Welcome to Wellings An Original Story by Crystal E. Bowman

Chapter 1: Welcome to Wellings

WARNING This story involves children having to deal with adult situations and supernatural events. For A.I. visuals of this story visit Sora A.I at profile: cryebowman : https://sora.chatgpt.com/profile

    The clicking of the heels on the asphalt. The tugging on my arm as she held my hand and pulled me up the concrete steps. I stopped and jerked my hand away and just stared up at that name. Those letters etched in granite like a tombstone staring down at me. Wellings Sanatorium. History was repeating itself. I did not want to go in there. Not like her. Not like my aunt Ellen! A whole vibrant light snuffed out forever within those walls. Auntie Clara took my hand again and gently pulled me onward through the creaking, steel green double doors. 

   Once we were inside, we both stopped and stared down the long hallway before us. The smell of the freshly, sterilized air stung our nostrils. Auntie Clara looked down at me and I stared right back. She said, "I'm sure some parts are better than others. Here, now." She pulled out a handkerchief from the pocket of her soft, pink sweater and dabbed my swollen, tear stained eyes. 

.

     We walked on. I held her hand tightly now. The black and white checkered floor was polished so much that I watched our bodies as we moved down the moderately lit hallway. I kept my focus on the floor. I dared not look at the dull, gray walls filled with so many doors with windows. I was afraid of the faces I might see in those windows. Some alive and some perhaps dead staring back as me. I finally looked up when we stopped at a dark green desk built into that dull gray wall. Aunt Clara spoke to the lady sitting across from her at the desk. 

Clara said, "We have an appointment with Dr. Wellings, please."

The desk clerk said, "Sure, just wait over there." 

She pointed toward a couple of lime green, vinyl chairs against the wall just beside the desk. We both sat down and after a few minutes of silence in this long hallway, Aunt 

   Clara turned to me and said, "Trust me Ellie, everything is going to be okay. It's only for a little while. Then I'll be back and we can both start our lives together. Really." I didn't look at her at that moment. I didn't want to see that pretty face with the short button nose, green eyes with slightly too much rouge. That face with the tightly wound light brown curls always topped with a bonnet hat. Those three purple flowers perfectly place in the middle bridge of her hat. Aunt Clara loved making her own hats and she did quite well with what she had. She once promised me she would teach me someday and maybe we would go into the business together. No, I couldn't look at her. I just couldn't at that moment. How could someone so sweet, so kind, want to give me away to this place? Even for a second?! We continued to sit in silence. 

After what felt like an eternity but was probably only an hour or so, I began playing with the hem of my light blue, gingham dress. For just a second I forgot to not look at the doors opposite us in the hallway. As I raised my head my eyes locked onto the face of a man in one of those windows. He looked to be in his 30s or so and he was staring straight at me. I closed my eyes tightly, counted to five in my head, and turned to Aunt Clara. 

I said," That man is staring at me, Aunt Clara."

She said, "Aw come now. Be nice and smile back." 

   She smiled back at the man who just continued to stare at us. His mouth began to move like he wanted to talk to us. Next moment he began banging on the door and yelling. We couldn't hear his yelling but we could hear his banging. It kept getting louder and louder! A couple of big men in white suddenly rushed out from behind the desk and opened the man's door, ran in and slammed it shut. The banging stopped and it was silent again. I held onto Aunt Clara crying. She was trying to calm me as well as herself. 

"Awww, now don't you two worry about him. He's usually a quite, calm fellow. Wants some Wintergreen?" 

   We turned toward the voice. An older gentleman with thinning black hair and in a white coat was standing right beside us holding out a stick of chewing gum. The light smell of Wintergreen was wafting from him. He must chew it often I thought. Aunt Clara rose from her chair and bent down in front of me. She adjusted my blond curls and dabbed my eyes with her handkerchief. 

"No thank you sir. Who exactly was that?"

"Oh, he should be of no concern to you, Miss. His name is Arthur Mills. Small, quiet chap, really. Don't know what got into him. The real unruly ones we keep in another ward. We only let them out at night."

Both our eyes widened. 

"Oh I'm just pulling you leg. I promise I won't pull it off!" he laughed. "My name is Dr. Peter Welling. I heard you were looking for me." 

Clara stood up and held out her hand. "Yes, my name is Mrs. Clara Clearwater Dunn and this is my niece Ellen. We call her Ellie." They shook hands.

   Dr. Welling bent down in front of me and pulled out the gum again. "Hello, Miss Clearwater, is it?" He turned his head to look at Aunt Clara. She nodded. "How would you like a stick of gum? Wintergreen seems to have a calming effect on most people. It just might settle those little nerves right up! Pretty blues such as yours should not have tears in them." 

   I just continued to shake my head. What was it with him and chewing gum? He seemed cheerful enough but he was too abrupt for me. There was something about this man I just didn't like. Clara touched Dr. Welling's shoulder. 

"I'm sorry, Doctor. She's been told not to take anything from strangers." 

"Oh, well. Rightfully so. Good girl. What was I thinking?" A nervous laugh. 

He stood up and turned back around to Clara.

"Well, what can I help you with, ladies? Not to be rude but we are quite busy here and all. Lots of patients, little impatience." Another nervous laugh. 

Clara looked up at Dr. Welling with worry in her eyes. 

"I'm here to talk about Ellie. Doctor, Ellie's parents died in a home invasion."

" A home invasion? How frightening!" 

"Yes, it was a terrible time for all. I took Ellie in and we've tried to raise her. Everything was going as well as it could be for a while until my husband Jack was called to war."

"Oh yes, everyone's having to do their part at the moment." 

"We're the only family Ellie has left in this world and it's been hard finding a babysitter for her while I look for work."

"What about school?"

"That's another reason why we came here, Doctor. I've been homeschooling Ellie but now with trying to find a job it's not working out how we need it too. I hope you can understand what I mean." 

"Yes, we do have an adequate school here for our younger patients but I just can't take children right off the street you know. They have to be..."

"Gifted?"

"Well, you could say that uh..."

"Ellie is gifted. That's why she can't go to public school."

Clara paused for a moment and looked at me. I pleaded with my eyes for her not to tell him. 

"Ellie says she can see ghosts." 

"Awww. Now if I took in every child who had an imaginary friend..."

"No, Dr. Wellings, ghosts! See through people who have died. Ghosts!" 

   "Well, there are patients here that claim to have seen ghosts. Some even claim to be possessed by them. Of course it's usually a chemical imbalance or an undiagnosed mental disorder of some kind." That's when he turned back to me and bent down again. "I'm sure this little one has nothing of that kind. Just possibly a very active imagination, right darling?" 

I didn't like him calling me darling. I continued to look at Aunt Clara, pleading with her. 

"Come on sweetheart, please tell him what you can do." 

I breathed in and sighed. "She's right. I can see them. I've touched one too." 

Dr. Welling's eyes widened. "Have you now? What happened?"

"It was when I was five years old. Before Mommy and Daddy...died. A little boy came over to play with me but I could see right through him. He would just stand in our yard and stare at me. I got tired of it one day. I ran outside and pushed him really hard but when I touched him I was gone." 

"Gone? Whatever do you mean? You mean he was gone right?"

"No! I was gone. My body was there but I was gone! Somewhere else. I was standing beside some railroad tracks. Three other boys were yelling at me from the other side of the tracks. They wanted me to follow them. I saw a train coming so I shook my head and ran away from them. I ran to my bicycle. When I touched the bicycle, I was back in my body. The boy was gone. It really scared me. I ran back inside and told Daddy what happened. He told me I had the touch."

   Clara explained, "The touch is what my brother Sam called it. It's something we have in our family. This ability to...oh I don't know touch ghosts. See their past, help their future. Something like that. I've tried not to think about it much. The only other family member I know that had it was my Aunt Ellen. My mother's sister. She was admitted here a long time ago. Maybe you remember her? She lived here sometime in the 1920s?" 

   Dr. Welling frowned. "I'm afraid all of our older files were destroyed in a fire back in 1935. Most of our patients medical charts and files, practically everything we had was stored in the building that caught fire. It can take quite a while to recreated the files of the ones that are still living here but we haven't had time as of yet to recreate the ones who have passed away. Most of them had only themselves when they passed. No living family. We do have a graveyard in the back. If she lived here all her life, she most certainly will be there."

For a few seconds my spirits were raised. If I were to stay here, could it be that Aunt Ellen might be around?!

Dr. Welling noticed this. "Well, well! That cheered her up a bit! You'd think that would be quite depressing for one to hear about a graveyard."

Clara smiled, "Trust me, you don't know Ellie." 

"Well, that might change soon enough."

"Will you take her?"

Dr. Welling turned back to me. "Maybe so. Maybe so. Miss Clearwater, was that the last time you saw the boy?"

"No."

"No?"

"One day when I was riding in the car with Mommy and Daddy I looked out the back window of our car. We had just passed by a playground. I saw a boy playing with a ball with some other boys. He stopped and looked straight at me and waved." 

"This must have been someone who looked like the boy."

"No! It was the same boy. He waved at me and I knew it was him. He wasn't see through anymore either. He was alive and he was well."

Dr. Welling stood up and glanced at Aunt Clara. She raised her eyebrows. 

"Alright Mrs. Dunn. Would you mind if I examined the child for a minute. Just a little check up. Nothing much."

Clara said, "Sure, okay."

Dr. Welling took a light from his pocket. He bent back down to me. "Okay, Miss Clearwater. May I call you Ellie?"

I nodded. 

   "Wonderful. Ellie, I'm going to run the light across your eyes. How about you follow it. Just with your eyes. There we go. Perfect." He placed the light back into his pocket. "Now I'm going to take this thing" He took a hold of his stethoscope from around his neck. "I'm going to place this end to your chest. Can you hold it there for me? Good. There we go. Marvelous, and I'm going place this end into my ears. Very nice. Now, see this little hammer I've just taken out of my pocket? I'm going to tap your knees just like this. See how that leg just kicked? Let's try the other. Very good! Everything looks right as rain. You did very well, Ellie." He pulled out that same stick of gum again. "I'd like to give you a reward for being so well behaved. Are you sure you don't want one? Even if your aunt says it's okay?" Ellie smiled and nodded her head yes. I took the gum and slowly placed it in my mouth and began to chew. It had a wintergreen taste of course. Never did like the flavor all that much. It also had a very light bitter taste as I continued to chew. Not much but just enough to notice. "Good, very good girl. You know, I think you're going to like it here, Ellie. We have many your age here and some slightly younger so you will..."

"NO!!!" I spat the gum out, right into his face. 

Clara cried, "Ellie! How could you? You know better than that!"

Dr. Welling rose back up and wiped his face with the handkerchief Clara had given him.

   I jumped out of my chair and ran to Clara. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her so tight. "I don't want you to go! Don't leave me here, Aunt Clara! I don't want to be like Aunt Ellen! I don't want to die here!"

   Aunt Clara stroked my hair. "Oh honey, you're not going to die here. Who says you're going to die here?" She looked back up at Dr. Welling. "My brother Sam was very close to Aunt Ellen. He used to visit her while she was here. I was too young back then to really visit all that often. I just remember he used to come home with all these wild stories. No one ever believed him. The poor girl, I'm sure Sam must have filled her head with them as well."

   Dr. Welling laid a hand on Clara's shoulder. "I can assure you, Mrs. Dunn. We'll send her to the children's ward where there are many just as herself. She'll attend school there and make lots of friends. I'm sure of it. We may run a few tests on her every now and then. Nothing to worry about. Just to make sure she's healthy."

   Clara took my tear stained face in both her hands and said, "I'm coming back! I promise! Just 4 weeks. Okay? I have to find a job and move closer to the army base. Just 4 weeks sweetheart and you'll be with me again." 

Dr. Welling said, "I'm sure she'll make so many friends that by 4 weeks time she may not want to go!"

We both gave him a narrow stare. He just made that nervous laugh again.

   She pulled me off of her and began to briskly walk towards the front door. I stood there staring for a few seconds. Those high heels of hers were clicking faster and faster on that polished floor. I ran after her. My own Mary Janes clicking wildly back at me. When I met her she turned and bent down to me one last time. I said, "Please, Aunt Clara, I promise. I'll be good. Let me stay at home alone. I won't open the door and I won't look at any ghosts! I'll pretend I can't see them. I'll behave, I promise!" 

   She dabbed my tears with her handkerchief again. "Oh honey, it's not that. I love you just as you are. I don't want to change you. I can't leave you alone honey. You're only 8 years old. I just can't." She looked me right in the eyes. "Okay, will you do something for me. Whenever you're lonely and you miss me, you see those doors?" She pointed at the double front doors which were both open at the moment to let the summer air in for by now it was midday and sweltering. All one could see from beyond was a bright white light shinning in from outside. She said, "I want you to imagine that you are seeing me, okay? Can you see me walking up those steps outside and standing in the doorway, ready to walk down this hall to you?"

"Yes, I think so." 

"Good, cause that is just what I'm going to do is just 4 weeks. I promise, okay?"

I sighed, "Okay."

"I love you. You know that right?"

"I do."

   She kissed me on the forehead, stood back up, turned and continued walking to the door. I watched that bonnet hat with the purple flowers. The pink sweater and lilac knee length skirt as they moved closer and closer to those doors. I listened to those heels as they clicked further and further away. She stopped at the doorway and turned one last time and waved. The light from beyond shinned out from the edges of her silhouette. I waved back. She turned and continued to walk out the door and down the steps. I watched her until the bonnet hat disappeared from sight. I must have been really tired and upset because things started to become really blurred. All I can remember of that day after that was Dr. Welling  suddenly beside me. 

He said, "I think you, Miss Clearwater have had a really hard and trying day. Would you like to take a nap?" 

I turned toward the front door, trying to imagine Aunt Clara running back to me. I took a couple of steps forward then everything went black. 

   I woke up in a bed. A wrought iron bed with brown corduroy blankets. I sat up and looked around. The room was small and white. It was sparse. Just the bed and a small table beside me. No pictures on the walls. Nothing. The steel green door was ajar though. So no one thought of locking me in here? Was that good or bad? In a place like this I wasn't so sure. The door opened toward me and Dr. Welling stood there. "Oh hello, darling. Awake now? You were quite exhausted after your aunt left. We thought you deserved a good rest. Better now?"

I nodded. 

   "Marvelous! Now let's get down to it then. Your aunt left in such a hurry once I agreed to take you in, didn't she? No papers, no records? I assume she thinks of this more like a babysitting arrangement, right? Well, if that is how she sees it then that would mean you're not going to be a patient here. Oh no. I guess that would mean you're more like my ward, correct? So you may go wherever you like around here. No need to lock you up...just yet. Only pulling your leg." Another nervous laugh. "Just be careful. Never go to the restricted areas. We do have some patients here that could harm pretty girls such as yourself. Oh and never go into the TB ward without a nurse with you. That's the tuberculosis hall. A sickness of the lungs, you don't want that. The amount of patients there is smaller in recent years but no, best stay away from there completely. I'll give you a map of the safest places to go later today. One more thing. Ward or not you must earn you keep here. Let's say for an hour every day you must run some errands for me. How's that?"

I squinted my eyes at him.

"Oh, no worries. Just a few items moved from here to there. Things like that. Are we agreed?" 

I slowly nodded. 

"Marvelous! Now, in about an hour you'll begin your first day of school. A nurse will be around to give you the proper clothing. Have a good day, Miss Ellie. I dare say this is going to be a very interesting day for you. Ta ta!" 

Chapter 2: First Day of School

   About a half hour later, the door creaked open once more. A slightly older looking dark haired girl in a tightly hugging pink dress strolled in and sat down on the edge of my bed. She dropped a bright pink hospital gown and trousers beside her. The girl had an olive skin tone and a long nose and little mouth. Her big, brown eyes glanced towards the door and back at me. "You better get dressed. It's not much longer before school begins." 

I was sitting on the upper end of the bed perplexed. "Are you the nurse?"

She replied, "Me? No, I snatched this from Dazy Dilly. Nurse Dilly that is. She's a real mess. You'll meet her soon I'm sure. My name is Jean. Jean Specks!"

She reached out her hand for me to shake it. I smiled.

   "I was named after Gene Tierney. You know, the movie star? My parents changed the spelling around but she was their inspiration. Never have liked the name though. The actress is pretty enough but ugh. Jean?! Now, Vivian! That's a name with some sharpness to it. You know, like Vivian Leigh from Gone With the Wind!" By now Jean had grabbed the bed post. "Oh, if mother could have named me that but she didn't! I could just wring her..." She was shaking the bed post so violently that I jumped from the bed and backed against the wall in shock. 

   A little, round nurse scurried in at that moment, grabbed a hold of Jean, and placed a pill into her mouth. "Now, now, Jeanie! Calm down! No need to work yourself up like that! What did you do? Did you steal Miss Clearwater's clothing so you could meet her? You didn't have to do that. There are better ways to meet some one. There, there." She was patting her on the shoulder. Jeanie had gotten really red and just stared at me. The nurse turned. "No, need to worry your little head, Miss Clearwater. This is Jeanie and she gets a little...excited when we have brand new company. See, she's already better. Come here and sit back down on the bed. I'm Nurse Dilly and I'm going to guide you to your..."

Jeanie rose from the bed. "Let me, Dilly! Please!"

"Oh alright, if you promise to keep calm." 

Jeanie said, "Promise." 

Nurse Dilly said, "Now you be good, Miss Specks and don't wonder around. Go straight to school!" 

Jeanie gave her a big grin.

When Nurse Dilly was gone, Jeanie turned back to me. "You're not afraid of me, are you?"

I slowly shook my head. "No, I don't think so. Should I be?"

"Naaa, I have them sometimes. These things the nurses call "episodes". They don't last long. Nothing to worry about." She looked me up and down. "Wow, you're really young. What are you, five or something?"

"I'm not five! I'm 8 years old! I'm almost a whole two hands!" 

She smiled, "Well, that's very nice. I'm two whole hands and two extra fingers!" 

I laughed. 

She rose from the bed. "Well, how about this? I'll go wait outside, you get dressed and I'll take you to your first day of school!" 

I reached for the clothing. "Wait a minute! Why does your clothes look like a dress and mine look like pajamas?"

   "Everyone gets those kind when they first arrive. I know, they're very boring. Talk to me later though. I know a couple of nurses here that sew really well. We'll get you a custom fit one in no time." She laughed. "Hurry up now or we're going to be late!" She walked out the door.

   A little later I was in my new outfit. I placed my blond curls into a couple of pigtails. Jeanie was waiting for me just outside the door. When she saw me she said, "Well, don't you look like a regular Shirley Temple?" 

I just stood in the doorway for a moment. 

"Come on! What's the matter?"

"I don't think I should even be wearing this."

She asked, "Why not?"

"I'm only here for a few weeks and Dr. Welling said I wasn't a patient."

Jeanie stepped behind me and began pushing me along. "That's what they all say. Come on, now!"

"What?! My aunt told me..."

Jeanie continued to push me along. "We'll talk about all that later! We're going to be late!"  

   What Jeanie said really confused and upset me but I couldn't think about it for long because I had to keep up with her. It looked to be that I was left to sleep in one of the rooms close to the front desk where Aunt Clara and I had arrived. Was that what all the rooms looked like in this place? Did that poor man, I think his name was Arthur Mills have to live in a room like that all the time? Then this place must be really dreadful! I ran down the hall, past the nurse's desk. They yelled after me. "Don't run dear!"

   Jeanie had already disappeared out the same door that I had watched Aunt Clara leave just yesterday. As the door got closer and closer I tried to imagine her walking up those steps. Her flower hat a little to the side as she bent down in the doorway with her arms open wide for me to run into. I arrived at the doorway and the only other person  there was Jeanie at the bottom of the stairs.  

"Come on slow poke! We need to go to the girls' ward, now!" 

I said, "Okay, I'm coming!" I pulled up my too long trousers to walk down the steps. 

   Jeanie led me to the next building over. She pulled open a big, grey, metal door that creaked even more than my room's door did. Stepping inside, I noticed the floor looked exactly the same as the other building but the walls! Wow! They were the same bright pink. The same as my pajamas! 

   Jeanie stepped in behind me. Children began filing into the hallway. "Oh, good. We've just made it!" Kids of all shapes and sizes were lining up in two rows. All the girls had on the bright pink dresses and the boys were all in light blue shirts and trousers. I turned around. "Jeanie? If this is the girls' building then why are boys here? Jeanie?" She was no longer there. 

   "Are you looking for Jeanie? She's up there now." A boy walked up beside me and pointed into the crowd. "She went to talk to some of her older friends." He looked to be just a year or two older than me. "I haven't seen...you here before. You must be new, right? My name is...Montgomery Swing." 

"Huh?"

   This boy talked much slower and softer than Jeanie. His auburn hair hung over his face almost to the point where I couldn't see his hazel eyes. He had freckles all over him. Raising  his voice a little he said, "My name is Montgomery Swing. Some of the orderlies here call me Swinger but I don't like that. You're really pretty. Can I touch your hair?" I began to back away. 

   "Come on Monty get in your line!" Jeanie had returned and pushed Monty to the end of the of boys' line on the other side of the hallway. All the boys were entering a big room on the left that said Boys School on the door. The girls were slowly entering into a big room on the right that said Girls School on a door. Jeanie said, "Don't you mind Monty. He's harmless." Jeanie got into the line behind me which made her the last in line. I turned around to her to ask her something but I forgot what it was. She smiled and said, "Go on, the line's moving." 

   Sliding up in the line, I glanced over at Monty. He wasn't at the end of his line anymore. There was another boy there. He was dressed in a tattered blue gown. He didn't have any trousers on and he was really dirty all over. I didn't notice it at first  but I could see right though him to the back of Monty! That's when the boy turned his head and stared straight at me! He opened his mouth, made an ear splinting sound, and swooped towards me! I placed my hands over my ears and screamed! Then I started counting to five really slowly. After the number five I slowly opened my eyes to see Jeanie bent down in front of me with a worried expression on her face...and the face of every other child that was left in the hallway. 

   Jeanie asked, "What the devil happened to you?!" She looked around at all the other children. "Aw come on kids! Move along now! Go on to class. Just another crazy person!" The children moved back in line. "You'd think they'd never seen one before." A red haired nurse came rushing out of the girls' school room. 

"What was that?! Is everything alright out here?!" 

Jeanine and I were about to the classroom door.  Jeanie asked, "You're fine now, right?" 

I nodded. 

Jeanie turned to the nurse. "Everything is okay, Nurse Weatherly."

   I really didn't like it when they sprung themselves upon me like that little boy just did. When they would frighten me such as he I always went back to what Daddy taught me. To close my eyes and count to five. It usually worked but it was quite embarrassing when it happened with people around. 

   The classroom that Jeanie rushed me into was huge to a little girl such as myself. It looked to be about 50 girls in wooden desks all pointing towards a black chalkboard. Girls of all ages were staring at the red haired nurse striding to a scratched wooden desk in front of the chalkboard. The big windows that lined the far wall were all opened on to another sweltering day. Jeanie lead me to a small desk in the very back right beside of hers. "Well, kid after that episode no ones going to believe you don't belong here."

"That really mean."

"I'm only telling the truth! So are you like me? Have those often?" said Jeanie.

"I don't want to talk about it." 

"Well, if you ever DO want to talk about it..."

   BANG!  I jumped! All the other girls didn't though. Most of the girls were still staring at the nurse at the desk. At least the ones that weren't lost in their own little worlds. The nurse said, "Alright, ladies. Take your history books out from under your desks. Girls, help those near you that need help with this task." Some of them helped the ones who seemed to just be staring out the window at something. 

Jeanie looked at me a little funny. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I asked her, "Did you hear that?"

"What? Weatherly telling us to take our books out?"

I said, "No, there was a..." BANG! I jumped again. I turned toward the sound.

   A couple of desks up and over to the right of us another lady was standing in front of a young girl's desk. She was dressed all in black and wore her brown hair in a sharp, slick, bun at the top of her head. She had just slammed a thick ruler upon this girls desk. I knew she must be angry because she had a very sour expression on her face. She screamed at the young girl, "What did I say about chewing gum in my classroom, Miss Bell?!" The girl had no reaction even though some other girls scattered throughout the classroom mumbled and pointed in the direction of this teacher. The rest of the students/patients continued to have their heads down in their books. 

I asked, "Jeanie, how many teachers do we have?"

She looked sideways a me. "What a strange question to ask." She nodded up at the front. "One. Nurse Weatherly at the moment. She's standing in for Ms. Turkle."

I kept watching this lady as she continued to glide through the lines of desks and girls. "Ms. Turkle?"

  Jeanie continued to look at me strangely. "Yes Ms. Shannon Turkle. She called out sick a couple of days ago. She's really awful! She slaps her ruler on everyone's desk whenever they step out of line. She has a really long neck so some of us girls began calling her Turkey Neck. She always wears really high collars. She dresses like the 1800s. Just wait until you see her!" 

  I continued to watch Ms. Turkle closely. She pulled at her high collar quite often and when she did you could see a very red line on the skin. I said to Jeanie as I kept looking at her. "I don't think she'll be back to work, Jeanie." Ms. Turkle turned her head to my direction and I averted my eyes really quickly hoping she didn't notice me. 

Jeanie reached out to touch my shoulder. "Okay, I'm really starting to worry about you, kid." 

I jumped again when a bell rang. 

Jeanie rose up and said, "Come on, maybe some food will fix that noggin of yours." She knocked on my head. 

   Walking with the rest of the class, I quickly glanced over at Ms. Turkle. She was behind Nurse Weatherly now. I tried to hide behind Jeanie, hoping she wouldn't spot me. She kept pushing me ahead of her until we were in the hallway. 

    Jeanie took my hand and guided me out of the building. As we were walking out the door she said, "Are you really going to make me guess? I told you my problem, you know. Why exactly are you here?" 

I stopped walking and pulled my hand away. "I DON'T want to talk about it!" 

"Okay, okay, we won't talk about it." She pointed just ahead of us to a brick building who's roof looked like it was made of glass. "You see the one that looks like a greenhouse?"

"Yeah."

"That's our lunchroom. Well, it's everybody's lunchroom."

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know. It just is. Come on!" She grabbed my hand again and pulled me onward.

   I tripped over some blackened glass on the sidewalk. I pulled away from Jeanie again and bent over to take a closer look. The glass was about the same color as my Mary Janes and just as shiny. I reached out to pick up a piece when I heard Jeanie say, "Don't touch that! Don't you know any better than to touch a broken bottle?!" 

"Is that what it is?" I asked.

"Yes, it probably came from over there." She pointed to my right. Another building or what was left of a building stood there. The roof was caved in and all the windows were broken and blackened out. 

I asked, "What happened there?"

   Jeanie said, "That's the old boys' building. It burnt down a few years ago. That's why the boys have one side of the girls' building now. We're told to stay away but I sneak over sometimes. You can find some really interesting things. I might bring you with me when you're older."

I said, "...but I won't be..."

She grabbed my hand again. "Never you mind, come on!" 

   When we arrived at the lunchroom a couple of big men in white uniforms stopped us. One placed his hand out and asked, "What took you so long?"

