welcome. Blue, official club business. Yeah, but you need me. He plops down and opens his laptop. I spent a lot of time on this. Sort of. Look. It's a spreadsheet with at least 20 names. each with detailed notes about what they're dealing with. I didn't just list who got notes, Blue explains. I looked at when they got them, the exact timing, and guess what? He pulls up a timeline showing dates and events side by side. Maya got her note the day before she was planning to tell her mom she wanted to quit piano. Marcus got his the morning of his big presentation. Not the day before, not the day after. The morning of. Every single recipient got their note right before they were about to give up on something. That's impossible, Alexa says, leaning closer to the screen. How would anyone know the exact day someone's going to quit something? Unless they're watching more carefully than we thought, Blue says, or... He hesitates. Unless they can hear things. Everyone stares at him. I've been thinking about this, Blue continues. What if the note writer has enhanced hearing, like us? They could overhear conversations we can't. Maya talking to her friend about quitting piano. Marcus telling someone he's too scared to present. Red's mind races. Enhanced hearing? That means another Martian, Senna whispers. Or Blue adds quickly someone who spends a lot of time in places where people talk the library quiet hallways early morning when the school empty and sounds carry Rachel leans forward. Someone who arrives early would hear students talking before anyone else is around, private conversations when the building echoes. And someone small could move quietly, Kurt added. not to be noticed even when they're right there. Red looks at Taylor's photo on Alexa's tablet, the small figure in the hoodie, arrives early, enhanced hearing, or just really good at being invisible and listening. So we're looking for someone who's either Martian, Red says slowly, or someone who's learned to be quiet and observant that they might as well be invisible. Someone lonely enough to understand loneliness, Senna adds quietly. Charlie pushes his glasses up, but that's kind of sad, right? Someone sitting alone in corners, listening to other people's problems because they don't have anyone to talk to about their own? The room goes quiet. Yeah, Red says softly, kinda. Blue closes his laptop. I cross-referenced the note locations too. Each note was placed in a locker during times when the hallways were mostly empty. Early morning before 7.30, late afternoon after 3.30, lunch period when everyone's in the cafeteria. Times when someone could move through the school without being seen, Rachel says. or when someone could be there but not be noticed because everyone's used to seeing them, Alexa adds. Red thinks about Taylor's photo again, someone in a dark hoodie near Senna's locker Thursday morning during their stakeout when they were looking for suspicious behavior. But this person wasn't acting suspicious. They were just being there, so normal that the gang didn't even register them as worth investigating. We've been looking for the wrong thing, Red realizes. We've been looking for someone sneaking around. But what if they're not sneaking? What if they're just always there, and we never notice because they're so good at being invisible? Like background furniture, Charlie says. Someone you see every day but never really look at. Senna hugs her knees to her chest. That's even sadder, being so invisible that people don't even remember seeing you. Red exchanges a look with her. They both know what that feels like, being the new kid, feeling invisible, wanting to connect but not knowing how. Whoever this is, Red says, they understand what it's like to be lonely. They recognize it in other people because they're living it themselves. And instead of asking for help, Rachel says quietly, they're giving it to everyone except themselves. The gang falls silent, the weight of that realization settling over them. Someone at Maplewood Middle School is watching struggling students, listening to their pain, offering encouragement, while dealing with their own loneliness in complete silence. The silence stretches for a long moment. Finally, Senna speaks up. Maybe the note writer isn't a threat, she says quietly. Maybe they're doing something good. But they're still being creepy about it, red counters. Watching people, knowing private things. And how do they know about Mars? That's not just helpful. That's dangerous information. Charlie pushes his glasses up. Okay, but here's my question. If the notes are actually helping people, should we even try to stop them? Everyone looks at him. I'm serious, Charlie continues. Maya's still playing piano. That kid got the lead in the play. Marcus gave his presentation. These notes are making real differences in people's lives. Why do we need to expose whoever's doing it? Because we don't know who it is or why they're doing it, Alexa argues. What if there's an ulterior motive we haven't figured out yet? What if it gets dangerous? Or, Kurt says slowly, what if it's just someone trying to help in the only way they know how? Rachel closes her book, always a sign she has something important to say. Maybe some mysteries shouldn't be solved. Maybe sometimes it's okay to not know everything. Red stares at her. You think we should stop investigating I think we should be careful Rachel says Whoever this is they being kind They helping people who are struggling If we expose them, we might make them stop. And then all those people who need encouragement won't get it anymore. But Red and Senna's notes are different, Alexa points out. Those use Martian symbols. That's not just kindness. That's specific knowledge that could put them in danger. Exactly, Red says. Someone knows we're Martian. That's a security risk for our families, for all the refugee families. We need to know who and why. Senna looks torn. I don't want to hurt whoever's trying to help people, but Red's right. Someone knowing about us is serious. So what do we do, Charlie asks. Investigate or not? Another long silence. We keep investigating, Red decides, but we change our goal. What do you mean, Alexa asks. We're not trying to catch them or expose them, Red explains. We're trying to understand. Who are they? Why are they doing this? And most importantly, are they safe? Both for us and for themselves. Understanding instead of catching, Rachel says, nodding. I like that better. And if we find out they're dangerous, Kurt asks, then we deal with it, Red says. But if we