The Ghost at the Point by Charlotte Calder

Author:Charlotte Calder [Calder, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781925081947
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Published: 2014-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The Jennings went on searching and calling. Dorrie was afraid that Sarah would come and check behind the tank – it had been one of their favourite hiding places when they were little. At one point she heard her friend coming in their direction, but then Sarah got distracted by her father calling out to her from down near the chook house.

And of course they searched every room in the house, checking behind the curtains and under the beds.

Dorrie heard Sarah going into the bathroom. She called out in surprise. “Seems like Dorrie’s just had a bath. She hasn’t emptied it … and there’s still water on the floor. Why would she have a bath at this time of day?”

Neither of her parents had an answer to that.

Uncle Harold and Aunt Janet came back from the end of the point and reported that she didn’t seem to be on either of the beaches or out fishing. Mrs Jennings reminded them that Dorrie wouldn’t have been able to haul the dinghy down on her own anyway.

Dorrie smiled to herself. Little did they know.

“She’s got enough food in the cupboard to keep her going for a few days,” said Mr Jennings. “And she’s been tucking into it, judging by what we saw in the kitchen. Plus she’s got the eggs, and the vegetables and the fruit.”

“But it just doesn’t seem right, a child her age being here all on her own like this.”

“Perhaps we should lock up the house,” suggested Aunt Janet. “She’ll be round to your place pretty quick smart then – with no food or bed.”

All three Jennings protested.

“Oh, no,” cried Sarah. “We couldn’t do that!”

“If I know our Dorrie,” said Mr Jennings, his voice suspiciously loud, “she’ll come when she’s good and ready. She’s more than capable of looking after herself in the meantime.”

“But–” started Mrs Jennings. Then she stopped. Dorrie strained her ears into the sudden silence. It was as though Mr Jennings was communicating with them in whispers or sign language.

So when she heard sounds of them getting back into the car, and the motor starting up and bumping off down the drive, Dorrie wasn’t taking any chances. She put a finger to her lips, motioning for Alonso to stay still. Then, after a couple of minutes she crept out from behind the tank and peeped up over the end of the verandah.

Sure enough, Mr Jennings was still standing there, arms folded, waiting. Luckily, right at that moment, he was facing the other direction.

She ducked down again, tiptoed back to their hidey-hole and signalled the situation to Alonso. Then they heard Mr Jennings’s footsteps come along to the end of the verandah.

At that moment, Poppy suddenly appeared beside them.

“Meow!” she cried loudly, purring and rubbing herself against them. “Mee-ow!”

Dorrie put a warning hand on Poppy’s back, furiously putting her fingers to her lips. A fat lot of good that was going to do.

“Here, puss,” came Mr Jennings’s voice from up on the verandah. He made smooching noises, his voice coming closer.

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