Jessie’s Ghosts
Penny Garnsworthy
DOCTORZED PUBLISHING
Jessie’s Ghosts
Copyright © Penny Garnsworthy 2011
DoctorZed Publishing
www.doctorzed.com
This DoctorZed Publishing edition 2011
eISBN: 978-0-9871239-1-6
Cover photograph, Fog at Riverside
Penny Garnsworthy
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned or transmitted in any printed or electronic form, without prior permission from the author.
Other Titles by Penny Garnsworthy
The Lighthouse Secret
Across the Line
The Cyber Riddles
Index
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 1
‘But I don’t want to go!’ Jessie’s insides were churning as her eyes pleaded for her sister’s understanding.
‘Oh, come on Jess, it’s not that bad going to Nanna’s,’ Sarah said as she opened drawers and pulled out jeans and jumpers.
‘She’s so…’
‘So what?’ Sarah folded Jessie’s shirts and packed them neatly into a bright pink duffle bag.
‘Well, she’s so old,’ Jessie said as she rocked back and forth on the bed.
‘She’s our Nanna so of course she’s old. But she’s also a wonderful person and she loves us both heaps.’
‘Yeah, I know. It’s just …’
‘Just what?’ Sarah persisted as she zipped up Jessie’s bag and dropped it on the floor.
‘Everything’s old. And there’s nothing to do at Nanna’s. She sleeps most of the time. And she’s really deaf - she wears those hearing aids that squeal all the time.’
Sarah laughed. ‘Well, we’ll just stop at the Library on the way down so you can pick out a few books to take with you.’
‘Yeah, I guess,’ Jessie said, looking away into the distance.
‘C’mon Jess, cheer up,’ Sarah said as she gave Jessie an affectionate punch. ‘You know I can’t do anything about it; it’s the agreement. And besides, it’s only for a week.’
‘A week,’ Jessie moaned.
She knew she was lucky to have Sarah, and that Sarah was happy to look after her. When their parents had died in the car accident last year Jessie worried that she and Sarah would be separated, and that Jessie would be sent to live with Nanna, permanently.
But Sarah, who at 21 was ten years older than Jessie, had been allowed to remain in the family home and be Jessie’s guardian, on the condition Jessie went to Nanna’s for all school holidays.
And things had worked out pretty well, considering.
The problem was that Nanna lived on a farm, miles from anywhere and she didn’t even own a car. There were no shops within walking distance, in fact, there wasn’t anything within walking distance and the television only had two channels. Jessie knew that once she arrived she would be a prisoner, again.
‘Hey! Sarah calling Jess!’
Jessie snapped back to the present, ‘I was just thinking.’
‘Well you can think all you want in the car, kiddo. I have to drive you down to Nanna’s this morning and be back this afternoon for my flight. Let’s go.’
Jessie took one last longing look around her bedroom, grabbed her duffle bag and followed Sarah out to the car.
Nanna’s crumbling old timber house sat at the bottom of a long, winding dirt drive. Jessie remembered the last time she had been here Nanna was waiting for her new kitchen to be installed. Perhaps now Jessie wouldn’t have to push through cobwebs every time she took a plate out of the cupboard.
Sarah drove carefully down the drive, steering to avoid hundreds of tiny potholes. Nanna was standing on the verandah smiling and waving at them as Sarah parked the car.
‘I don’t know why she doesn’t have a proper driveway put in,’ Sarah remarked as they both got out of the car, ‘I know it doesn’t get used much but if there’s ever an emergency …’ Sarah sighed. ‘Well, anyway, let’s just go in.’
Nanna walked briskly to the car and hugged them both. She looked much the same, her grey hair pulled back in a bun, dressed in jeans, a long sleeved red checked shirt and boots. Over her clothes she wore a long dark blue apron.
‘Oh, it’s so good to see you girls,’ she yelled, ‘just in time for lunch, too.’
Jessie winced. Why did Nanna always have to yell?
