pointing to the necklace. âI found it in my husbandâs jacket pocket, along with a lovely anniversary card.â
Malcolm wasnât sure exactly what to say. âItâs pretty.â
âYes . . . yes, it is,â she agreed. âIâll never know what happened to my husband, but at least now I know he loved me. I have you to thank for that.â
Malcolm blushed. Then Mrs. Goolsby let him go back to his desk. He dug in his desk for his math book to get ready for more punishing days of problems.
Malcolm waited for the ruler to snap the class to attention, but that day Mrs. Goolsby waited until after the announcements to begin the lessons.
âI think rather than doing problems,â she began, âtoday weâll begin with a math game.â
âA game?â Dandy dared to ask.
âYes,â Mrs. Goolsby answered, all smiles. âLearning doesnât always have to be hard work.â
Malcolm pulled out some paper and a pencil. What a difference a ghost can make , he thought. Maybe it would be a great school year after all.
TOP FIFTEEN WAYS TO DETECT A GHOST, SPIRIT, OR POLTERGEIST
From Ghost Detectors Malcolm and Dandy
  1.   Check for creepy surroundings. Is there a graveyard nearby? Or an area covered in strange shadows? Is there a house that stares at you?
  2.   Ask people if there are stories about the area. Is there a legend about a haunting? Has anyone else seen a spirit there?
  3.   Listen to the area at night. Do you hear moaning, whispering, or laughter that doesnât belong?
  4.   Cautiously enter the area. Does the porch creak? Are there cobwebs all around?
  5.   Turn on your specter detector and wait for the bleep. Just be sure to keep close to the wall and try not to trip on your shoelaces!You never know what will be around the next corner!
  6.   Ghosts often hide out in empty houses. If you are watching a neighborâs house, check the windows before getting too close.
  7.   Seeing transparent people in dark windows is a definite sign of ghosts.
  8.   Remember that dogs are more sensitive to ghosts than people. Watch your dog to see if it barks at thin air.
  9.   Ghosts can also give off a disgusting smell. Is there a smell of rotting onions mixed with feet nearby?
10. Â Â Not all ghosts are mean. If you find stray bags of jellybeans lying around, they may be a gift from a relative. Just in case though, turn on your specter detector and wait for the bleep!
11. Â Â Spirits can be found anywhere. So, be on the lookout for ghosts everywhere you go. Keep your ghost detector handy at all times.
12. Â Â Ghost hunters often use electronic devices to find ghosts. Use your camera or a recording device to search for spirits.
13. Â Â Take Polaroids and digital photos to get quick pictures of spirits.
14. Â Â Carefully check your pictures for bright spots called orbs. Some people think these spots show poltergeists.
15. Â Â Like Mr. Goolsby, some ghosts are trying to send a message. Just in case, turn on your specter detector and wait for the bleep! When the ghost appears, donât be afraid to say hi!
Dotti Enderle was born in Killeen, Texas, and despite being labeled a âreluctant readerâ as a child, grew up to write and publish dozens of books for children, including Grandpa for Sale and The Library Gingerbread Man. Storytelling is in her blood, and she has entertained at numerous schools, libraries, museums, and festivals since 1993. She takes pride in her vast collection of original stories and folk tales, and specializes in participation stories, which allow her audience to join in the fun. Today, youâll find her reading, writing, and smiling in Houston, Texas.
Howard McWilliam left his day job as a financial journalist and editor in late 2005 to pursue his love of
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