Jeanie sighed, "She got a little distracted. She's new and I'm helping her get around! She's only 8 years old. She'll learn!" 

They stepped aside and let us in. I looked back at them as we continued inside. "Who are they?"

Jeanie seemed a little annoyed when she said, "Orderlies and they'll get you if you don't behave. Come on!" 

   It was like a furnace in this building! The windows were open but it made no difference. Jeanie led me to a long, black table already filled with other children. This building was more like a warehouse. It was all opened. One big space. On the opposite  side of the building was what looked to be some of the adult patients. I couldn't see them well with the building be so big and all. Jeanie and I sat on the same side near the end of the table. A plate of food was already sat in front of each child. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich and one cooked carrot.  Yuck, never have liked carrots. A carton of milk lay beside my plate.

I picked up the sandwich, took a bite, and continued to look at the adults table. I asked Jeanie, "Do you know any adult patients around here?" 

   She followed my gaze. "We're supposed to be kept away from the adult patients especially the more dangerous ones. I do know a couple them though. Cecile Wilkins and Darla Parlor. Cecile is just a nice, old man who likes things to go his way...all the time and Darla...well I'll have to introduce you to Darla some day. She's someone you have to meet to really understand."  

   I felt a tap on my shoulder. Monty, the hazel eyed, freckled-faced, auburn haired boy I met in the hallway earlier was standing behind us. He had his cooked carrot in his hand. He stuck his hand right in front of my face. "I don't like carrots. Do you like carrots? If you do you can have mine!" 

I pushed his hand away from my face and his carrot fell to the floor. "I don't want your carrot. I don't even want mine! Why would I want yours?!" 

   Monty's eyes started to fill up with tears and his bottom lip began to quiver. Jeanie turned from her seat and placed her hands on Monty's shoulders. She said very quietly, "You better go back to the boys' table, Monty. We don't want the orderlies to notice now do we?"

   Monty glanced over at the two orderlies by the entrance. One of them with dark curly hair and a ruddy complexion was already staring right at Monty. His eyes widened. "I'll be good, Jeanie. Promise, I will! Please, don't tell the orderlies. I just wanted to.."

Jeanie patted him on the head. "I know what you wanted to do and it's okay. Just go back to the boys' table." 

   Jeanie turned back to me. "Ellie, you should be nice to Monty. He's just a little slow and he has some problems. Whatever you do don't alert the orderlies if you can help it. He gets in trouble with them all the time. He's not a bad kid he just...well, help him out if you can. Anyways, I think he likes you. All the more reason to be nice to him. Don't you think?" 

My face got really warm and not because of the heat. I didn't even know the boy earlier this morning. He was just another stranger to me. After I thought about it a little,  I agreed to be nice to him. He was in this scary place just like the rest of us. 

   We were just about done with our lunch when a scream came from the adults' area. The orderlies at the entrance came running in that direction. "What happened?" I asked.

  Jeanie was standing on her seat trying to look over the heads of the other girls who were standing and wondering the very same thing. "Looks like someone passed out."

   About five minutes later a couple more orderlies ran in carrying a small bed. They picked up an old man from the floor and began moving him. One of the first two orderlies was fanning the old man who was in a light blue gown (just like the boys' gowns) while they carried him out the door. A cane that was on top of the old man fell onto the floor. When the doors closed the cane was picked up by the same old man who was just carried out the door! He looked around like he was stunned. Then strode after them by walking through the closed doors. 

I just sighed and asked Jeanie, "Can I go back to my room now?" 

"Nope, not yet. We have one more place to go!" said Jeanie. She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door. 

"Wait a minute! What about our food?" I tried to pick up my plate but Jeanie pulled me away. "Won't we get in trouble if we don't..." 

"Yeah, probably but I'll stick up for you!" 

When we stepped through the doors, the old man's ghost was nowhere around. I asked Jeanie, "Where are we going now?!" 

"It's playtime! Well, playtime for you but exercise time for me. Ugh, it's awful but best get it over with and then you and I can do something fun! Okay?" 

   I tried to nod as she tugged me along. We ran all the way over to the other side of the girls' building. We arrived at a fenced in area. It was parted in two separate spaces. One side had a playground. A few children were climbing all over the monkey bars and were swinging. The other side was a wide grassy area where some older children were being led in an exercise routine by a lady in purple shorts and a red blouse. Jeanie opened the fence door. She pointed to the playground. "You have to go there and I have to go this way." She began walking to the exercise group. 

I asked her, "Why can't I go with you?"

She said, "Cause you're too young. Older kids exercise and little kids play. It's just how it's done now go!" 

   I huffed and crossed my arms but I slowly began to shuffle over to the playground area. Jeanie joined the exercise group eyeing me the whole time. I stopped at the monkey bars. Still angry and still with my arms crossed looking at Jeanie exercising. Monty was above me on the monkey bars. He was upside down, floppy hair in his face, with his legs hugging the bars. I didn't look at him even as he was hanging there beside me. He said, "Nurse Weatherly gave me another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Would you like..." I took the sandwich from his out stretched hand still ignoring him. I began to eat it angrily while watching Jeanie. This didn't seem to bother Monty. He grabbed the bars and jumped down. "You know you really shouldn't make a face like that for very long. It could get stuck like that. At least that's what my Uncle Charlie used to say." 

I gave him a sideways glance. Sighing I said, "My uncle used to say that too." 

"Really? What was his name?"

Annoyed I said, "His name IS Jack! Uncle Jack Dunn and Aunt Clara Clearwater Dunn!"

He backed away a little. "My uncle Charlie died. It's good that yours are still alive." 

My face got warm. "I'm sorry." 

He continued on like it was nothing. "He was a funny man. I got to see him every day!"

This interested me. "Really?! They let him visit you?"

"No but I got to visit him." 

This excited me even more. "They let you out of here?"

Monty looked confused. "What?! Of course not! I've lived here all my life and Uncle Charlie did too. He lived right up there!" He pointed at the top of the monkey bars.

I squinted my eyes at Monty. "He lived on the monkey bars?" I turned to walk to the fence. "I don't want to talk to you no more." 

   He yelled after me. "No! Not the monkey bars! Up there in that building!" He pointed to his north to a building that was just few yards away. "That's where the adults live! Uncle Charlie lived there but he's not there anymore. Dr. Welling says he's there now." Monty pointed to his right. A few feet beyond the playground fence was a hill. The grass did not grow in this area and only black dirt covered the ground. Sticking up out of this dirt were a hundred or so small, white poles. Ten rows of these poles were all over this hill. I placed my fingers between the fence holes and stared as Monty walked up beside me.  

"Is that the graveyard?" I asked.

"Yep, sure is. It's really spooky at night. I looked out my window one time and saw my uncle standing in the middle of it once. He was wanting me to come out and play but I didn't want to."

"You see ghosts?"

"Sometimes. Do you?" 

   I opened my mouth to say something but a whistle came from the other side the fence. Jeanie ran back to my side and pulled me away. Monty waved goodbye to me and I almost waved back. When were finally out of the fence I pulled my hand away again. "Wait, Jeanie. I don't want to go to my room anymore!" 

Jeanie placed her hands on her hips. "What's the matter with you now?"

"Nothing! I want to go over there!" I pointed at the graveyard.

She sighed, "You can't go over there right now."

I asked, "...and why not?! Is it because I'm not old enough? I'm too little?"

"No, you have to have permission or you know someone who's buried there." 

"Have YOU been there?" 

"Yes, a few times."

"Did you have permission?"

"No."

"Do you know someone who's buried there?"

"No, but...HEY!"

I shot off to the graveyard. I could hear her running after me. She caught up to me when my feet was barely touching the first grave I got to.

Panting she said, "I'm all for going places you know you shouldn't go just to have some fun in your life sometimes but you ARE a little young right now. I don't want to see you get hurt you know. Maybe when you're older..."

I gave her a little push. "I'm not too young and I'm not going to get hurt. Four weeks is all I got and then I'm out of here. I want to see where my Aunt Ellen is buried. What's the harm in that?"

"You mean you know someone who died here?"

"Yep, my great Aunt Ellen and since I'm only here for a little while I want to know all I can about her. A least what Daddy never told me." 

"I'm really getting tired of hearing you're going to leave soon. Trust me, you're gonna have all the time in the world to visit you old auntie here. You and I need to talk now! Come on!" She grabbed my hand but I pulled away hard this time and fell hard on my butt. I turned around onto my hands and knees. I was right on top of one of the graves. Jeanie said, "You better get up now! That's really bad luck." 

Reaching out for something in front of me, I said, "Hey Jeanie, look at this."

"Yeah, what?"

"This grave doesn't have a tombstone. It's has a pole with a number on it." I touched the wooden post.

"That's a marker, Ellie. A lot of them have that. Look." She pointed to a grave behind it and two more rows of graves behind that were just the same. White poles with only numbers written on them.  

"Why don't they have their names here?" 

Jeanie stood there for a moment with a sad expression. "I don't want to talk about it, Ellie. It's getting late and I should take you to your room!" She took my hand again and I turned back with her. 

"How am I going to know which one is my Aunt Ellen?"

"Those are the older graves maybe she was buried in the newer section."

"No, I don't think so. Daddy said she was here near the beginning of this place." 

"Well, maybe you're Daddy doesn't know everything about this place!"

We had arrived at the steps Auntie Clara and I had walked up this morning. The place that started it all. I pulled my hand away one last time. "My Daddy knew a lot of things and if he were still alive he'd tell you a thing or two and my aunt IS coming back! I don't care what you say!" I ran up those stone steps and into those same doors once more. Jeanie's cries were echoing behind me as I click clacked down that polished checkered hallway, passed the front desk and those green chairs, passed that crazy Arthur Mills' room and right into Dr. Welling who was leaving my room. He grabbed my arms tightly and stared down at my tear stained face. 

"Well, what have we got here? We're a little late now aren't we? Crying again I see. Well, it's time for little, late girls to be going to bed. Don't you think?" He slowly guided me to my room and sat me on the bed. "Gum?" 

I shook my head.

"Never mind, then. I want you to go straight to bed. Alright?" 

I was a little confused. It wasn't even dark yet but he wanted me to go the bed. Was he angry at me for being late? I nodded anyway. 

"Good girl." He patted my knee, walked out and closed my door. Did he lock me in here?

I ran over to try the door. It wasn't locked. Thank goodness for that, I thought. 

Now that the door was closed there was just the light from the window in the door lighting up my room. I quickly clicked on the lamp from my bedside table. Looking around again at my very sparse room, I thought that sleep was really all one could do here. I noticed another new pair of pink clothes laid out for me on the bed. Perhaps for tomorrow. There was also a folded piece of paper on top of them. I took it and unfolded it. It was a map of Welling Sanatorium. I had forgotten that Dr. Welling said he would give me one. At least this would be something to do before bed. 

The map looked like Dr. Welling quickly threw together. There as a green rectangle for the main building. A pink one beside of it marked "Girls" and a brown square beside of that one marked "Lunch". So far so good. I'd already been to all three places. The longest building was a blue one that sat behind all three of the other buildings. It was named "Adults". So the adults had one big building to themselves. The playground and the graveyard was on the left side of the main building. A black rectangle just across from the "Girls"  building said "Do Not Enter". Of course that must the original "Boys" building that burnt down. On the opposite corner there was a green triangle with "Do Not Enter" written there as well. I wondered what that could be...*creeeeeeeeek* The door had just opened a little.

I dropped the map and it fell to the floor. Pulling my cover up to my nose I asked, " Who's there?" More light creeped in from the hallway but no one came in. I heard a shuffling sound. "Who is it?" I asked again. Auburn hair and hazel eyes rose up from the foot of my bed. A quiet voice said, "It's just me, Monty." 

I jumped out of bed. "Monty what are you doing here?!" I pulled him out and made him sit on the edge of my bed. 

He grabbed my wrist. "Please don't tell the orderlies. It took a while to get past them. They usually catch me when I do things like this but not this time. I just wanted to ask you one more thing."

I sighed and said, " Okay and then you'll go back to your room right?"

"Oh yeah, of course."

"Alright, what do you want?"

He let go of my wrist. "What's your name?" 

"You want to know my name? I thought you knew my name."

He smiled, "You never told me."

"Well, you never asked me."

 We laughed. I sat back down on the bed. 

Monty said, "I told you my name but you never told me yours."

I looked down at the covers. "I'm sorry if I was mean to you. It was a hard first day."

"That's okay, I remember what it's like to have a first day." 

I stood up on my knees on the bed and held out my hand. "My name is Ellie Clearwater. Nice to meet you." 

Monty shook my hand. "Monty Swing. Nice to meet you."  

I sat back down. "You know I think you really should go back to your room now. I don't want to get you into trouble."

Monty stood up and headed toward the door. "Okay, but we're friends now right?"

"Sure." 

"Okay, goodnight."

"Goodnight and be careful." 

Once Monty had slipped out the door I crawled back under the covers and turned out my light. I lay there in the dark with just the light from the hallway pouring in through the window in the door. This was officially to me anyway my first night at Welling Sanatorium. It was soo quiet. I couldn't hear anything outside in the hallway. Then my room darkened. I glanced at the door again. A person's shadow was blocking the light from the window. I couldn't see the person. Just a shadow in the shape of a man or so I thought. 

I quietly said, "Hello?"

"Go on the sleep, my child," came the reply in Aunt Clara's voice!

I sat up in bed! "Auntie Clara?!" 

The shadow was in my room now and had the very shape of my Aunt Clara! I could see the shape of her hat. I reached for the lamp.

"DON'T turn on the lamp!"

I was confused. "Why not? You've come to take me home, right?" 

"Just go to sleep, Ellie. We'll leave tomorrow." 

   Confused about how my aunt was acting or from having such a hard day I really don't know why I turned over and went to sleep. Maybe it was both. Maybe it was the promise that tomorrow I would be gone from this dreadful place. Something compelled me to obey. Aunt Clara must have changed her mind and I was grateful for whatever reason she did so. Sleep came quickly then. I don't even remember if or when Aunt Clara left the room. This day was done and my first day was going to be my last here. Even though I'd made some friends I was glad to leave this place forever.

Chapter 2 : A Teacher's Burden

   The next morning, I jumped out of bed and grabbed my blue dress from underneath  and lay it on top of that awful pink thing that was still lying on the foot of my bed. The thought of never having to wear that awful thing again made me so happy that it didn't take me long at all to get dressed. I would be leaving really soon but I would ask Aunt Clara if I could visit Jeanie and Monty every now and then and find some way to help them leave this place as well. 

   With my dress on I ran to the door and pulled the handle. It was locked! Somebody locked my door last night! Who could that be? Monty surely couldn't or wouldn't even if he could. Aunt Clara? Why? I pulled and yelled but no one came. Aunt Clara surely wouldn't leave without me?! 

"Let me out!!! Aunt Clara I'm ready! I want to go home!!!"

I pulled and pulled on the door.  My face wet with tears once again, I backed away from the door and sat on my bed. After what felt like an eternity later the door unlocked and creaked open. Dr. Welling emerged. He was holding a clipboard.

"Good morning, Miss Clearwater. Oh, so you've changed back into your dress I see. Something wrong with the uniform I gave you? Oh goodness me. It appears you're upset again. Whatever for this time? Why is it you're always crying when we meet?" 

I gave him the meanest face I could muster at the moment. "Why was my door locked?" 

He looked back at the door. "Oh was it? So sorry. We do have a few patients who break loose at times during the night. Very rarely are they the dangerous kind but it tends to happen on occasion. Someone must have thought it best to secure you in last night. One of the nurses maybe. It might be best to keep it locked at night you know. Just for safety reasons."

"You said I wasn't a patient here. That I was your ward..."

He came closer to me. "Well, yes but better to ere on the side of safety."

I jumped off the bed. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm going home! Where's Aunt Clara?"

He looked me up and down. "Whatever do you mean, Miss Ellie?"

"Call me Miss Clearwater! Where's Aunt Clara? She was here last night!" I walked out of the room. 

He followed me out. "I do say Miss Clearwater you are in a very changeable mood today. I haven't seen or heard from your aunt since she left you here. What are you going on about?"

I stamped my foot on that checkered floor and I glared up at him. "Liar!"

This caught the attention of the nurses at the front desk and a couple of orderlies standing across the hall from them. One of the orderlies was that same big curly haired man with a ruddy complexion that frightened Monty at lunch yesterday. Dr. Welling shook his head at them. He bent down and took hold of my shoulders. "Little one, you probably had dream last night. Maybe one of the nurses came by to lock your door and you confused her with your aunt."

I stomped again. "NO! I heard her voice! She was there and I'm going home!!! Let go of me!" I wiggled out of his grasp and ran down the hallway. The orderlies began to run after me but Dr. Welling must have told them to stop because I ran passed them and out the front doors. Aunt Clara IS here! She had to be. Her car! I'd find her car and prove to that doctor she's here! I ran all around the parking lot twice. I couldn't find Uncle Jack's blue Ford Coupe. At least not the one with the chipped paint on the side of one of the headlights. I had scratched it with my bicycle on my 8th birthday by accident. No! It wasn't a dream! It couldn't be... Jeanie. I needed to talk to Jeanie. She would understand. 

She's probably in the her room in the "Girls" building. A few seconds later I was running down the hallway looking into some of the rooms. I found Jeanie in the last room on the right side of the hallway. Jeanie was talking to a boy who left when he saw me. "Hey, kid. Something wrong?" said Jeanie.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Oh, that's Jacob. He's a friend. Why did you run in here so fast?"

"I have to talk to you." 

She took my hand and pulled me further into her room. "I should talk to you too."

I looked all around me. She had a record player in the far corner of her room. It was playing as song really low. It sounded a little like The Trolley Song by Judy Garland. Beside of the player was a dark nightstand with a mirror. A couple of pictures of a dark haired man and a woman were stuck on one side of the mirror and on the other side two more pictures. One was of Charlie Chaplin and the other Katherine Hepburn. Jeanie was sitting on her already made mint colored bed. A small window was just above her bed with the curtains of the same color. 

Jeanie was looking at me with a sad expression. "I'm sorry for what I said about your Dad yesterday."

I grabbed her hand. "Never mind that, Jeanie! You've got to come with me to find Aunt Clara! I'm going home today!" 

She stood up. "Really?! Is that why you have your dress back on? Where is she?"

I tried to pull her to the door. "Dr. Welling said she's not here but I know she is. I saw her last night and she said she was going to take me home and you're going to help me find her! Come on!" 

"Wait a minute, Ellie." She turned me toward her and made me sit on her bed. "Is her car in the parking lot?"

"No, but she's here I know it! I saw her last night in my room."

Jeanie said, "Okay, you got to calm down a minute. Do you want some water?"

I squinted my eyes at her. "I don't want water. I want Aunt Clara. We've got..." 

She shushed me and left the room. She came back with a glass of water. "Ellie, strange things happen around here sometimes. Especially at night."

I took a sip of the water. "I KNOW strange things happen around here, Jeanie. I see strange things all the time."

Jeanie bent down in front of me. "Well, I remember a couple of strange times with you yesterday that's for sure but you never told me what they were about."

I lowered my head and said, "I can see...ghosts."

"Ghosts? You mean like Monty? You know he's always telling everybody he sees his uncle in the graveyard." 

"Sort of," I said. 

She stood back up again. "So you're one of THOSE people."

Offended, I stood up as well. "What do you mean THOSE people?!" 

"You know. People who see ghosts. Dr. Welling takes a special interest in them." 

"Why?"

"I really don't know but there's one thing about Dr. Welling you need to understand."

I sighed. We were wasting time but I asked, "What?" 

"Whatever you do, don't accept his chewing gum." 

My eyes widened. "Why not?"

We both sat back down on the bed. "Well, most of us around here think he places some kind of medicine on it. Something that makes you falls asleep. I think he has the good gum, you know, the kind he chews all the time in one pocket and the bad gum in the other! If you've been good you might get the good gum but if you've been bad and hard to manage you'll get the bad gum. Now if you've been really, really bad and he asks you if you want some gum then I WOULD take it then. Cause you don't want the shot. That hurts something awful!"

I jumped back up. "Why would Dr. Welling want to do that to me?! If you're not going to help me look for Aunt Clara then I'll find her myself!" I ran to the door.

"Ellie!"

I turned. "What?"

Jeanie was still sitting on the bed. "You said you can see ghosts. If you saw your aunt yesterday in your room and her car isn't in the parking lot, could it be possible she's..."

How could Jeanie say such a thing?! "AUNT CLARA'S NOT DEAD!! I'll prove it to you! To all of you! I'll find her! Even if I have to search every part of this place!!" 

If today had a been a school day I would have had to dodge the crowd of children in the hallway by now but this being Saturday, only a handful of people were standing around. Probably more to get away from Jeanie who I could hear behind me now I ran to the to doors on the other end of the hallway. When I burst through them I was met with another door to the outside and a flight of stairs on my right leading up to the second floor. I had never thought about there being a second floor to the "Girls" building. I shot up the stairs with Jeanie trailing behind me.

I heard her saying, " Ellie, I'm sorry! Please come back! Don't go up there! That's the older children's floor!" 

I ignored her. When I arrived at the beginning of the second floor I kicked or pushed open every unlocked door down the hall. Most were locked but one of them opened to a teenage boy kissing a teenage girl on a bed. 

Jeanie had reached me by now. She said, "Sorry!" and closed the door. "You know that's really rude, Ellie!"

Turning from Jeanie I clasped the door knob of the opposite door on the other side of the hallway. It was unlocked so I pushed it open. There was a long creaking sound and the door opened...into pitch blackness.

"Who's room is this?" I asked Jeanie. 

She said, "No one has a room up there anymore. That's the garret."

"A what?!"

She rolled her eyes. "The attic." 

I inched closer. "Is there a light?"

"No. It broke a long time ago. No one cared to fix it. We don't go up there anymore." 

Holding my breath I ran inside. 

"Ellie! Stop!"

A flight of stairs going upward quickly stopped me. Moving my hands around in the darkness I finally found the handles . I didn't know why I was doing this. I just felt like something or someone needed me too. Clinging to the thinnest hope that it was Aunt Clara calling me somehow I ran up the steps in total darkness. Jeanie must have chickened out because I couldn't feel her behind me. I finally reached what felt like a thick, wooden door. I found the cold doorknob. The door was unlocked but really hard to push open. Like it was stuck or something. Planting my feet on the top step, I placed both hands on the door and gave it a big push with all my might. A bunch of dust whooshed in as the door scratched against the floor. I coughed and fanned the air in front of my face. 

At least this room had some light. Sun beams shined down from somewhere within, possibly from an attic window out of view on the left of me. It was just enough to light up the doorway. I moved to step through when a pair of black heeled feet dropped in front of my face! They hung there for a few seconds and then they fell to the floor along with the rest of the body! A black dress, a pale face with black lace and a thin, red line... I screamed! 

Jeanie quickly ran up the steps behind me. "What happened?! Are you okay, Ellie?!"

I placed my back against door and squeezed my eyes shut really tight. "I think I found Ms. Turkle."

When I had moved and Jeanie who was holding onto one of the railings at the top of the steps, saw Ms. Turkle lying there on the floor as pale as can be her hand began shaking the railing. She said, "Ms. Turkle? Oh no, this is not good. This is not good at all! Ellie!" She grabbed my wrist and gave me such a yank that it felt like my arm was going to pull right out of my shoulder! "This is not good, Ellie.!" She pulled me to her and covered my eyes with her hand. "You're took young to see this! You shouldn't see this!" She was backing up closer to the top of the stairs. 

I squirmed in her grip. She must have been having one of her "episodes" and it was beginning to frighten me a little. Her grip was getting tighter. I tried to remain calm and said, "I'm okay, Ellie. Just let me go. We should get help." She wouldn't let go and we were inching even closer to the steps. I screamed, "LET ME GO, JEANIE!" I gave her a hard push! She began to fall backwards! I reached out to her and she grabbed my hand again. She was too heavy for me and we both tumbled down the stairs! We landed at the bottom and rolled into the hallway. We unfolded from each other lying flat on our backs, moaning from the pain. Things were getting very blurry but I heard footsteps quickly getting closer to me. A fuzzy view of a red face and curly hair. Someone's deep voice. "What has she done now?" Then total blackness. 

I woke up in a hard but warm bed. A little too warm. The covers were all the way up to my chin. I pulled my arms out and sat up. Two or three bruises covered my arms and I could feel a small bandage on my forehead. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I didn't break anything. A gush of wind blew my hair and a faint smell of pine trees came with it. I was outside on a long porch! A row of beds stretched away from me on one side and another one stretched away on the other. I asked aloud, "Where am I?" A nurse walked out of an open door behind me carrying a silver tray of food and said, "Oh, well look at that, now! You're awake! I'm so glad." She sat the tray down on a table beside the bed. She bend over and took my chin and turned my head from side to side. "You're in the infirmary, child. You two were such a mess when you came in!" She noticed my quizzical look. "Don't you remember what happened? You fell down the stairs, poor things." I slowly nodded. The nurse continued. "Do you remember me? I'm Nurse Dilly. You met me when you met Miss Specks on your first day of..." 

"Jeanie!" I pulled off the cover and tried to get up. 

She gently pushed me back down. "Now calm down. Jeanie's just inside. Let's take it slowly for now. You're mostly tired and emotional but nothing a little more rest could remedy thank goodness. As for Miss Specks, she may be here for a little longer." 

"Why what's wrong with her? Why am I out here and she's in there? Can I see her?" 

Another nurse with red hair walked up to us. It was Nurse Weatherly. The nurse that taught Ms Turkle's class. "Miss Clearwater, we placed you here because you looked so pale. We thought a little fresh air could do you some good." She turned and walked to the porch railing. "It's quite a beautiful view here, really!" She was right. A big pine tree forest and a blue sky was all you could see for what seemed like miles. A few falcons were flying and you could hear their piercing screams in the distance. She turned back to me. "As for Miss Specks, she has a little more than a bump on the head. She'll need to stay here for a few days but I'm sure she'll be just fine real soon. You can visit her after lunch." 

I sighed and grabbed the tuna sandwich from the tray. As I brought the sandwich up to my mouth I said, "It must have been a terrible sight to see what happened to Ms. Turkle. It sure was for us." I bit into the sandwich and began eating. 

The two nurses looked at each other confused. Nurse Dilly asked, "Whatever do you mean, child?"

Nurse Weatherly, a little concerned asked, "Miss Clearwater, how do you know Ms Turkle? She called out sick two days before you arrived." 

I lay the sandwich down. "What are you talking about?! Ms. Turkle! In the attic!"

Nurse Dilly said, "Ms. Turkle? In the attic?! Whatever for? Why would she be in that dusty old room ?"

"She's dead! Didn't you find her?!" 

Nurse Dilly jumped. "Dead?! My goodness!" 

Nurse Weatherly placed her hand on my forehead. "Perhaps we should keep you here a little while longer." 

I pushed her hand away. "Did you go into the attic?"

Nurse Weatherly said, "One of the orderlies, Derick..." Her face went red. "Excuse me, I mean Mr. Niles looked around up there. He said there was nothing of any concern which makes me wonder why two little ladies would want to go up there in the first place." 