A fragrant mixture of beef, vegies and herbs was gurgling away on the stove as Jessie took her bag inside. ‘The kitchen looks nice, Nanna,’ she said as she walked over to sniff at the pot.
‘Yes, it’s certainly an improvement – do you like my new benchtops?’
Jessie dragged her eyes away from Nanna’s casserole and looked at the dark laminate bench tops that looked remarkably similar to their granite ones at home.
‘They’re lovely, Nanna,’ said Sarah as Jessie took her bag up the hall, ‘it’s all really lovely.’
‘I can never get this hearing aid to do what I want,’ Nanna said, as she fiddled with her right ear. ‘That should be right now,’ she said a little more softly this time, ‘Well, how is everything?’
‘We’re okay, Nanna. Jess is doing pretty well at school now, passing all her subjects. We’re coping a bit better.’ Sarah’s eyes started to mist up and she turned away.
‘I miss them too,’ Nanna said, ‘especially your mum.’
Sarah nodded and changed the subject, ‘and Jess brought lots of books to read this time, so she won’t get in your way.’
‘Get in my way?’ Nanna laughed. ‘I want her to have fun, and I always look forward to having Jessie here, Sarah, I so enjoy her company.’
‘Wow,’ Jessie said as she sat down at the table, ‘you can smell that casserole all the way up the hall.’ And as Nanna finished scooping a large serving into Jessie’s bowl she picked up her spoon and took a huge mouthful.
‘Yeow,’ she exclaimed, dropping the spoon. She could feel the casserole burning all the way down her throat.
Sarah laughed. ‘You know Jess, it’s always a good idea just to taste it from the edge of the spoon first.’
Jessie nodded and stirred the thick steaming mixture in front of her, hoping the air would cool it down; it looked so inviting she had just wanted to dive straight in and try it.
Jessie understood that Sarah needed to study at night and didn’t always have time to cook. At home ate lots of toasted sandwiches and takeaways and only occasionally Sarah made a stir-fry, usually straight out of a jar.
But here Jessie helped Nanna pick her own vegies and she knew Nanna cooked everything herself. That was the one good thing about staying at Nanna’s – the food.
‘That was great, Nanna,’ Jessie said as she spooned the last of the gravy from her bowl.
Nanna smiled. ‘How about a cuppa?’
Sarah put her spoon down and looked at her watch. ‘I’m sorry Nanna, but I’m going to have to run – I’m due at the airport at 7pm.’ Pulling a piece of paper out of her shoulder bag she passed it to Nanna and said, ‘here’s my mobile number again. And remember, if I don’t answer just leave a message.’
‘Of course, love,’ said Nanna as they all rose from the table. ‘Perhaps next time you could stay a little longer?’
Sarah smiled, ‘I’ll do that, when I come back to pick Jessie up.’
Jessie and Nanna watched as Sarah’s car disappeared
up the drive in a cloud of dust. Jessie wiped a tear from her eye as she followed Nanna back into the house.
CHAPTER 2
‘Well,’ said Nanna, ‘would you like to come and see my vegie garden? It’s a lot bigger than last time. I even planted some broccolini, sweetie. I know you prefer it to broccoli.’
‘Sure Nanna,’ Jessie replied, ‘I’ll just change my shoes.’
This time as she wandered up the hall Jessie noticed a large painting that hadn’t been there the last time she stayed. She stopped and looked up at it.
‘Is this a new painting, Nanna?’
‘No Jessie, that’s a very old portrait,’ Nanna said as she sidled up to her. ‘I did a bit of a cleanup in the loft and found it up there, hidden behind an old chest. There’s just something about it, I don’t know what exactly, but I thought it deserved to be seen,’ Nanna said, her voice fading for a moment as she too stood staring at the portrait.
‘So,’ she continued, ‘I decided to bring it down and clean it up. It belonged to your grandfather you know. I remember when he put it up in the loft all those years ago. But I’d forgotten about it.’
