it.
"But I'm ready to listen now," I thought to her.
"What should I do?"
Face your fear.
"How do I do that?" I asked, then reddened
with embarrassment when I caught a boy sitting in
the seat next to me giving me a curious look. Oops!
Guess I must have spoken aloud.
Pressing my lips tightly shut, I picked up the
article I'd been proofing, and pretended to work.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy shrug
and turn away.
The connection to Opal was gone, so I replayed
her advice in my head. Face your fear. Not "fears"
but "fear," as in a specific fear. There was only one
fear I could think of-the witch ball.
I'd had some experience with ghosts, who were
usually earthbound because they were confused
and too frightened to move on. I had mixed feelings about dealing with ghosts, although it always
felt good when I helped a lost soul find peace.
But the ghost around the witch ball was elusive-and frightening. If I confronted it, more trouble could be unleashed. The ghost had already
shown uncanny abilities, moving the ball from my
closet to Nona's kitchen and switching places with
the crystal ball meant for Manny. I didn't want to
mess with a ghost with that sort of power.
But doing nothing wouldn't accomplish anything either.
So I had to confront my fear like Opal said.
I hoped I wouldn't regret it.
After school, I dropped off my backpack in my bedroom, checked in on Nona who was talking on her
office phone, then went outside. I headed for the
shed behind the barn. I spotted Dominic working
in the back pasture, and had a strong urge to ask
him to come with me. But if I told him what I
planned to do, he might try to stop me. I had to do
this alone.
I clutched the key Dominic had given me, the
metal cold against my skin. I felt cold, too. The sky
had grown overcast and a chilly wind shivered
through my jacket. I wrapped my arms around myself, wondering if I should go back for a heavy coat.
I might need an umbrella, too, in case it started to
rain.
Procrastination only moves you backwards, a
haughty voice rang in my head.
"Opal, I'm so glad you're here."
I know nothing about this earthbound soul you
seek and find myself in the unusual situation of uncertainty.
"That doesn't exactly reassure me."
Reassurance is not my purpose. Also, you will not
require an umbrella, the precipitation will hold off
until this evening.
The toolshed was out behind the barn, half-hidden in a grove of oaks. It was a ten-by-ten wooden
structure, the roof sagged in one corner, and the
paint was faded with age. As I reached to unhinge
the latch, my hand shook. I thought of a dozen reasons why I should turn around and forget this whole
idea. But I'd come this far and didn't want to give
up now.
As I began pulling the door open, I heard flapping wings. I looked up to see Dominic's falcon.
Dagger swooped down low, squawking as if he was
admonishing me. His wings brushed my arm, but
I ignored him and finished opening the door.
A dark, musty smell swirled around me as I entered the shed. Something gauzy flew across my face
and I shrieked. Jumping back, I saw fragments of a
cobweb clinging to my fingers. I slapped it away,
swallowed hard, and stepped deeper into darkness.
I had to blink a few times before my eyes adjusted and I could recognize the distorted shadows
as gardening tools; a rake, broom, and hoe were
propped against the wall in one corner. There were
also old crates, a rusted push mower, and bags of
fertilizer. That would explain the ripe odor.
A sudden gust of wind roared and shook the
building, nearly knocking me over.
The door banged shut.
I grabbed onto a shelf to pull myself up, then
tried the door. I pushed at the rough wood, but it
wouldn't budge. Panic closed in around me like a
straight jacket and I felt trapped. Coming here had
been a bad idea. I wanted out now-even if it meant
breaking down the door.
Looking around desperately, I started to grab a
shovel.
"But I'm ready to listen now," I thought to her.
"What should I do?"
Face your fear.
"How do I do that?" I asked, then reddened
with embarrassment when I caught a boy sitting in
the seat next to me giving me a curious look. Oops!
Guess I must have spoken aloud.
Pressing my lips tightly shut, I picked up the
article I'd been proofing, and pretended to work.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy shrug
and turn away.
The connection to Opal was gone, so I replayed
her advice in my head. Face your fear. Not "fears"
but "fear," as in a specific fear. There was only one
fear I could think of-the witch ball.
I'd had some experience with ghosts, who were
usually earthbound because they were confused
and too frightened to move on. I had mixed feelings about dealing with ghosts, although it always
felt good when I helped a lost soul find peace.
But the ghost around the witch ball was elusive-and frightening. If I confronted it, more trouble could be unleashed. The ghost had already
shown uncanny abilities, moving the ball from my
closet to Nona's kitchen and switching places with
the crystal ball meant for Manny. I didn't want to
mess with a ghost with that sort of power.
But doing nothing wouldn't accomplish anything either.
So I had to confront my fear like Opal said.
I hoped I wouldn't regret it.
After school, I dropped off my backpack in my bedroom, checked in on Nona who was talking on her
office phone, then went outside. I headed for the
shed behind the barn. I spotted Dominic working
in the back pasture, and had a strong urge to ask
him to come with me. But if I told him what I
planned to do, he might try to stop me. I had to do
this alone.
I clutched the key Dominic had given me, the
metal cold against my skin. I felt cold, too. The sky
had grown overcast and a chilly wind shivered
through my jacket. I wrapped my arms around myself, wondering if I should go back for a heavy coat.
I might need an umbrella, too, in case it started to
rain.
Procrastination only moves you backwards, a
haughty voice rang in my head.
"Opal, I'm so glad you're here."
I know nothing about this earthbound soul you
seek and find myself in the unusual situation of uncertainty.
"That doesn't exactly reassure me."
Reassurance is not my purpose. Also, you will not
require an umbrella, the precipitation will hold off
until this evening.
The toolshed was out behind the barn, half-hidden in a grove of oaks. It was a ten-by-ten wooden
structure, the roof sagged in one corner, and the
paint was faded with age. As I reached to unhinge
the latch, my hand shook. I thought of a dozen reasons why I should turn around and forget this whole
idea. But I'd come this far and didn't want to give
up now.
As I began pulling the door open, I heard flapping wings. I looked up to see Dominic's falcon.
Dagger swooped down low, squawking as if he was
admonishing me. His wings brushed my arm, but
I ignored him and finished opening the door.
A dark, musty smell swirled around me as I entered the shed. Something gauzy flew across my face
and I shrieked. Jumping back, I saw fragments of a
cobweb clinging to my fingers. I slapped it away,
swallowed hard, and stepped deeper into darkness.
I had to blink a few times before my eyes adjusted and I could recognize the distorted shadows
as gardening tools; a rake, broom, and hoe were
propped against the wall in one corner. There were
also old crates, a rusted push mower, and bags of
fertilizer. That would explain the ripe odor.
A sudden gust of wind roared and shook the
building, nearly knocking me over.
The door banged shut.
I grabbed onto a shelf to pull myself up, then
tried the door. I pushed at the rough wood, but it
wouldn't budge. Panic closed in around me like a
straight jacket and I felt trapped. Coming here had
been a bad idea. I wanted out now-even if it meant
breaking down the door.
Looking around desperately, I started to grab a
shovel.
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