by S G Read
‘Hi Tim did it all work out well?’ Stevey asked.
‘No not really. I went in there and told her to stop work unless they let her put flowers on her mother’s grave but all they did was beat her. I found her all bandaged up in one of the nun’s rooms…’
‘They are cells actually.’ Toby corrected automatically.
Tim looked round at him but carried on as he wanted to tell the story.
‘They made her bleed. I was worried that she might die and never put flowers on the grave, which is unmarked. She pointed out the window to where the mother superior said it was and I looked inside. It was just soil! It had been dug over on top but underneath it had never been disturbed. I went all through the piece of land round the grave but it was all the same; no grave. What does it mean?’
‘Everyone this is Tim the ghost.’ Stevey announced introducing him.
‘What we have to do now is to figure out what it means Tim.’ Stuart answered. ‘Was the mother superior being nasty and telling her just anywhere or had she really forgotten where they buried her mother?’
‘Surely you can’t forget where you bury someone!’ CJ asked but he did not expect a reply, as it was a rhetorical question.
The fourteen boys sat there thinking in silence and Pat walked it.
‘Hello Tim; have you come over to visit?’ She asked when she saw him; causing several mouths to open in astonishment.
‘Yes Mr Brown just reporting the latest goings on at the hall.’ Tim answered. ‘Did you know they sweep the sawdust from cutting the boards back under the floor?’
‘No I will mention it before they finish and let them know they will not get paid until it is done.’ Pat answered and ruffled his hair before she went back out.
‘What was all that freezing and guessing when you could have told us?’ Sherman asked.
‘It was fun.’ Tim answered.
‘Well it wasn’t my idea of fun.’ JC replied.
‘So where is her mum?’ Sherman asked.
‘She could be buried anywhere.’ JC answered.
‘There is no way I am going to go through every bit of the ground there to find her!’ Tim declared.
‘We let you freeze our stomachs.’ Simon declared.
‘You were enjoying it in the end!’ Ben accused.
‘Yes I thought it was fun after I got used to it.’ Simon answered.
‘Told you.’ Tim declared.
‘Stop it, this is getting us nowhere.’ Stuart exclaimed. ‘We need to work out what went wrong and how we can find the grave.’
‘I bet they buried her in someone else’s grave to save digging.’ JC declared.
‘What am I supposed to go and ask everyone in their cemetery if there is a dead nun buried there?’ Tim asked in disbelief.
‘Have they got a cemetery there?’ Stuart asked.
‘I think so.’ Tim answered.
Stuart stopped to think about that and although the others kept bandying ideas about nothing sensible was suggested until he asked. ‘Were there any new graves Tim?’
‘I don’t know Stuart why?’
‘If someone who was there when Waif’s mother died she might be willing to tell us where she is buried.’ Stuart explained.
‘You could always ask that woman who was going to talk to Stuart and Stevey now that she is dead.’ Toby suggested.
‘I could but not yet she is in transition; when they bury her I can try that.’ Tim explained.
‘Talking to a dead person, it gives me the shivers.’ Sherman exclaimed.
‘What do you think I am?’ Tim asked. ‘Not that I knew it until you arrived here and I thought about what happened.’
‘How are we going to help Tim, Stu?’ Simon asked.
‘We need to find his body and lay it to rest I think, Si.’ Stuart replied.
They stopped speaking when Wendy and David came in.
‘Now David I want you to meet Tim. Tim this is David and I want you to do me a favour Tim.’ Wendy bent down close to him and whispered in his ear. Tim smiled and rose out of the chair floated round the room and went right through David before returning to where he was sitting.
The boys laughed as David doubled up with the cold. David soon straightened out and walked over to where Tim sat.
‘I have never met a ghost before Tim.’ He declared and held his hand out and Tim put his little hand in David’s. ‘Nice to meet you.’ David said as they shook hands.
Wendy and David left so that Wendy could say ‘I told you so’ when they were back in the house and Tim sat in the chair not speaking.
In fact there was a long period of silence while they all thought about what Tim had found out.
‘It didn’t really help did it?’ Tim said when no one else spoke. ‘Me going into what was supposed to be her grave I mean.’
‘Only because someone lied to Waif.’ Toby answered. ‘I thought they were supposed to be Christians in there. How can you lie about something so important to a little girl?’
Silence fell again as no one had an answer. Tim stood up and walked out watched by the others.
‘Where is he of to?’ Simon asked.
Two or three shook their heads as they had no idea and then the phone rang. Stuart was right next to the phone and picked it up and was soon out of the chair to find Pat. All eyes looked his way when he returned waiting for him to say what it was about but he said nothing. Outside they heard the door close and a car drove away.
‘Was that mum?’ Stevey asked.
‘Yes.’ Stuart answered.
‘Well?’ Stevey asked when Stuart did not volunteer any information.
‘Well what?’ Stuart asked.
‘Where has she gone?’
‘To check out under the floorboards before they are all re-laid; the electricians said it was all they had left to do and then we can go back over there.’ Stuart explained.
‘Good.’ Simon declared. ‘Then we can start looking for Tim’s body.’
