Audrey Claire - Libby Grace 01 - How to be a Ghost Read Online Free PDF

me. The sooner I located my body, the sooner I could be with my friend and hold my little boy.
    Spurred to action, I left my home and stepped out on the front walk. Then I whizzed to Ian’s door. At least, I assume I whizzed because no sooner had I decided to approach his house, I was there. This was an emergency, and the conventions of waiting for him to answer a bell summons did not apply.
    I stepped forward expecting to phase through the pre-finished mahogany door, which matched mine except in a newer, more preserved state, and found myself repelled. I had the sensation of rolling head over heels, and an electric current zinged through me, not painful exactly, but startling all the same. When I righted myself, I shook my head and blinked. Had I lost the ability to phase?
    Because fools don’t learn quickly, I decided to try again with the same result. I moved around Ian’s detached home, but nowhere, not through doors, windows, or walls could I gain access to his house. Each time, some unseen force kept me away. I couldn’t even get close enough to peer through the windows.
    Frustrated, I raised my voice to call to him but then recalled how Monica hadn’t been able to hear me speak to her. Perhaps in coming outside, I had stepped through a portal of some kind and separated myself from all contact with the living.
    “Okay, calm down, Libby. Things are never as bad as they seem. Just go back home, and if you can get in, you did not pass through a weird portal.”
    Somehow the self-talk settled my manic mind, and I started across the lawn toward my house. This time because I was terrified of finding myself locked out by an invisible barrier, I didn’t move as fast. Under normal speed, I arrived at my front door, and wouldn’t you know it, without effort, I phased inside.
    Voices reached me from the kitchen, and I entered it to find Jake sitting at the tiny table in the corner, big enough for just two people. He swung spindly legs back and forth while he ate cereal. Poor tike was such a small fellow, so unlike Mason’s imposing figure. Mama had been a little above average in height, and so am I, so I figured Jake inherited his size from my father, whom I had never met.
    “Where did you say my mom went?” Jake was questioning Monica.
    “I didn’t. She had to take care of something, baby. Don’t worry about it. Aunt Monica has got you covered.”
    Jake frowned. “Mom always makes me a hot breakfast. She says it’s the most important meal of the day.”
    When I noticed a thinning cloud of smoke in the air, I realized Monica had attempted to do just that, but my friend had a lot of wonderful talents. Cooking just wasn’t one of them. My attention swung back to Jake who wrinkled his nose, and I knew the kitchen smelled of burning food. I could smell nothing, and it dragged my spirits down deeper than they already were.
    Monica took a comb to Jake’s morning hair. “I’ll bring you something good from Gatsky’s after my shift. How’s that?”
    Jake perked up and grinned, showing off teeth too big for his narrow face. I was still hoping he would grow into them. Maybe within the next year. “Cool. Can I have apple pie?”
    “Do you really want to insult your mom by eating someone else’s apple pie?”
    “You’re right. Mom uses Grandma’s recipe. She might cry.”
    I shook my head. “Oh for Pete’s sake, Jake. I’m not that sensitive. You can have Gatsky’s pie.”
    Jake glanced around the room, a look of confusion on his face. Hope bloomed in my chest. Had he heard me?
    “Aunt Monica?” Jake said.
    “Yeah?” Monica concentrated on his hair, at first adding a part on the side and then whipping it away. I acknowledged the boy needed a haircut soon.
    “Did you hear something weird?” Jake asked.
    “Nope. Like what?”
    “Never mind.” Jake went back to his cereal. What did my voice sound like? I supposed if it were words to his young ears he would have said so. Jake read voraciously, so he had no