Ghost at Work Read Online Free PDF Page A

front of the body. “Bayroo, stop there.” Kathleen’s voice was scratchy.
    Bayroo. What a curious name.
    A skinny red-haired girl, all arms and legs like a wobbly colt, balanced on one foot, throwing her arms wide. “Mom, you won’t believe it.” She was a bundle of excitement, energy, and vibrant personality.
    I felt an instant liking for her and an immediate sense of companionship. I was enchanted by her golden red curls and green eyes and the intelligent, questing look on her narrow face. She was eleven or possibly twelve, almost ready to slip into her teen years, angular now where she would soon be slender. And lovely.
    Behind her, a plump girl with dark hair in braids, gold-rimmed glasses, and prominent braces echoed, “You won’t believe it, Mrs. Abbott!” She bounced up and down in excitement.
    Kathleen’s daughter clapped her hands. “Mom, Travis Calhoun’s here in town! We actually saw him at Wal-Mart and he’s staying with his aunt Margaret. You know, Mrs. Calhoun up the street. I invited him to come to the Spook Bash Saturday and asked him if he’d judge the painted pumpkins and told him how great it would be for everyone who’s worked so hard for the bash to raise money for the food pantry and, Mom”—it was an unashamed squeal—“he said he’d come. Isn’t that great?”
    â€œGreat. Wonderful. Lucinda, why don’t you stay for supper with Bayroo. The stew’s ready. There are oatmeal cookies in the cookie jar.” Kathleen waved a shaking hand toward the kitchen.
    â€œMom.” Meals were for ordinary times. “Travis Calhoun! Besides, we’re going over to Lucinda’s for pizza. The committee’s meeting and will they be excited when they hear about Travis!”
    â€œGolly, they won’t believe what happened!” Lucinda’s voice rose in a squeal. “Bayroo is so brave. We would have missed him if she hadn’t hidden and then she heard noises and got scared but—”
    Bayroo reached out and clapped a hand over Lucinda’s lips.
    Kathleen kept glancing down at the tarp, then away. “That’s wonderful, honey.” She gestured toward the screen door. “You’d better hurry over to Lucinda’s if the committee’s coming.”
    Lucinda was staring toward me. She couldn’t see me, of course. What could she possibly…Oh. I still held the gloves. I released my grip. The gloves floated gracefully toward the floor.
    Lucinda tugged on the red-haired girl’s arm. “Bayroo,” she hissed.
    â€œAnyway, Mom, Lucinda and I are going over to her house—”
    â€œBayroo.” Lucinda’s whisper was piercing. “Where did those gloves come from? They were like, up here.” She held a hand to her chest. “Now they’re down there. How were they up in the air all by themselves?” She pointed at the gloves just as they reached the floor.
    Bayroo turned toward me. Our eyes met. She smiled, a quick, engaging, hello-we-haven’t-met, I’d-like-to-be-friends smile.
    Oh dear. Bayroo saw me. I couldn’t explain it. Sometimes the young have eyes to see what no one else sees. Bayroo saw me. Lucinda did not.
    Bayroo asked quickly, “Mom, who’s—”
    I held a finger to my lips, shook my head, then smiled and turned my hands as if I were shooing chickens.
    Bayroo’s lips parted in surprise, then she grinned and gave me a tiny conspiratorial nod. She removed Lucinda’s arm. “Oh, those gloves.” Her tone dismissed levitating gloves as unworthy of notice. “It happens sometimes when the fan’s turned on.” She gestured toward the ceiling fan.
    Lucinda looked up at the still blades, her face serious and thoughtful. “The fan isn’t turned on.”
    â€˜Well, I guess it was. C’mon, Lucinda. We’ve got to hurry. We can tell everyone about Travis. Mom, I’ll do