I grabbed Romanian Castles off the shelf, hoping it would open a secret passageway into a spook-filled dungeon. Nothing moved except a hairy brown spider that scooted across the dusty shelf.
But the next moment, I heard a loud sound and nearly jumped through the roof—it was the honking of a horn! Startled, I dropped the book. I had totally forgotten about Jack’s gang and my new mission.
I ran back down the grand staircase, leaping over the last steps. A bright light was beaming through the boarded-up windows in the living room. I climbed onto the bay window and peered out, safely hidden behind the boards. I could see the seniors sitting on the hood of their car, the headlights shining up through the gate of the Mansion.
One of them was looking in my direction, so I pushed Jack’s cap out through an opening between the boards and waved it like I had just landed on the moon. I felt triumphant. The seniors gave the thumbs up in reply.
I found Jack in a sweat, sitting in a corner of the basement on top of some wooden crates. He must have been thinking about rats as well as ghosts.
He grabbed me like a child grabs his mother. “What took you so long?”
I replaced the cap on his head. “You’ll need this.”
“What did you do with it?”
“I let them know you made it in okay. Ready?”
“Ready!” And he pulled me back through the window like the place was on fire. I noticed he didn’t get stuck this time.
We shoved the board back in place. It looked as if we had never been there. “We don’t want this to be easy for anyone else,” I said.
He stared back like he didn’t know what to make of me, or how to thank me.
“Wait! I didn’t get a souvenir!” he realized.
“I’ll go back in.”
“No way!” he said, grabbing my arm.
I thought for a moment.
“Here, take this.” I gave him my necklace. A black leather band with an onyx medallion. “It only cost three dollars, but it looks like it was owned by a baroness. Just don’t let anyone appraise it.”
“But you did all the work, and I’ll get all the credit.”
“Take it before I change my mind.”
“Thanks!”
He weighed the necklace in his hand and gave me a warm kiss on my cheek. I hid behind the crumbling gazebo as he ran back down to his buddies, dangling the necklace in front of their faces, getting high fives. They adored him now and so did I. I held my filthy hand against my freshly kissed cheek.
After that day Jack hung out with the cool club and even became class president. From time to time, I’d see him around the town square, and he’d always have a huge smile for me.
I didn’t have a chance to return to my Barbie Dream House. Word spread that Jack had snuck into the Mansion. Fearful that more kids might break in, police patrolled the area at night. It would be years till I visited the Mansion again.
5
A Light in the Window
Still sweaty from gym class, Becky and I passed the Mansion on our way home. I noticed something I had never seen before: a light in the window. Windows—they weren’t boarded up anymore!
“Becky, look!” I screamed with excitement. This was the best birthday present of all! There was a figure standing in the attic window, staring up at the stars.
“Oh, no! It’s true, Raven. There are ghosts!” she screamed, clutching onto my arm.
“Well, this ghost drives a black Mercedes!” I said, pointing to the snazzy car parked in the driveway.
“Let’s go,” she pleaded.
Suddenly the attic light went out.
We both gasped at the same time. Becky’s nails dug into my thrift-store sweater. We waited, wide-eyed and speechless.
“C’mon, let’s go!” Becky said.
I didn’t move.
“Raven, I’m already late for dinner! We’ll be doubly late for Matt’s party.”
“You’ve got the hots for ol’ Mattie?” I teased, my eyes glued to the Mansion.
But when she didn’t reply, I turned to face her. Becky’s cheeks were flushed.
“You do!” I said with a gasp. “And you think I’m weird!” I declared, shaking my head.
“Raven, I’ve got to go!”
I would have waited till morning, but whoever was inside wasn’t coming out.
The light in the attic window had lit a fire in my soul.
“I saw a Mercedes parked at the Mansion!” I informed my family at dinner. I was late as usual, this time for my own birthday dinner.
“I heard they looked like the Addams Family,” Nerd Boy said.
“Maybe they have a daughter your age. Someone who doesn’t like to get into trouble,” my mother added.
“Then I’d have no use for her.”