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MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
© 1999, 2003 Ana Riley
CHAPTER 14 Oh great! Ethan’s here, and just in time to see the writing on the walls. I’ve only got three shots left on my camera. I better get new film before we head off to Weldon. “Hi, Ethan! Guess what?” “It must be good because your eyes are as big as flying saucers!” “The ghost left us a message on the walls in the bathroom. Come and look! I’m going to “What kind of writing? Could you actually read any words?” “I couldn’t read it, though some of the letters looked similar to our alphabet. Alex says he recognizes one of the symbols. He says it’s ancient. He’s gone to look it up. Here … in here … Oh, Dad! There you are. I want to show Ethan the writing on the walls.” You never saw my face when I had to confront my dad that night when I forgot all about getting his car home so he could go to the meeting. Remember how he got mud on his clothes, and so on? Well, back to the expression on my face that night – all my facial skin fell southward. My eyebrows hung downward, my cheeks hung downward, my mouth was sloping downward, and even my nose lost its little rise on the end. I was so sorry about what I had done and I was also afraid of what my father might do because of my carelessness, that I think my eyeballs themselves, were going to roll right out of my eye sockets if the rest of my face didn’t lighten up a little. Anyway, my face was sorrowful, downcast. Well, that’s how my father looks right now. I don’t know why but I think I’m about to find out. “Ah, hello, Ethan. Gia, I … ah … well … the writing … I …” “Dad! Where did they go? You washed them off? Weren’t they scratched into the paint? How did they wash away? Oh … uh … “ Suddenly, me standing there with my camera about to take photos of ghost writing on the wall seemed ludicrous. “Gia, I didn’t know you were going to take pictures. I was curious to understand more about this writing, so I decided to see if it would wash off. It did. Sorry, kiddo!” My face must now look a little like my dad’s did when he finally got his car back. He looked hurt, disappointed and relieved about the car ordeal. That sums up just how I feel, except for feeling relieved. I don’t feel any relief. I feel great frustration. “It’s okay, Dad. There’s still some writing on this wall. Besides, the fact that it washed off so easily makes me wonder how it really was written.” “It’s clear that it was done in the sooty surface on the wall. That much we know.” “These look like spider silk dragged through a moist, sooty surface don’t they, Mr. Cooper?” “Fair conclusion, Ethan. What remains puzzling is that one would assume the spider would walk randomly or in a pattern that would be meaningless to humans. This writing has definite recognizable shapes that go beyond the stretch of the imagination.” “Hey, Dad … oh hi, Ethan … I told you this symbol was recognizable. Look here! It’s an ancient Viking character.” Marti may be a jerk, but periodically I can see a resemblance between him and my parents, especially at times like this when he does something intelligent. “I sure hope these photos turn out. I’ll scan them into the computer and email them to the professor who studies ghosts.” “So, Dad, what do you think this is?” “I’m not sure, but the soot has definitely coated the walls and with the shower so close and with the many kinds of bugs we have in this region of the country, there are all kinds of variables one must take into consideration before drawing to any conclusions.” “I think it’s the ghost! This Viking symbol right here is unmistakable.” I didn’t think Marti knew the word, ‘unmistakable’. “Ethan, do you think ghosts can write on walls?” “I don’t know enough about ghosts to answer that intelligently. If they can surmount time, spaces and objects, why wouldn’t they be capable of writing on walls?” “Well, whatever it is that made these symbols, I’m curious to know why they chose to write in the bathroom.” “Maybe because these walls are so coated with smoke soot.” I don’t think Marti is making a comment on the family’s housekeeping issues. I think he’s attempting to be logical. “Well, let's take a closer look at your symbol book, Alex. I’ll write down all the characters It’s neat having the four of us wade through this mystery together. It’s also clear to this gathering of minds, that there’s something unusual going on with the addition of this ghost writing episode. “Since we’re all here at the same place and the same time, I want to ask, has someone been leaving the yard light on all night?” Dad must have something on his mind to ask a question like this. “Me.” Of course it would be Alex. “I’ve been out in the workshop and, well, I guess I forgot a couple of times to shut it off.” Dad’s smiling. “Frankly, Alex, I’m glad to hear this. I was beginning to think that maybe … “ “…maybe the ghost was turning our lights on?” Alex is quite excited at this possibility. “There have been a few odd things happening around this region lately. Did you all hear about the Benoit family? They were vandalized last night.” Ethan has been quiet so far. This has caught his attention.
“What happened, Mr. Cooper?” “Their equipment was put out of commission and there were crop circles made in one of their fields.” “Didn’t anyone notice anything? Where were the Benoits?” “Benoits were at a funeral in Winnipeg. Neighbors live too far away to have seen or heard anything suspicious.” “Do they have insurance?” I can’t believe all this bad stuff is happening to people in this region. “Probably, but insurance never covers things like inconvenience or valuable harvest time lost.” “Dad, what do you think is going on?” “I’m not sure, son. I hope we start getting answers soon. I’d like to have a better idea of all this before the school term begins. Is Harley arriving tomorrow, Alex?” “Yup! He said he’ll get here around lunch time.” “I’d rather you not say too much to him about the neighbors’ problems, okay?” When my dad asks us to keep quiet about something, we know it’s serious, especially when he uses a certain tone of voice. I’m a wee bit nervous about Harley’s visit. I haven’t said much to you about it since I thought it wouldn’t matter, but it does. You see, I did have this mad crush on him when I was Harley didn’t exactly dump me, but it was obvious he’d rather go to movies with the new girl than do homework with me in the library. You might say we drifted apart. He never kissed me or anything. He said he was afraid of my dad finding out. I’ll never admit it to Alex, but Harley is a special kind of guy. He has to be special to hang out with my brother. Of course, Harley doesn’t compare to Ethan – no one does. No one could. Ethan is everything a girl “Is someone going to answer the phone? It could be your mother.” “I’ll get it.” Dad lets us answer the phone because most of the time, it’s for us and most of the time, Dad can’t find the phone. Alex or I have left it somewhere. “Hi, Mom! Guess what? The ghost put writing on the wall … in the bathroom … symbols … ancient Viking ones … I hope my photos turn out …”
Ethan and I are organizing our trip to Weldon. I wish we were leaving tomorrow morning so I wouldn’t be here when Harley arrives, but Ethan has to work. We’ll go up on Friday and stay overnight in Kinistino with my dad’s teaching friends, the Wagner’s. Mr. Wagner and my dad went It’s interesting to watch Ethan with Alex. Alex takes a personal interest in everything my “What was that?” I’ve never seen my brother move so quickly. We’re all moving quickly. Dad’s just finished his chat with Mom and is heading towards the living room. “Oh no!” “Stay back! Alex, I said, STAY BACK! It may not be over!”
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take photos.
that are on the wall.
turning thirteen.
could ever want.
to university together and they’re both basketball coaches.
brother does.
“Sounded like glass breaking!”
