The Hidden World by Graham Masterton

Author:Graham Masterton [Graham Masterton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2013-03-02T16:00:00+00:00

Down By the Sea

Grannie apologized because she hadn’t been expecting visitors and she had only corned-beef hash for supper. Renko didn’t seem to mind: he cleared his plate and asked for seconds.

‘You’re sure it’s OK if Renko and Elica sleep over?’ Jessica asked her as she helped Grannie to dry the dishes.

‘I couldn’t be more pleased, sweetheart. You don’t want to be spending all of your time with old relics like us.’

‘You’re not relics. I love you, both of you.’

‘All the same, we’re old, and you need to be mixing with young folks, with young ideas. Your Grandpa Willy thinks garage music is what they play at the filling-station. Just you be sensible.’ And she gave Jessica a meaningful glance.

‘Yes, Grannie,’ Jessica replied.

After supper they went upstairs to Jessica’s bedroom. ‘I’m supposed to meet Phoebe by the ocean,’ said Jessica. ‘I don’t know how to get there, but I guess the roses might help us, if we can find them.’

Renko sat in the swivel chair in front of Jessica’s desk, swinging himself from side to side. He didn’t say anything, but she could tell by the expression on his face that he still didn’t believe her at all. Elica stood in front of the mirror and pinned up her hair with some of Jessica’s sparkly barrettes. ‘I look like princess, yes?’

‘We’ll have to take my flashlight, just in case the wooden wolves come after us.’

‘Sure,’ said Renko. ‘Wouldn’t like to be eaten alive by a closet door, would we?’

‘Please, Renko. Don’t make fun. You have to believe you can do this, otherwise you won’t be able to.’

‘OK, OK.’ He nodded toward the wallpaper. ‘What time are you planning on going?’

‘As soon as my granny and grandpa have gone to bed. I don’t want them coming in here and finding us gone.’

Elica said, ‘You believe this so much. I don’t want you to have disappointment.’

‘I don’t think I will, Elica. And I don’t think you will either.’

They talked and played music until well after ten, when Grandpa Willy came in to wish them good-night. ‘Don’t stay up all night, kids. It’s school in the morning, remember.’

Grannie came in behind him with milk and home-made cinnamon cookies. ‘I used to love slumber parties when I was young. My mother used to make us a whole picnic, with fried chicken and jellies and everything.’

She kissed Jessica good-night and then followed Grandpa across the landing.

‘Did you let the cat in?’

‘I thought the darn cat was in already.’

‘You know she wasn’t in. You put her out yourself.’

‘I know I did, but I thought you let her back in again. She never stays out long in the snow.’

‘I can’t trust you to do anything.’

‘I can trust you, though. I can trust you to nag me into an early grave.’

Grandpa went down to let the cat in, grumbling all the way, and then he came back up again, still grumbling. At last Jessica heard their bedroom door close. She turned to Renko and Elica and said, ‘OK … we can go now.

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