by Marilyn Kaye
‘How long does that take?’
‘I never know exactly. But it’s usually within an hour or so. I should be OK by the time we get to school.’
Ken found it surprisingly easy to talk to an invisible Tracey as they walked back to Meadowbrook. He considered holding his mobile to his ear, so anyone passing by wouldn’t think he was talking to himself, but he was too happy to really care.
‘So, things are going to be all right for Stevie and his family,’ he said.
‘Yeah. Of course Stevie won’t ever know that you found the ticket for him. He’ll still think you’re one of the bad guys who tried to steal it.’
‘I know. I’ll just have to live with that.’ He was disappointed, but he knew it was for the best, because this way he didn’t have to tell Stevie about his gift. ‘Speaking of bad guys . . . do you get freaked out when Madame keeps talking about how much danger we’re in?’
‘Not so much,’ Tracey replied. ‘Not for myself, at least. If I can disappear, no one can really hurt me. I worry about everyone else though.’
‘Including me?’
‘Sure. You didn’t think bad guys would be interested in your gift, and look what just happened.’
‘So I suppose we really should try to keep our gifts secret.’
‘Absolutely,’ Tracey declared. And then she laughed.
‘What’s so funny?’
‘I’m thinking about kids at school – regular people, not criminal types. If they found out what each of us can do . . .’
‘How do you think they’d react?’ Ken asked.
‘Well, unless they see us in action,’ Tracey said, ‘we’ve got nothing to worry about.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Think about it, Ken. Hi, guys, guess what I can do? I can disappear! You know Jenna Kelley? She can read minds. Emily sees into the future, and Ken talks to dead people.’
‘I think I get your point,’ Ken said. ‘They wouldn’t believe it.’ He remembered Jack telling him the same thing.
‘Exactly. I mean, I wouldn’t go around talking about what we can do. But if a rumour starts spreading around school, well, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. By the way, do you know where Amanda went? The real Amanda?’
‘No. Maybe she’ll be back at school today and we’ll find out.’
‘I think it could be fun to live someone else’s life for a while,’ Tracey said. ‘If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be?’
They were able to entertain each other with candidates all the way back to Meadowbrook. Tracey wanted to go into space as an astronaut or be a jockey on a horse that could win the Kentucky Derby. Ken admitted to a secret dream of performing as a hip-hop artist. They were so caught up in their fantasies that Ken completely forgot he was talking to someone who wasn’t physically there. He only remembered as the school came into view.
‘Better lower your voice,’ he cautioned Tracey as they approached the building. ‘Actually, it’s still early, there aren’t many people around. But we probably ought to stop talking before anyone notices us.’
‘They can’t hear me,’ Tracey told him. ‘You’re the only person who’s ever been able to hear me when I’m invisible.’
‘I guess I’m just more sensitive to people who aren’t really there,’ Ken replied.
‘I can’t believe I’m still invisible,’ Tracey grumbled. ‘I hope I’m back by this afternoon – I’ve got an appointment for a haircut.’
Ken didn’t reply. He’d just spotted Lucy standing alongside the stairs leading up to the main entrance. She was alone, and when she spotted him, she waved.
He winced. He hadn’t written that apologetic email yet. He was going to have to apologize in person. Well, so be it. He squared his shoulders and started towards her. It dawned on him that Tracey might still be by his side, and he should tell her to go on, that this was something personal. But now it was too late. Lucy would be able to see him speaking to no one if he did talk to Tracey.
He tried to put his companion out of his mind and focus on the girl in front of him. ‘Hi, Lucy. Listen, I want to apologize for last night. I was in a really bad mood about something, and I took it out on you. I’m really sorry.’
She didn’t seem upset. ‘That’s OK, I forgive you,’ she said with a smile. ‘As long as you take me to the eighth-grade dance this weekend.’
‘I’m in the ninth grade, Lucy.’
‘I know that! But we’re allowed to bring people from other grades as our dates.’
He took a deep breath. ‘Listen, Lucy . . . you’re a cute girl and all, but – well – I’m sort of into someone else.’
He could have sworn he heard a sharp intake of breath, like a gasp, and it hadn’t come from Lucy. Damn! Tracey was still there. And now she’d want to know who Ken was talking about.
Lucy didn’t seem to care. ‘Well, she’s out of luck, whoever she is. Because I want you to be into me.’
Ken shifted his weight from one leg to the other. This was not going to be easy. ‘Like I said, Lucy . . . you’re really nice, and I know Jack was crazy about you, but I’m just not interested in you that way. I hope we can be friends, but . . .’ His voice trailed off as her expression changed. There was something cold in her face now.
‘Don’t forget, Ken, I know something about you.’
He looked at her stupidly. ‘Huh?’
‘I know what you can do. How would you feel if I told people that you talk to dead people?’
It was Ken’s turn to gasp. ‘Lucy! You wouldn’t do that, would you?’
‘Not if you go to the dance with me. And other places.’
It took Ken a moment to respond. ‘Are you – are you trying to blackmail me?’
Lucy laughed, but it wasn’t a pretty laugh. There was something very mean about it. ‘I never thought I’d have to threaten a guy to go out with me, but I’ll do what I have to do. I want you to be my boyfriend, Ken. I think we’d be good together, and once you get over your hang-ups about me being Jack’s ex-girlfriend, you’ll be happy with me.’
‘Lucy , this has nothing to do with Jack. No offence, but I’m just not into you!’
Her voice hardened. ‘Then get into me. Or everyone at school is going to know about your weird conversations.’
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. ‘You’d really do that?’
‘Sure.’
He looked at her thoughtfully.
‘Well?’ she asked, smiling.
He smiled back. ‘Go right ahead.’
Her smile faded. ‘What?’
