Frightfully Friendly Ghosties Read Online Free PDF Page B

floating by the stove, watching Agatha through the kitchen window.
    â€œAgatha is drying the still-alives’ laundry,” said Charlie Vapor, “as a gesture of goodwill.”
    â€œWe must fetch her,” I said. “The still-alives have brought in a priest.”
    â€œA priest?” said Agatha, wisping in through the open window. “We must say hello.”
    â€œIt’s the polite thing to do,” said Charlie, lifting his hat.
    And off we floated to the lounge.
    The still-alives were there together now, the Priest, the still-alive with the beard, the still-alive with the high heels, and the two half-sized still-alives. When we wisped in, they hid behind the sofa, all except for the Priest, who was engrossed in a leather-bound book.
    â€œPerhaps they’re planning a surprise party,” said Wither. “They’ll jump out and yell boo!”
    â€œI didn’t think priests liked parties,” said Charlie.
    â€œEveryone loves a party,” said Agatha Draft.
    The Priest ran his finger along the mantelpiece and wiped it on his handkerchief. He then reached into his trouser pocket and took out a wooden cross.
    â€œWhat does the cross mean?” asked Humphrey.
    â€œI think,” blubbed Wither, “it means he’s cross.”
    The Priest held the cross in the air, half-closed his eyes, and muttered something we couldn’t quite hear.
    â€œHe’s trying to convert us to religion,” said Charlie.

    â€œIt’s a bit late for that,” said Wither. “We’re dead.”
    â€œLet’s float in and explain,” I said, but as we floated in, the Priest reached into his other trouser pocket and took out a small white thing, which he then waved about.
    â€œGarlic,” observed Charlie.
    â€œI hate garlic,” said Wither. “I liked it when I was still alive, but these days I find it abhorrent.”
    â€œI don’t think any of us ghosties like it,” I said. We watched in horror as the Priest peeled the garlic bulb, separated it into cloves, and placed them in different corners of the room.
    â€œGarlic is related to the onion,” said Agatha.
    â€œDid you know that, Wither?”
    â€œOnion makes me blub.”
    â€œEverything makes you blub,” said Charlie, and we floated out into the hall.

14
    Wafty Garlic

    â€œI don’t like this one bit,” said Agatha Draft, floating by the lawn mower.
    â€œIt’s our house too,” said Gertrude Goo.
    â€œThe entire house wafts of garlic,” said Wither, pinching his nose.
    Pamela Fraidy wisped out of the study window and floated down to join us. “Thank heavens for that,” she said. “I thought they’d never let me out.”
    â€œWe’d forgotten about you,” said Humphrey, bumping into the garden shed.
    Wither gave him a withering look. “Don’t be mean to Pamela. She’s been shut in the study since Tuesday.”
    â€œWith the leggy spider,” added Agatha. “Pamela, how did you open the study window?”
    â€œOne of the still-alives opened it. She came in to fetch something, and I wisped into the typewriter to hide. It was the still-alive with the high heels.” Pamela rolled her eyes. “Those shoes are to-die-for! She had another still-alive with her. He had his shirt on backward. Must have dressed in the dark.”
    â€œThe Priest,” I said to the others knowingly.
    â€œHe placed garlic cloves around the room,” Pamela went on. “Nailed an entire bulb to the door.”
    â€œThe meanness of it all!” cried Wither.
    â€œI wouldn’t have minded,” said Pamela, “only, I can’t stand the smell.”
    â€œGarlic does tend to waft,” said Agatha, clutching her pearls.
    â€œThe still-alives don’t like it much either,” said Pamela. “That’s why they opened the study window. Why put garlic in a study?”
    â€œIt’s not