Ghosts Beneath Our Feet Read Online Free Page A

myself.”
    â€œYou can’t!”
    â€œWant to bet? Stay here and suffocate if you want, kiddo. I’ll make my own plans!”
    The conversation was over. No more brother-and-sister talk. Katie leaned back in the rocking chair as he stomped out of the room. She winced as the door slammed behind him with a bang that shook the walls.

Chapter Four
    After all his concern about starving, Uncle Frank barely touched the soup and fruit Katie’s mother served for supper. He was like a sad old scarecrow, sitting there half asleep. Even Jay must see that he was sick.
    Mrs. Blaine had a notepad next to her plate. “The first thing we have to do is clean house,” she said. “You two can do your own rooms tomorrow and then give me some help downstairs. The whole place needs an airing.”
    â€œHousework, ugh!” Katie looked sideways at Jay, who ignored her. “Not all day, Mom! I want to find out if there are any kids living near here.” There was one, she knew—the girl they’d met on the hill—though she probably wasn’t interested in becoming a friend.
    â€œYou’ll have time for that, too,” Mrs. Blaine assured her. “After you do a little cleaning.” She looked at Jay. “Come on, Jay, why so grim? What’s on your mind?”
    Jay stared at his plate. Katie squirmed.
    â€œI’m not asking you to work all the time, you know,” Mrs. Blaine continued. “I want you to have fun this summer. Get outside—explore—enjoy yourself. A new place can be exciting.”
    Jay nodded and sipped his soup.
    Uncle Frank’s spoon clattered to his plate.
    â€œHe’s asleep,” Katie whispered. “Mom, he hardly ate anything at all.”
    Mrs. Blaine touched Uncle Frank’s arm, and the shaggy white head jerked. “Would you like to go to bed now?” she asked gently. “If you aren’t hungry, I can fix you a snack later on.”
    He looked around the table as if he’d forgotten who they were. “Tired,” he mumbled. He pushed back his chair, and Mrs. Blaine hurried to help him up.
    What would it be like to be old, tired, confused, to be always on the outside of what was happening? Suddenly Katie remembered the question she’d wanted to ask Uncle Frank earlier. Here was something interesting that only he could tell her.
    â€œUncle Frank, we met a friend of yours when we were on our way up here. She’s a teeny-tiny old lady, and she lives partway up the hill.”
    The old man grunted. “Nancy Trelawny. Came over from Cornwall with ’er folks same year as me. Been in that ’ouse ever since, she ’as.”
    â€œWell, she sent you a message,” Katie hurried on. “She said to tell you ‘They’re going to get out,’ and she said, ‘You can’t stop them.’ What did she mean, Uncle Frank?”
    The old man straightened, and the deep-set brown eyes blazed with anger and disgust.
    â€œLot of Old Country nonsense, that’s what,” he snapped. “I won’t listen to such talk, you ’ear me?” Then his shoulders sagged. “She’s a crazy woman, that Nancy,” he said. “Talks foolishness—always did. Don’t pay her any mind.” He shuffled out of the kitchen with Mrs. Blaine close behind him, her face stiff with disapproval at Katie’s probing.
    â€œWhat do you think of that?” Katie demanded as soon as they were out of earshot. “Did you see how excited he got when I told him what that old lady said?”
    Jay looked bored. “So he’s right—she’s a crazy woman.”
    â€œBut he knew what she meant!” Katie exclaimed. She brushed a strand of dark hair from her face. “Didn’t you even notice that? He knew what Mrs. Trelawny was talking about, and it really got to him. He didn’t like it one bit.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo this is the only exciting thing