Read Online The Lost Boys by Lilian Carmine - Free Book Online Page A

just a couple of things, you can’t go around wrapped in blankets!” she said, dismissing his gratitude. “Joey! You’re still there? Come on, chop, chop! Tristan, the bathroom is upstairs and right off the hallway, first door to your right. Take your time. We’ll be in the kitchen all right? Call me if you need anything. But when you’re both dressed and we’ve had something to eat, we will have a serious talk.”
    She turned and walked to the kitchen. She was like a special kind of a hurricane, my mom. I shrugged and smiled at Tristan’s surprised face, and then darted upstairs to get myself cleaned up and presentable.
    Soon enough, I was ready and stepped downstairs all perky in my new jeans, my favorite sweater and my hair tied back in my usual pony-tail. I peeked at the living room. Tristan wasn’t there, but I heard water running in the hallway bathroom. I went on in to the kitchen where my mom was at the stove, frying some eggs.
    “Hey, Mom, I’m here. What can I do to help?”
    “You can set the table, get some glasses, orange juice, milk. I think I’ll do a big brunch for you two, how’s that sound?”
    “Sounds great,” I said uneasily.
    “Is Tristan all right in there?” she asked with her back to me.
    “I think so … He’s in the bathroom now.”
    “You know, if I hadn’t witnessed the whole thing, I would have never believed it,” my mom said thoughtfully.
    “I’m trying not to think about it. It’s too surreal,” I mumbled.
    “Joey, honey. You know we do need to talk about it, don’t you? I mean, this is too crazy! Do you really believe in what those old ladies were saying? Do you think Tristan was really a … a ghost?” she asked, turning to look me straight in the eyes.
    I shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know what to think, Mom, honestly. I punched him in the chest last night, and it went right through him! And you couldn’t see him, but I’ve been talking to him and meeting him for days!” I said in a shaky voice.
    “And this is where you were hanging out? The cemetery?”
    I nodded, staring at my lap. “I know I should have told you. I’m sorry, Mom. But you would have made it into a big deal, and said it’s dangerous, but I knew I was safe with Tristan!”
    “How could you possibly know that, Joey? You just met him!” she said, upset.
    “I just know, all right! I mean, look at him! Do you think he could hurt anyone? He’s so polite and kind and sweet!” I exclaimed.
    “You’re letting your judgment be clouded by his good looks, honey,” she said with a knowing smile.
    My cheeks flamed in embarrassment and I snapped, “It’s not like that, Mom! He’s my friend! Fine, he was lying to me about the ‘ghost’ thing, but he explained everything! He was scared of my reaction. And, I mean, can you blame him? I wanted to run away the second I discovered he was a ghost! This is not exactly easy news to share with someone,” I grumbled, fumbling with the hem of my shirt.
    “Yeah, but honey, what the heck happened last night?” my mom wailed, her eyes wide as she remembered Tristan’s materialization out of thin air.
    “I’m not sure … I think it’s something to do with the time, and the place … Miss Violet might know something; she was there with her two old friends. She seemed to know Tristan was a ghost all along,” I muttered, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Had one of the old ladies also mentioned they were witches?
    My mother nodded. “Yes, I think so too. That’s why I have invited her to come talk to us today. Maybe she can shed some light on this mystery for us,” she said thoughtfully. “And maybe the boy could have some answers as well,” she added and paused, deep in thought. Then she shook her head, snapping out of her wonderings. “Anyway, as I said, we can all talk about it later, after we’ve put something in our stomachs, all right?” And she resumed her egg frying.
    I stared at her back, scrunching up my lips