"He's lying! We've got to find her!" I pulled the cover off me and stood up. My head began to swim so I sat back down. 

Nurse Weatherly seemed a little flustered. "Mr. Niles wouldn't lie, Miss Clearwater." 

Nurse Dilly covered me up again and said, "You are going nowhere child but right where you are and get some rest. I'm sure if there is anything wrong we will take care of it. No need to worry your little head about it." 

I wanted to look for Ms. Turkle and also continue my search for Aunt Clara but my body began to feel a little heavy. I gave in for the moment even though I was confused and upset about the strange events that had happened recently. Maybe some food would give me the strength to find away out of here soon. The nurses nervously smiled and left me alone. When I was about finished drinking my glass of milk, Nurse Dilly returned with someone else. She said, "This young man asked if he could visit." The boy was brushing his auburn hair out of his hazel eyes. 

I lay my milk down and sat up. "Monty! It's so good to see you!"

Nurse Dilly led him to an old rocking chair beside my bed. "Are you sure it is, Ellie?" he asked looking really worried.

"Of course it is! Why not?"

"Do you remember me?" 

I scrunched up my face. "Yes, I remember you. I just called you Monty, right? Why does everybody keep asking me that?"

Nurse Dilly was still standing behind him.

Monty said, "Uh, because Jeanie hasn't woken up yet and they said she might not remember things." 

Nurse Dilly grabbed the rocking chair and said, "Oh shush, Mr. Swing! Don't worry Miss Clearwater about that."

I had had enough. "Don't hush, Mr. Swing. Take me to Jeanie right now!" Getting up to quickly I began to fall forward. Monty and Nurse Dilly moved to hold me up. Monty on one side and Nurse Dilly on the other. I said, "Okay, come on. You said she was just inside." 

Nurse Dilly said, "I don't recommend this but if you promise to behave for the rest of your stay here..."

"I promise!"
"She promises"

We both had said it at once and we smiled at each other. They helped me into the room that was right through the doorway that the two nurses had walked out of earlier. It was a small room with one bed. Jeanie lay there sleeping. Her whole head was bandaged and she had a big bruise on her right cheek. 

Nurse Dilly said, "She hit her head really hard but with some rest we're sure she'll wake up soon. Don't worry children." 

I reached out and touched her bandaged head. "I'm so sorry, Jeanie."

Nurse Dilly asked, "Alright children. You all need to let her rest..."

I asked her, "Can we stay here for a little while longer, Nurse Dilly? Please."

Nurse Dilly looked a little worried. "I have to do the rounds but...Oh alright, child but when I'm back you all have to return to your rooms." We nodded.

When Nurse Dilly left, Monty who was standing on the other side of Jeanie's bed asked, "Ellie, can you tell me what really happened. I heard you fell but I'm sure there's more to it than that." 

My eyes still on Jeanie I said, "There sure is. After you left last night I saw my Aunt Clara. She was in my room. I know it." 

Monty said, "Really? She was there? Why didn't she take you home?"

I turned to look at him. "She told me she would in the morning but the next day I couldn't find her and Dr. Welling said she wasn't here. I wanted Jeanie to help me find her but she wouldn't help so I began looking for her myself."

Monty said, "That's how you ended up in that attic? Um, Ellie why would your aunt be in an attic?" 

"I don't know! It just felt like I should go up there. Well, Jeanie followed me and that is when we found Ms. Turkle! She fell from somewhere right in front of us!" 

Monty's eyes widen. "She did?! Is she okay?"

"No, she's dead. She had a red line on her neck like this." I traced my finger on my neck. 

"That sounds terrible."

"Yes, it was. That's when Jeanie had one of her "episodes" and we fell down the stairs." We both looked at Jeanie.

Monty said, "It's amazing you're not dead." 

"I know." I nodded.

Monty moved closer to the bed and bent over Jeanie. "I hope she's...better soon."

I watched Monty as he brushed away his bangs from his face so he could see Jeanie better. He made me think of Aunt Clara's old sheep dog, Hurley. His hair would always grow too long and Uncle Jack had to cut the hair in front of his eyes sometimes so he could see.  So when Monty was backing away from Jeanie I leaned over to him and said, "You know, you should cut your hair, Monty." I pulled back his hair for a few seconds. A big, round, reddish spot was on the side of his forehead. 

Monty jerked away from me and combed his hair back down over his face. He gave me a frightened and pained look and said, "You shouldn't have done that, Ellie. That's not very nice." 

Confused I said, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Monty. I'm sorry. What was that? What happened to..."

He shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it, Ellie." 

I quietly said, "Okay."

"You know what I do want to talk about?"

"What?"

"Ms. Turkle."

"Oh," I cleared my throat. "Well, when I woke up, Nurse Weatherly said that Ms. Turkle wasn't there! An orderly went up to the attic and said he didn't see a thing!"

Monty asked,  "Did the orderly have curly hair and a red face?"

I said, "Yes, Nurse Weatherly said his name was Derick Niles." 

Monty's face reddened. "I don't like him. He's a bad man." He began to rub his forehead. A few seconds later Monty raised his head and stared at Jeanie again. "Wait a minute, Ellie..." He just stood there for another long moment.

"What Monty?!" 

"What about Ms. Turkle's ghost?"

"What about her, Monty? Wait, that's perfect! Why didn't I think of that?"

He pointed to me. "Maybe because you hit your head."

"I think you are really smart, Monty. You should always believe that, okay?"

Monty gave me a great, big smile. "You really believe that?"

"I do! Now, Ms. Turkle's ghost usually haunts the girls' classroom. Maybe she can tell us what happened and where Aunt Clara is."

Monty was still smiling.

"So you can see more just your uncle's ghosts?"

"Yep, I said I could at the playground. Don't you remember?"

Oh, yes. I remember. Monty, did you see the ghost that was standing behind you while we were in line for school yesterday?"

"No...maybe because he was behind me."

I giggled, "Yes, maybe." 

He asked, "What did he look like?"

"He had black dust all over his face and his clothes had holes all in them like they were..."

"Burned?"

I said, "Yes!"

"Oh, I've seen him before. That's Billy Warlock. He got burned up in the fire."

I asked, "You mean the "Boys" building fire?"

"Yep." 

I could hear Nurse Dilly's heels walking closer to our room. I looked at Jeanie on more time and turned my attention to a bottle on her bedside table beside me. It had about five or six little blue pills in them. Picking up the bottle I said, "I wonder what these are?"

Monty said, "I know what they are! Nurse Dilly give them to Jeanie when..."

"When she has one of her episodes?"

Monty nodded. "Maybe I should take one just in case she has another one when Nurse Dilly's not around." I took one of the pills and placed it in my the pocket of my pajamas that I was now wearing since I had woken up in the infirmary. 

When Nurse Dilly arrived Monty and I said our goodbyes. I had told him I would meet him at his room in a few hours. When he had told me that his room was in the Main Building just like mine it surprised me a little. I had thought Monty's room would be in the "Girls" Building just like the rest of the children. Monty told me that every person who sees ghosts live in the Main Building which interested me. Dr. Welling had told me I was not going to be a patient but I was more like his ward. If that's true I thought then why was I living with all the other patients who see ghosts and why did Jeanie's room looked so much better than mine? If I was his ward shouldn't my room have more than just a bed, a table and a lamp? So many questions I needed to ask Jeanie about but she was unable to tell me. I prayed she would get well really soon.

It was dark by the time I stepped out of my bed on the veranda. The breeze was cooler now than it had been and the moon was bright illuminating all the other beds around me. I walked to the edge where the railing stretched the length of the porch and looked out. I was really high up and from what I could see from the moon's light I must be in the "Adults" building. Directly in front of me I saw the Main Building and to the left of me was the "Girls" Building and then the Lunch Building. Remembering what was on my map that would mean if I turned to my right I might be able to make out the triangle shaped building I was told not to enter...but what was I thinking? I had more important things to do tonight. The mysterious building would have to wait. 

Nurse Dilly had walked out but had not noticed I was out of my bed yet. She had her back to me doing something with my tray of food or medicine. I didn't know which. I tip toed past her and into another door, through the room within and out the other door into the hallway. Everything was so silent here. I thought I was home free when I arrived at the hewn crafted elevator doors. I pressed the button a few times. The doors opened with Nurse Weatherly inside. She said, "Well, what is this little Miss?"

I said, "Hello, was just wondering if I could go back to my room now? You did say I was getting better." We passed each other. She walking out and me walking in. 

She said, "Yes, true but maybe I should alert one of the orderlies, Derick maybe to guide you back to your..."

I pressed the elevator button. "That's okay. I can get there myself." The doors were about closed. "Tell Nurse Dilly thanks!" Whew. That was easier than I though it would be. Almost too easy. I turned my attention to the elevator buttons. So the "Adults" Building had three floors and a basement. The third floor was the infirmary of course and I assumed the other two floors were patients' rooms. I wondered what was in the basement. 

The doors opened on the first floor. Most of the adult patients were in their rooms by this time but some were roaming around outside their rooms. Some were sitting in their wheelchairs by their doors and others standing around with vacant looks on their faces. I ran down the hall as fast as I could. The exit doors were approaching quickly. A tug on the hem of my pj's pulled me back. A thin, pale faced man had a hold of my clothing! He looked be around his 30s and was very familiar. He was the man that banged on his door at Aunt Clara and I when we first arrived here! "Are you Arthur Mills?" I asked.

 A grunt came from his gapping mouth. His eyes were in different directions. His grip was tight on me and I was beginning to worry. Some footsteps came upon us and a beefy arm yanked Arthur's hand from me. "What are you doing out of bed, Miss Clearwater?" 

I looked up to find the ruddy faced orderly Derick Niles glaring back at me. I quickly explained, "Nurse Weatherly said I could return to my room now."

"Alright then. I shall take you." He grabbed my wrist in a slightly tight grip and began pulling me towards the exit. At first I resisted but he was taking me where I needed to go to meet Monty. 

I let him drag me to the Main Building. When we arrived at my room Derick gave me a little push and said, "No more troublemaking for you little lady." Once I was inside, he slammed the door and locked it! How was I going to meet Monty now? Not long after though I heard the door unlock and slowly creak open. Monty stood there holding the keys. He was laughing...of all the things! 

Still laughing a little he said, "I'll tell you later but we have to go before he comes back!" 

I hugged him. "You're the best!"

His face turned red. We both left the Main building and entered the "Girls" Building. 

By now it was bed time for the youngest children so the hallway was mostly empty. There was one little boy standing close to the Girls School Room. The very room we needed to be in. As we walked closer his clothing and body came into better view. His clothes were ripped and burned and his face had black soot all over it. He saw us approaching and flew down the hall to us. 

"Billy Warlock, what are you doing?" asked Monty.

Placing his feet on the floor before us Billy said, "What are you doing, Swinger?!" 

I yelled at him, "Don't call him that! He hates that name!" 

Billy glared at me. "YOU look like Milly. I'm not talking to you!" He folded his arms and turned his back on me.

Monty said, "She's not Milly and she's nice and you better be nice to her or I'll." Monty reached out like he was going to touch Billy. The ghost boy shrieked and zoomed down the hallway.

I asked, "What was that about?"

Monty's face turned red again when he said, "There's something I need to tell you, Ellie but not now. Let's go inside."

Once inside the classroom, we began looking around for Ms. Turkle. After a few minutes of looking around I sighed, "I guess we have to wait for her to come to us." 

We sat down at a couple of desks in the middle of the classroom. Monty turned his desk around so we were face to face. "Ellie, I can see ghosts." 

I smiled. "I know that, Monty. So can I."

"No! I mean I can do more than see ghosts!"

I leaned toward him interested. "Really? I can too." 

Billy floated through from the floor and sat at a desk beside me. He said, "Don't tell her, Monty. She'll think you're a freak!"

"No, she won't! "No, I won't!" We both replied back. 

We all looked up to the front because Ms. Turkle had just floated in through the chalkboard. Her eyes quickly landed on the three of us. She raised her ruler. "What are you doing here so late, children?!" She glided to my desk and was about to slam her ruler down but Monty reached out and grabbed her arm! "Don't do that, Ms Turkle. Ellie did nothing wrong!" 

When Monty touched her a ribbon of white light began to form where Monty's hand was and traveled all across Ms. Turkle's body. Ms. Turkle now stood before them flesh and blood or so it seemed. Her eyes were glazed over and her mouth gapped open and she appeared to be drooling. She was swaying on the spot. I doubted if she even knew where she was at. She reminded me of how Arthur Mills looked when he had grabbed me earlier. I just sat there in shock and asked, "What are you doing Monty?"

He let go of her and she returned to her ghost form and immediately backed away from us. Once she completely recovered she raised her ruler again and glided back to us. "What did you just do to me, Mr. Montgomery?!" 

Monty's face got red and he bowed his head. "I really don't know, Ellie. Uncle Charlie was going to teach me all about it but he died. Did I tell you about Uncle Charlie?" 

"Yes, you did." 

"Uncle Charlie could do it too you know. He says it hurts ghosts so I shouldn't touch them very often. I don't like it. It's too scary but Dr. Welling..."

"What about Dr. Welling?" Ms. Turkle had spoken. 

I stood up in my chair. "Wait a minute! We came here to talk about you!" I pointed to Ms. Turkle. 

Ms. Turkle asked, "What about me?"

"We'll get back to you Monty but Ms. Turkle we came here to ask you how you died!"

"I don't want to talk about it." She turned her back to us. 

I sat back down. "Well, maybe you don't have to TALK about it. I can do something special too. Just like Monty I..."

Ms. Turkle began backing away from us. "Whoever you are young lady, there is absolutely NO WAY I'm letting you touch me after what Mr. Montgomery just did!"

I got up from the desk and walked closer to Ms. Turkle. "Well, it's not EXACTLY like Monty. I don't think it hurts. I might even help you. You're already dead. What can little me do to make you any worse? "

Ms. Turkle continued to back away from me. "I don't even know WHO you are!"

I stopped walking. "That's okay mam. My name is Ellie Clearwater." I lifted up my hand for her to shake. She had stopped backing up and was now worryingly touching her neck and starring down at my hand. She closed her eyes and slowly began to raise her own hand to shake mine. "My name is Ms. Samantha Turkle." We shook hands. 

The classroom changed. It was a bright, sunny day. I was at the chalkboard writing something. I looked at my hands. They were bigger and my arms were in long black sleeves. I must be inside Ms. Turkle's head. It was like I was there but only an observer. A fellow passenger within Ms. Turkle's mind. I wasn't able to change anything yet. I watched as she turned and walked up and down the isles of children. Some looking back intently and others looking lost in their own worlds. Some even drooling. She came upon Jeanie who was talking to the girl beside her. Ms. Turkle slammed her ruler upon Jeanie's desk hard just missing Jeanie's fingers. She said, "NO TALKING!"

Jeanie jumped, straightened and stared towards the chalkboard. Later Ms. Turkle gave them all a test and the rest of the time continued pretty much the same until the bell rang and they all rose for lunch. I sat at my desk as the girls filed out of the classroom. I could feel some of the girls giving me dirty looks as they left. Once the last child left Ms. Turkle and I picked up a couple of books from the desk and headed out the door. We were making our way to the stairs that led to the second floor. In a darken corner just opposite from the stairs we could just make out two bodies. A man and a woman were kissing. We stood there for a moment and then Ms. Turkle yelled, "Children stop that at once!" 

The two of them jumped and moved out of the shadows. It was Nurse Weatherly and Derick Niles! Nurse Weatherly straightened her uniform and ran out the door. Ms. Turkle's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Derick strode up to Ms. Turkle. He said, "You've seen nothing, Samantha."

Ms. Turkle's eyes filled up with tears but she managed to say, "I'm sorry, I didn't know that you and..."

Derick shushed her. "I'd remain silent Ms. Turkle if you know what's best for you."

At that moment Monty ran into the building and ran right between them. He seemed frightened and terrified. Derick grabbed him. "You're out of your room again, Swinger! Aren't you grounded? To the laboratory again!"

Monty screamed, "NO! Please Mr. Niles! I'm gonna be good! Don't take me there! Please!" He squirmed in Derick's grasp, trying to pull away. 

Tears falling down our eyes, Ms. Turkle asked, "Why must you torture the boy so, Derick?"

Derick stared daggers at Ms. Turkle when he said, "Because it is Dr. Welling's wish and it is none of your concern!" 

Ms. Turkle turned and ran up the stairs to the Teacher's room which was right across from the attic door. Her room was sparse like mine. Just a closet for her clothes, bedside table, and a bed. She sat down on her bed and picked up a picture from her table of Derick Niles. Why did she have a picture of Derick Niles? She was acting as if she really cared about him. Ms. Turkle lay the picture back on the table and slowly walked to her closet. She pulled out a long, thin belt from her clothing. It looked more like a rope than a belt. I knew what she was goin to do but I couldn't stop her. She opened the door to her room and walked to the attic door. Opening the attic door she walked a few paces into the room. I tried to close my eyes. I really didn't want to see what happened next. When I opened my eyes I found myself standing on a flat wooden surface above the door. I had something around my neck but I was still alive. Ms. Turkle couldn't go through with it! I took a sigh of relief. I began to take off the belt when I felt a pair of hands push me! I turned as I fell. That's when I saw Jeanie standing in the spot where I had just been! How could this be?! Jeanie would never do such a thing! Would she? 

I found myself back in the classroom holding my neck. Monty and Billy ran to me.

Monty asked, "Where did you go?" 

Billy asked, "What happened?" 

I said, "I couldn't stop her!"

Billy asked, "Stop who?"

I said, "I couldn't stop Ms. Turkle from killing herself because she didn't kill herself! She was murdered! Where is she?" Ms. Turkle's ghost was gone. 

Monty said, "Ellie, you and Ms. Turkle disappeared in a great, big flash of light! It was awesome! You were gone for a few seconds and then you came back."

Billy said, "Ms. Turkle's not came back yet. Will she come back or did you do something to her?"

I turned to him. "I didn't do anything to her! I couldn't. I tried to stop her but couldn't because she didn't kill herself. Someone killed HER!"

Billy asked, "Who?"

I said, "I'd rather not talk about that right now."

Monty said, "We didn't like Ms. Turkle none too much but I don't think anyone would hurt her." 

I turned to him. "You didn't see what I saw." 

Monty said, "Maybe we should leave before Mr. Niles finds us." 

Monty and I turned to leave. 

"Wait!" said Billy. 

With my hand on the door knob, we both turn back to him.  We both ask, "What?"

Billy asked, "If you're not Milly then what IS your name miss?"

I said, "Clearwater. Ellie Clearwater." Monty and I opened the door and ran out. 

Billy cried after us, "Clearwater? Wait, I know her..."

Chapter 3: A New Friend

Monty and I ran back to the Main Building. We got to the front steps and stopped. I asked, "Okay, how are we going to get passed Mr. Niles?" 

Monty faintly smiled at me. "You won't have to worry about that. When Mr. Niles walked into my room earlier after locking you in, I poured a bunch of marbles out on the floor at his feet. It was so funny, Ellie. He rolled all around my room. He was bumping into things and then he fell on his back. I took his keys and unlocked your door." 

"Wow, Monty! Wait, where did you get the marbles?"  

Monty said, "Jeanie gave them to me. Have you seen her room? She has everything!" 

I looked at him a little worried. "Oh Monty, you'll be in some awful trouble once he wakes up."  

A beefy hand grabbed my wrist and another grabbed Monty's. "You're both in awful trouble NOW!"

Mr. Niles had walked up behind us and was now dragging us both to our rooms. Dr. Welling met us at what used to be Arthur Mills' room which was right opposite from the front desk. Now it had Monty's name on the door. 

The orderly shook Monty in front of Dr. Welling and said, "Swinger here is responsible for the marbles!"

Dr. Welling said, "You've been a very naughty boy again, Mr. Swing. What are we going to do with you? I guess it's time for the la..."

Monty screamed, "No! Not the lab again! Please Dr. Welling!"

Mr. Niles shoved me towards Dr. Welling and began dragging Monty down the hall. 

I started to run after him. "Where is the lab?! What are you going to do to him?! Monty!"

Dr. Welling grabbed my shoulders really hard. "Ow! You're hurting me!" I struggled and yelled, "Monty!"

 I heard Monty down the hall scream my name.

Dr. Welling turned me toward him holding my arms really tightly. "Naughty little girls need to be taught a lesson to not cause trouble! Maybe a couple of days locked in your room will help you learn just that!"

"No, let go of me!" I yelled. 

He dragged me to my room and gave me a hard shove inside then locked the door.

I banged and screamed to no avail. What was I going to do now? I couldn't save Monty! I couldn't visit Jeanie and ask her about Ms, Turkle's murder! I was trapped here in my room for two days! I banged and banged until I tired myself out. Then I threw myself on the bed. I don't remember when I fell asleep. All I remember is I woke the next morning to a tray quickly being slid through my door and locking again. It looked to be another peanut butter and jelly sandwich but this time with an apple and a carton of milk. I picked up the tray and placed it on my bed. What I hadn't noticed was the stick of  wintergreen gum lying between my apple and the milk carton. As soon as I saw it I grabbed it and threw it against the door! There was no way I was chewing his gum ever again! I took a bite of my sandwich and drank some of my milk. I was feeling a little sleepy again so I rolled over on the bed and slept. When I woke again I took the map of the sanatorium out from under my bed. I still needed to visit the graveyard and that triangle shaped place. I prayed that Dr. Welling would continue to let me roam freely after this punishment. I prayed that Jeanie would be better soon and that Monty was okay. I was beginning to feel I wouldn't survive this place without them. If only we could find my Aunt Ellen's grave. I felt like there would be answers there. I had to ignore what I found out about Ms. Turkle's murder. Jeanie just couldn't be responsible! Then last but not least who or what did I see in my room that night?! Was it really Aunt Clara? Is she dead or is there something else going on? Some many questions that needed to be answered and I'm here shut up with only my thoughts!

Most of the next day went the same. Then the lock on my door made a noise and the door flew open! Two dark haired men I had never seen before strode in carrying  beautiful, multi-colored pieces of clothing. They stood in a corner opposite from me and waited. Two more men came in after that. They were carrying a beautifully carved, wooden single bed. They laid it down on the floor in the far corner opposite from me. Was I dreaming? What was going on?! The men who were carrying the bed walked out the door again and in walked Joan Crawford! She looked like Joan Crawford to me. The lady was wearing a wide brim hat with dark tight, shoulder length curls. Her eyes were big and round and a little worn. Her violet sleeveless dress went all the way to the floor.  There was a cigarette holder in one of her hands. She walked in like she owned the place. Dr. Welling wasn't too far behind. 

He was talking to her. "We have much better rooms, Mrs. Seaver..."

"I said this room, Dr. Welling or no more money!" She began looking around. 

"Yes mam, Mrs. Seaver." 

Mrs. Seaver glanced at me for a second. "Why does this young lady not have a closet?" 

Dr. Welling said, "She's new and..."

"It does not matter. My boys brought the wardrobe." The men walked in with a mahogany armoire. They sat it down against the wall a few feet from the bed. Mrs. Seaver turned once again to Dr. Welling. "My daughter will not be wearing that pink monstrosity you call a gown. This time she'll be wearing her own clothing and eating her own meals. Not those dreadful sandwiches you give them. I do say Dr. Welling where does my money go if not to cloth and feed these children properly?"

This time? I thought. 

Dr. Welling seemed to stutter. "Well, um Mrs. Seaver the sanatorium..."

"Save your graveling, Dr. Welling." She turn back to the doorway. "Come on in Kelly dear. Everything is just how you like it now."

A girl of about 9 or 10 slowly appeared in the doorway. Her long straight, brown hair was tied back with a big, bright yellow bow which matched your frilly yellow and white checkered dress. Her head was down so I couldn't see her face and her yellow gloved hands were clasped together. She looked like she wished she could be anywhere in all the world but here. 

Mrs. Seaver motioned with her finger for her daughter to continue to come inside. "Oh come one Kelly. It isn't all that bad. Come on and introduce yourself to your little room mate."

When Kelly finally made it to the middle of the room, Mrs. Seaver pushed up Kelly's face with her index finger. "Now, now Kelly dear. You must always hold the head up high to show everyone that beautiful face." A small, round face looked toward my direction. Small, round, dark glasses lay on her small button nose. I couldn't see her eyes. Mrs. Seaver reached out. "The light is dim enough in here to those off."

Kelly took hold of her glasses and quickly slid them off her nose. "I can do it, mother. I'm not completely blind you know. " Her eyes were a very light blue and they were looking at me or pretty close to me. She held out her hand. "I'm Kelly Seaver and you are?" 

I took her hand and shook it. "I'm um...Ellie Clearwater."

Kelly clasped her hands back together again. With her head falling back down she said, "Well Umellie Clearwater. It appears I'm going to be your room mate unfortunately." 

Mrs. Seaver said, "Do not be rude, Kelly dear!"

Kelly said, "I'm not. Just telling the truth. I've never liked this place. Never have never will."

Dr. Welling said, "You seem to have all the comforts of home, Miss Seaver. How could it possible be so bad this time?"

Kelly raised her head and frowned in Dr. Welling. 

Mrs. Seaver guided Kelly to her bed and sat her down. "I'm sure this will be the last time you have to return. Dr. Welling will completely heal you of your phobias this time. I'm sure of it." She turned her head to look at Dr. Welling accusatorily as if to say it better be the last time. "I'll be back in about six months and we'll see if there is any progress." She strode to the open door and blew a kiss to her daughter making a kissing sound. 

Kelly just sat on her bed without looking toward her mother and made a grabbing motion as if she had caught the kiss and clasped it to her heart. She jumped up and yelled, "Wait a minute! We can't forget Mack!" She whistled and called, "Mack come here boy!" A golden retriever ran through the door and right into Kelly's arms! Wow! A dog! Would I be sharing my room with a dog as well? I sure did miss our dog Hurley at home. I wondered if Hurley and Mack would be the best of friends if they ever met.

Mrs. Seaver told Dr. Welling., "I want that dog to be treated very well, Doctor!" 

"Of course, Mrs. Seaver."

After Kelly's mother had walked out, Dr. Welling turned to me. "You are very lucky to have Miss Seaver here with you, Miss Clearwater. Perhaps, you can learn a thing or two from each other. Miss Seaver is a very well behaved young lady. Maybe she can teach you to be the same." He turned toward Kelly. "Miss Clearwater is a brave young lady. Perhaps she could teach you to be the same."  

Kelly's face turned red but she didn't say a word. 

Dr. Welling smiled and reached into his pocket. "Gum, Miss Seaver?"

I mouthed no from behind Dr. Welling sitting on my own bed. I forgot she couldn't see well. Kelly just took the gum but she didn't eat it. Dr. Welling walked out and closed the door leaving it slightly open. I ran over to Kelly to grabbed the gum from her hand.  "You should NEVER take Dr. Welling's gum!" Mack began to growl at me and I backed away. Kelly pulled back on his leash. "It's okay Mack. She don't know any better." 

Offended, I asked, "What do you mean I don't know any better?!"