find out they're just a lonely kid trying to help other lonely kids, she glances at Senna, Then maybe we help them, too. Blue, who's been unusually quiet, speaks up from his spot on the bed. So you're still investigating, just nicer? Something like that, Red says. Works for me, Blue shrugs. Alexa closes her tablet. Okay, so same investigation, different goal. We figure out who they are, but we don't assume they're a threat. We assume they might need help, Senna adds quietly. Exactly, Red confirms. Monday, we'll figure out how. As they head downstairs, Red catches Senna's arm. You okay with this? Red asks. Senna nods. Yeah, I mean, someone knowing we're Martian is still scary, but maybe they're scared too. Maybe that's why they're hiding. Maybe, Red agrees. Monday morning, Red's walking to her locker before homeroom when Mr. McCaskill appears beside her, his colorful bow tie clashing wonderfully with his plaid jacket. Red, just the person I wanted to see. He smiles, but there's something different about it, more serious beneath the usual cheerfulness. Morning, Mr. McCaskill. Walk with me for a moment, he gestures down the hallway, away from the crowd of students. Red follows, curious. They stop near the library entrance where it's quieter. I've been hearing interesting things, Mr. McCaskill says, adjusting his bow tie, about the club investigating those coded locker notes. Red's immediately on guard. We're just curious. It's a mystery. Of course it is, and the club is excellent at solving mysteries. I've seen that firsthand. He pauses, choosing his words carefully. But Red, sometimes mysteries are more complicated than they first appear. Sometimes the person at a center of a mystery has good reasons for staying hidden. Do you know who's leaving the notes? Red asks directly. Mr. McCaskill doesn't answer right away. He looks down the hallway, watching students hurry to their lockers. I know enough to tell you to be gentle when you find your answer, that's all. That's not really helpful, Red says, frustration creeping into her voice. Isn't it? Mr. McCaskill meets her eyes. Red, whoever is leaving those notes is helping people, really helping them. Students who were ready to give up on something important found encouragement exactly when they needed it. That's not nothing. But they're watching people. They know things they shouldn't know. Perhaps, Mr. McCaskill says, or perhaps they're just very observant. Perhaps they notice things because they care about noticing. There's a difference between watching someone maliciously and paying attention because you genuinely want to help. Red thinks about Taylor's photo, the small figure in the hoodie, someone who arrives early, someone who watches carefully. You're saying we should stop investigating, Red says. I saying you should investigate with kindness Mr McCaskill corrects gently the same kindness someone is showing to all those students with their notes When you solve this mystery, and you will because your club is quite good at this, remember that the person you find might be fragile, might be doing this because it's the only way they know how to help. He adjusts his glasses, his expression softening. Whoever is doing this is being very kind, Red. When you find them, make sure you extend that same kindness back. That's all I'm saying. The warning bell rings. Five minutes to homeroom. Think about what I've said, Mr. McCaskill says, already heading toward his classroom. He disappears into the crowd of students, leaving Red standing by the library entrance. Mr. McCaskill clearly knows more than he's saying, but he's also right. They need to approach this differently, as friends, not investigators. At lunch, the gang meets in their library corner. Red's still thinking about Mr. McCaskill's warning. Investigate with kindness. Okay, Alexa says, pulling up her tablet. Let's look at what we actually know. Charlie opens his notebook. Taylor's photo shows someone small, possibly sixth grade, wearing a dark hoodie. They were near Senna's locker Thursday morning during a stakeout. Blue's analysis says the note writer has either enhanced hearing or spends a lot of time in quiet places, Rachel adds. Someone who overhears private conversations. And the Martian symbols are only for Red and Senna, Hurt says. Red stares at the photo on Alexa's tablet. What if we've been asking the wrong question? Red says slowly. Everyone looks at her. We keep asking, who could leave the notes? Red continues. Someone with access to lockers, someone who knows codes, someone who arrives early. But what if we should be asking, who would want to help people this much? What do you mean? Charlie asks. Think about it, Red says. This person spends their time listening to other people's problems. They notice when someone's struggling. They care enough to leave encouraging messages in code. That takes real effort and real compassion. Senna sits up straighter. So we're not looking for someone suspicious. We're looking for someone kind. Someone who understands what it's like to struggle, Red says, because they're struggling too. Rachel nods slowly. Mr. McCaskill said whoever's doing this is being very kind and we should be kind back So instead of looking for someone sneaking around Alexa says, thinking it through we should be looking for someone who's always helping who goes out of their way for others Who would care this much? Red asks Who at school is that observant? That compassionate? it. Someone who knows about Mars, Senna adds quietly, because they share that secret, or at least understand what it means to be different and alone. Red thinks about the photo again. We're looking for someone who's lonely, Red says. Someone who recognize loneliness in others because they live with it every day. Someone who helps because they know what it's like to need help but not know how to ask, Rachel adds. So how do we find them, Kurt asks. Red looks at her friends. We stop looking for suspicious behavior. We start looking for kindness. Who at school is always there but never noticed? Who helps quietly without wanting credit? Who's invisible on purpose, Senna says, because being invisible feels safer than being seen. The gang falls quiet, thinking. As the lunch bell rings, Red gathers her things with new determination. They'll find the note writer, but now with understanding, not suspicion. Somewhere in this school, someone needs to know they're not alone too. And the Solving Mysteries Club is going to make sure they hear it. And that is the end of this part. Good night. Sleep tight. Thank you.