The suggestion went down well especially as they had all met Tim now and it was something to do. Because they had a reason to get back to the hall now it seemed to take ages for Pat to return and they all waited impatiently. They all sat there fidgeting until they heard Pat’s car drive up.
Stevey was the first to move and he disappeared into the house, five minutes later he was back.
‘We will be eating back at Gordon Hall tonight.’ He declared and a ragged cheer ran round the conservatory. ‘Anyone want to go searching for a body?’
The answer was yes and all the boys crossed the paddock heading for the gate that led to the lane.
Earlier, Tim went out of the conservatory. He was confused. It should have been so easy to find the coffin and ask Waif’s mother who the father was and where he was living when they started making out. He smiled at the term making out which was something he had picked up from some of the videos he watched. Before he would have called it dating but he knew better now.
He sat on the paddock gate again and was deep in thought when he heard Pat drive away. He wondered what to do as his last attempt to help was a failure and Waif ended up being beaten. He thought about going through all the ground in and around the convent but it had been a long time so he would have to search it all. He jumped off the gate and wandered down the lane as far as the convent. He had no plan as he walked through the front gate but kept going until he was in the shower room again. He looked for the pretty girl and found her being confronted by Ursula.
‘I know you had something to do with me falling off my seat and losing a tooth Celia and you are going to pay.’
‘How could I have done anything Ursula?’ Celia pleaded. ‘You whacked me round the head and walked away, after that I was in my seat.’
‘You are still going to pay.’ Ursula declared.
They were in the shower and the pretty girl, who Tim now knew was called Celia was naked and defenceless whereas Ursula and her two friends were dressed in their school uniform. Tim smiled and
turned on the shower. The three girls in school uniforms squealed in horror as water cascaded over them whereas Celia was ready for a shower. Tim watched as the three girls scurried out and Ursula picked up Celia’s towel from the seat it lay on to dry herself. He snatched it out of her hands passing through her at the same time while allowing the towel to drop back on the bench. Ursula screamed and fled pushing the other two girls out of the way and they followed. Tim smiled contentedly but realised that they would see further reprisals on the girl, he would need to be vigilant. That meant spending time here seemed to be the right thing to do. With the three girls gone Celia started singing as she showered and Tim was tempted to go in with her but resisted the idea, he needed to find out more about Waif’s mother. He left the pretty girl showering and wandered round the ground looking for graves but only found one. He wiped the name so that he could read the name which was Lavinia Fellows, Mother Superior now at rest. 1881 to 1941.
‘I wonder if she knows.’ He said to himself and looked around to see if anyone was watching before he dived into the ground. This time the ground had been disturbed and he found a coffin with the remains of the Mother Superior inside.
He settled down to wait as it always took a long time for anyone to appear or just talk to him from afar. It felt odd lying in someone else’s coffin but as his own coffin was empty in the grave Dan had dug for him possibly in hopes of putting him to rest, it felt more like a real coffin and certainly smelled like one.
An hour later a voice asked. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Tim who are you?’
‘I am Lavinia Fellows and this is my coffin so why are you in it?’
‘I am looking for a woman who was buried in the convent but this is the only marked grave. I did try the ground where it was said to be but it was just ground.’
‘That is because I am the only person allowed to be buried here; there is a covenant and I have made sure they keep to it. Believe me there is no one buried in this convent or in the grounds surrounding it, including the sports field apart from me.’
‘Thank you Lavinia.’
‘You are welcome now get out of my coffin!’
Tim did just that and wandered about the school looking for Celia or Ursula as he assumed they would be eventually getting together and Celia would suffer. That last thing he wanted was for her to suffer because of his actions.
It was dark when he emerged from the grave. He tried to find the dormitories, which he assumed would be upstairs. As he passed the room the Sister who was looking after Waif slept in he looked in but only the sister was in there and that worried him. Where was Waif? Still he had this first thing to do and moved on to the large dormitory, searching each bed but without success but four beds were empty. In the next room a store cupboard Ursula had Celia against the wall.
‘Now you are going to suffer you rich little cow.’ Ursula said quietly, as they were supposed to be in bed and the Sister on duty was a harridan.
‘I haven’t done anything.’ Celia pleaded. ‘I only stopped to speak to some boys.’
‘What that lot by the big house?’ Ursula asked.
‘Yes.’
Ursula lifted Celia of the ground by her nightdress. ‘And just what did you tell them?’
‘They were asking about the servant Waif and I told them she was not allowed out any more.’
‘You did, did you? Well Mother Superior will have something to say to you about that but I am more interested in the fact that I have lost a tooth and been made to look a fool as well as getting our uniforms soaked.’ Ursula declared.
‘Yes.’ One of the other girls there added and drew a stare from Ursula.
‘So I am going to knock out two of you teeth just to see how you like it!’ She drew back her fist to punch Celia.
Tim looked around for something to help him and saw a bottle of liquid. He could not read or write, as he was learning when he died and had forgotten all he knew in the years he had spent haunting Gordon Hall. In desperation he picked up the bottle and fought to undo the screw top. On of the girls with Ursula saw the bottle moving about in the air and watch enthralled. When she saw the cap unscrew she shook Ursula’s arm making Ursula stopped the punch she was about to throw.