Kelly said, "YOU should never run up to my dog like that, Miss Clearwater. He helps me see and protects me. He's a very good dog but no surprises okay? He doesn't like them."

I asked, "Can I pet him?"

Kelly sighed, "Well, I guess since we are going to be living together you and Mac should be friends."

I reached out my hand. "Will he bite?"

"I don't think so. As long as you are slow. Go slowly." 

"Hi, Mack. My name is Ellie. Can I pet you?" He licked my hand and so I rubbed his head. "This is nice. He's not so bad."

Kelly said, "As for the gum. I've been here twice before. I know all about Dr. Welling's gum. I just take it but I never eat it."  

I continued to pet Mack. "I had a dog once. His name was Hurley. He was a big sheep dog! His hair would grow in front of his eyes so Uncle Jack would...wait. Do you know Monty?" 

Kelly smiled, "Oh yes. I know Monty." I must have been close enough to Kelly for now she was frowning. "What happened to you?!" She was staring at my bruised arms.

"Oh I'm okay. We took a tumble down the stairs." 

Kelly looked concerned, "We?"

"Jeanie and I."

She asked, "Jeanie? I know her. Is she okay?"

"She hit her head really hard. She's still recovering in the infirmary but the nurses say she should be better really soon. I sure hope so." 

Kelly said, "I hope so too. Jeanie is really nice. She would invite me to her room sometimes and we would listen to her records."

I asked her, "Was Jeanie always nice to you?"

Kelly said, "Oh yes. She can be a little pushy sometimes though."

"How do you mean?"

Kelly said, "The last time I was here I was much younger and she was very protective and bossy sometimes but not too bad. I really didn't mind it because I'm not the kind of person that wants to do that many things." 

"Why not?" I asked.

Her face got red. "I don't want to talk about it, Miss Clearwater."

I said, "You can call me Ellie."

She scrunched up her face. "I just met you, Miss Clearwater. Maybe when we know each other better..."

I stopped petting Mack and stood up. "Okay, Miss Seaver." I ran back to my bed. "I'm going to visit Miss Specks...I mean Jeanie tomorrow. Would you like to come along?"

Kelly lay back on her own bed. "I don't think so. I'll just stay here. Let me know how she is." 

"Why does Dr. Welling think you're not brave?" 

"That's private, Miss Clearwater."

I rolled over with my back facing Miss Kelly Seaver. "Oh, sorry." I wondered if I was going to like my new room mate.

It wasn't long after that when Nurse Dilly came in and laid my new pajamas on my bed. "Good morning Miss Clearwater. Dr. Welling said you can return to school..."The dog ran over to Nurse Dilly and placed his front paws on her. "Oh my goodness! Hello again Mack! Down boy! I see Miss Seaver has returned. Would you like for me to find some clothing for you as well?"

Kelly stood up from her bed and said, "No thank you, Nurse Dilly. I'll be wearing my own clothes."

Nurse Dilly scanned the room. "Oh my! You sure spruced up this place didn't you Miss Seaver! Then again you always do wherever you go." 

Kelly smiled. 

"Well, good luck at school. Whatever you do please don't get into trouble." She winked at me. She left us alone. 

Kelly stared in my direction. "Do you get into trouble often, Miss Clearwater?" 

I began pulling on my new clothes. "No, Miss Seaver. This was the very first time. The falling down the stairs that is."

Miss Seaver as she so wanted me to address her, walked with Mack slowly to the door and pulled it open.

I said, "Well, I've only been here for a few days though." 

She lifted her eyebrow. "Well, you don't want to be late, I'm sure." 

"You're not coming with me?" 

She clasped her hands together. "I have a private tutor who comes to me."

I walked up to Mack and patted his head. "That's no fun, staying in your room all day. Wouldn't you like to go to regular school? "

Miss Seaver frowned and said, "No I would not. Have a good day Miss Clearwater."

I had walked into the hallway by then and Kelly closed the door on me. Sticking my tongue out at the closed door, I turned around to see Jeanie standing there!  Her head was still bandaged. We stared a each other for a few seconds. Jeanie then said, "So it's true then."   

"So what is true?" I asked. 

"Never mind." 

I reached out to hug her, so thankful she was better but she took a step backwards. 

She said, "We need to talk. Come to my room after playtime."

The way she was acting worried me. I asked, "Is there something wrong Jeanie?"

She said, "We'll talk about it then." 

"Okay." I began to walk down the hall. I turned back to say something but when I did she was already gone. 

When I arrived at the classroom the only teacher that was there was Nurse Weatherly. Ms. Turkle was nowhere to be found and it was confusing me? Where did she go? Did something happen to her? Something did happen to me after class and while I was sitting with a new group of girls in the lunchroom. One of them who looked like a teen had short, black hair and a long face. She asked me, "Hey new girl! How do you like living with Miss Fancy Seaver?" 

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"Has she let you touch her nice stuff yet?" 

I shook my head. 

"She's in the wrong building you know. There's nothing wrong with her. She's just afraid of everything. Bet you're nothing special either!" 

I looked up from my tray of a chicken salad sandwich and milk. She stuck her tongue out at me and the other girls giggled. 

The ghost of the old man I saw on my first day had drifted up behind me. "If I were  alive I'd give that gal a thing or two. She needs a stern talking I do believe."

I smiled.

He floated closer to me. "So you can hear me? How about seeing me?"

I nodded. 

"Would you mind doing me a fav.."

I didn't know if it was to prove to these girls I was special or my frustration about Ms Turkle, Jeanie, Monty, or even Miss Kelly Seaver but I grabbed the old man's hand and said, "Okay, sure." 

"Oh Hersel, you know you're too old for these foolish little bets."

I was now at the adults table. My hands were much bigger and wrinkled. A tray was before me. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a poorly cooked carrot lay on the plate in the tray. A little old lady with big gray curls sat opposite from me. A big bald man was sitting beside me. He told the old lady, "Oh hush, Daisy. If he wants to give it a go then let him."

"Oh be quiet Terry, I'm sure you'll regret it Hursel!" she said.

Terry said, "Go on Hursel. Do it! Swallow that carrot whole! Show Miss Daisy we men don't back down from our bets!" 

I glanced over at the children's table. It must be my first day here. I could see Jeanie and myself talking and eating there. This was so strange. I could see myself raise my head to look at the adults table. I was staring at me! 

Turning back to the people before me, I had the carrot in my hand now and was about to place it in my mouth. Laying the carrot back on the tray I said, "Sorry buddies, I'm going to my room. We'll have to save these bets for another day." 

Now I was standing in the middle of the lunchroom. Hursel's ghost was standing beside me. The whole lunchroom filled up with light! We both turned toward the front doors. There was a little boy standing in the doorway. 

Hursel said, "Daniel, my son? Is that you?"

The boy at the door said, "Yes, Daddy! I've come to take you home!" 

Hursel began walking to his son. 

Confused, I yelled, "STOP!" Hadn't I helped Hursel by not swallowing the carrot? Shouldn't he be alive now?

Hursel smiled at me. He said, "It's alright little miss. I thank you for trying to help me but my time is done here. I'm happy to move one. With your help now I can." Hursel walked out the doors with his son and with a big flash of light I was back at the Girls' table. Everyone was staring at me with their mouths open. Especially the group of girls across from me. I stood up and ran out of the lunchroom. 

How was I going to show my face to anyone ever again?! What had I done? Just to prove a point? I ran to the playground hoping to find Monty. I needed to talk to someone who sort of understood me. He wasn't in class today or at lunch. I hadn't seen him since Mr. Niles took him to the lab, wherever that was. I prayed that he was alright. 

The playground was nearly empty. Maybe because most of the children were still at lunch. I walked to the swing set. A little blond girl was the only person there. She was swinging all by herself. She watched me as I stood there near her with my head down. The girl stopped swinging and said, "I remember you. I saw you here with Monty a few days ago. Are you looking for him?"

I nodded. 

She pointed to the graveyard. "He's over there visiting his uncle. I don't like that place. It's scary! That's why I play here! It's fun here!" She went back to swinging. I stood there for a moment longer looking at her and thinking about what she said. Then I walked to the fence to look at the graveyard. There was Monty in the center of the place. He was kneeling down on a mound in front of one of those white polls in the ground. The graveyard really did seem quite strange to me. Not in the way most would think it strange though. I had only ever visited one other graveyard in my short life and that was the one my parents were buried in. Ghosts were in just about every part of that place and it was really difficult to morn my parents with them all around us. When I visited this graveyard on the first day of school here I must have been too focused on wanting to find Aunt Ellen's grave to really notice how silent this place was. There wasn't a ghost in sight which made me wonder how Monty could see his uncle here sometimes. I ran out of the playground and over to Monty. I dodged all the other graves until I reached him. 

Monty's back was hunched over and his head was down. His hair was hanging over the bridge of his nose. He seemed to be whimpering or mumbling. I really couldn't tell. I reached out and touched his back and asked, "Monty are you alright?" 

He jumped up really quickly and sighed. "Oh! It is only you Ellie. That's not nice to sneak up on a person, Ellie. You really gave me a fright!" His face was really pale and his eyes were swollen. 

"I didn't mean to frighten you, Monty. Are you okay? You look a little ill."

He turned back to his uncle's grave. "I just came to visit my uncle. We were talking. I don't want to live here no more," He touched his temple. "When your Aunt Clara comes maybe she can take me too. I promise I'll be good. Maybe she can help me find my Dad." 

I placed my hand on his shoulder. "What do they do to you in the Lab, Monty?" 

He pulled his shoulder away from my hand. "I DON"T want to talk about it!" He turned from me and began to run out of the graveyard. 

I ran after him. "Wait! I think I have some good news for you!"

He stopped and turned around. "What?"

"Well, I have a new room mate. She's says she's been here before and that she knows you and Jeanie." 

"What's her name?" 

I rolled my eyes and said, "SHE wants me to call her Miss Seaver..."

Monty's eyes lit up. "Kelly! Oh boy! Can't believe Kelly's back!" He shot out of the graveyard straight to the Main Building. 

"Wait a minute! I wasn't done talking yet!"  

Monty ran to the edge of the building and yanked up a bunch of purple wildflowers that were growing there. By the time I got to the front steps Monty was speeding through the front doors. He ran down the checkered hallway to mine and Kelly's door. He stood there and knocked with one hand, holding the flowers in the other. A tall lady in glasses and who's hair was in a pony tail answered the door. "Oh, it's you. Miss Seaver you have company. Mr. Swing is here..."

I had finally arrived right behind Monty. I heard Miss Seaver ask, "Monty? Is that you? Please come in!" 

Monty ran right passed Miss Seaver's tutor and hugged Miss Seaver like they were long lost family! He shoved the flowers into Miss Seaver's face. "I brought you some flowers, Kelly! I hope you like them!" Miss Seaver promptly sneezed and pushed them to the side. 

I couldn't help but chuckle a little. 

"I'm sure they are lovely, Monty. Mrs. Camerly, please place these in some water." 

Mrs. Camerly said, "Of course Miss Seaver." She took the flowers and left the room. 

Mack walked right up to Monty and licked his hand. "Hi Mack! You're such a good doggy. Yes you are!" 

I wondered why Mack hadn't attacked Monty with he approached Miss Seaver so quickly but it appeared even Mack loved and remembered Monty. I was beginning to feel a little left out.

Monty and Miss Seaver sat down on Miss Seaver's bed. Monty said, "It's so good to see you again, Kelly." 

Miss Seaver said, "It good to see you too, Monty." 

Monty waved his hand in front of Kelly's face. "You can see me a little right Kelly?" 

Miss Seaver said, " Yes, Monty. You know I can," She took his hand and placed it back down on his lap.

Monty looked over to me. I was now sitting opposite them on my own bed smiling at them. Monty said, "How to you like living with Ellie?"

Miss Seaver glanced toward me. "I really don't know yet, Monty. I only arrived today. All I do know is she seems to get herself into trouble." 

I looked at the door.

Monty said, "She's alright. She's a good friend, Kelly! You will like her. I promise!" 

I smiled at Monty. Then I remembered. Jumping up I said, "I forgot! I'm supposed to visit Jeanie! She's better now!"

Monty jumped up too. "Really? That is very good, Ellie!"

I said, "It sure is. Would you two like to come with me? She's in her room now."

Miss Seaver said, "No, you two go on now. Let me know how she is."

Monty took Miss Seaver's hand. "Aw, come on Kelly! You know it's only the next building. She would love to see you!" 

She pulled her hand away from Monty. "I don't want to go but you can tell me all about it when you come back. Okay Monty?"

Sadly, Monty stood up. "Oh okay, Kelly but I really wish you would." He reached out to her dog. "Can we take Mack? I'm sure she would love to see him too!"

Miss Seaver said, "I guess that would be okay. He does need the exercise."

"Oh Jeanie will love this!" He grabbed Mack's leash. "Sure wish you were going too."

"Maybe next time."

Mack and Monty walked out the door. I smiled sweetly at Miss Seaver and followed him out.

The nurses at the front desk seemed to not even bat an eye at Mack as we walked down the the hall. Anything involving Miss Seaver seemed to get a pass in this place. Maybe having to endure the prissy princess might not be such a bad thing after all.

When we walked through the doors of the Girls building the children that were in the hallway at that moment made a bee line for us. They all began petting and hugging Mack. Maybe they remembered him or maybe it was the fact that he was a dog and they were patients that rarely got to see such things. We let them pet and fawn over Mack for a few minutes. Then we pushed through the crowd to Jeanie's door. I pushed open the door. It was dark. Turning on the light only revealed that the room looked like it hadn't been lived in for a few days. Monty asked, "Where is she?"

I said, "I don't know. She told me to meet her here."

Monty said, "Maybe you took too long and she left."

"I don't think she's been here. What is going on?!"

Monty still holding onto Mack said, "Maybe she didn't feel well and had to go back.."

I said, "...to the Infirmary? Maybe you're right, Monty. Let's go there." 

As soon as we went through the doors of the Adults Building Mack began growling. Mr. Niles was standing in the hallway coming right for us. "Where do you think you two are going with that brute!" 

Mack continued to growl and Monty shushed him. 

I placed my hands on my hips. "We're going to see our friend and Mack's coming too."

Mr. Niles bent down to me and said, "Nurse Weatherly said no animals in the Infirmary including Mack!" 

I stared back up at him defiant. "Oh, and you do everything Nurse Weatherly says don't you, Mr. Niles?" 

He took a step closer to me. "What exactly are you..."

Mack got between us and Monty said, "It's okay, Ellie! Jeanie can see Mack later. I'll take him back to Kelly." 

Mr. Niles was still staring me down when he grabbed the leash right out of Monty's hands. "No Swinger, let me do the honors." 

Monty said, "...but I was.."

Mr. Niles glared at him and Monty put his head down. He began dragging Mack away from us to the doors. "Enjoy your visit." 

We watched them leave. Monty stood beside me. I asked him, "Will Mack be okay with him?"

Monty said, "I really don't know. I sure hope so."

"Come on. We have to visit Jeanie!"

Jeanie was sitting in a wheel chair beside her bed when we arrived. She still had the bandage on her head. She also had a big cast on her right foot. I pointed to it. "What happened there? Did you hurt yourself again?"

Nurse Dilly was standing behind Jeanie's wheelchair. She said, "Don't you think it would be nice if you said hello to your friend before you ask her all those questions?"

"Glad your better now, Jeanie." I hugged her.

"Good to see you awake, Jeanie. We missed you." said Monty.

Jeanie said, "Thanks for visiting me. I just woke up a few minutes ago. The nurses said I hit my head and sprang my ankle. Can you believe I've been here for three days?!" 

Monty and I looked at each other nervously. 

Jeanie noticed. "What's wrong? You two look like you've seen a ghost." She giggled. "Get it? Seen a ghost? Sorry. I've never been any good at jokes." She touched her forehead. "I have hit my head you know. Maybe I was good at them but can't remember."

We both smiled. 

"Jeanie, you didn't visit me at my room earlier today?" I asked.

"No, of course not. I was asleep then. Why?"

I looked at Monty again. "Um, I saw you just outside my room and we talked to each other. You told me to come by your room after playtime."

She said, "That's strange because I do remember dreaming about you..."

I got excited. "That solves it! Your spirit must have came out of your body and I saw it!"

Jeanie said, "You think so?"

I said, "Yes! You really did visit me in spirit form but you thought you only dreamed it! Maybe you have a special ability like we do Jeanie!" 

"Or maybe," said Nurse Dilly who was still in the room with us, "Jeanie has the tendency to sleep walk. We found her earlier today asleep in the first floor hallway. She must have been making her way back to her room. Her foot was bruised, so she must have sprang it sometime during her misadventure as well. Oh you children and your wild stories." She left the room. 

We all looked at each other and sighed.

"Jeanie, I have another question."

Jeanie said, "What?" 

"I know it may be hard to remember right now but did you ever have a dream about Ms. Turkle?"

Jeanie said, "That would be more like a nightmare but yes I might have. Why?"

Monty jumped in. "Guess what Jeanie! Ellie found out Ms. Turkle was..."

"Shush Monty! Let's not talk about that right now. How about you tell her about Miss Sea..."

Monty interrupted again. "Kelly's back, Jeanie! We were going to bring Mack here with us but Mr. Niles caught us and took Mack..."

It was Jeanie's time to interrupt this time. "What do you mean Mr. Niles has Mack?!"

I asked, "Will he hurt Mack?"

Jeanie said, "Monty don't you remember what happened last time?"

Monty's face got red and tears began to fill his eyes. "I'm sorry, Jeanie. I forget things sometimes." 

Jeanie reached out and held Monty's hand. "I know you do, Monty. Even if you did remember you probably couldn't have stop him anyway."

I asked Jeanie, "What happened last time?"

"He hid him just to spite us. Took us forever to find him."

"Where did he hide him?"

Jeanie said, "That's a tale for another day. We need to find where he hid him now if he did."

Monty said, "I think I know where he hid him!"

I said, "Maybe he didn't hide him this time. Maybe he gave him back to Kel...Miss Seaver." I sighed.  

Jeanie smiled but Monty asked, "Why do you keep calling Kelly Miss Seaver?"

Jeanie told Monty, "Remember Monty, Kelly does that with every new person she meets. Don't worry, Ellie. Once she knows you better things will change. Trust me."

I said, "Well how is she going to get to know me if she never leaves our room? I'm hardly ever in there except to sleep or when I'm punished. SHE never goes anywhere! Not even to school!"

Jeanie quietly said, "There's a reason for that."

I said, "What could that possibly be? She has a dog to help her see and move around! Why have a dog if it's just to move around in her room?!"

Jeanie said, "Her father died."

I said, "That's awful but mine did too and you don't see me afraid to leave my room do you?"

Jeanie said, "She was with him when he died. They were in a plane crash. Kelly was the only survivor. It left her partially blind. She doesn't like to go outside. It makes her feel vulnerable. She usually goes out only when she absolutely has to. She's terrified of flying of course. Never been in a plane since that day."

Monty said, "That's really sad, isn't it Ellie?"

"Wow! That's a lot of things to be afraid of."

Jeanie said, "That's not very nice, Ellie."

I said, "Well, it's true!" I took the handles of the wheelchair. "I think it's time we have a little talk with Miss Seaver."

Monty came forward. "Here Ellie, let me do that." He took the handles from me. 

"Why thank you Monty. You're such a gentleman." 

When we landed on the first floor of the Adults Building I led the way down the hall with Monty pushing Jeanie behind me. We passed by where Arthur Mills had grabbed a hold of me earlier. I asked Jeanie as we walked past, "Jeanie do you know Arthur Mills?" 

Jeanie sort of glanced behind her at Monty for a second before saying, "Yes, why? Did you know him?" 

Startled I stopped walking and turned to them and asked, "Did? You mean he's..."

Jeanie only nodded. 

I turned and kept walking. "I just wanted to know why he was moved from the Main Building to the Adults Building and why Monty was given his old room?" 

There was silence behind me. When I turned around to them Jeanie had her finger to her lips and Monty was red in the face and squirming. Jeanie said, "We better stop stalling! We need to visit Kelly, right? Hey Monty!"

Monty quietly asked, "What?"

"Do you see any orderlies around?"

"No."

Jeanie held onto her own wheelchair handles. "Can you show me how fast you can push this thing out of this gloomy place?" 

"Oh boy! I sure can, Jeanie!" 

I only had time for a slight smile before I was running to the doors with Monty and Jeanie racing on my heels right behind me! 

We burst through the doors and Monty and Jeanie were breathing hard. Jeanie said, "That was fun! I'm so happy to be out of there! How about you, Monty?" 

Monty was beaming. "I sure am! I don't like that place! That was so much fun, Jeanie! Let's go tell Kelly!" 

The Little Princess was in our room of course playing with a beautiful porcelain doll. The doll had dark hair and a mint green dress on with pink trim. I came up to her first. "That's a pretty doll, Miss Seaver. Can I see her?"

She pulled the doll away. "No you may not, Miss Clearwater. Jeanie gave her to me and she is not to be played with by just anyone you know."

Jeanie rolled in with Monty. Smiling she said, "I don't remember telling you THAT, Miss Seaver."

Miss Seaver jumped up. "Is that you Jeanie?" Jeanie was now close to the bed. "It's good to hear you and see you!" She hugged Jeanie. She began glancing around her. "Monty? Miss Clearwater? Where is Mack?"

Monty said, "That's what we were going to ask you, Kelly!"

"What?!" She turned toward me. "What have you done with my dog, Miss Clearwater?"

"I haven't done anything with your dog, Miss Seaver!"

Monty said, "It wasn't Ellie's fault! Mr. Niles took him!"

Jeanie said, "Okay everyone. Stop yelling at each other. We'll find him. Just like last time."

I squinted at Miss Seaver. "Did all of you look for him last time?"

Monty said, "Kelly couldn't come because she was really sick with the flu."

"Really?"

Miss Seaver frowned toward me. "Yes, really and it's REALLY no concern of yours?" she glanced around at the others. "Why is she talking to me like this?"

Jeanie said, "I told her about your father."

Miss Seaver looked shocked and a little hurt. "How could you do that, Jeanie? That's my business and you had not right to tell her!"

Jeanie said, "You're going to be living with her, Kelly. She should know these things about you."

"I would have told her."

"When?" I asked. 

"When I felt like it." said Miss Seaver. 

I rolled my eyes. "Well, you know what I feel like doing?"

Jeanie said, "Finding Mack?"

"Yes! Monty, did you say earlier you knew where Mr. Niles might have hid Mack?"

Monty's eyes lit up. "Yes, I did Ellie but I thought no one heard me!"

 "Well?"

Monty said, "Oh, um... I thought..." He turned red. "I forgot." 

Jeanie said, " I think I know what Monty was thinking. He wouldn't hide him in Gardner's Galley again so Mack might be in the only other place out of bounds. The..."

Monty said, "The old Boys Building!" He ran out the door.

Jeanie said, "We better catch up to him." She began to roll herself out the door. 

I followed her to the door and stopped. "Wait a minute. What is Gardner's Galley? I've never heard of that place before?"

Miss Seaver who was still sitting on her bed said, "J.D. Gardner was a famous band leader back in the 1920s. He built the old stage beside the Adults Building. My grandmother used to talk about him all the time."

I asked, "An old stage?"

Miss Seaver said, "It's an old stage made to look like a pirate ship. It was truly magnificent! Well, that's what Grandmother told me. I've never been there myself." She fiddled with the hem of her dress.

I just looked at her and said, "Why does that not surprise me?"

She frowned at me.

Maybe this Gardner's Galley could be the place where someone hid Aunt Clara or whoever that was in my room. Then I thought of the map. I said out loud, "So THAT is what the triangle stands for!"

Miss Seaver said, "What are you talking about?"

"Never you mind. Come on! We need to catch up with the others!" I ran out the door, turned around, and walked back to Miss Seaver. "I'm sorry. You need some help?" I held out my hand. Miss Seaver continued to stare at me. "Aw come one Miss Seaver! Jeanie said you never go out unless it's absolutely necessary, right?"

She said, "You are correct."

"Well, isn't this absolutely necessary?! You love your dog, don't you?"

Offended, Miss Seaver stood up. "How dare you?! I love Mack with all my heart!"

"Then prove it!" I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door.

She yelled, "Not so fast!"

"We have to catch up!" 

We took the same route Jeanie took me on my first day of school. Out the front doors to the left and down the sidewalk past the Girls Building. I stopped when we reached the black, broken bottle in the middle of the sidewalk. "Whoa! Let's walk around this, Miss Seaver." Now we were only a few feet from what looked to be the old side door to the Boys Building. There was an old wooden sign with nailed on metal letters in front of us that read. "Do Not Enter Off Limits!"

We walked passed the sign and came closer to the building. The whole place was burned black. Half of the building still stood though. It was blackened and barely standing. The other half looked like giant Paul Bunyan came along and stomped on it! It was flattened and sunken into the ground. We were lucky it was late in the afternoon. Most of the patients and orderlies were inside now. I'm sure most of them were expecting everyone to be more or less getting ready for bed. Either way there could still be some orderlies lurking about and we did not want to be spotted by Niles of all people.

I had stopped long enough for Miss Seaver to ask, "What? Is something wrong? What do you see? Is Mr. Niles around? Do you see Mack?"

"No to all of that! Come on!" I pulled her along to a side door. We stepped inside. The place was dusty and dark. The sun was setting but there was still a little light left. There was enough to see a few feet in front of you. If we were going to find Mack today we had to do it quickly. From what I could see the hallway must have looked very similar to the Girls Building before the fire. Underneath the dirt and debris I could see a checkered floor barely peaking out. My guess was that the walls of this building were once blue like the boys' pajamas. Of course that would have been before all the soot took over everything.

Miss Seaver was still holding onto my hand coughing. "This place feels terrible! Can you see anything?"

I said, "I can see a little but it's getting darker by the minute. I wonder where Jeanie and Monty are?"

Miss Seaver said, "I can feel a light breeze on my face. Are we inside or outside?"

"Both I think. The damaged part is in front of us and the standing part is in the back of us."

Miss Seaver squeezed my hand. "I don't like this place. Do you think we should call out to them?"

"I don't know. There is a chance Mr. Niles could be around." 

A long, low grumbling sound began to echo around us. 

Miss Seaver said, "Do you hear that?" 

I said, "Yes. It sounds like someone moaning! That could be Jeanie or Monty! Maybe Niles got to them!"

"NO! Shush! Listen!" We heard it again. "That's not moaning! That Mack whimpering! Mack! I'm here boy!"

I said, "Shush! Let's just follow the sound." We shared leadership. Guiding each other towards Mack's whimpers. 

The sounds led us to the damaged part of the building and back outside. We stopped at a big sunken hole in the ground. Black debris was scattered all within the hole and around it. I asked, "I wonder why no one has ever cleaned up this place after all these years?"

Monty appeared beside us and I jumped. "People think it's haunted. That's why everyone just leaves this place alone. Hello again friends!" 

I looked around and asked, "Monty, where is Jeanie?"

Monty said, "Mr. Niles got her."

Shocked I said, "You left her with him?!"

Monty said, "You know how I don't like Mr. Niles and I knew you were expecting us to be here so as soon as I saw him I ran!"

