Read Online Jessi's Secret Language by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online Page B

but she didn’t think anything of it. Andrew’s room was a mess and he couldn’t find his pajamas. Then he got worried about the ghost party again.
    â€œHonest. It’s not real,” Claudia told him. “Karen made it all up.”
    â€œThen why did you make the ghost pâté?” he asked.
    Oops.
    â€œThat was just silly,” said Claudia. “It was pretend.”
    Andrew found his pajamas, put them on, and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. When he returned, he climbed into bed.
    â€œI won’t be able to fall asleep,” he announced. “I’m scared.”
    â€œSure you will,” Claudia told him. “You’ll fall asleep. Count something, like sheep.”
    â€œI’ll have to count ghosts,” Andrew said.
    â€œWell, at least count friendly ones. There are friendly ghosts, you know.”
    â€œThere are?”
    â€œYup.”
    â€œHow do you tell them from the spooky ones?”
    â€œThe friendly ones are the ones who smile and call, ‘Hi, Andrew!’ The spooky ones just say, ‘BOO!’”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œCall me if you need me.”
    â€œOkay. Night, Claudia.”
    â€œNight, Andrew.”
    Click. Light off.
    Creak. Door open a crack.
    Claudia tiptoed down the hall to Karen’s room, where she found her sitting on her bed holding Tickly, her blanket, in one hand, and Moosie, her stuffed cat, in the other.
    â€œWe have time for a story, don’t we, Claudia?” she said. “We have until nine-fifteen. Fifteen more minutes.”
    â€œRight,” replied Claudia. “What do you want to hear?” And then she went on in a rush, “How about The Cat in the Hat ?” She suggested that because Karen always suggests The Witch Next Door or one of her other witch stories, and Claudia had had enough ghost and witch tales for one night.
    â€œOkay,” agreed Karen.
    So they read the book, lying side by side on Karen’s bed.
    When they were finished, Claudia returned the book to its shelf while Karen snuggled under the covers next to Moosie and Tickly.
    â€œGood-night,” said Claudia.
    Karen didn’t say anything, but she pulled her arms out from under the covers. She signed something to Claudia.
    â€œWhat was that?” asked Claudia.
    â€œIt was good-night ! I called Jessi again while you were helping Andrew get ready for bed.”
    Claudia signed good-night back to Karen.
    Then Karen made another sign. “I love you,” she said.
    Claudia smiled and signed back. She switched on Karen’s nightlight and quietly left the room, remembering to crack her door open like Andrew’s.
    Then she tiptoed down the hall to David Michael’s room, thinking that signing was the nicest language she had ever seen.

I was baby-sitting regularly at the Braddocks’ now. I loved it, but my schedule was tough. On Tuesday and Friday I went to my dance class and sometimes stayed later than usual, trying to keep in shape for rehearsals. Rehearsals were held on the weekends, and often on Thursday as well, which had been my only free afternoon of the week. But every Monday and Wednesday afternoon I went directly from school to Matt and Haley’s house. Then Mrs. Braddock would leave for her part-time job. She was working with deaf adults at the Stoneybrook Community Center.
    The Braddocks and I had a routine. I would reach their house at three o’clock, just a few minutes after Haley got home from Stoneybrook Elementary. Then Mrs. Braddock would leave and I would fix a snack for Haley and me. After we’d eaten, we’d sit on the front stoop and wait for Matt’s bus to drop him off. Then Matt wouldeat a snack, and when he was finished we’d go outside to play. We’d play with the Pikes, the Barretts, and sometimes even Jenny Prezzioso, who seemed to accept Matt a little more than she had the first time she’d met him. On rainy days we had to stay in,