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The lady didn’t know what she was talking about.

Chapter

Ten

The ghost didn't see why he had to wait until after pie to be released from his stuffy prison, but everyone else seemed to think this was perfectly reasonable.

Sophie carried in a dish covered with a towel. Jonah followed with plates. Sally ran ahead of both of them yelling, “IT’S APPLE,” though the smell had already made that obvious.

The little girl turned to the seal with a sudden expression of sadness. “You can’t have any.”

“I’m aware,” the ghost said.

“He knows,” Nate translated.

“I could describe it to him,” Sally offered.

“Please don’t,” the ghost said.

“He’d love that,” Nate said.

Sally climbed back onto her chair and described the pie. There was sugar on top and cinnamon, and apple pie with cinnamon was almost as good as ice cream, or so she told the ghost. Then she wanted to know if the ghost remembered ice cream and what his favorite flavor had been.

The ghost said strawberry. Mostly because he liked the color.

Forks scraped as people started eating once again.

Richard had seconds before some people finished their firsts. Caleb ate as if he were refueling rather than dining, and Nate picked at his plate like he did not have any sort of appetite.

Miriam rose while dessert was still in progress and came back from the kitchen with a small tin and a cup of hot water.

Jonah looked up. “You’re bringing out the tea?”

“I’d like to actually hear our guest before I go rummaging around in him.” Miriam set the cup down at her place and opened the tin. It smelled green and bitter somehow. She measured a pinch into the water.

“What kind of tea is it?” Nicky asked.

“The kind that’s not for children.” Miriam let it steep, watching the color.

The ghost watched too. Everyone did, except Nate, who had tensed up beside the ghost.

“A sip sharpens the gift,” Miriam said. “But drink too much and you’ll have a very frightening experience.” She looked at Nicky. “You’ll have your first cup when you turn thirteen and there are plenty of adults around to guide you. Can you wait for that?”

The boy nodded.

Miriam smiled at him and lifted the cup to her mouth. She took one small sip and set the cup down.

The ghost waited for something to happen. A glow, a shiver, a change in the air. Anything.

But Miriam only picked her fork back up and had some pie.

“What’s going to happen now?” the ghost asked. “What did she drink?”

“Something to let me communicate with you a little more effectively.”

The ghost moved his flippers in surprise. “You can hear me.”

“Clear as a bell.” Miriam looked at the seal. “Hello, Leo.”