Shocked I asked again, "You just left her with him?!"

Monty seemed to get a little angry which was the first time I'd ever saw him that way. "Ellie, I'm sure she'll be okay! We are suppose to be finding the dog right?!"

Even Miss Seaver glanced toward me a little taken aback. I said, "Okay, Monty. Did you follow the whimpering here too?"

Mack's cries continued. 

Monty said, "Oh yes. That was it." He pointed down in the sunken pit. "It sounds like it's coming from there."

I said, "You're right Monty. One of us needs to go down there and look for him quickly. The sunlight is fading."

Miss Seaver said, "I know that person most certainly will not be me."

I looked at Monty. He moved closer to Miss Seaver. "I think I should stay here and protect Miss Seaver, Ellie."

I gave him a questioning look. Why did Monty call her Miss Seaver? He's only ever called her Kelly. I asked, "You really don't want to find...um...what's his name again?"

Miss Seaver seemed to catch on. She turned her head to Monty. 

Monty's face turned red and he held his head. He began to cry. "I'm sorry, Ellie! My head hurts. I forget things sometimes!"

Now that did sound like Monty. "Okay, you two stay here. I'll climb down and look for Mack."

I had to slide down easily and dodge the dirt and debris. I tried not to trip and fall on any broken class or other objects scattered all around me. I finally landed on the bottom. A bark and whimper attracted me to my right. About a couple of feet away from me there was a blackened school desk leaning on its side. Right behind this desk was a black iron cage and within it was a whimpering and now barking excitedly Golden Retriever! I yelled up to the others. "I found Mack!" I could hear a muffled response from above. I focused my attention on Mack's cage. The lock was just a latch and quite easy to remove. As soon as I opened the cage door. Mack burst forth and jumped upon me. He proceeded to lick my face in grateful thankfulness. I think I just made a friend for life...or at least for the rest of his. I pat his head and said, "Okay, down boy. Let's get you back to your owner!" He seemed to understand because he bounded away from me and right up and out of the sunken pit. I knew it was going to be a bit harder for me to make it out of here. 

After a couple of attempts where the dirt and debris kept sliding down at me, I found a clear enough area to make my climb. I slid a little in the dirt but I was just about to the top when Monty popped his head out from the edge and stretched out his hand toward me. He yelled, "Grab my hand, Ellie!" I reached for it but it was still just too far from me. I climbed a little more and tried again but this time Monty pulled his hand back!  He grinned a wide, toothy grin. His eyes turned black and he said, "Not yet, child...but soon!" Monty began to fade and turn gray then formed into black smoke and floated away! I heard a scream from above! It must have been Miss Seaver! Mack was barking as well. 

I managed to climb the rest of the way out. Miss Seaver was now holding onto Mack's leash. When the dog saw me he pulled Miss Seaver to me. She was breathing hard and terrified. She asked, "Are you alright, Ellie?! Mack was growling at Monty and then Monty ran off! I heard him yelling to you! Then an awful sickening feeling came over me! It came so sudden I screamed! Then Mack must have saw you cause he pulled me to you!"

I placed my hands on Miss Seaver's shoulders. "Mack was right to growl. I'm glad he protected you! That was not Monty or if it was he's been fooling us all this time!"

Miss Seaver shook her head. "That most certainly was NOT Monty! That was something evil! Let's get out of here, Ellie! Right now!" She and Monty started to walk away from me.

I stood there for a minute or so longer. I said, "You called me Ellie."

She only stopped for just a second. She said, "That's your name isn't it? Come on!"

I smiled briefly and ran alongside her.

Chapter 4: A Birthday Adventure

We were immediately punished for entering the Boys Building. As soon as we arrived at our room they were waiting for us. Mr. Niles was smiling from ear to ear. It was just how he planned apparently. There was something seriously wrong with the man. To take glee in getting children into trouble. Dr. Welling said they caught Monty right a way and Jeanie a little after. They were both being punished as well. I prayed that Monty's punishment wasn't going to the Lab again. I was beginning to think maybe we shouldn't involve him in our excursions. It would save him from so much pain. I was torn though. He could take it really hard too. He might even believe we weren't his friends anymore. Kelly and I were banished to our room for three days. It wasn't so bad this time because I had a new friend to learn all about.

On the first night Kelly had taken all her pretty dresses from one of her suitcases and placed them in her big closet those men had carried into her room. Most of them were frilly and lined with lace. She had placed one of her over stuffed suitcases on the bed. She pulled out a statue and placed it on her bedside table.

I was sitting on my bed watching this all. She seemed to be used to doing such things. I asked her, "What's the statue for?"

She stopped what she was doing for a moment. "That is the Holy Mother Mary. It used to be my grandmother's. She said it would protect me wherever I go. So wherever I go it goes. This does too." The pulled out a silver cross on a long beaded strand. "This is called a rosary. It was also my grandmother's."

I said, "So you must be very religious."

She said, "No, not really. My grandmother wanted me to be but my mom and I never really got into it. These were my grandmother's things though and I loved her so much. She died about a year ago and her things make me feel closer to her and yes even a little protected. I can't really explain it all that well but they do."

I said, "I think I understand. I wish I had brought something of mother's or Aunt Clara's ."

Kelly asked, "Why didn't you?"

I said, "Well, Aunt Clara said I'd only be here for 4 weeks. Now after all the strange things I've seen I don't really know. That ghost that took the form of Monty? It's not the first time I've seen one. I see them quite often. Ghosts, that is."

Kelly laid down her rosary on the table as well. She rose from her bed and slowly walked over to me. She was counting the steps under her breath. "Really? Do you see them all the time?"

"Most of the time. I have a special ability that I don't even understand all that much. My aunt Ellen had it too. She used to live here. I so wish I could talk to her. Maybe she could have told me about what I can do. Help me somehow." I was silent for a moment. "I thought I saw my aunt Clara in my room once. Thought she had come to take me home." I frowned. "I'm beginning to think it was the thing that took the form of Monty."

Kelly's eyes got wide. "Whatever it was it felt evil." She slowly walked back to her bedside table. She grabbed the rosary and placed it around her neck. "I think I'm going to wear this from now on. I'll ask my mother to give me another one for you! Trouble does follow you, Ellie but I don't think it is your fault. I think we could use all the protection we can get!" 

"I think you're right."

Kelly pulled out a long, thin, purple box from her suitcase. She said, "My mother bought these chocolates on her trip to Germany. Would you care to have some?"

 

I jumped off my bed and ran to her. "Really? You don't mind?"

"I'm asking you aren't I?" 

"I sure would! Never had chocolate from Germany before!" I exclaimed.

She said, "Then you've never had REAL chocolate." She broke a small piece off the bar and gave it to me. "It's so good! You'll love it!"

She was right. It was the best thing I had eaten since coming here. "Wow! That was good! Have any more?"

Kelly said, " I think it's best to save it a little. Perhaps give some to Monty and Jeanie."

Mack who was lying on the floor, at the foot of Kelly's bed barked. 

Kelly said, "No Mack. You can't have any. This is for humans. Not dogs."

I said, " Yes, you're right. Could we save some for my birthday too?" 

Kelly asked, "You are going to have a birthday soon?"

I nodded. "Yep, in about four days I'll be 9 years old. How old are you?"

She said, "You're going to be 9 years old?! You seem older. You sure don't act like a 9 year old."

I smiled.

"Well, sometimes you do."

I gave her an odd look.

"I'm 11 years old. You'll be 9. Monty is 10. I'm 11 and Jeanie is 12. I feel like I'm teaching Kindergarten!"

We both laughed.

Kelly frowned. "This is a dreadful place to have a birthday. Believe me I know." 

I asked her, "How many times have you been here, Kelly?"

"Maybe 3 or 4 times. My mother says it is because of my phobias but I think there's something more to it than that."

"What is it?"

"Sometimes Dr. Welling takes me to a room called The Lab. He takes my blood, listens to my heart, looks in my eyes. Things like that."

I came closer. "Wait a minute! Dr. Welling takes YOU to the Lab too? Monty is terrified of the the Lab and Mr. Niles sure knows it! If that's all Dr. Welling does to people there then why is Monty so afraid?"

Kelly seemed to become even sadder. "Every patient has different problems here, Ellie. That means different treatments. Monty...well," she sighed, "you have seen the spots on Monty's head, right?"

I asked, "Yes, they're awful!"

She said, "What they do to Monty is not pleasant but it's supposed to help him. I'll tell you more about it when you're older." 

I stood up and placed my hands on my hips. "You sound like Jeanie now! I've seen some not so pleasant things myself since I've been here! Anyway, if it hurts him how can it help him?! They shouldn't be using it as a punishment either! Something should be done about this!"

Kelly just said, "What can we do, Ellie? They're the adults and we're the children." 

I said, "There's got to be something we can do!"

Kelly said, "You better be careful. Dr. Welling might take you to the Lab. Everyone usually ends up there anyway." 

I gave her another odd look. "Dr. Welling would never take me to the Lab. He said I'm his ward."

Kelly reached out for my hand and said, "Trust me, Ellie. You're a patient." 

I frowned at her again. "You keep sounding like Jeanie. I guess you are good friends with her." 

She said, "Well, I did like listening to the music records with her."

"So she actually got you to come to her room?"

It was her time to frown. "Well, not really. That was a little fib. My mother gave me a record player and we listened to the records in our room. I was Jeanie's room mate last time. We played it so often we got in trouble once for playing it after hours. When I left I told Jeanie she could have it."

"You really need to get out more, Kelly." 

This appeared to make her angry. "No I do not! Look what happened when we found Mack! I most certainly do not want to be close to that thing ever again!"

I placed my hands on my hips again. "It doesn't mean that's going to happen every time we go out!"

"Well, I think it is time to go to bed. Turn out the light please." She laid down and covered herself.

I squinted my eyes at her, sighed and turned out the light. I ran to my bed. We were silent for awhile. All you could hear was the sound of Mack's breathing. 

"I wish I could eat chocolate."

I sat up in bed. "Did you just hear that?!"

Kelly asked, "Hear what?"

"Someone say they wish they could eat chocolate?! Was it Mack? Can your dog talk?!"

Kelly said, "He has never talked to me. Oh Ellie, are you trying to tell me you can talk to dogs now too?! This is just too much!"

I said, "I never heard my aunt's dog talk..."

"Oh ladies, I am NOT the dog!"

I yelled, "There it is again!" I jumped out of bed and turned on the light. 

Kelly turned over on her side. "If you are trying to make me leave the room, it is not going to work. Go back to bed, Ellie."

I began scanning the room "I can't believe you didn't hear that?!"

The voice came once again. "I'm over here in the corner, Miss Clearwater."

I walked to the left side of the room just beyond my bed. Sticking out of the black and white checkered floor was a head! A head with black hair tightly pulled up in a bun. The face had a very angered look. It said, "See what you have done to me, Miss Clearwater!"

I screamed "Ms. Turkle?!" 

Kelly shot up out of bed! "Ms. Turkle?! Where? That lady is just awful!"

Ms. Turkle said, "Thank you very much, Miss Seaver. You're very lucky I'm dead or I would.."

I interrupted. "Don't worry Kelly. It's only Ms. Turkle's ghost."

Kelly said, "Her ghost?! When did she die? That doesn't make me feel any better either." 

I got down on the floor and began crawling to Ms. Turkle's head. "She died a few days ago. Before you arrived. Before I got here too." I reached out to touch her head.

Ms. Turkle jerked and acted like she was going to bite me. "Don't you dare!" 

I pulled back my hand. "Sorry." 

Mack jumped up, walked over to me and began whimpering at Ms. Turkle. 

Kelly was now sitting on her bed. "It really must be Ms. Turkle. Mack only ever made that sound when he was around her. What happened? How did she die?"

Ms. Turkle quickly said, "Don't you breath one word to that young lady about me!" 

I smiled at Ms. Turkle. "She was murdered."

Ms. Turkle glared at me.

Kelly said, "Murdered?! Who would want to kill Ms. Turkle? Wait a minute. Why did I even ask that question?"

Ms. Turkle said, "I really do not like your room mate Miss Clearwater. Her and Miss Specks were always little troublemakers."

Kelly asked, "Do you know who did it?"

Ms. Turkle said, "Go on, Miss Clearwater. Tell her. Wouldn't she have a fright if she knew her former room mate was the one who killed me?"

I said, "That's really cruel Ms. Turkle."

Kelly asked, "What's really cruel? What did she say?"

I said, "We don't know who did it yet. Still trying to figure that one out."

Ms. Turkle squinted her eyes at me. "Oh I'm sure you are Miss..."

I interrupted her. "Why are you just a head, Ms. Turkle? Where is the rest of your body?"

Kelly freaked. "She's just a head?!"

I shushed her.

Ms. Turkle said, "When you touched me I saw a replay of what happened to me. After I saw Miss Specks I was pushed into so kind of black void. I think I've been there all this time until I was suddenly in your room. You were talking about chocolate with Miss Seaver and I decided to stay quiet for a while. I prayed Mack wouldn't notice."

I said, "You're lucky he didn't with him being a dog for the blind. Do you think you'll get the rest of your body back?" 

Ms.Turkle said, "I'm sure I will when the rest of it catches up with my head."

I said, "I made a mistake last time but the next time I touch..."

Ms. Turkle interrupted me. "You will NEVER touch me again, Ms. Clearwater! I may have to be your unwanted guest for a while longer but after I have acquired the rest of my body I suggest you don't go looking for me again!"

I stood up and stomped the floor which startled Kelly. "Then how are we going to find out who killed you?"

Ms. Turkle curled up her lip. "I suggest you solve it on your own, Miss Clearwater! I'm perfectly happy being a clueless ghost in this world if the alternative is an endless black void!"

I said, "It might not happen that way if I do it right!" 

Ms. Turkle said, "I don't care!"

I said, "Well, be that way then," I got up in a huff, picked up one of Kelly's empty suitcases and walked back over to Ms. Turkle. "Say goodnight Ms. Turkle!" I placed the empty suitcase, inside down, over her head. Mack stepped onto it and sat there and barked. I could hear a muffled "get off me" from beneath him. 

Kelly asked me what I did and I told her. She said, "Ellie, you are one of the strangest people I have ever met and that is saying something with being here and all." 

We both had a good laugh.

For the next two or three days we stayed in our rooms enduring our punishment by having a fashion show with Kelly's frilly dresses, making Mack howl by singing songs, and teasing poor Ms. Turkle as she slowly got herself together. By the third day I think we had grown on Ms. Turkle. She finally considered letting me touch her again but only after a few days. She needed to get her full strength back again. All she had left to be complete by then was her feet and once she had those she floated right back to the classroom. It seems that ghosts stay where they feel the most comfortable in life. Well, most of them. 

My birthday had arrived and we were free again. I didn't really want to spend my birthday in school all day. As if fate knew what I was feeling Jeanie hobbled in on crutches and said, "Guess what? We're not going to school today!" 

I sat up in bed, rubbed my eyes, and said, "What? Why not?" 

She said, "I talked with Nurse Weatherly and she said it was okay. I told her since we've been cooped up in our rooms for days we didn't really want to be cooped up in a classroom on the first day out of our rooms. She agreed we needed some time outdoors so you, me and Monty are going to have some fresh air." She had a wicked grin on her face. Mack barked. "You too, Mack." She hobbled over to him and tapped his head with her fingers.

Kelly grabbed her pillow and pulled it out from under her head. "I don't want to go anywhere. You can take Ellie. It's her birthday anyway." She rolled onto her back and placed the pillow back on her head. 

Jeanie glanced at me and we both rolled our eyes. She said, "Aw, come on Kelly. You really want to stay in here another day all by yourself? We might have some real fun and you might miss it."

Kelly sat up in bed and threw her pillow down on the floor. "The last time I left it sure wasn't any fun!"

Jeanie said, "Oh that's something we need to talk about. What happened to you two out there? I'm sure Dr. Welling told you they caught me and Monty. Whatever happened I see it was successful, right?" She petted Mack again. 

Kelly opened her mouth.

I said, "No! We'll tell you when we are wherever it is you want us to go!"

Kelly said, "Then you can tell her."

I looked at Mack. "What about your dog? He's been in here for three days! He's only been outside when the nurses took him out for pee breaks. Don't your think Mack would like some time outside?"

Kelly squinted her eyes. "I know what you're doing Ellie. You're not going to use Mack to get me out of here again! Take him with you if you want." 

Jeanie sighed and began to take Mack's leash. 

I got out of bed and pushed her hand away. "No. If Kelly doesn't go then Mack doesn't go." I folded my arms and glared back at Kelly who was glaring right back toward my direction.

Jeanie sighed again and grabbed Mack's leash anyway. She said. "I'm going to take Mack into the hallway. You two get ready and figure this problem out if you can." She gave a tired looked toward Kelly like she was used to Kelly's old complaints. Before she left she turned to me. "You never told me your birthday was coming. Happy Birthday!" 

I just kept glaring at Kelly. I said, "Thank you." 

It wasn't long before Monty burst in and grabbed a hold of Kelly's hand. He pleaded, "Come on Kelly! Please come with us! Jeanie told me it was Ellie's birthday and we need you to make her birthday great! We'll make sure nothing happens to you. Ellie's your friend now, right? Don't you want to be there for her birthday?"

Kelly just sat there not saying a word.

I said, "Monty, you might as well not even try. She's already made her mind up."

Monty frowned, "You won't even go for me, Kelly?"

Kelly's mouth twitched a little. Monty dropped her hand and with his head down left the room.

 I quickly changed into the new pair of pink pajamas. When I turned around Kelly was standing in front of me in a frilly purple dress and a big purple bow in her nicely combed hair. She said, "I'm going to give it one more chance, Ellie. Since it is your birthday and Monty wants me to come along so much. I'm warning you, if that evil thing comes back I'm never leaving my room again!"

I smiled my biggest smile yet. "Deal!" I took her hand and pulled her out the door. As we were leaving I said, "That evil thing couldn't possibly pay you a visit here could he?"

She squeezed my hand. "Don't even joke about that!" 

The others had gone real silent once Kelly and I walked into the hallway. Kelly reached for Mack's leash which Jeanie handed over to her. Jeanie and Monty stood there with their mouths open shocked I had actually got Kelly to go with us. Kelly said, "Do we have to dwell on it? I'm giving you all one more chance. So you better take it." 

We all smiled at each other. Jeanie said, "Follow me." Jeanie led us to the back door of the Main Building. She was pushing the double doors to go out when...

"Hello children, where are you all going on this school day?" 

Dr. Welling was walking down from the second floor of the building. Another place I had not been to as of yet. I quietly looked passed him and up those dark steps as he was walking toward us. More patients' rooms or something else? I would have to look into this sometime soon.

We all huddled together. A hand was suddenly holding mine and squeezing. It wasn't Kelly's this time but Monty's. I squeezed it back trying to assure him that everything was alright.

Jeanie was the first to speak. She said, "Nurse Weatherly said we could skip school and go outside today."

Dr. Welling said, "Did she now? It is understandable that you all would want some sunshine after your punishment. Especially this little pooch." He reached down to pet Mack. Mack barked and he pulled his hand away. 

This caused Kelly to say, "Dr. Welling, you keep forgetting that Mack doesn't really like to be touched when he is working." I stifled a giggle. I had a feeling it wasn't because Mack was working that he barked. Mack seemed like he was a good judge of character.

Dr. Welling said, "Yes, well it is very nice to see you out of your room, Miss Seaver. Quite an achievement really seeing that your pet wasn't in any danger this time. Maybe we won't have to drug you when your next Lab appointment approaches. One wonders how you all were able to persuade her to come with you. Speaking of Lab appointments..." His eyes rested on Monty for a few seconds. "...every single one of you are due for one soon. Except Jeanie of course." 

Jeanie glanced at us and then back at Dr. Welling.

Then Dr. Welling came closer to me. "Which means it will be your very first one I do believe, Miss Clearwater. So whatever plans you had today..."

I was so shocked. He really was going to take me to the Lab! I opened my mouth to speak but Monty got there before me.

Monty said, "It was Ellie!"

Dr. Welling turned to him "Hmm?"

Monty said, "It was Ellie who helped Kelly get out of her room. I think she should be rewarded!"

Dr. Welling said, "Do you now Mr. Swing?"

Kelly said, "Yes, I think so too. She did do what my mother said was your job after all."

Dr. Welling turned back to me with a simmering glare. "Did she now?" Kelly was only making things worse!

Monty blurted out, "Today is Ellie's birthday and she deserves to have a little fun!"

We all glared at Monty who turned a shade of red and hid behind me even more. 

Dr. Welling smiled and said,  "So you are nine years old Miss Clearwater. I hope you are now slightly older and wiser and so will obey your elders."

Kelly said, "I hope you will obey my mother, Dr. Welling. Do you really want to deny her daughter a chance to be outside? The very thing you are suppose to be helping her with?"

Dr. Welling glanced at Kelly with tired eyes. "Perhaps it would be best you all stayed outside for a bit. As long as you obey the rules this time. No more dilly dallying off into forbidden places. Agreed?"

Jeanie said, "Agreed Dr. Welling. You do remember I promised I wouldn't let them get into trouble again?"

Dr. Welling just turned to the steps and waved us off with a "harrumph" and an "obey Miss Specks then." 

We all looked at each other, grinned, and quickly left Dr. Welling and the Main Building. 

Once we were outside Kelly stopped. We all turned back to look at her. "Wait! I forgot something!" She turned Mack around to go back into the building again.

Monty said, "Don't worry Kelly! I'll get it for you!" 

Monty ran up to Kelly. She asked, "Are you sure you don't mind passing by Dr. Welling again to get it?"

Monty said, "I'll do anything for you, Kelly!" 

It was Kelly's turn to become a bright shade of red. She smiled and whispered into Monty's ear. He glanced at me, smiled, and ran back inside.

I wondered what those two were planning.

A few minutes later Monty appeared with a a flat, white box under his arm. He gave it to Kelly who thanked him.

Jeanie said, "Okay, come on now!" 

I said, "We're coming!"

As Monty passed by me I said, "You really are becoming our knight in shinning armor."

Monty grinned and said, "My pleasure, Princess Clearwater!" He pretended like he was taking a hat off and bowed low in front of me. We both laughed. 

Kelly, who was a few steps behind us with Mack asked, "What are you two doing?"

I said, "Aw, nothing. Just playing."

We were all into joking around that we didn't notice at first that Jeanie had stopped. She turned to us and said, "Okay, we are here!"

We all looked up. We were standing in front of a big, iron gate. Two rotting wooden doors stood in the center of this gate. Each door had a faded picture of what could barely be made out to be of a skull. Above these doors was a sign that looked like it had seen better days. Half of it was shot up with what appeared to be bullet holes. The other side had the letters G-A-L-L-E-Y. 

I said, "This is Pirate's Galley! Wow!"

Kelly said, "Pirate's Galley? We are going to be in so much trouble, Jeanie." 

Jeanie said, "No we're not. Dr. Welling said to obey me and I say we are all going to give Ellie a birthday she won't ever forget. "

Monty said, "This place is forbidden, Jeanie. The orderlies could be watching." A little frightened by his own words, he glanced around.

Jeanie said, "Nurse Weatherly helped me out with that. They won't be around for at least an hour or two. She also said if we go only to the parts she said were safe to go we should be just fine."

I asked, "Why would Nurse Weatherly do this for us?"

Jeanie said, "She loves the outdoors and she hates seeing us children always cooped up inside. She did warn she could only give us about an hour and a half so we've got to hurry! Come on!"

She pushed open the heavy doors and we followed her inside. It really wasn't inside though. We were still outside. Before us stood a worn, tiled floor. It looked like it could have once been a dance floor I thought. Weeds were growing out of the cracked tiles and edges. A few feet across this floor was a darken wooden building. It was oddly shaped. Like some of the ceiling had caved in. Three broken steps led to a wide wooden floor area. Broken poles and white holey sheets laid scattered around on it. One side of the building was shaped like the bow of a ship. We could see a stature of a creature attached to the front of it. I ran across the tiled floor to take a closer look at it. 

Kelly heard me. "Be careful Ellie! Who's knows what's around here!" She just stood there holding onto Mack terrified. 

This building was huge! I raised my head up to look at the statue which was a few feet above my head. The face of a lady was trying to smile back down at me but the rot had taken her smile away. If she had been painted once it looked like it was mostly all gone now. Her fish tale was gone as well. It was broken off and lying a few feet away on the ground. More bullet holes were to be found within the side of this old stage built to look like a pirate's ship.

I said, "This must have been so beautiful when it was new!"  

Jeanie was on the stage pushing some of the debris out of the way and toward the back wall. She said, "The boards aren't too bad in this area. Come up here, Ellie!" 

Monty was standing with Kelly. He said to her, "It really looks like a pirate ship! I wish you could see it better, Kelly!"

Kelly was trembling. "I'm not having any fun."

I was now standing on the stage with Jeanie. I turned toward Monty and Kelly still standing on the tiled dance floor. "You said your grandmother told you all about this place. Now you have a chance to see it for yourself. Well, you know what I mean. Sorry Kelly."

Kelly said, "You don't have to apologize, Ellie. We all know I can't see that well and I'm comfortable with it. You should be too."

Monty said, "Doesn't matter anyway because you ladies are going to have some fun today! I'm going to make sure of that! Come on Kelly. Let me help you to the stage." Monty took Kelly's free hand and Kelly held onto the dog while Mack lead them up to the edge of the stage. Monty helped Kelly up the broken steps and we all stood together looking around. 

I lazily asked, "I wonder if this placed had a dressing room?"

Jeanie said, "It did and does. Two of them. One for the gentlemen and one for the ladies. Over there." She pointed on the other side of the stage and building. The stage ran off into a darker area. Monty and I looked at each other and grinned. Monty ran off to that area and I was about to as well when Jeanie said, "Please be careful Monty! Ellie, I have to tell you something."

Disappointed I stopped, "What?"

"When we were caught trying to get to the Boys Building I really did agree to watch you and the other two. I promised Dr. Welling and Niles I'd tell them what you all are doing and stuff. It was a lie though, Ellie. I only said it so that Monty wouldn't be taken to the Lab again. If they come around asking questions I won't tell them the truth. You can trust me, Ellie." 

This made me squirm a little. I wanted to believe Jeanie but I still had my doubts about what I had seen in Miss Turkle's past. I nervously agreed and and she smiled. 

Monty jumped back out from the darkness wearing a metal helmet and a fake wooden sword. He said, "Hey, look at me! I'm a knight!" He ran over to Kelly to show her. 

I laughed and asked, "Where did you get that?!" 

He said, "Oh from a pile of old things and stuff over there." He pointed back into the darkness from where he came. 

I walked across the stage and into the darkened part. There was just enough light to see a sunken area filled with old props. Shifting though all the things, I said more to myself than anyone else, "I wonder if there is a pirate's sword here." Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something move. I turned my head that way and there was  the pirate's sword I wanted. I grabbed the fake sword and stopped for a moment. For a split second I thought I had seen a long, slender hand among the weapons appear and quickly disappear. I glared over my shoulder back at the props. Everything looked normal. I ran back to the others.

