The Book of Ghosts by Jos Van Brussel

Author:Jos Van Brussel
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: J+A Publications

Chapter 14

“I know what you’re doing, you know,” Clarissa said the minute I entered the kitchen.

Mom and Dad were busy preparing dinner, and only half paid attention to us, but still I froze in horror.

Had my nosy parker sister finally discovered my secret? But how?

“I don’t know how you do it,” she continued, eyeing me accusingly, “but I know that you stopped taking showers and brushing your teeth weeks ago.”

I barked a nervous laugh, and directed a strained look at our parents. Had they heard? Apparently not, for they didn’t look up.

“That’s… hilarious, sis!” I managed to utter. “You have a great imagination.”

She pursed her lips, her face set. “So is it my imagination that the towels are never wet after you take your ‘shower’? Or that the soap is still dry? The shampoo unused?”

“Ha-ha-ha.” I tried, but my laughter sounded shrill. “Great deduction, Sherlock Holmes. But tell me, if I never wash, why am I always clean? Huh? Can you tell me that?”

Her face resembled a thunder cloud. “No, I can’t,” she said slowly. She raised an accusing finger at me. “But I intend to find out.”

I simply gave her my toothiest smile, and pretended I didn’t care. But of course I did. If Clarissa put her mind to it, she could discover my secret.

I noticed her squinting at me, so I smiled some more, pretending I hadn’t a care in the world.

I would have whistled, but I was so nervous, I wasn’t sure I could manage.

“Your teeth!” she cried, pointing at my snappers.

“Aaaargh!” I cried, almost falling out of my chair.

At this point, Mom and Dad finally seemed to catch on that some domestic disturbance was in progress, for they both turned around to face us.

“What about David’s teeth?” Mom said with a frown.

I was still smiling, though I could feel the strain on my cheek muscles increasing.

“How does he keep them clean, if he never brushes them?” Clarissa demanded.

Now it was Mom’s turn to laugh. Dad, too, cracked a smile.

“What makes you think your brother doesn’t brush his teeth?” Dad wanted to know.

Clarissa lowered her voice, and said in hushed tones, “Cause when I go to the bathroom after him, his toothbrush is always dry.”

Silence reigned for a few seconds after that ominous statement, but then both Mom and Dad broke out in laughter, and I could finally breathe again.

“It’s true,” my sister yelled. “His toothbrush is always dry and the toothpaste only goes half as fast as before. Cause I’m the only one using it!”

Suddenly, Mom looked thoughtful. “It is true that you guys make the toothpaste last much longer than usual.”

“T-that’s because I don’t use as much anymore!” I quickly interjected. “W-we had a lesson in Home Ec about the ecological footprint, and how we should try to save… toothpaste…”

I swallowed with some difficulty. Would they buy my story?

“Never use more than a pea-sized amount,” I added quite lamely.

Dad smiled at me. “That’s so great, David,” he gushed. “You really try to save toothpaste?”

I nodded vigorously.

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