‘Who are those people, Nanna?’
‘Well,’ Nanna said, as she pointed to each person individually, ‘this one here is your grandfather Fred, he’s quite young there, about Sarah’s age I would think. And that’s his younger brother Harold. The other two are their parents, your great-grandparents.’
‘Wow, it is really old, isn’t it?’
‘Yes it is. Your grandfather would be seventy-five now if he were alive, and if he was about Sarah’s age in this portrait, then that would make the portrait … oh, over fifty years old.’
‘Wow,’ said Jessie again, ‘did you know pop’s parents?’
‘Yes, I knew them well. They were English you know, came to Australia just before Fred, your grand … pop - was born. This was their house, Jessie, and then it became pop’s after they died.
‘What about pop’s brother?’ Jessie asked, as she stared into Harold’s eyes, mesmerized by how sad they looked.
‘Well, he’s a bit of mystery really. Just up and left one day – very odd it was.’
‘Mmm,’ said Jessie, ‘are there any more old portraits around?’
‘None that I’ve found, although I did find a collection of very old photograph albums up there in the loft.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, you might want to take a look while you’re here. Mostly they’re of Fred and his brother, but there’s some of Fred and me, around the time we were married. Why don’t we dig them out tomorrow?’
Jessie nodded enthusiastically. At least now she would have something to do.
The television was blaring as Jessie walked into the lounge room after dinner and her bath. Nanna was asleep in her favourite armchair with her mouth slightly open. Her hearing aid was on the coffee table beside her and soft gurgling noises were coming out of her mouth. Jessie turned off the television and curled up into Nanna’s big old lounge chair.
Earlier at the library, Sarah had told her to be quick, so Jessie had simply chosen four books at random from the upper primary school section. It really didn’t matter what she read, Jessie just loved to read. Now she looked at the covers and chose one with really bright pictures of people and things from Ancient Egypt. The book was called ‘Cairo Jim’ and after a quick glance at the information on the back cover, Jessie settled down to read.
After a while Nanna stirred in her recliner, looked over and said, ‘my goodness, it’s already after nine.’
And I can’t believe I’ve been reading for over two hours, Jessie thought. But the adventures of archaeologist and poet Cairo Jim in Egypt had swept her away into an imaginary world. Cairo Jim’s companions Doris the Macaw and Brenda the Wonder Camel were great fun and Jessie couldn’t wait to read the next chapter. Reluctantly she put down the book and kissed Nanna goodnight.
Well, I’ve got through the first day, Jessie thought as she crawled into bed and closed her eyes. Now all I have to do is make it through the rest. I wish mum and dad were here … and as she pulled the doona up to her chin and closed her eyes, a tear trickled down her cheek.
And then her eyes were open again.
What was that?
Jessie yawned. Was that someone talking? Yes, it was a lady’s voice. It’s probably Nanna, she thought, maybe she’s calling me. Stepping down onto the soft lambswool rug that lay on the floor beside her bed, Jessie put on her slippers.
The voice spoke again. Funny, it didn’t really sound like Nanna, but it had to be, didn’t it? Who else could it be?
Maybe, Jessie thought, Nanna talks in her sleep. Sarah told Jessie she had talked in her sleep for ages after their parents had … no, I don’t want to think about that she told herself as she padded across to the door.
Moonlight was streaming in through her bedroom window, creating sinister shapes on the walls. Jessie wrapped her arms aroung herself as she turned the handle and the door opened with a deafening squeak. Out in the pitch black hallway she glanced up towards the front door and then down to the kitchen. Once her eyes had adjusted to the darkness she crossed over to Nanna’s room. Her teeth had begun to chatter as she peeked in through Nanna’s slightly open door.
Nanna was lying in her bed, the doona up to her chin. Jessie listened for a few seconds but there wasn’t a sound. In fact, she couldn’t remember ever having heard such silence. It was freezing out here, Jessie thought, as she hurried back to her own room and dived back into bed.
