Apparition, p.26
Apparition, page 26
“I’m just saying … I mean, who knows what you’re capable of in your new state. You haven’t really tested your … um, ghost powers, have you? I mean, we know what you’re not capable of.”
“Oh, like body contact, right?”
For an instant, I remember Kip’s arms around me the night the barn burned down, and it’s like Matthew has read my mind.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” I say quickly, trying not to sound bitter.
“You know, you’re way more heartless than you used to be.”
“Well, you’re way more brainless.” I shouldn’t have said that either. “So I guess the only thing missing here is a Cowardly Lion.” Good. That made him smile. “And Dorothy,” I add, and then immediately regret it. Not so funny. Dorothy was Mrs. Ross’s name.
I get up to examine the door, trying the doorknob. Locked, of course, but a little wobbly, like there’s a loose screw.
“Maybe we can take the knob off? A screwdriver would be good. Or should I just break the window and reach inside to unlock the door, like they would on TV? What do you think?”
I look over my shoulder for Matthew, but he’s not there. I turn back to the door just as the curtain behind the glass flies up. Matthew’s face on the other side of the window—mouthing “Boo!”—makes me jump. The doorknob turns and the door opens.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“You said I needed to learn some tricks.”
“Not tricks on me!”
I don’t even feel like going in now, but what choice do I have? I’m the reason Matthew’s here. I’m the only one he’s got. I bend down and take off my boots. I don’t want some real estate agent to see footprints and think the house has been burgled. Taking a deep breath, I step inside, then shoot a threatening look at Matthew.
“I’m not hanging out with you if you’re going to pull that kind of thing.”
“Geez. All I did was walk through one wall. Maybe you’re the Cowardly Lion.”
I ignore that and look around. I’m standing in the middle of the kitchen, in my socks, and the floor is freezing.
“Okay, Matthew, will this do? Could you make yourself at home here? At least for a while?” A sudden thought makes me uneasy. “You don’t think it’s already occupied, do you? By another ghost, I mean. Can you tell?” I couldn’t take another psycho ghost right now. I flash back to Jimmy, the killer ghost who haunted the Telford barn.
He looks at me and shrugs. “I don’t think so.”
“Okay. It feels empty to me too. So you can party, be a poltergeist. I’ll try to sneak away to visit you as often as I can.”
How tricky is this going to be? How risky? I mutter to myself, “I just hope I’m not going crazy.”
“Like you’re not already crazy?” He’s smiling slightly.
“If I am, it’s your fault.” I head back to the kitchen. “But I meant what I said. What you do on your own time is your business, but just … try not to be scary when you’re with me. Understood?” He turns away from me, but not before I catch him breaking into a big grin. “I’m serious, Matthew. My nerves are bad,” I say, trying to sound tough, like Joyce.
I pull on my boots at the kitchen door. “I’ll sneak back in a few days. In the meantime, please be careful—and lie low.” I try to give him a reassuring smile and add, “Everything’s going to be okay,” but he doesn’t respond. He’s looking around the kitchen like he’s suddenly feeling curious about his new digs. I step out the side door and close it behind me. Who am I kidding? This could be a disaster.
Gail Gallant, Apparition