‘Stop interrupting I want to enjoy this.’ Ursula warned and drew her arm back again.
‘But…’ The girl said and backed away.
‘But what?’ Ursula asked stopping the punch again and the girl pointed above Ursula’s head. Ursula looked up and saw the bottle as it tipped its contents over her. She had time to look down so that it did not go into her eyes. The contents landed on her hair ran down it and on to her nightdress. She had no idea what it was and screamed, a plaintive scream before running out of the store room in panic followed by her two accomplices. Celia saw her chance and hurried back to her bed just before Sister Carlota came in to find out what the noise was all about.
‘What is going on?’ Sister Carlota asked then saw Ursula’s hair dripping with liquid. ‘Come with me Ursula.’ Sister Carlota ordered. ‘And you two get to bed where you should be, I will deal with you in the morning.’
Ursula was taken out of the dormitory and a weird silence hovered over the room. Most girls were awake now but none moved and soon the regular snoring and whistling returned. Tim being conscientious screwed the cap back on to the bottle and put it back on the shelf he took it from then ventured out into the dormitory to make sure none had splashed on Celia. He looked from bed to bed until he came to where she was sleeping and had he been able to read he would have known by reading the little sign which said Celia Carter-Rees instead he had to pull the sheet down a little to see her face to be sure. Celia opened her eyes and saw him standing there. She mouthed the words ‘thank you’ and he realised she could see him.
‘Can you see me?’ He asked quietly despite the girl next to them snoring loudly.
‘Of course I can why?’
‘You are the only one then, I only let myself be seen when I want to.’
‘And how do you manage that?’ Celia asked but at that moment the door opened and a bedraggled Ursula walked in accompanied by Sister Carlota who was making sure she went to bed.
Her nightdress had been changed and her hair washed to try to stop any damage.
Celia covered her mouth as they both must see Tim but Tim walked out in front of Ursula as they walked down the corridor. Neither the sister nor Ursula stopped walking and Tim passed right through Ursula once more making her shiver violently.
‘Behave your self!’ Sister Carlota ordered and walked her to the bed despite her shivering violently still.
Ursula was put to bed and was happy to be in the warm for once. She hid under the covers despite har wet hair.
‘I want no more noise from the dormitory tonight.’ Sister Carlota declared as she walked away, daring anyone else to disturb her.
When the door closed Tim walked back to Celia’s bed.
‘Are you a ghost?’ Celia whispered.
Tim nodded. ‘I live in Gordon Hall.’ He pointed in the general direction.
‘What the big house?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why are you here then?’
‘My friends are looking into why Waif is so ill treated and has to wear rags.’
‘So there are more of you?’
‘Not ghosts my friends are boys who are staying at the hall.’
‘What the ones I was talking to?’
‘Yes I think so.’
‘Can I touch you?’
‘Sure.’
‘It won’t be cold will it?’
‘Not if I don’t want it to be.’ Tim answered.
Celia reached out a hand from under the covers and held Tim’s hand which felt warm to the touch; Tim Smiled, it felt nice.
‘Was that you in the classroom?’ She asked.
Tim nodded.
‘And in the shower?’ Celia asked louder than she should have, when she remembered that she was naked in there.
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Tim put his finger to his lips. ‘Yes.’ He answered and blushed.
‘But I was, you know, showering.’ Celia spluttered. ‘Hang on, was that cold feeling I got in the shower the other day, you as well!’
‘Yes but I couldn’t get out of the way when they pushed you!’ Tim explained or I wouldn’t have frozen you. It was an accident.’
‘Couldn’t you have turned warm?’ Celia accused.
‘Not just like that cold is my usual state, being dead and all that but I can warm up given some notice.’
‘What was that you tipped on her head?’
‘I don’t know I can’t read.’ Tim admitted. ‘It was just there and I didn’t want her to hurt you.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you are pretty and I like you. You are even pretty without any clothes on!’
‘How gallant; I think.’ Celia declared. ‘Anyway thank you for getting Ursula of my back for a while.’
‘I hope to be here when she tries again Celia.’ He answered and liked the way her name rolled of his tongue.
‘I get to go out for a walk on Sundays after mass, it keeps me away from Ursula. I can come to the hall and start to teach you to read and write if you like?’ Celia offered.
‘I would like that I will see you on Sunday then if I don’t see you before.’ Tim answered. ‘Goodnight.’ He walked away feeling like he was floating on air and found he was, instead of going through the door he went through the wall above it into the corridor but he remembered Waif and went off in search of her. He tried the cellar and she was there curled up in her cot as there was no room for her to stretch out in it. She still had bandages on but she looked well enough and even wore new rags which were slightly better than the other rags she had worn. He did not wake her. Now that he was satisfied that she was alright he returned to the hall, he needed to ask Stuart and Stevey what it meant when there was no one buried in the convent apart from Lavinia Fellows.
He was surprised to find the lights on in the house and everyone was there. Four boys were in the first room he came to and were searching it.
‘What you looking for?’ Tim asked nonchalantly.
‘You actually.’ Toby answered. ‘We are trying to find out what your uncle did with your body.
