The Ghost of Ernie P. by Betty Ren Wright

Author:Betty Ren Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504013420
Publisher: Holiday House

CHAPTER TEN

That night Jeff thought about Art’s advice. Maybe his friend was right. Maybe it would be a good idea to hide for a while. He could just stay in his room, pretending he had a cold or the flu. After a week or so, the ghost of Ernie Barber might decide that Jeff was never going to help him. Margo Muggin might decide that she didn’t have to worry about what Jeffrey Keppel would say or do. If he was lucky, a week would get both of them out of his life. He could start enjoying his summer vacation.

Art’s other suggestion was just crazy. I’d tell both of ’em to go jump in the lake. It was easy to talk about facing up to your troubles, but if your troubles included a ghost and a witch—Jeff’s knees wobbled at the thought of facing up to them. Art didn’t know what he was asking.

For the hundredth time he wished he’d had enough nerve to speak up when Ernie Barber was just the school bully and not a terrifying ghost. Now hiding out was the only answer.

“I’m not really sick,” he assured his mother the next morning. “I just want to sort of rest for a while.”

Mrs. Keppel looked relieved and concerned at the same time. “I told you so,” she said triumphantly. “I’ve been saying all week that you aren’t acting like yourself. Here’s the proof!” She nodded to herself. “I’m just glad you’re such a sensible boy.”

Jeff felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t lied, but he certainly hadn’t told the whole truth either. He was just about to say that he knew he’d soon be feeling great again, when the telephone rang. It was Art, his voice squeaky with excitement.

“Hey, Jeff, you like fishing?”

“I don’t know,” Jeff said. “Maybe. I only tried it once—off the dock at Camp Wickawackoo.”

“Well, listen to this!” Art exclaimed. “My dad and his buddy were going musky fishing this morning, but his buddy got called in to work. So my dad says we can go with him if we want.”

“Musky fishing?” Jeff repeated, aware that his mother was listening to every word. “The thing is, I was going to take it easy for a while—you know, like we talked about yesterday.” He waited for Art to remember his own advice.

“Sure, sure,” Art said impatiently. “You want to hide out, right? Well, where’s the best place in the world to hide, tell me that? On a nice quiet lake, that’s where. No one around to bother you. Just you and the water and the woods and the clouds and the fish.”

Jeff hesitated. He didn’t want to refuse, now that he and Art were friends again. And he’d always wanted to go musky fishing. He just wished Art had called before he’d told his mother he was going to stay home and rest.

“I’ll call you back,” he promised, “in a few minutes.”

To Jeff’s surprise, his mother was pleased with the change of plans.

“I think Art is right,” she said.

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