The Ghost of Poplar Point by Cynthia DeFelice

Author:Cynthia DeFelice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Published: 2011-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

Allie and Dub’s time with Ronnie was cut short when other visitors arrived. Michael was hungry and ready to go, anyway. As they were leaving, Ronnie quickly slipped Allie a business card, saying, “If I can help you further, just call.”

Allie pocketed the card gratefully. “Thank you so much.”

Back at the Nicholses’ house, Dub and Allie sat in the family room talking. “I sure didn’t expect you to tell Ronnie … you know, about seeing ghosts and all,” said Dub. “But I’m glad you did.”

“Me too,” said Allie. “She was so nice. And such a big help. I mean, we understand much more now than we did before.” After a pause she added, “What I can’t understand is if Skayendady died in 1779 in the raid at Poplar Point, why did she wait until now to appear?”

Dub looked thoughtful. “This all began with the pageant,” he ventured. “Maybe Skayendady is, well, kind of riled up now because the story is being told wrong.”

Allie nodded. It made sense that Skayendady’s spirit could have drifted in misery for over two hundred years, then been driven to act by the pageant.

Dub went on. “Ronnie said that the Senecas believe in returning their dead to the earth. But I doubt Sullivan’s men bothered to bury the people they killed at Poplar Point.”

“I wonder what happened to their bodies,” Allie said.

“They probably just rotted where they lay,” Dub answered. “Animals would come and spread the bones around. Slowly, any bones left behind would sink into the soil, and be covered by leaves and stuff.” Dub made a face and added, “Not exactly a proper burial.”

They were both silent for a moment. “Skayendady showed up when the pageant rehearsals began—a pageant that was Mr. Kavanaugh’s idea, and that Skayendady says is a lie,” Allie said finally. “Right at the same time, Mr. Kavanaugh was getting permission to build his hotel at Poplar Point.”

“It all points to him,” Dub said. “He’s the reason Skayendady showed up now.”

“He must not know what happened at Poplar Point,” Allie mused aloud. But then, thinking about Mr. Kavanaugh, she wasn’t sure about that. “If he doesn’t know, somebody needs to tell him.”

Dub looked at her and smiled. “Good idea. Go for it.”

“Oh, sure,” Allie said with a laugh. “Since he’s shown himself to be such a pleasant, reasonable person.”

“Or—I know! How about if we talk to Janelle?” Dub suggested. “We’ll tell her what we found out—”

Allie broke in sarcastically, “And our dear friend Janelle will do all she can to help. Where’s the phone book? Let’s call her right now.”

They sat for a minute, quiet and discouraged. Then Dub said, “Okay, we know there’s, like, zero chance Mr. Kavanaugh’s going to listen to us about this. He probably wouldn’t even talk to us. But we might have a shot at Janelle. And if we convince her, maybe she’ll be able to talk to her father.”

Allie looked at him skeptically.

He met her gaze. “You got a better idea?”

Allie had to admit that she didn’t.

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