Read Online Ghosts Beneath Our Feet by Betty Ren Wright - Free Book Online Page B

flashlight. There in the mirror at the end of the hall was the girl with the golden hair. As Katie stared; frozen, the girl took a hobbling step toward her and raised her hand.

Chapter Ten
    The girl’s eyes were sad, yet full of purpose. Even though her mother and Jay were only a few feet away, Katie felt as if she and the figure in the mirror were alone in the world. The girl’s lips moved, and Katie strained for a message she couldn’t hear. The words were important, but she couldn’t understand them. The pale hand lifted in a sweeping motion, and the girl shook her head. Katie moaned in frustration.
    â€œKatie!” Mrs. Blaine came out of her room. “What in the world are you doing? I thought you were sound asleep.”
    â€œI—I wanted to read for a while. My book is down in the library.” Katie lowered the beam of light; the mirror was empty now except for her own reflection and her mother’s.
    â€œWell, you’re heading in the wrong direction, dear heart. Hurry on down if you must, but please do be quiet. Uncle Frank needs his rest.”
    Katie did as she was told. When she returned the hall was empty. Shakily she directed the flashlight at the mirror. Nothing. She went into her bedroom and closed the door.
    Shadows retreated as she swung the flashlight in a slow circle, lingering longest on the mirror over the dresser. “I’m really sorry,” she whispered into the dark. “I tried to understand, but I couldn’t.”
    Now that she had time to think about what had happened, she felt more regret than fear. The ghost-girl had looked wistful, eager to communicate. Seeing her had been a shock, but as Katie climbed into bed, she found herself hoping the girl would appear again.
    I’ve seen a ghost , she thought, full of wonder. It doesn’t matter what Joan says or Jay says—or anybody. It really happened! I’ve seen her twice, and she wants to tell me something. I’m going to lie here all night and figure out what it is .
    It was the last thought she had until morning.
    When Katie went downstairs to breakfast, she half expected the others to notice a difference in her. Of course, no one would believe her if she told them about seeing the girl in the mirror—not her mother, fussing over Uncle Frank and coaxing him to drink all of his orange juice, and certainly not Jay, slumped in his chair, eyes down as usual. Katie didn’t care. Something mysterious had happened between her and the girl in the mirror. The ghost had a message to tell, and she’d chosen Katie to help her.
    Katie was washing the breakfast dishes and Uncle Frank was dozing over his coffee when Joan appeared at the back door.
    â€œMy ma says come for dinner with us this noon,” she announced. “She said to tell you we’re havin’ star-gazzy pie.”
    â€œHaving what?”
    â€œStar-gazzy pie. It’s Cornish. Ma says you should try it while you’re in Newquay.”
    Katie motioned Joan to the table and poured two glasses of milk. She sat down, then jumped up again to fill a plate with the oatmeal cookies her mother had baked yesterday. “Why do they call it star-gazzy pie?” she asked. “That’s a funny name.”
    â€œFunny dish, that’s why,” Uncle Frank muttered, rousing. “’Oo are you then, missy?”
    â€œJoan. Joan Trelawny.”
    â€œNancy’s girl?” He peered at her.
    â€œHer granddaughter.”
    â€œWell.” He helped himself to a cookie and dunked it in his coffee. “I wouldn’t put it past Nancy Trelawny to serve up star-gazzy pie at that,” he said. “Always kept one foot in Old Country, she ’as.” His face dimmed, as if he were remembering the message Gram had sent him.
    â€œBut what is it?” Katie demanded. “Somebody please tell me.” She looked at Uncle Frank.
    â€œThese cookies are good,” Joan said innocently.