I jumped out of the darkness and said, "Look at me! I'm a pirate! Ready for a duel, knight!"

Monty turned to look at me and laughed. We ran up to each other and began playfully dueling. Monty stopped and looked back at the others. "This is no fun! We need more people. How about Kelly be the captured princess and you Jeanie...um."

Jeanie places her hands on her hips and said, "I'll be the pirate captain! The princess must walk the plank!"

Monty smiled and turned back to me. "You pirates need more stuff! Like hats and parrots! Maybe there is more in the dressing rooms."

Jeanie said, "If you two had waited for me to push back the debris I would have given you all some flashlights. Nurse Weatherly left some over here." She walked over to the opposite side of the stage. She returned to us with four flashlights. 

We made our way back to the darkened props area. I switched on my flashlight and pointed it exactly where I thought I saw the hand earlier. It was just a pile of weapons in a carved out pit. I moved the light forward and it landed on a dirty red door that had a crooked sign reading Ladies. By now the others had turned on their own flashlights. Monty was standing beside Kelly and Mack with Jeanie on the other side. Now I could see all along the wall. A few feet from the Ladies door was another door. The sign had fallen off and was lying on the floor at the bottom of it..

I asked, "Are these dressing rooms or restrooms?"

Jeanie walked up, passed by me and pushed open the Ladies door. She said, "They're dressing rooms. Come on! Let's take a look inside." She walked in.

Mack and Kelly were next. As she walked in she said, "Too bad they're not restrooms  cause Mack really had to go." Monty and I looked at her. "You know I do have a sense of humor sometimes."" 

Monty and I smiled at each other. Monty bowed to let me in first. I said thank you and walked in. As soon as I was across the threshold Monty said, "Maybe I should stay out here, Ellie. It is the Ladies Dressing Room after all." He tried to be serious but he couldn't hide the small smile forming on his face. I grabbed him by the collar and said, "Get in here you clown!"

Kelly randomly moved her flashlight around the room. She said, "If you see anything good let me know. I think Mack just lead me to a chair here. It feels a little dirty but it will do." She sat down. The chair was huge to her little frame. It had big thick arms and might have been pink once upon a time before the dust took over. She said, "Wow! It's quite comfy. You all come look at this! I found something on the arm of this chair!" We all gathered around her. She took her flashlight and placed the object close to her face. "I know what this is!" She showed it to the rest of us. We all shined our flashlights on it. She was holding a long, thin metal tube between her middle finger and her index finger. 

She said, "If you hadn't seen one before it's a cigarette holder. My grandmother had one. When she told me about this place she said all the ladies used them. You would place a cigarette in one end and smoke it on the other end. " She stood up. "Look at me! I'm a flapper gal!" She danced and held the holder in her fingers. She did a little twist and her dress shook from side to side. We all laughed. 

Jeanie said, "I'm sure there are more things like that in this room. This place is like a time capsule."

The rest of us scattered around the room. Monty said, "I haven't found the costumes yet. Have you?"

Jeanie's voice came from the far right corner of the room. "Be careful around here. I think I just found the makeup stand. The mirror is broken and there's glass everywhere!"

 I was on the other side of the room coming up on the far right corner. The flashlight laid upon a paper on the rose colored wall. I said, "I think I've found something too!" 

Monty and Jeanie ran to me. Kelly asked, "What is it?"

It looked like a poster. It was faded and torn on the edges. There was a painting of a handsome man wearing a head wrapping. Below the man it read in big green letters...

"The Sheik," said Jeanie. "It's a movie poster, Kelly. The Sheik was a movie that starred Rudolph Valentino. He was a very popular movie star back then."

Kelly said, "Oh I have heard of him. All the girls loved him. He was really good looking. I know about him because of grandmother and because of ..."

Jeanie, Kelly, and Monty all said at the same time, "Darla Parlor."

I asked, "Who's Darla Parlor?"

Jeanie said, "Don't you remember, Ellie? I told you about her at lunch on your first day of school. I visit Cecile Wilkins and Darla Parlor sometimes in the Adults Building. Monty and Kelly have met her."

Monty said, "Yeah, all she talks about is Rudy this and Rudy that. She's obsessed with him." 

Kelly said, "Well, I think she is a sweet lady."

Monty said, "So am I." 

From her chair Kelly smiled. "Yes, Monty you are too. You are very sweet." 

Something fell in the opposite corner. I asked, "What was that?"

We ran back to the makeup stand. Jeanie said, "It must have been another piece of the mirror."

There were broken mirror shards all over the floor in front of the stand. As I moved my light across the floor a small piece of paper caught my attention. It was sticking out from one to the shards. Jeanie said, "Be careful Ellie!" I plucked it from the mess.

It was a half torn black and white picture. I could make out four people wearing bathing suits. The tear had ruined two of the faces which looked like they were men judging from the bodies and suits. The other two looked to be ladies in full bathing suits. All four of them had their arms around each other staring at the camera. The ladies seemed to be laughing. One lady had short curled light colored hair and the other had darker hair with the same cut. They were both really beautiful. I said, "I found a picture!" I ran over to Kelly. The others followed.

I said, "Would you happen to know anything about this?" I gave her the picture.

She shined her flashlight on it and squinted really hard. Her eyes widened. "Wow! The dark haired lady looks like my grandmother! Oh Ellie, can I keep this?"

I said, "I don't see why not? It's not doing anyone any good lying in a bunch of old mirror pieces. What about the other lady?"

Monty bent over Kelly to have a look. "She looks like you, Ellie." 

I got excited. "Really? You think so? Kelly, did your grandmother ever talk about my Aunt Ellen? Could that be her?"

Kelly opened her mouth to say something when...

"Hey, look what I've found! Here at the back wall!" We all flashed our lights toward Jeanie's voice. She was standing beside of what looked like a big wooden crate. She pushed it aside and there was a big round hole in the wall! Big enough for a fully grown person to fit into!

We all ran to it. Even Kelly got up and let Mack lead her to the spot. I grabbed the edges of the wall and stuck my head inside. It looked like a big, metal tunnel. It slightly sloped downwards and out of sight. There was what seemed to be a little sunlight shining into it and reflecting off the metallic walls. I said, "It looks like some sort of metal slide and it's wet." I touched the few drops of water around its edges.

Kelly asked, "Why would that thing still be wet in an old dressing room? If it was a slide, it hasn't been used in years and should be old and dusty like the rest of this place."

I asked, "I wonder where it leads to?"

Monty grinned. "Only one way to find out!" 

 Kelly turned toward his direction. "Are you crazy?! Who knows what is on the other side of that? You could get hurt or worse...killed!"

Monty ran up beside me. 

I said, "It looks like someone has already used it so it must be okay. Don't you think?" 

Kelly said, "That is how you are going to look at this?! Jeanie, you are surely stopping them, right?"

Jeanie grinned. "They do have a point." 

Kelly said, "What?! I do not believe this!" 

Monty said, "Ellie, you sit down first and I'll sit behind you! We'll do this together!"

Kelly screamed, "You are all insane!" Even Mack barked.

Monty said, "Never been anything but..." Jeanie gave us a little push and we were off! 

The slide started off slowly downwards and there was a turn approaching. Afterwards the tunnel began getting brighter and brighter. Monty was holding tightly to my waist. A ghostly head with curly blond hair poked out from the side of it and stared at us as we went passed. I felt Monty hold me tighter and I closed my eyes. I was beginning to regret our decision. When I opened my eyes again we were going even faster and the end was coming closer. It looked like nothing but blue sky approaching faster and faster! A ghostly arm reached out at us one more time before we were both flying in the air. Our arms and legs were flailing everywhere! Then down we fell into cold water with a big splash!

I was underwater. I paddled upwards and broke the surface breathing heavily. What had just happened and where was I? Where was Monty?

I screamed, "Monty?!"

Monty's head appeared a few feet behind me. "Ellie!" 

I turned to his voice and yelled, "I'm over here! Are you okay?"

Monty swam to me. "Yeah, I'm alright. Are you?"

I nodded, "Did you see the ghost?"

Monty said, "I sure did, Ellie! That was the most fun I've ever had and the most scary! I wander who she was!"

I looked around as we paddled. "Where are we?"

Monty said, "We're in Sally's Pond! Named after a girl named Sally who drowned in it years ago. Don't really know what it was called before that."

As soon as he said this a blond lady popped out of the water between us and said, "You two are so cute!"

More out of the sudden shock of another person popping out of the water than her being a ghost we both screamed!

She said, "Oh please don't be afraid! I haven't had another living soul to talk to in years it seems! Everyone just screams, runs or swims away. Do you have any idea how lonely that can be?"

Still paddling I said, "How about we finish this on shore?"

The lady said, "Oh yes. Of course! I sometimes forget living people get tired after a while." She was gone. 

I looked all around. "Where did she go?"

Monty said, "Come on let's get to shore!" 

We both swam to a nearby wooden dock. Monty pulled himself out of the water and then helped me out as well. We were so wet and a little cold. I looked around. It was quite a moderate sized pond. Green hilly banks surrounded the waters and huge pine trees after that. The only break through the trees was the building we just slid out of. The metal tunnel slide snaked into a couple of loops and into the middle of the pond. I shook my hair a couple of times and turned to Monty. "Sally's Pond, huh? Why didn't you tell me about this place?"

 Monty was hitting his head, trying to get water out of his ears. He said, "You never asked!"

I placed my hands on my hips. "Of course I didn't ask! I didn't know it existed to ask!" 

I began scanning the shore for any sign of the lady from the water. I spotted her lying on a red and blue picnic blanket on one the hilly banks just a few yards away from us. I pointed to her. I said to Monty, "Let me guess, that's Sally!" 

Monty followed my finger and began to run toward her. He yelled back at me, "Only one way to find out! Last one there is a rotten egg!" 

"Hey! Not fair!" I ran after him.

When we got there with Monty just beating me, the lady was sitting up and in a disappointed mood. She said, "You two had a race, didn't you? I wish you would have told me you were going to race! I used to love races. Won a few myself back in my day!" 

Panting, Monty and I looked at each other and grinned. We both wanted to ask so we both did at the same time. 

"Are you Sally?"

The blond lady was playing with her short curly hair. She looked at us both and laughed. "You two are just the cutest! Saying my name at the same time like that. Are you twins? I used to know a pair of twins. Very handsome gentlemen they were...wait a minute! How do you two know my name?!"

I walked around her. "Oh I don't know. Sally's Pond, a girl who drowned, a ghost in a bathing suit. Put everything together and..." 

Sally said to Monty, "You have a very smart gal there, little one. Don't let her get away!" 

Monty turned red.

Sally laid back onto her side. She pretended to touch a little wicker basket that lay before her. There were four little plates set out on the big picnic blanket and a dog bowl with some food in it just to the side. Sally said, "Oh look at this little display. When I saw this on the shore I couldn't pass it up! Looks like someone is going to have a lovely party. My friends and I used to have the most lavish parties." 

I asked, "I wonder who's party this belongs to?"

"That would be us!" Jeanie, Mack, and Kelly emerged from the trees behind Monty and I. 

Surprised. I turned around to look at them. "Whoa! Wait a minute. Where did you two come from? How did you know we'd be here?!"

Jeanie said, "Monty and I already knew about the dressing room. We knew you would be here." 

I turned to Monty. "So you already knew about the tunnel and that it would lead here?"

Monty grinned, "Yeah, I already knew. Nurse Weatherly told us about it earlier in the dressing room."

Jeanie said, "Yes, she did. She told us not to touch the slide. That it was likely to be very rusty and dangerous by now."

Monty said, "Yeah but l came back a little while later and tried out one of the old sinks in the men's bathroom. By some miracle one of them still worked!"

Jeanie said, "They probably used the same water tank that's still used today. Maybe one of the pipes are still connected to it."

I said, "Maybe somebody still uses this place for something." 

Monty said, "I don't know but it worked and then I found an old water hose and sprayed the tunnel slide out with it! After that I slid down it!"

Jeanie said, "Yeah, and I nearly killed him when he told me!" 

Monty kept on grinning. "It was so much fun I slid down it a couple more times! Nurse Weatherly was wrong. There's hardly any rust at all which I'm sure you saw Ellie! I think that was really smart of me and I think I'm a pretty good actor to boot. Maybe that should be my profession when I grow up. Be just like Rudy Valentino!" He balled his fists up and placed them on his hips and gave a gruff face.  

I walked over to him and poked his chest with my index finger. "Yeah, that was smart. That was brave...and really really stupid!"

Monty frowned, "You would've done the same thing, Ellie and I'm older than you."  

I said, "Maybe so but that doesn't..."

Sally spoke up. "Don't be so hard on the boy, little Miss. You did make it out safely and made a new friend I might add." She pushed up her hair a little. "I don't like to see people fight and after all you two make such a cute little couple!" 

Kelly asked, "What?! Did I miss something?" 

Monty quickly said, "We're not a couple! We're all just friends!" Monty looked back at me. "We're still friends right?" 

I laughed, "Don't be silly. Of course we are!" 

Monty's grin returned and he ran over to Jeanie. They whispered for a minute and then said, "Happy Birthday, Ellie!" 

I said, "You didn't do all of this for me did you?" 

Jeanie said, "Not really. Monty, Nurse Weatherly and I got all this together as a little break after our punishment. If we knew it was your birthday we would have brought a cake. I'm sure Nurse Dilly would've made one." 

I said, "No matter. What DID you bring? I'm starving!" 

We all gathered around the picnic blanket. Jeanie pulled out a medium sized glass bowl from the basket. She lifted the lid. She said, "Strawberries!" Big, juicy strawberries lay within. 

I said, "Even better!" 

We all sat down in front of our respective places. Kelly sat beside Mack as Mack began eating out of his bowl. 

By now Sally had moved away from the blanket and was standing behind us all watching us eat our strawberries. She said, "Strawberries and Golden Retrievers. Two of my most favorite things in the world. Can't eat them or pet them now." 

I said, "Well, you might as well enjoy their company then!"

Jeanie looked up confused, "Huh?"

I nodded just above her head. 

She asked, "Is there a ghost here?"

Kelly spoke next. Her eyes got wide. "It can't be can it?" 

"What?" I asked. 

Kelly said, "You're talking to Sally Pellington right?"

Sally scrunched up her face. "How does she know my last name?! This is so rude! Everyone knowing my name and me not even introduced to them!"

I said to Kelly, "Apparently so. She's a little upset that we all know her but she doesn't know us. Sorry Sally." 

Sally frowned at me. 

I said, "Sorry, Miss Pellington. Please meet..."

Kelly said, "Kelly Seaver! I've heard all about you! Maybe you remember my grandmother. Her name was..." 

Sally said, "Nancy Seaver?" 

Kelly had said her grandmother's name but Sally had paid no mind. She continued to talk more to me than to Kelly.

Sally said, "She does look like Nancy! She was such a smart one that Nancy! You know I myself looked like my grandmother. I was told she was a great beauty!" 

I said, "She says Nancy was really smart." 

Kelly got more excited. "So she does know her! This is really interesting. I always wished to talk to Sally. Grandmother always said she was an excellent swimmer and won plenty of races. She was sort of a celebrity around here!" 

Now this made Sally excited. She said, "Wow! I really didn't know Nancy that well but maybe I should have got to know her better. Nice to meet you!" She waved at Kelly. 

I said, "She can't see you." 

Kelly said, "Why not? Is she blind too? Grandmother never told me that!" 

I said, "No! I'm talking to Sally. She's waving at you." 

Kelly said, "Oh."

Sally walked around Kelly. She said, "Aww. You poor thing. To be so young and not have your sight. Must be dreadful." She was standing in the middle of the picnic blanket bending over to look at Kelly.

Kelly asked, "Where is she so I can wave back?"

 I positioned her hand toward Sally's direction. "She's there." 

Kelly stuck her hand straight out and waved right through Sally's head! Kelly screamed a little and pulled her hand back and Sally shook her head and stepped back. 

Kelly asked, "What was that? It was really cold there! Was that Sally?"

Sally said, "That was a strange feeling." 

I asked, "So you can feel each other?!"

They both said at the same time, "I guess so!" 

Monty wiped his mouth of strawberry juice took off his wet shirt and said, "A swimming race sure sounds like fun! Anyone want to race me?" 

Jeanie said, "Maybe we should wait a few minutes before we jump into the water. We have just eaten." 

Monty said, "Yes, Mother." 

We all laughed. All but Jeanie. 

He walked around the blanket. "I wished I had that sword now." He picked up a stick. "Hey, this will do!" He picked up another stick and gave it to me. "Want to continue our duel?"

I took the stick and got up. "I sure do, Sir Montgomery!" We dueled all around the others.

Monty asked, "You know what Ellie?"

I asked, "What?"

He said, "I think we all should have a name!"

I said, "What? Like a club or something?" 

Monty said, "Sure! Just like that!" 

Jeanie laughed, "Like The Dueling Club or something?" 

Sally said, "I'd call you The Cutie Pies cause that's what you are." She laughed.

I made a face. 

Jeanie said, "It wasn't that bad!" 

I said, "No, Sally wants to call us The Cutie Pies."

We all grumbled. "Ew! No!" 

Sally huffed. 

Kelly said, "How about The Princesses and the Knight?" 

Monty and I continued to duel. He said, "Too long! I know! I'm the Knight and you're my gals. You don't mind being my gals, right?" 

I stopped and laughed. "Hmm. Knight and Gals...sounds like nightingales! I love it!" 

Monty gave Kelly and Jeanie sticks as well. He said, "Let's all put our sticks together!" 

We all placed the tips of our sticks to the others.

Kelly said, "To sing!"

Monty said, "To play!"

I said, "To fight!"

We all looked at Jeanie. She said, "...Hurray?"

We all laughed. 

Sally jumped up and down and clapped her hands. She said, "That was the sweetest thing! Now how about that swim? It's been ages since I've been in a swimming race!"

I said, "Sally wants a swimming race."

Jeanie said, "Since when do we have to do what she wants?" 

Sally huffed.

Someone yelled by the pond's edge. "I'm ready! Come on guys!" It was Monty.

Kelly said, "I would rather talk to Sally a bit more."  

I said, "Well, we can't race if we're all doing different things!"

Jeanie said, "Just in case anyone's forgotten, I'm on a crutch and bandage. Not very good for swimming."

I sighed. "Okay, then I'll go race a couple of times with Monty and then we can talk with Sally a bit more, okay?"

Both girls shrugged their shoulders. I rolled my eyes and ran down to Monty. 

I said, "I guess it's just you and me." 

"Don't forget me!"  Sally stood beside me. "This is what I've been waiting for! A good honest race!" 

Monty asked, "How can it be a good honest race?! You'd just appear at the finish line!"

Sally looked appalled. "I'm a good sport I am! I would never cheat! On my honor as a lady!" 

I said, "Yeah, but you're a professional and we're children." 

She said, "Aw come on! Are you going to let a pesky thing like that ruin my...I mean our fun?!"

We shrugged our shoulders. We all three got into our ready positions. 

Sally said, "One more thing! Don't go in that direction!" She pointed to the right far corner of the pond.

Monty asked, "Why not?" 

She said, "I don't know. Just don't." 

I said, "We'll swim to the dock. Whoever gets there first is the winner!" 

Monty and Sally said, "Deal!" 

Sally said, "Go!" 

So we were off! For the first few minutes we were all close to each other and swimming and laughing as we focused on the dock. I was half way there when everything went silent.  I had been in between Sally and Monty but now they were no longer there! Was Monty in trouble? Where was Sally? I looked up to the bank to scream to Jeanie and Kelly but there wasn't anyone on the bank either! It was just me all alone in a big pond! A fog with sparkling lights began to form on one corner of the pond. Mesmerized by the beauty and mystery of it I began to float closer to it. I reached out my hand to touch the fog when something rough wrapped around my angle and pulled me down under the water! I managed to pull myself back up and when I did Sally was now beside me. She was standing on the water though and looking down at me!

She said, 'Oh, now I remember! There's an old dead tree under the water. I told you not to swim over here." 

I continued to flail, trying to hold my head just above the water. I struggled to say, "Get help!" I knew if I touched Sally I might be brought back to the point of her death and that wouldn't help. I'd only be going from drowning in my life to drowning in hers! Of course Sally didn't know any of that yet. I hadn't told her. 

Sally just stood on the water above me with her hands on her hips as I continued to struggle in the water. She said, "You know, I could get help...or I could let you drown. Then I'd always have someone to swim with and tell me how beautiful I am." She bent over me. "It will be alright. It won't last long. Then we can have races anytime we want!"

My limbs were giving out on me. I tried to unravel the root from my leg but I was too tired now! My body went under and it felt like the tree was pulling me down into the depths! Was this really going to be the end?! I felt a beefy arm grab me around the waist and pull up hard. The force was strong enough the root broke off ! When I reached the surface and I gasped for breath! I was being pulled across the water in break neck speed I thought. Who had such a strong hold on me?! It couldn't be Monty. I tried to look behind me and caught a brief glimpse of a ruddy complexion and dark hair. It was Niles! I tried to get away. 

Niles held me tighter and said, "Would you stop squirming?! I'm trying to save your life!"

Why would HE care if I died? Confused and tired though, I decided to obey him. Anyways, if he held me any tighter he would have squeezed the life out of me!  

We finally reached dry ground. My foot was so sore it wouldn't hold me so Niles picked me up and carried me to the others. Nurse Weatherly was standing beside Jeanie and Kelly. They were both crying. Monty ran toward me and grabbed my hand. 

He asked, "Are you okay, Ellie?! Where did you go? You and Sally just disappeared halfway to the dock!" 

Niles yelled, "Get out of my way, Swinger!" Monty turned quiet and quickly moved. Nurse Weatherly said, "Oh Ellie, what have you done to yourself now? Why are you always getting yourself into trouble? I hope you all know how lucky you are! I was worried about you all because you went way over your hour and a half time! I came down here to find you all. I asked Niles to come along just in case you were in some kind of trouble and good thing I did too or Ellie, you might have drowned just like poor Sally Pellington!"

When Nurse Weatherly said Sally's name she appeared right behind her. She stared at Weatherly curiously. I couldn't miss my chance. 

I said, "Poor Sally?! She was a vain and conceited lady! She only cared about herself! I never want to hear that name again!" 

Sally was shocked or pretended to be shocked. She said, "How dare you?!" 

I yelled, "How dare me?! You were going to let me drown just because you wanted a swimming partner! Go away and leave us alone!" 

Mack began barking at all the commotion and Sally lowered her head and faded away.

Nurse Weatherly was confused. She asked, "Miss Clearwater, who are you talking to?" 

I said, "Sally Pellington's ghost! She was right behind you!" 

She looked behind herself and rolled her eyes. "I'm getting really tired of all this. Mr. Niles, will you please take Ellie to the hospital ward?" She turned to Monty and Kelly. "As for you two, do try to make it back to your rooms as quickly as possible!"

Monty asked, "Are we going to be punished again?" 

She said, "I really don't know. Perhaps so."

We all groaned. 

She said, "I may be punished as well. Serves me right in giving such troublemakers a second chance. Jeanie, you and I are staying behind. We are going to have a little talk about responsibility and trust."

Jeanie got upset and started to shake. She said, "I'm sorry, mam! I didn't mean to forget!" 

I remembered that I had placed one of Jeanie's pills into my pajama pocket once but that was a pair clothes I had long changed out of. Luckily, Nurse Weatherly had one in her own pocket. 

She said, "Go on now! Stop looking at Jeanie."

Kelly gasped and felt around herself. 

Nurse Weatherly asked, "What is wrong Miss Seaver?" 

Kelly said, "I think I forgot something in the Ladies dressing room of Pirate's Galley!" 

Nurse Weatherly asked, "What exactly would that be, Miss Seaver?" 

Kelly said, "Ellie's birthday present." 

Nurse Weatherly said, "Well, it will have to remain there for now. Go on to your rooms!" 

We all began to walk toward the trail that lead back to the sanitorium. Since I was still being carried by Niles I turned my body so I could look over his shoulder. All I could see of Jeanie was her back but Nurse Weatherly was waving at me with a strange smile on her face. It felt sort of wicked and very familiar. Not like Nurse Weatherly at all. 

Chapter 5: The Gift

Niles took me to the hospital wing and I had to endure all of Nurse Dilly's lectures of how naughty we all were and surprise that Nurse Weatherly would ever have taken part in our little scheme. Lying alone in a hospital bed was definitely not the way I wanted to end my birthday. As if fate knew my thoughts it wasn't long afterwards that Jeanie arrived at my door. 

I asked, "Jeanie? How did you persuade Nurse Weatherly and Dr. Welling to..."

"I persuaded Dr. Welling!" said Kelly.  Mack and Kelly walked passed Jeanie. She was holding a box in her hand.  

"How?"

She sat on the edge of my bed. Jeanie followed and sat on the other side. Monty wasn't too far behind. He stood at the foot of the bed. 

Kelly said, "Well, I told Dr. Welling that it was purely all Nurse Weatherly's fault that she left us unattended. You know, without an adult around. Also, I reminded him that I could talk to my mother the next time she visits and he does not want that if he cares about keeping this place open." 

Monty said, "That wasn't very nice to Nurse Weatherly. She did help us have a fun day after all. You know, before all this." He pointed at me. 

Kelly said, "I will worry about that later. There is also something else we might have to worry about soon. Using my mother to get us out of trouble may not last much longer. Dr. Welling gave me that same tired and worn look he gave me that last time I was here. Not too long after that I was punished just like everyone else." 

I grinned. "So you did get into trouble sometimes." 

Kelly smiled.

Jeanie said, "Of course she did! She was my roommate you know. "

We all laughed. 

I said, "I don't think it was Nurse Weatherly's fault though. "

Jeanie asked, "How so?" 

I said, "Nurse Weatherly gave me a strange smile as we were leaving the pond."

Kelly's eyes widen a little. "Really?"

Monty asked, "Why is that so interesting?" 

I said, "On the night we rescued Mack we met up with Monty and.."

Monty was confused. "You did?! Is this something else I don't remember that I did?" 

I reached out to Monty to hold his hand. "No, it wasn't you. I think it was a ghost who made itself look like you."

Kelly said, "Yes, whatever it was it felt wrong." 

I said, "It had a sinister looking grin. Not much different than Nurse Weatherly's. Afterwards it disappeared into a puff of gray smoke."

Monty asked, "Why would it want to look like me?" 

I said, "Maybe it wanted to take a form that I was comfortable with. Maybe like a friend."

Jeanie said, "Or an aunt. Maybe it was your Aunt Clara that night when..."  

I said, "That's exactly what I thought." 

Kelly shook her head. "This is too spooky. How about we talk about something else? Like this!" She laid the box she had been carrying on my lap. "Monty and I went back to the dressing room as soon as we were able to. You cannot have a birthday without a proper birthday present now can you?"

Excited, Monty said, "Go ahead Ellie! Open it!" 

I lifted the lid of the box to find a purple beaded rosary, two bars of German chocolate, and a silky violet dress with ruffles. It was very similar to the one Kelly was wearing at the moment only hers was yellow. I loved it all. I reached over to hug her and say thank you but my foot gave me a twinge of pain. Nurse Dilly came in at the right time to see it. 