Nanna was obviously talking in her sleep; that was the only conclusion. Jessie lay there with her eyes closed, rubbing her hands together to get them warm. But what if it wasn’t Nanna?
And then Jessie’s whole body began to shiver. Was there someone outside the house, walking around in the middle of the night? Jessie turned over on her stomach and pulled the pillow up over her head. Trembling, she started to count cute fluffy cream lambs jumping over a low white picket fence, something Sarah had taught her to do last year, until she finally fell into a dreamless sleep.
When Jessie awoke the next morning her first thought was of the voice she had heard during the night. But the aroma of sizzling bacon in a pan was far more enticing as she slipped out of bed and pulled on her dressing gown.
‘Yum,’ she said as she sat down at the kitchen table, ‘that smells great, Nanna.’
Nanna turned around and there was a loud squeal, ‘Oh Jessie, I didn’t hear you come in,’ she yelled as she adjusted her left ear. Jessie flinched at the sound but stopped herself from putting her hands over her ears.
‘Will you have bacon and eggs for breakfast?’
‘Yep,’ Jessie enthused. She couldn’t remember the last time Sarah had made breakfast, it was always just cereal.
Nanna slipped two slices of bread into the toaster as Jessie said, ‘Nanna?’
‘Yes, love.’
‘I heard a voice last night, and I wondered if you ever talk in your sleep.’
‘Well, I don’t think so Jessie, Pop never said anything. But I suppose it’s possible. Or perhaps you were just dreaming, love.’
‘I don’t think so, Nanna. I woke up and got out of bed. I thought you were calling me.’
Nanna’s eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement.
‘You were asleep when I looked into your room. I got worried, I thought maybe there was someone outside.’
‘It could have been voices from the road,’ Nanna said as she turned and scraped a generous serve of butter onto Jessie’s toast.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, you know Jessie, out here in the country sounds travel at night across great distances, particularly when there’s a breeze. It may have just been a neighbour, but I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re quite safe here with me.’
‘I know Nanna.’
‘Would you like one or two eggs?’
Jessie was lost in thought as she scooped runny eggs onto her toast and sliced it up. Nanna always to
ok her hearing aids out after dinner so she knew Nanna wouldn’t hear anything at night, even if there was a voice. And Jessie doubted it had come from the road as Nanna’s house was way too far away from it.
Nanna interrupted her thoughts. ‘I need to do the rounds of the fruit trees this morning, love, but later on we’ll get those old photograph albums down and you can take a look. Do you want to walk with me - you could help me collect some of the fruit.’
‘Okay,’ Jessie said as she took her empty plate over to the sink and rinsed it.
‘You go get dressed and I’ll see to all of this,’ Nanna said.
Minutes later Jessie was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. As she brushed her shoulder length brown hair up into a ponytail, she thought, well I’ve made it through the first night. Only six to go.
CHAPTER 3
Nanna’s two dozen or so fruit trees were down by a dam that was glistening in the morning sun. It really was very different from home, Jessie thought as wandered in and out of rows of orange and grapefruit trees, filling her basket with ripe fruit. Sniffing the air, she thought how different everything smelled too, it was so … fresh.
As they wandered back up to the house Nanna said, ‘Unfortunately I only have so few pecan trees and the nuts aren’t quite ready this time. Remember last time you were here I baked a pecan pie for you?’
‘Yep, it was great. Sometimes we go to the bakery and Sarah has pecan pie, but she says it’s never as good as yours.’
‘Must be the nuts,’ Nanna said as they reached the house. Jessie saw she was smiling.
‘Can I look at those photos now Nanna?’ Jessie asked as she hauled the basket of oranges and grapefruits up onto the kitchen bench.
‘Of course you can. But let’s have a hot drink first - would you like a cup of tea, or a hot chocolate?’
‘Hot chocolate,’ Jessie replied, hoping it wouldn’t be too hot. She was eager to get into the photo albums.
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