‘Tell them. Tell everyone I hear dead people. Write an article for the school newspaper. Or announce it over the intercom.’
She was speechless. Ken’s smile broadened.
‘Because it’s not like anyone’s going to believe you,’ he said. ‘I gotta go. Hope you find someone to take you to the dance.’
He knew Tracey was by his side as he walked into the school. She was still invisible, but he could have sworn there was a huge grin on her invisible face.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
EVEN WITH HER SORE throat, Amanda had never before been so incredibly happy to be back in her own body. She felt so good, she insisted on going back to school. And for the first time ever, she was impatient to get through the day so she could go to the gifted class.
She had so much to tell them! Even Madame would be impressed with her adventure. Of course Jenna would claim to be the hero, since she had organized the revelation of the medium’s true identity. But Amanda could top that. She had the most amazing, stupendous news of all. There was a conspiracy, just as Madame had suggested. People who’d tried to use the gifted students were working together. And their very own school principal was part of the gang.
Just before class, she went into a bathroom to touch up her lipgloss and brush her hair. She wanted to make a grand entrance, so she stayed there until the warning bell rang, and then dashed down the hall.
She entered
just as the final bell rang. From her desk, Madame looked up and smiled.
‘Welcome back, Amanda! How are you feeling?’
‘A little tired,’ Amanda said, ‘but not from the operation.’ She addressed the whole class. ‘You’ll be surprised to learn I haven’t been spending the last few days in bed.’
Jenna spoke. ‘We’re not surprised. Tracey told us.’
Amanda stared at her. ‘Tracey told you what?’
‘Emily and I went to visit you at the hospital,’ Tracey said. ‘We knew it wasn’t you.’
Amanda hadn’t realized Tracey was there. Neither had Madame.
‘Tracey! Where did you come from?’
The newly visible Tracey explained. ‘Ken wanted to help his friend from the seance, Stevie, to find his father’s lottery ticket.’
Ken picked up the story. ‘His father spoke to me last night and told me where the ticket was. I wanted to tell Stevie myself but I came up with a better plan that meant I didn’t have to reveal my gift. I asked Tracey if she could turn herself invisible, get the ticket, and put it somewhere the family was bound to see it.’
Madame looked pleased. ‘Very good, Ken. You managed to keep the secret and help Stevie’s family. Well done!’
Now everyone was congratulating Ken and Tracey. Amanda was starting to feel as if she was invisible.
‘Isn’t anyone interested in knowing where I went when I left my body?’ she asked loudly.
‘Let me guess,’ Charles said. ‘Someone who wasn’t getting their tonsils taken out.’
‘No kidding,’ Jenna remarked. ‘You know, Amanda, I never thought you had a very useful gift – at least not for helping anyone else – but it certainly works for you. You can get out of doing anything you don’t want to do.’
Amanda was furious. ‘For your information, Miss Know-it-all, I happened to be at Ken’s seance!’
Ken was clearly startled. ‘You’re kidding! Who were you?’
Gratified by the attention, Amanda preened. ‘Margaret Robinson, the woman who claimed her mother had just died. But who turned out to be Serena’s pal!’
‘Serena?’ Madame asked.
Ken broke in. ‘Serena Hancock, that girl who did student-teaching here. She was the fake medium.’
‘Good grief!’ Madame remarked. ‘She’s certainly determined to get her hands on a lottery ticket.’
Amanda was about to announce that there was much more to it than that when Madame turned back to her.
‘Amanda, if you took over the body of someone involved in this business, you must have realized straight away that it was a scam.’
Amanda nodded proudly. ‘I did, and—’
But Madame wasn’t finished. She spoke sternly. ‘Then you should have come directly here and told me! You put yourself in grave danger, not to mention Ken.’
‘And us,’ Jenna piped up. ‘ Me and Emily and Tracey.’
‘Why did you do that, Amanda?’ Madame wanted to know. ‘Why didn’t you tell us what was going on?’
Jenna jumped in again. ‘Because she was probably having too much fun being an adult. What did you do, Amanda? Shop till you dropped?’
That got a laugh from several classmates.
‘Now, Jenna,’ Madame reprimanded her, ‘let’s hear Amanda’s side of the story .’
But Amanda was no longer interested in telling them what she’d learned. They were making fun of her, criticizing her, treating her like a villain! And the way Ken was looking at her now, like she was scum! She was hurt, and she was furious. These people – they didn’t deserve to know what she knew.
She made a decision. She was not going to tell them about the conspiracy, about Mr Jackson – about anything. She’d keep it to herself. And they’d all be sorry for having picked on her like this.
Because with the information she had, she’d be the one who would save them all from whatever those bad people were planning. She’d be the biggest hero of all. She’d be worshipped and adored and respected. Which was what she deserved.
But for now . . .
‘My throat hurts,’ she announced. ‘Can I go to the infirmary and ask the nurse to call my mother? I think I should go home.’
Madame was immediately sympathetic. ‘Of course, Amanda. We can discuss this at another time, when you’re feeling better.’
And with her head high and her secret intact, Amanda left the room.
EPILOGUE
FROM THE FOLLOWING DAY’S newspaper:
FISHER FAMILY FLABBERGASTED!
The family of Melvin Fisher, who died suddenly in an accident two months ago, were finally able to claim the fortune left to them by the late Mr Fisher. Days before the accident that killed him Mr Fisher had purchased a ticket for the weekly lottery, which at that time was worth over two million dollars. While there was evidence that the winning ticket had been sold, no one came forward to claim the prize. Yesterday Mr Fisher’s widow Louise Fisher found the lottery ticket under a magnet on her refrigerator door.
Congratulations to Mrs Fisher and her children Stevie, Cindy and Dena, who have been confirmed by the lottery commission as the winners of two million dollars!