She said, "Alright children, I do believe you should all give Miss Clearwater a little break. She needs her rest. He ankle was damaged quite a bit more than Miss Specks' was. Come on!"

I said, "Please wait a minute Nurse Dilly. Thank you so much for the gifts, Kelly. I love them all. I want to say thank you to every one of you for making my birthday one I'll remember forever. In a good way of course even if it ended like it did." I motioned toward my foot. Looking down at my gifts again I began to pick up one of the chocolate bars. 

Kelly said, "You are very welcome, Ellie. Actually the gifts were not a totally selfless act on my part. I gave you the last two bars I had thinking maybe you would..."

I lifted one of the bars out to the others and asked, "Would you all like a piece?"

Everyone crowed closer and excitedly said, "We sure would!" 

There was a couple more pieces of the bar left when I noticed in the space between Kelly and Monty that Nurse Dilly was watching closely behind them. She was absently mindedly licking her lips. I asked, "Would you like a piece of chocolate, Nurse Dilly?" 

She slowly walked up to the bed and said, "Well, if everyone has had their fill and you really don't mind..."

"You can have a piece Nurse Dilly. We don't mind. " 

She took it from my outstretched hand. "Thank you kindly, Miss Clearwater. You children don't seem all that bad. Perhaps just misunderstood." She ate the chocolate. "Yum, this is really good chocolate. I do have to set my foot down and say it is time to say goodnight though."

Kelly placed her hand over my bed and said, "To sing."

Monty quickly placed his hand over her hand and said, "To play."

I placed my hand over Monty's and said, "To fight." 

Jeanie placed her hand over Monty's and said, "Hurray." 

They all rose from my bed, said their goodbyes, and left me with Nurse Dilly. 

Nurse Dilly began to fluff up my pillow and tuck me in. She said, "Now it's time for thrill seeking little girls to rest up and heal from their scary adventure." 

I said, "It wasn't really all that scary. Most of the time it was really fun...except for the that last part."

She said, ""I know. I heard you with your friends. You four are the most unique little group I've ever met!" 

I said, "You can say that again." 

She said, "Well, if there isn't anything else I can do for you then it is lights out. Goodnight!" She walked to the door and switched off the light. 

I moved myself down further into the covers. "Goodnight Nurse Dilly." 

The next morning I awoke to see a tray with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon on my bedside table. One of the two strips of bacon looked like someone had taken a big bite out of it. A wheelchair was parked on the right side of my bed like it was waiting for me to take a ride any moment. 

Monty was holding the handlebars. He had a big smile on his face. He said, "Good morning, Ellie! Jeanie, she's awake!"

Jeanie was looking out the window from across the room. She was staring out onto the veranda. She looked back at us and said, "Well, she is now, isn't she? Good morning, Ellie." 

I said, "Good morning. Why are you two here so early?" 

Jeanie walked back to my bed and was about to say something when Monty interrupted. He said, "I ate some of your bacon, Ellie. I'm sorry but it looked so good. I had to try it out." 

Jeanie said, "You know you could have asked Nurse Dilly for some of your own." 

Monty said, "Yeah, but it always tastes better when it's someone else's." His face turned a little red and he grinned. 

I smiled and said, "Well, you can have the rest of it if you want. I'm not really hungry yet."

Monty's eyes lit up. He reached for the plate when...

"Hold on there young man! You've both waited for Ellie to wake. Now you can wait until she has her breakfast. Then you can go on your little journey." It was Nurse Dilly. 

Monty looked deflated. "Yes, Nurse Dilly."

I asked, "What journey?"  

Jeanie said, "If I can get a word in, we are going to visit a couple of friends." 

A couple of friends? Hmm.

I said, "I'm not hungry. We could go now."

Nurse Dilly sat the tray on my lap. She said, "No breakfast, no journey! Eat!" 

Jeanie said, "Wow, you're becoming rather demanding, Nurse Dilly." 

Dilly crossed her arms. "I have to be with you lot! Now with Nurse Weatherly unable to work I've had to take up more duties than normal and..." 

I asked, "Did they fire her?!" 

She said, "No, she's just suspended...for two weeks." 

I said, "Two weeks?! 

Monty said, "We're sorry, Nurse Dilly! We didn't mean to get her into trouble!" 

Nurse Dilly said, "Well, that is all water under the bridge now isn't it? Now, I don't want you two to have her out for too long but I must insist she eat her breakfast. The sooner it is done the sooner you can go!" 

I began to wolf down my food. Nurse Dilly shook her head and left. 

A few seconds later I gulped down the last of my milk, set the tray on the table and pulled the covers off me. I said, "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go!" 

Sitting down in the wheelchair, Monty began to push me out of the room. I told him that I would rather push my own chair so he let me. I followed Jeanie and Monty out of my room and into the hallway. By the time I got to the middle of the hall I asked Monty to push me again. 

As we arrived at the elevator, I asked Jeanie, "Where are we going? Who are we visiting? Why didn't Kelly come along?" 

Jeanie said, "So many questions! You will soon see where we are going and who we are meeting. As for Miss...um Kelly. She wanted to spend some time alone with her dog."

I asked, "Were you about to call Kelly Miss Seaver?" 

Monty said, "Jeanie's been spending a lot of time with Dr. Welling. He's been yelling at her...a lot."  

Jeanie just stood there really quiet. 

Monty said, "He blames her for our little adventure as well. According to him she was the oldest and was supposed be keeping an eye on us."

I said, "That's not fair of him! She was only doing what Nurse Weatherly told her to do AND she has a twisted ankle and she's a kid just like the rest of us." I looked over at Jeanie. "I think she did well for the most part. She couldn't help what happened to me. That could have happened to anyone!" 

Jeanie said, "If it hadn't been for Niles you would have died! I couldn't save you with a twisted ankle..." 

I said, "I didn't die and you shouldn't be punished for something you couldn't have helped."

Jeanie smiled quietly. 

The elevators doors opened on the first floor. I said, "Anyway, if Niles hadn't have been there I'm sure you all would've found some way to rescue me."

They both said, "Absolutely."

Monty was pushing me down the hallway with Jeanie beside of us. I asked again, "Okay, where are we going?" 

Jeanie said, "Here." They had stopped me in front of a closed wooden door with the name "Darla Parlor" on it.

I said to Jeanie, "Oh okay. I remember you talking about her. So the adults have their names on their doors?"

Jeanie said, "Only the permanent adult patients do."

Monty said, "Especially the rich ones!" 

Jeanie frowned at Monty.

Monty said, "I'm going to talk to One Eyed Jim. See you later."

I asked, "Wait, who's One Eyed Jim?" 

Jeanie said, "That's Cecile Wilkins. Cecile James Wilkins. He only has one eye so some people call him One Eyed Jim." 

Monty said, "That's not the half of it, though! He used to be a gangster in the Mob!"

I asked, "Is that true?"

Jeanie said, "No, they're just a bunch of rumors."

Monty said, "No it isn't! That's just what everybody here wants you to think. Just in case some of Jim's buddies start coming around and asking questions!"

Jeanie rolled her eyes. 

Monty moved real close to me. He said, "He used to be called Serious CJ back then! You want to know why?" 

I asked, "Whatever for?" 

He said, "Whenever he got real serious, it meant you better be afraid because he's gonna kill you!" Muhahahah!" He turned and ran down the hall. 

Jeanie said, "Never you mind Monty, he just likes to listen to an old man's stories." 

I asked, "Do you think there could be any truth to them?" 

She said, "I doubt it. Cecile does have interesting stories though. Maybe we'll visit him another day." She opened Darla's door and began to push me into the room.

I kept staring down the hallway. I said, "I think I would like that." 

As she pushed me into the room it felt like we left the hallway of the sanatorium and entered into a massive tent! Pink and purple fabric hung from the ceiling and walls. They formed an A frame for the whole room! On the spaces of wall that were still exposed hung posters and posters of Rudolph Valentino. It looked like they were from every move he was ever in! On the floor were plush pillows of every color imaginable! They were everywhere you looked! Standing in the middle of all of this was a lady who looked like a genie in her own bottle! She had a pink cloth on her short brown curly hair. She had a veil covering her mouth and nose. She had a sleeveless purple vest that sparkled brightly which exposed her stomach and a skirt that was embroidered with pink swirls. It hung down to her ankles. When she glided toward us I noticed she had worn, pink ballet slippers on her feet. She had way too many bracelets on her arms. She took her veil away from her face to reveal a slightly worn but pretty face. I thought she looked to be somewhere nearing her 40s. 

She stretched out one of her bangled arms to us and said, "Oh Jeanie come look at what Harris bought me! I think it's the best one yet!" She took Jeanie's hand and pulled her to the back wall where a small window was. Beside of that window hung another Rudy poster. She said, "Isn't it gorgeous? It's from his last film, The Son of the Sheik! My favorite of course!" She gestured around her room and at herself. She said, "Harris told me it was a very rare find. That there wasn't very many of them that came out with this style that is." 

Jeanie said, "It's very nice, Miss Parlor. I'd like for you to meet someone." 

Darla said, "Meet someone? Oh I feel so underdressed for the occasion!"

Jeanie said, "You look fine, Miss Parlor." She led Darla back to me and my wheelchair. 

She said, "Miss Parlor, I'd like for you to meet Miss..." As Jeanie was talking Darla snatched up a pair of glasses from a nearby pillow and stretched out her bangled hand towards me. "...Clearwater." 

Darla pulled back her hand like lighting! She stared down at me and said, "Clearwater?! I haven't heard that name in years! You wouldn't happen to be kin to an Ellen Clearwater now would you?" 

This excited me! I said, "Yes, I am actually! She was my aunt. I was named after her her. My name is Ellie. Did you know her?" 

She shook her head and said, "Oh yes, I knew her." She began to walk around me. Her jewelry jangled as she touched my hair. "Same blond curls. Same blue eyes. Such a pity what happened to her." 

I asked, "Could you tell us?" 

She asked, "Tell you what exactly?"

I said, "Tell us what happened to my Aunt Ellen!" 

She raised her hand and swatted across her face like she was shooing a fly. She said, "Psssh, you don't want to know about that.  You're too young." 

I sighed.

She turned her head to one of her closest posters and bounded across the pillows to it. She touched the bridge of Rudy's nose and said, "Just look at that profile. He was the most handsome man of his time you know...of any time. He came to visit me once before he died. Right here in this very room when I was just a little girl." 

I glance over at Jeanie who closed her eyes and shook her head.

I asked, "You've lived here since you were a little girl?" 

She said, "Sure have and I'll always remember how sweet and kind he was. He gave me this." She pulled out a yellowed handkerchief from her breast. 

I made a sick face.

Darla began to touch the lining of her poster with her other hand. She got down to the lower left corner and noticed that it was torn on the edge. Her eyes widened. She said, "What happened here? It wasn't like this yesterday! Derick has been here! I know it! I told him NEVER to enter my room again! He hates my posters! He hates Rudy!" She began to jump up and down on the pillows while ripping the poster off the wall! 

Jeanie hobbled with her crutch out of the room for a moment and returned with an orderly and a nurse. They helped Darla to sit down on one of pillows and take a pill. Darla was still crying when Jeanie hung her crutch on her arm and took the handles of my wheelchair and said, "I think we better go, Ellie. " 

As she was turning me around to the door, I heard Darla say to one of the nurses, "I want Billy! I wish Billy were here. My little Billy! We were best friends you know! He would dress up like Rudy when I was just a girl, to make me smile. Nurse Ellen loved him and I loved him!"

I said, "NURSE Ellen?! Stop Jeanie! Turn me around!" I listened for a couple more seconds. 

Darla said, "I wish my poor Billy hadn't died in that awful fire!" 

Fire? Billy? She must be talking about the fire in the Boys Building and Billy the ghost! 

I yelled, "Miss Parlor, don't you know Billy's still..."

Jeanie yelled over me. "That's enough Ellie! We shouldn't bother Miss Parlor any longer! Hope you feel better soon, Miss Parlor!" She took a hold of my wheelchair and quickly pushed me out of the room.

When we got into the hallway I told Jeanie to stop. I asked, "Why don't you want Darla to know that Billy's ghost is still around? Wouldn't that make her happy?" 

Jeanie said, "No, I don't. It would just confuse her. Anyway, she can't see him like you and Monty can"

I said, "Hmm. Maybe you're right. It might be a little strange for Billy as well. She said he died when she was a little girl. So he remembers her as a little girl and not all grown up. Just imagine that. To have died so young and to see your best friend all grown up and to know that you've missed all those years that you could have been together! So sad."

Jeanie stood there and stared. She said, "Yes, very sad indeed." 

I asked, "Did you hear what else Darla said?" 

Jeanie asked, "Didn't she say something about your aunt?" 

I said, "She called my aunt Nurse Ellen. No one ever told me that Ellen had once been a nurse. Not even my father. Could it be that she worked here before she was a patient?" 

Jeanie said, "Or it could be just the ramblings of a confused old lady." 

I said, "She's not that old. She could be around the same age that Billy would be today if he hadn't died. If she's telling the truth about that then maybe she's right about my Aunt Ellen. I wonder if there is anything about her in the nurses' records." 

Jeanie said, "I wouldn't be surprised if those records were also burnt in that fire." 

I said, "You're  probably right." It was beginning to look like we needed to talk to Billy again. The only person we knew that knew Billy best was...

"Hello! How was your visit with Darla?" Monty had walked up to us from Mr. Wilkins room. 

I said, "It was very interesting. Monty, is there any way you could talk to Billy for us again?" 

Monty asked, "Is anyone going to ask me how my visit with Cecile was?"

I said, "Okay, how was your visit?" 

He said, "He told me about this one time when he and No Toes Magee robbed the Cirian Heights Central Bank!" 

Jeanie said, "That's great, Monty but I think we'd like to hear more about Billy."

Monty said, "Well, he also told me about this old fish named Gregory who stops by for a visit every now and then."  

I said, "We need to go to the Girls Building right now!" 

Nurse Dilly seemed to appear out of nowhere! She said, "The only place you are going is straight to bed. You can do more exploring tomorrow."  

The next day our Knight and Gals Club arrived at the Girls Building. We asked the boys if anyone had recently seen Billy and they said they hadn't. We attended class and Ms. Turkle floated in the corner of the room. She kept a watchful eye on us. After class was done she approached us. 

She said, "I hear you are looking for Billy. You're not going to find him. I told him everything about the time you touched me. I believe he's making himself scarce because he doesn't want the same thing happening to him."

I sighed, "Why did you do that Ms. Turkle? I thought you were fine with me trying again and you know very well it is different for everyone!" 

She said, "I've changed my mind again but before you give me those angry looks I'll help you with Billy." 

Jeanie asked, "How can YOU do that?" 

Ms. Turkle didn't even look in Jeanie's direction. She said, "I'm going to ignore the fact that you seem to still be friends with my murderer." 

Jeanie looked really hurt but she said nothing. She got up from the desk she had been sitting in and ran out of the classroom.

I tried to hold back my anger at Ms. Turkle. I asked, "Will you please tell us how to find Billy?" 

Ms. Turkle turned her back from us and walked to the big classroom windows. She touched one of the window sills. She said, "I hear him often when he thinks he's alone. He cries sometimes. He misses his best friend. I think he said her name a couple of times."

I asked, "Would that be Darla Parlor?"

She glared at me and said, "How did you know that and if you did then why even ask me?!" 

I said, "We know about Darla because..."

Kelly placed her hand on mine. She said, "We suspected but we didn't know for sure. Thank you Ms. Turkle. We've got to go!" She took Mack and glared toward me. I pushed myself out the door just behind Kelly. 

In the hallway we met Jeanie who was now being comforted by Monty who must have just got out of his own classroom. I angrily asked Kelly, "Why won't anyone let me tell someone about Darla being here?!" 

Kelly said, "It does not matter right now. I have a plan! Jeanie, take Mack and please go to your room! We will meet you there real soon! Monty, please help me push Ellie to her hospital room." 

As I passed my hurt friend I said, "Don't listen to her, Jeanie. We'll talk about this later, okay?" 

I said to Kelly, "We're going back to my hospital room? So you know about Billy and Darla, too?"

She said, "Yes, I know about them."  

"You've never told him about Darla being here either?" 

She said, "No, and good thing I have not or this would not work!" 

"What wouldn't work?!" 

She was holding onto one handle of the wheelchair and Monty the other. They pushed me  out of the elevator doors and onto the hospital ward's hallway. As soon as we arrived at my room Kelly grabbed the birthday box from the bedside table and placed it on the hospital bed. Pulling out the purple dress she said, "You have to change into this!" 

I asked, "Why?"

She said, "Because you are going to be little Darla Parlor!" 

I just stared at her and said, "How? Billy already knows me. He won't be fooled." 

"We will place one of Darla's big hats on you to hide your face. Do you think you can walk without your wheelchair for a few minutes?" 

I slowly took the dress and made a face. "I don't know about this, Kelly." 

She said, "Trust me, it will work if you do what I ask." 

A few minutes later I was semi-standing as in holding onto the bed with Kelly's dress on. 

When they saw me Monty opened his mouth in shock. "Wow, Ellie. You look beautiful." 

Kelly slightly glared in Monty's direction. She walked up closer to me and said, "You do look good. I really do think this might work." 

I hobbled out of the room and we slowly made our way back to Jeanie's room. Monty had stopped by Darla's room on the way out of the Adults Building and snatched one of her hats from her closet. It was a dark purple wide brimmed hat big enough to hide my face. Monty helped Kelly into the Girls Building. Once we were inside Kelly said very loudly, "Come on Darla, I want you to meet Jeanie. Let's go to Jeanie's room!" 

When we finally arrived at Jennie's doorway I caught Billy out from the corner of my eye. He had poked his head out from a wall into the hallway. We walked on into the room to find Jeanie sitting on her bed hugging a boy. It was the same boy I saw her with in her room the last time. He let Jeanie go and said, "Oh, hello Kelly. How have you been?"

Kelly said, "I am well. How about you, Jacob?" 

Jacob looked at me. He asked, "Who's your friend?" 

Kelly said louder than normal, "Oh, this is Darla Parlor! She used to be a patient here!"

Jacob and Jeanie looked at each other. Jacob said, "Okay, I'm going to leave for now. Take care Jeanie. I'll be back later." 

He rose up and nodded at Monty. "Monty." 

Monty said, "Jacob." 

Once he left we all turned to Jeanie. I asked, "Are you okay?"

Jeanie said, "I feel better now that I've talked to Jacob. I KNOW I didn't kill Ms. Turkle. I would remember it and in a few more years Jacob and I are going to get out this place. We're going to New York and I'm going to sing on Broadway. I'm going to be a big star. I know it." 

Kelly placed her hand on Jeanie's. She said, "We know you didn't, Jeanie. We will all help you as much as we can to get to your dream. " 

A voice came from the record player. "I know what you are doing." 

We all turned toward it. I said, "Billy! It's been so long! So happy to see you again!" 

Little Billy floated closer to us. He said, "You're not Darla. I know she's grown up now. It's been years since I died." 

Still hiding my face, I said, "Well, if I'm not Darla then who am I?" 

Curious, he floated a little closer to me. Enough for me to grab his hand. Which I did and we both disappeared.

Chapter 6 : Little Billy

The mud was warm and sticky. My nose hurt and it felt wet. I rolled onto my back. Children were screaming all around me. One boy with a ruddy looking face was kneeling and yelling.

He said, "Come on, Billy! You got to get up! Show him what you're made of!" He reached out his hand for me to take. 

I touched my nose. It was bleeding. Some of the blood was dripping on my blue pjs. He called me Billy! I said, "Great! It worked!"

Confused, the ruddy faced boy replied, "What?! Nothing has worked! You're getting your face beat in!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

Before I could reply, a plump, blond boy walked up and hit me in the face! I was back in the mud again.  That was the first time I had ever been hit! It was not something I'd ever want to experience again. Billy was the one who really got hit but anyway the ruddy faced boy picked me up for a second time. 

I said, "Thanks...uh." 

The ruddy faced boy's eyes widened and the blond boy was pulling back his fist for another punch, 

"STOP RIGHT THERE, MR. ARTHUR MILLER!" 

A young nurse came running up to us from behind Arthur. 

Arthur said to me, "You don't know how lucky you are pipsqueak!" 

The nurse turned him around and said, "I know how unlucky you're going to be, Mr. Miller! Go to your room while I figure out what punishment you deserve!" Arthur kicked the dirt in front of him and turned toward the Boys building which was just behind me and the group.

I glanced at my friend beside me who seemed to smile, nod his head, and place his hands in his pockets. At least I think that was what he did. My vision was still kind of blurry and I was a little dizzy. So Arthur Miller just hit me! Could he be THAT Arthur Miller? The one I met when I first arrived at Welling's and the one who grabbed at me in the Adults Building?

The nurse knelt down in front of me. I got a blurry sight of a white hat on top of curly, blond hair and red lips. She began to move my head around.

She said, "Aw, you poor thing. I'm taking you to the hospital wing right now." 

The ruddy faced boy said, "I'd take a look at his brain! He couldn't even remember my name!" 

She stood up, took my hand, looked at the ruddy faced boy and said, "Mr. Niles, you are coming with us. As for the rest of you!" She looked all around at the crowd of boys. "I'm sure you all have much better things to do!" The group slowly scattered.

I said, "Mr. Niles?!" This world continued to feel completely upside down from my own! 

The ruddy faced boy said, "Yeah, Billy. My name is Niles but you call me Derick. Don't you remember?"

It seemed that I was able to be the stronger personality within Billy at the moment or maybe he let me take the wheel because he was too embarrassed about the fight. I couldn't tell which. 

As we  were walking to the hospital wing, I asked Derick, "Why didn't you help me fight him?" 

Derick said, "I would have if you would've let me! You said you wanted to fight him yourself!" 

The nurse asked, "Why would you ever do that, Billy?"

I just held my bloody nose, shrugged my shoulders and said, "I don't know." 

Derick said, "Boy, he walloped you good! You was defending your girlfriend's honor!" 

I asked, "Girlfriend?" 

He said, "Yeah, yeah. I know. Darla's just a friend. "

We arrived at the hospital wing and I headed straight for the veranda and the outdoor beds. Derick grabbed me by the collar and pulled me back. "Whoa there, Billy! You know we can't go out there! That's the TB wing!"

I just stood there and said, "Oh, I forgot." 

The nurse said, "I think we very well should look you over, Billy. Just to be sure. Come this way boys." She opened the door to a room and I sat down on the bed. My eyes were starting to focus onto the nurse's face as she had grabbed a tissue and began cleaning off the blood. When her face was finally clear my eyes widened. 

I said, "Aunt Ellen!" I hugged her and smeared my blood stained face on her white skirt. 

Derick Niles gave me the strangest look and asked, " AUNT Ellen?! You never told me she was related to you!"

I pushed myself off of her and said, "Uh, I like to think of her as an aunt, Derick. She's so nice, you know?" There was a knock on the door. 

Derick was still staring at me a little funny when he said, "I don't know about you, Billy. You really are acting crazier than normal." He opened the door. 

A disheveled, young girl ran inside and hugged me quite tightly! She yelled, "Oh my Rudy! Are you alright?! I came as soon as Sara told me!"

Aunt Ellen smiled and said, "He was knocked for a loop but we're going to make sure he's alright, Miss Parlor. " 

Darla sat down beside me on the bed. 

Aunt Ellen said, "I will be back in just a moment, children." She left the room. 

Once Aunt Ellen was gone Derick said, "Darla, will you please stop calling Billy that! It's the whole reason he got into this mess!"

Darla push back her dark hair and huff and puffed. She crossed her arms and said," Oh, you know I'm just playing!" 

Derick said, "Sometimes I wonder!" 

This just made Darla even more angry. She said, "Sometimes you can be so mean, Derick! How can it be my fault Arthur was fighting Billy again?! I didn't do anything!"  

Derick said, "Oh yes you did! Calling him Rudy in front of everybody, it was bound to get to Arthur! Of course when Arthur found out he started taunting him!" He began moving his hands up and down. "Do you kiss all the girls like Rudy?" He kissed the back of his hand. "Do they all faint when you're around?" He placed the back of his hand to his forehead and fell to the floor. Then he got back up and said, "Are you a powder puff like Rudy?" 

Darla gasped. "Oh how rude! Rudy's no powder puff! I hope you socked him one, Billy!" 

Derick said, "Well, that was the next question! Can you fight like Rudy? Then Billy took it right on the nose!" 

I just sat on my bed watching the show. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing. 

They both gave me a frustrated look. 

Derick said, "He got punched really hard." 

I tried to calm down. I said, "No, it's just that you two remind me of a couple of other people..." I stopped myself. "It doesn't matter. 

It sort of did though. Who would have thought that the cruel orderly used to be so much like Monty! I wondered what would happen that would make him change so much. 

Aunt Ellen came back into the room. She said, "I think it is time for Billy to have some quiet time, children." 

Derick said, "Oh sure!" He turned to me. "You'll get him next time Billy!" He slapped me on the back and ran out the door.

Darla who was still sitting beside me said, "Get well soon my Rudy!" She kissed me on the forehead. I weakly smiled back at her. She curtsied at Aunt Ellen and skipped out of the room.  

As soon as Aunt Ellen closed the door behind Darla the cheerful atmosphere seem to disappear. Aunt Ellen raced over to me and said, "Okay, sweetheart. What is really wrong with you?" My eyes widened. Did she know it was me?! How could she? I hadn't even been born yet in this time. 

I placed my hand to my nose and said, "I think Arthur really did hit me really hard this time." 

Aunt Ellen asked, "Do you remember what you saw in Dr. Welling's office earlier?" 

I said, "No, what was it?" 

She said, "Well, that's probably for the best then."

This is when Billy finally came to his senses and pushed me aside in his mind. He took control.

He said, "I remember where he hid the papers, though. "

She asked, "Do you mean the orphans' records?"

Billy nodded. 

She said, "Oh Billy, please tell me where?"

Billy said, "In the Boys Building. In one of the bathrooms. Underneath the floor." 

She asked, "Can you remember which one, sweetheart?"

Billy said, "It was..."

The building began to shake violently! Something that sounded like an explosion came right afterwards!  All the other patients began to scream and cry. 

Shocked and startled, Aunt Ellen asked, "What in the world could that have been?!"

Billy jumped from the bed and shrugged his shoulders. 

She said, "Stay here, Billy!" She ran into the hallway and began comforting the other patients.  

Billy and I both knew we couldn't just stay here. We ran out the door and right passed Aunt Ellen who turned around from talking to an elderly patient in a wheelchair.

She said, "Billy! Come back here!" She began to run after Billy but was stopped by another nurse.

When Billy walked out of the doors of the Adults Building he looked straight in the direction of the Boys Building. Black smoke was curling up into the sky. He began to take a few steps toward the building but then stopped. He turned and began running to the playground instead! Right then I knew this must be the moment Billy was supposed to die in the Boys Building. He was trying to deny his fate. He didn't want to relive his death. He wanted to stay here with Darla and Derick. 

I tried my best to get him to understand. I said, "We can't stop now, Billy. You have to be brave! I have to see everything to help you! I really don't know what will happen if you try to do something very different! You might just kill me for all I know!" Billy stopped running and stood there for a moment. I said to him, "You'll see Darla again! I promise!" One tear slid down Billy's cheek and then he turned back and ran to the Boys Building.

By the time we got to where the old broken beer bottle was in my time we could feel the heat coming from the building. Half of the whole thing was on fire! Not just that, the building looked like it was demolished! Like a bomb fell on it. Children were running out of the part that wasn't on fire but the smoke was beginning to consume even that part so it was hard to see anything! 

Billy just stood there watching in pure terror. We couldn't move or do anything but stand there. Children were still running out of the building. They were coughing and choking and falling to the ground. Suddenly we were being hugged tightly. Darla had found us. She was crying. 

She said, "This is so awful, isn't it Billy?! Is Derick here? Has he came out yet?" 

This seemed to jolt Billy into action. He said, "I haven't seen him since he left the hospital! He's not with you?!"  

She let go of him and said, "When I caught up to him in the hospital hallway he said he was going back to his room. Oh no! Do you think he could still be inside?!" She clasped her hands to her mouth in fear. 

This was not the time that Derick dies! I knew it because he was alive in our time! Cruel and frightening as he is he's still alive...isn't he? We had to save him. Billy and I began running to the building just as a group of nurses came running to tend to the children on the ground. One of them was Aunt Ellen. She got to Darla and held onto her shoulders. 

She yelled, "Billy! Come back here! Where is he going?!" 

Darla said, "I think he's going to find Derick, Nurse Ellen!" 

I could feel Billy fighting back his fear. He knew he was confronting his fate and he really wanted to run the other way. I kept trying to encourage him. We made it to one of the side doors. Huge plumes of dark gray smoke were billowing out of the entrance. The heat emanating from it was like a furnace. We both held back our worry and fear and plunged into the building. 

As soon as Billy was inside he began screaming. He yelled, "Derick! Derick! Where are you?!" The whole area was almost completely black! We could barely see anything! After a few minutes of nothing we heard a weak voice yell back. It seemed to say, "I'm over here! Help!" 

Billy said, "Keep yelling! I'm coming!" 

Billy followed the voice until we found him. Derick was laying in the hallway. A display case had fallen onto him and trapped him underneath it. Glass was everywhere! It looked like Derick had a few cuts on his body and he was bleeding. By some miracle Billy pushed the display case off of him. 

Billy asked, "Can you stand, Derick?" 

Derick coughed and weakly replied, "I'll try, Billy." Very slowly he wobbled onto his feet. 

Coughing as well, Billy grabbed his hand and said, "Come on! We have to get out of here!" 

Billy retraced his steps and once he was at the doorway he pushed Derick through it. 

Derick turned back. He asked, "What are you doing, Billy?!" 

Billy said, "I can't leave yet! There's something else I have to find!" He ran back inside. 

Billy turned toward the smoke and fire again. This time even closer to the flames. The heat was becoming unbearable but Billy seemed to know where he was going. He suddenly turned left into a bathroom. Crouching low to stay below the smoke, he touched the tiled wall and moved to a shower in a corner. He began pulling at three or four tiles until they came apart from the floor. He quickly dug in some dirt until he came upon a big metal box with a leather handle on top. He crabbed the handle and pulled. It took a couple of times but the ground finally released it's booty. By now Billy was coughing very badly. I was getting worried about him and myself. Would we even make it out of here?

Even though the box was really heavy, Billy held it close to his chest and began his trek back out of the restroom. When he entered the hallway a voice could be heard. "Billy! Billy! Where are you?" It was Aunt Ellen! 

Billy yelled, "I'm over here at the restrooms, Nurse Ellen!" 

Aunt Ellen said, "I can't see anything, Billy! Just follow my voice!" 

She kept yelling and finally after a few minutes of inching closer to her the smoke revealed her. 

Aunt Ellen said, "Oh Billy! What are you doing?!" 

Billy yelled, "I have the records!" 

Aunt Ellen said, "Oh Billy, give them to me! We have to get out of here!" She took the handle of the box with one hand and took Billy's hand with the other. 

When they finally reached the fresh air of the outdoors Billy began coughing even more.  We reached the children and down Billy and I went. It was getting harder and harder to breath. I looked around me. Darla and Aunt Ellen knelt down beside me. Their faces were stained with tears. 

Darla cried, "Please don't die, Billy! Don't leave me here all alone!" 

I asked weakly, "Where is Derick?"

They both sadly looked behind themselves. Lying a few feet away was a lump covered in a blue blanket. All that was seen of the body was a lifeless, bloody arm and hand protruding from underneath it in the grass. 

Still gasping for breath, we both screamed, "No! He can't be dead!"

Aunt Allen said, "Billy, please try to remain calm. We're trying to get to everyone as quickly as we can. There's so many children needing our help all at once. We don't have enough equipment for such an emergency as this!" 

Darla was holding my hand. Everything was getting foggy. We looked into Aunt Ellen's eyes and asked, "Did I do good, Nurse Ellen?" 

Aunt Ellen's tear stained eyes looked back into mine. She said, "You did very well, Billy. You're such a brave boy." 

Billy weakly mumbled, "Keep it safe. Hide it from Dr. Welling." 

Darla touched the box. She asked, "Is that what I think it is?"

Aunt Ellen nodded. Darla turned to Billy. She said, "We'll hide it where we always loved to play." I tried to get the memory from Billy of where that would be but I could feel myself being pulled away because Billy was fading away. Where did they always play? It couldn't be the playground. That would be too easy. The next second I was being pulled out of Billy and back into my own body. Right back into Jeanie's bedroom. 

Chapter 7 : Family

I slowly opened my eyes to see Monty's upside down worried face looking back at me. I must have fell back into his arms. Next I saw Kelly's slightly annoyed but also worried face beside of Monty. Then Jeanie's face and beside of her was Ms. Turkle sighing and huffing. I jumped back up to my feet. 

Jeanie said, "Be careful. Not so fast!"

I asked them "Where is he? Billy, where is he?" 

Monty said, "That was amazing, Ellie! The flash of light and you falling back and Billy disappearing! Did you help him?"

I said, "Not exactly. Is he here?"  

They all shook their heads except Ms. Turkle who crossed her arms and floated closer to me.

She said, "Well, well, Miss Clearwater if that means what I think it means then there is another ghost in the black void! Just exactly where little Billy Warlock did NOT want to be!"

I asked her, "When did you come in here, anyway?" 

Ms. Turkle said, "I came in here when I saw the flash of light. I was in the hallway."

I said, "IF that is where he is he'll come back." 

She asked, "How do you know?" 

I said, "You came back." 

Ms. Turkle said, "Yes, but after a long while. Who's to say how long it will take Mr. Warlock to return? He is only a little boy after all."

I said, "Ms. Turkle, he is more than just a little boy. He's a hero...or at least he tried to be." 

Ms. Turkle said, "IF he comes back I'm sure he won't be too happy with you my dear lady."

Monty piped in, "Billy's a hero? How?"

I said, "WHEN Billy returns we shall see. I have faith in him." 

Ms. Turkle began to float toward the door. She said, "Well I have faith in the reality that you will be causing even more trouble before then!" 

I waved and said, "Goodbye Ms. Turkle!" 

Ms. Turkle huffed once more. Mack who was lying near the door growled as she passed. 

Kelly said, "Good boy, Mack!" 

Jeanie who was sitting on her bed sighed and said, "I sometimes feel like it's not fair that you and Monty can see ghosts and Kelly and I cannot." 

Kelly said, "I did see the ghost that took the form of Monty that day. He was really close to me at one time and it did not feel good at all." 

Monty said, "Yeah, could you tell us why that is, Ellie? Wait, no don't tell us. I want to know why Billy's a hero first!" 

I said, "I'll tell you later! Right now, I have to visit Darla again!" 

Jeanie confused said, "Darla? Why do you want to visit Darla again?" 

I told her, "Billy hid some old patient records in the Boys Building back then. He died taking them out of the building to give them to my Aunt Ellen." 

Monty said, "Dying for some old papers? That doesn't sound very heroic. Sounds stupid to me." 

I said, "The building was on fire, Monty and it was just after he rescued Derick."

Monty was shocked. He said, "Derick? Do you mean Mr. Niles?! Why would anyone want to rescue..." 

I was getting upset. Things weren't going fast enough for me. I said, "He was just a kid, Monty! Believe it or not he was a lot like you!" 

Monty was speechless which gave Kelly a chance to chime in. She said, "This is all well and good, Ellie but what does all of this have to do with Darla Parlor?" 

I said, "Before Billy died she promised him she would hide the records in the place they always would play." I turned from them all and began to hobble toward the doorway. I managed to get to the hallway but then fell forward... right into Dr. Welling's arms!

He looked down at me and said, "Well, Miss Clearwater, don't you think you should be back in the hospital wing?"

Startled, I jumped back up and promptly fell back into Monty's arms who was now standing in the doorway with the rest of the gang. 

Slightly amused by this Dr. Welling said, "As interesting as this little game is children and I would really like to know why Miss Clearwater is wearing Miss Parlor's clothing? I have a feeling I will not be getting a proper answer to this question."  

I was turning red. I said, "Well, we were just..."

He said, "I do not want to hear your excuse, Miss Clearwater. Return Miss Parlor's clothing to her and then return to the hospital wing. Tomorrow you will begin doing some errands for me. I should have had you helping me earlier than this but you always seemed to be getting into trouble every time I turned around. Perhaps this will stop you or at least slow you down for a while from harming yourself. As for the rest of you, shouldn't you all be in class?" 

Kelly said, "Yes, Dr. Welling. Sorry, sir." Kelly took Mack's leash and walked off to school. 

Jeanie asked, "Dr. Welling, may I help Ellie?" 

Monty said, "That's alright, Jeanie. I'll help Ellie. I am the only one who can really walk the best at the moment. If it is okay with you, Dr. Welling."

Dr. Welling sighed, "Hmm. Oh alright, Mr. Swing but once you are done I need you to come to the Lab."

Monty turned white as a sheet.  

I said, "Dr. Welling, could Monty stay with me in the Hospital Wing for a while? There is something I'd like to give him?" 

Dr. Welling frowned. "You can give it to him now, Miss Clearwater." 

I said, "I can't. I left it in my hospital room." 

He said, "Then you'll have to wait because I want him to go immediately to the Lab as soon as he drops you off at your floor." Dr. Welling then turned and walked down the hall. 

Monty looked so forlorn. He said, "Thank you, Ellie. I'm used to it though."

I placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "You should never have to get used to something like that, Monty." 

Jeanie said, "It's probably best just to listen to Dr. Welling and get it over with, Monty. See you later you two." She hobbled past us.

I said, "She must be really tired of all of this." 

Monty said, "I think we all are."

I noticed that Jeanie had left one of her crutches behind. I grabbed it and said, "We've wasted too much time here already. Let's go see Darla!" 

We rushed as fast as we could to Darla's room. We knocked on the door and asked if we could come in. When she replied with a yes we both stumbled inside to see a shocked and affronted Darla sitting in the middle of her floor on her cushions! 

She said, "Good gracious! You children act as if someone were chasing you! Is that my hat you're wearing?! When will people stop messing with my stuff around here? I'm going to tell my brother I am! Then you'll all be sorry! You really shouldn't steal!" 

I had forgotten how angry Darla became when she thought that Derrick Niles had torn off a corner of her Valentino poster. I was afraid the nurses might come in to calm her down soon so I said, "I'm really sorry, Miss Parlor! We were just borrowing it for a little bit." 

Darla seemed to settle down but she still had a sad expression. She said, "I thought we were going to become friends...or I at least I hoped we would. All you had to do was ask. You appeared to be a nice child despite who you're related to..."

Now it was my turn to be offended. I said, "What does that supposed to mean?! You liked Aunt Ellen or at least you did when I was..." 

"Hey, look at me!"

We both turned our heads to Monty. He was standing on the cushions dressed in puffed pants and a multicolored towel on his head. He had both hands on his hips and made a gruff face. He asked, "Who am I?"

Darla squealed and clapped. "Oh my goodness, Monty is playing Rudy again! Isn't it just marvelous? He always reminds me of my darling Billy when he does this!"

My eyes widened. I knew exactly what Monty was doing. I said, "Yes, it's very nice. You know what would be even better?"

Darla had sat down on a cushion. She was laughing and clapping as Monty bounced around on the pillows. She asked, "What would that be?" 

"Maybe going to where you and Billy used to play?"

She jumped back up and glared at me. "Why would you want to go there?"

I tried to make the most innocent face I could. "Oh I don't know. Just thought it would be fun that's all." I fluttered my blue eyes. 

Darla squinted her own dark eyes at me and was silent for a long moment. "It would be fun...but we're not allowed to go there anymore."

My heart skipped a beat. "So that would be Pirate's Galley?"

She bounded over to me and pulled me close to her. She smelled like old perfume and a little hint of wintergreen. "Whatever you are planning on doing little Miss don't do it. It will only lead you on a wild goose chase!" She flopped back down on her cushions. "Playing with Billy on that stage was...those were the best days of my life. We were like you once. So very young. Going to places we weren't allowed. Finding out things we shouldn't. We thought we could changes things. Make them better. We only made things worse. Don't go down that path, little Miss."

I just nodded. She pulled me to her and hugged me. I looked at Monty who just shrugged.

"There's one more thing I want to ask you, Miss Parlor." 

She sighed, shook her head and said, "What would that be?"

"How did Derick...I mean Mr. Niles survive the fire?"

Her eyes filled with fear and dread. "How do YOU know about that?! I think the two of you should get out of here right now! Stop looking into things that are none of your business I tell you!"

She pushed me toward the door.

I asked, "Sorry, Miss Parlor but could you please tell us where exactly you hid the..."

She had grabbed Monty by then and was pushing him out as well. She tore her hat off my head and said, "For the last time will you please stop snooping and stealing!" She slammed the door in our faces. We both could hear her say on the other side, "Such a nosy girl!" 

A nurse had spotted me hopping and gave me a wheelchair. As I sat I said to Monty, "Pirate's Galley...but where at Pirate's Galley?"

Monty said, "Yeah and too bad we can't go there."

I asked, "Why not?"

Monty was a little confused, "Don't you remember what happened with Miss Weatherly and your foot?"

Monty pushed me into the elevator and we began to rise to the Hospital wing.

I said, "Yes, Monty but that doesn't mean we can't sneak back over there." 

Monty asked, "What about the orderlies?"

The elevator doors opened and Mr. Niles walked in. "What about the orderlies, Swinger?"

Monty turned white again. 

Mr. Niles pushed Monty aside and took the handles of the wheelchair. "I'll take over from here, Swinger. Go onto the Lab. Dr. Welling is waiting."

Monty said, "Dr. Welling said..." 

"Dr. Welling said take her to the floor. You did. Now go!" Mr. Niles pushed me out the doors. 

Monty bowed his head and said, "Yes sir." The elevator doors closed.

As he was pushing me down the hallway I said, "You don't have to be so rude to Monty, Deri...Mr. Niles."

Mr. Niles said, "You just mind your own business, little Miss."

I said, "That's what Miss Parlor calls me. Are you friends with her?"

"Not particularly. Why do you ask?"

I said, "Well, I know you were friends with Billy Warlock."

Mr. Niles said, "You do do you and how do you know about that?"

I said, "I'm sure you know, Mr. Niles. I'm sure Dr. Welling told you all about my special gift."

We had arrived at my room. He pushed me inside and slammed the door. He turned me around to face him and placed his hands on both of the arm rests and yelled, "Whatever you're doing to him stop! Keep out of his and my business! Do you understand?!" He turned an started for the door.

Blinking away my sudden shock I said, "So you DO care about him!" 

His back was still facing me. He said, "Of course I do. He was like a brother to me."

"Do you talk to him sometimes?"

"That is also none of your business, Miss Clearwater." He began to reach for the door handle.

"He save your life, Mr. Niles." He stopped again with his hand on the door knob.

I said, "He went back for something else and died doing it. Do you know what that was?"

Mr. Niles turned around and stared at me. He said, "No, I never found out."

"I think I know where it might be. Would you help me find it?"

He said, "Just tell me and I'll go get it."

I said, "No, I can't. I know the place but not exactly where it is in that place. I need you to help me find it."

Niles said, "This is a bunch of nonsense." He turned toward the door again.

"It must have meant very much to him. Don't you owe it to him?"

He sighed and said, "Oh, alright!" He turned back around, grabbed my wheelchair's handlebars, and quickly pushed me out the door. 

Not too long afterwards my wheels were rolling over the weeds growing out of the old tiled dancefloor. Niles asked, "Okay, where is it?"

I said, "I was hoping you would have an idea. Since you were Billy's friend and Billy was Darla's friend."

He said, "I didn't really liked Darla all that much and I never understood why Billy did either." 

I sighed, "Well, that's not going to help us."

"Maybe there is someone who can help us."

"Who?"

"Come on out, Mrs. Grable. I know you're listening!"

Confused I asked, "Who's Mrs. Grable?" 

"I'm Mrs. Grable, little girl!" A lady stepped out from the darkened area where Monty and I had found our pirate swords earlier. She was wearing a white sparkled flapper dress and black short hair. "I'd beware the company you keep little lady!" She glared at Mr. Niles.

My eyes widened. "So it was YOUR hand I saw moving the props!" 

She squinted from her spot on the stage and said, "So that was you and your friends? I thought it best to stay hidden. There wasn't any need to frighten children. Such a wild little group you have, though! I quite enjoyed your pirate play. I miss those days when I could do the same. Acting that is." 

I sighed, "Oh no. Not again." 

She asked, "What are you talking about?" 

"You sound like Sally."

Mrs. Grable said, "So you've met Sally. Doesn't really surprise me because I watched you all slide down her pond tunnel. She's my best friend you know!" 

I groaned, "That's not surprising either." 

"What does that supposed to mean?" 

I said, "Only that I almost drowned playing her swimming game!" 

She said, "Oh no! Really? I'm sure she didn't mean for that to happen! She's a good girl! She is! She's just a little obsessed with swimming!"

I said, "A little obsessed?!"  

Niles was looking around. He yelled, "Enough already! Ask her what you need and get on with it!" 

Mrs. Grable sneered at him. "Such a rude man!" 

I rolled my eyes. "Mrs. Grable, do you remember anyone ever hiding anything around here? It would have been many, many years ago."

She placed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Hmm. Let me think. Um, back in the late 30s I do believe a girl not much older than you hid something over there." She pointed to the broken wooden step at the edge of the stage. 

Niles and I glanced at each other. He ran right over to the step and began removing the broken chunks of wood.

I huffed and crossed my arms. "Are you forgetting someone, Mr. Niles?"

He stared at me. "Oh yeah." He stood up and pushed me to the spot. He returned to the spot and began digging. 

"This could go faster if there were two of us digging." 

He looked at me. "It would but you're..." 

"Just help me to my knees."

We dug and dug for a few minutes.

Mrs. Grable giggled. "Well, it's not there anymore." 

We both glared at her exasperated.

I asked, "Why didn't you tell us that?!" 

She said, "Your faces were so serious and dramatic!"

"Mrs. Grable!"

"Oh alright! All I know is some cloaked figure came one night and hid it down by the pond somewhere."

I asked, "Did Sally tell you that?"

She nodded. 

"So we have to talk to Sally now?"

Mrs. Grable shrugged.

I could feel Niles' anger boiling underneath. "Miss Clearwater, if you are leading me on a wild goose chase..."

"I promise you I'm not! No matter how much it feels, I'm as frustrated as you are!" 

He grumbled and placed me back in my chair. "Then let's get on with it!" 

As we left Mrs. Grable yelled after us. "Just tell her Tiffany brought you!" 

We arrived at the pond a few minutes later from the trail. Niles pushed me out to the edge of the dock. I screamed out over the calm waves, "Sally, it's me Ellie! I'm really sorry for how we treated you! Could you please come talk to us?" There was only silence. "Tiffany brought us here!" 

Half of a wet, blond head slowly rose out of the water just a couple of yards away from us.

"We promise we'll have another swimming contest with you! Well, for me it will have to be a little later but he'll do it!" I pointed to Niles.

Niles glared at me. "What exactly are you thinking, Miss Clearwater?!" 

I just sighed and shrugged. 

This done the trick. She rose out of the water and came toward us. Her wet feet lightly landing on the old, wooden dock. She folded her arms and asked, "What is it exactly you want, Miss Clearwater?"

"Tiffany told us that a cloaked figure took something from the stage step and hid it again near the pond many years ago. Do you know anything about that?"

She looked angry when she said, "Well of course I do, Miss Clearwater! I'm the one that told her they hid it near the pond!" 

I said, "Sorry, could you tell us where it is?"

She said, "Well, it's not really near it. More like in it, really."

"It's in the pond?" I asked. I groaned and placed my head in my hands. 

Niles grumbled and said, "Well, I guess that's the end of that. Come on Miss, Clearwater." 

Sally said, "Yes, it's in a box that protects it from the water and that box is in the bus."

I asked, "It's in a bus?!"

Niles said, "Oh, that bus." He sighed. 

Niles said, "Many years ago there used to be a road that ran alongside the pond. One day a school bus almost ran into a truck coming the other way. The bus swerved off the road and into the pond. All the passengers drowned."

I clasped my hands to my mouth. "That's just awful!"  

Niles said, "I thought someone would have told you about that, Miss Clearwater. Legend has it that the children's spirits haunt the bus and are trapped beneath the waves. If anyone comes too close to the bus the children will grab them and take them down to "play" with them."

I squinted my eyes at Sally and said, "No, no one told me. They just told me about some old, dead tree." 

Niles said, "That's down there too." 

Sally said, "This pond holds many secrets, Miss Clearwater. Too many for me to tell." 

Niles began taking off his white orderly's shirt and threw it down on the dock. "Okay, I'm going to find this thing whatever it is." 

I asked, "Are you really going down there? Even with the ghost children..."

"I think I can fend off a few little kids."

Sally said, "You know I could go down there and get it for you."

I said, "Sally could do it." 

Niles said, "No, it should be me. It's the least I can do for..." Our eyes met. "I just need some guidance." 

Sally said, "Since he can't see me I'll splash the water in front of him until we're above the bus. Then once he's inside I'll move things until he is where the box is hidden." 

I told him, "If you feel their hands..." 

Niles said, "I'll be alright, Miss Clearwater. I know you care about that box more than for me." 

"Not true!" 

He dove into the water. 

"Sally said she'll spash the water to help you!" 

I watched as he followed Sally's splashes and soon disappeared under the waves close to where I was pulled under. 

There was an eerie silence for a few minutes. The only sound were the waves crashing against the dock. I watched as two small bluish gray hands rose out of the water and gripped the very end of the dock. Then a small wet head rose between these two hands and stared at me with sunken gray eyes. He had the saddest expression upon his face. I knew immediately who he was. One to the ghost children of course. Sally must have told them to come to me as some sort of diversion. To keep them away from Niles I guess.

I smiled and asked, "Hello? Are you okay?" 

He just stared at me a few more seconds and then asked, "Can you come play with me?"

I smiled as sweetly as I could and said, "I'm sorry but not today."

The boy smiled very wide and laughed. The next second my wheelchair jerked. I looked down at my wheels. Little gray hands were reaching out from between the wooden boards and shaking and pulling at my wheelchair! 

I yelled, "I told you very nicely I couldn't play today!"

The wheelchair began to rock so violently from side to side that I was afraid I would be falling out at any moment. 

I screamed, "STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" One of the hands grabbed my ankle! I was sitting in the back seat of a bus! Water was gushing in at the front and children were crying for their parents and screaming in fear! I closed my eyes tightly and said, "I don't want to be here!!!" 

The next thing I knew Niles was pulling me out of the water. I was coughing. Niles said, "I can't leave you for one second, can I Miss Clearwater?!" 

The children were gone but Sally was standing on the dock and looked a little worried. I gave her my most evil glare. I thought she used this moment to get back at me or at least it felt like that at the moment. She looked hurt. She bowed her head and disappeared. Still coughing I asked, "Where is it? Did you get it?!" 

He didn't have to answer. I found it sitting on the very edge of the dock. Almost like he hurriedly sat it down to rescue me. It was a yellow waterproof box. I crawled over to it and lifted the little latch in the middle. Inside lay the steel box I remembered pulling out of the dirt as Billy. I took out it from the waterproof box. An key lay on top of the lid. I grabbed it and unlocked the lid. Inside looked like a small filing cabinet. Papers with people's names all ranging from the early 1920s into the mid 1930s. There were names of the medicines being administered to them.

Niles said, "This just looks like patients' records from years ago. Why would anyone risk there lives for that?"

I said, "I don't know. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

He fell silent. 

I took a closer look at some of them and said, "Look at the ages. Ten, eight, six, twelve. They're all children! I don't see the  parents' names listed. Could they have been orphans?"

Niles said, "Dr. Welling used to take in orphans sometimes." 

I picked up another paper and another. "They all seem to have died of terberculosis! All of them! How awful!" 

Niles squinted his eyes and said, "Yes, very." 

I had gotten to the very end of the box. A yellow folder was lying separate from the rest of the papers in the very back. I pulled it out and opened it. The first paper felt different than the rest and thinner. 

Niles said, "That's a birth certificate."

I read the name. "Laura Jean Welling" The father was listed as a Gregory Shane Welling.

I asked, "Do you know a Gregory Welling? He's bound to be Dr. Welling's brother right?" 

He only frowned and tried to grab the paper from me. I pulled it away. 

Then I looked more closely at the mother's name. Ellen L. Clearwater.

I was shocked. I said, "Wait, this isn't right. Aunt Ellen never had children!" 

I picked up a picture of a little baby and another of a young toddler in a dress.

"If this is true then I have a cousin!" 

Niles said, "You mean you HAD a cousin! If she is in with all these orphans who died of..."

I said, "NO! I won't believe that! She's still alive I know it! Anyway she looks familiar." 

I kept looking at the picture of the toddler. "Laura Jean....she looks a little like...oh my goodness! Could this be Jeanie?!"

Chapter 8 : The Lab

I was shocked. Could I really have a cousin I never knew I had? We became friends without even knowing we were related! How strange life was turning out. 

I said, "Jeanie should know about..."

Niles said. "She's not going to know anything!" He grabbed the box and tore the picture from my hands

"What are you doing?! Give that back to me!" 

He took the picture and other papers and placed them back into the box. Then he lowered the box back into the container. He said, "How do you know she's really the girl anyway? That baby could be anyone!" 

"I think it looks like her."

He said, "That's not proof." He picked up the container and threw it back into the pond. 

I screamed, "Why did you do that?!" I was confused. "After all you did and helping me find it you just throw it back?!" 

"I found out what I wanted to know and so did you."

I said, "I'm still going to tell Jeanie about it." 

"Go ahead. She won't believe you." 

I told him, "What is stopping me from coming back out here with her to prove it?"

He grabbed the handles of my wheelchair. "You will be too busy with Dr. Welling in the Lab." 

"The Lab?"

He said, "Of course. Where else do you think you'll be assisting him?" He wheeled me back to my hospital room.