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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Action & Adventure
- Subject: Serial / Series
- Published: 12/27/2015
I stared miserably at the old lighter on my desk. It was just an ordinary lighter, but it had memories endowed in it, memories of someone who had been very special to me.
The whole surrounding seemed to support my emotions. It was raining heavily outside. My room looked like a black and white movie because our fuse went off due to lightning. And everything was dull and quiet.
A knock on the door made me jump, “Who is it?” I asked gloomily.
“Just open the door dumb dumb!” I recognized that voice. It was Mabel my goofy cousin.
After a few seconds of silence, I dragged myself to the door and unlocked it.
“Nate! I thought you were dead or something!” Mabel said as she burst open the door and accidently whacked my nose.
“Oww!” I shouted as I grabbed hold of my aching nose.
“Oh, sorry!” She said. “I thought you wouldn’t open the door.”
“Whatever Mabel.” I said as I slumped on the chair nearby. “I just don’t care about anything anymore.”
I couldn’t see Mable’s face clearly because it was dark, but I could sense that she’d been crying.
“Nate I know it’s hard to believe the fact that gramps is not coming back…”
I sighed, still rubbing my reddened nose.
“But you have to move on! How long are you going to stay like this? Look at your room! It’s like a dark trench filled with garbage.”
I tried to ignore her speech.
“Your parents are waiting for you to come out and act normal again.” She said sternly.
I frowned at her. “Mabel, I’m really not in the mood to have a ‘how to be neat and normal’ lecture from you! And my room is always like this, and for the darkness; we have no electricity!”
“You didn’t pay the bills?”
My face felt hot, I got up and dragged her out from my room, “Leave me alone! And this time I mean it!”
I tried to slam the door but Mabel stopped it using her foot, “Nate, I’m sorry. I thought I could make you feel better by goofing around.”
This time her voice sounded much more gentle.
I sighed again and let her come in. “Mabel it’s true that gramps is a major weirdo, but he’s our gramps. He loved us for who we are. I mean remember that time in Egypt…he…he…”
I tried to speak but the words seemed to be knotted somewhere in my throat.
“I know how you feel. I thought gramps would live a long, well longer life.” She said as she sat on my bed.
“He…wanted to…be a cool guy and live with us…but…but…” I choked.
“But he couldn’t, yes. But Nate remember the cool adventures we had together…we fought mummies… and gramps…he…was amazing.”
I wiped away a few tears that were trickling down my cheeks, “Yeah and he never learned his lesson…”
“Do you remember his last words?” Mabel asked softly.
I nodded. Of course I did, he said them a week ago when he was lying in his small wooden bed with all of us around him. I remembered how he asked me and Mabel to come forward and bend down, so he could tell us a little secret,
“I know that you can do this my children…deep in my last locker is something I wanted to give you…I…I…will always be with you…” I repeated what gramps said.
“And he really will be with us.” Mabel said as she covered her face with her hands.
We both started crying. Neither of us had the courage to hold back our grief.
“Did you open the locker?” I heard Mabel’s voice after a few minutes.
I nodded and handed over the lighter.
“This is your lighter…and what is this?” she asked as she pulled out a small piece of paper attached to it.
“I didn’t see it!”
“That was because your eyes are covered with tears for weeks.”
I didn’t laugh, “Whatever, just unfold it.” I said grumpily as I wiped away my wet tears with my sleeve.
“Well, I can’t read it because it’s too dark.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my flashlight.
“Here, hold it towards the light,” I said as I lit it.
“Hmm,” Mable started to read. “Woo doo spi rit, be the hoo rin gog to go?”
“What was that dweeb? It sounded like an orangutan singing in the bathroom!”
“Do orangutans go to the bathroom doofus? And besides I read what it said, see for yourself!” she said as she handed me the small piece of paper.
She was right; it had weird words in it. “What do they mean?”
“Well, it’s an ancient spell which can summon ghosts. But I really don’t know the full meaning of the spell.”
An answer came from above, Startled we both looked up. A pale ghostly figure was smiling at us.
“Ahhh!” Mabel shrieked.
“Whoa!” I shouted as I took a step back.
The ghostly figure floated towards us. My whole body went numb; I saw a white Mabel standing right next to me.
“What’s wrong with you kids? It’s me. Can’t you recognize your own gramps?” The ghost asked in a friendly way.
Mabel and I gasped. “Gramps!”
“Well hello my little friends!”
“Um, but you’re dead…I mean you um…” I stammered.
The ghost laughed, “Well I am dead, that’s why I’m a ghost!”
“But there’s no such thing as ghosts!” Mabel shrieked.
“Lass, you’re talking to one right now.” The ghostly gramps smiled.
Could this be true? Our gramps is a ghost!
We managed to get over our fear and shock after a few seconds.
“But gramps, how can you become a ghost?” I asked to break the silence.
“Well duh, he died and poof he’s a ghost!” Mabel snapped; great she’d returned to her ratty self.
The transparent whitish gramps laughed, “I couldn’t leave my little grandkids just like that,”
I forced a smile, “I’m glad you came back gramps! I really missed you.”
“Yeah he was crying like a baby.” Mabel said plainly.
I frowned, “Well you were crying too.”
“Kids I was in the spirit world at that time. What took you so long to summon me?”
My face felt hot, Mabel shrugged, “Well g g, Nate was so depressed and crying all the time…”
“G g? What does that mean?” I cut in before she could say anything else.
“Ghost gramps, duh.” Mabel frowned.
Gramps laughed, “Well now that I’m back you two can cheer up. And I think this place could use some tidying.”
Mabel laughed, “I told him so! But he just got mad.”
I stared at my room; it was untidy. I get it!
Gramps landed on the ground, “All this floating makes me tired.”
“Do ghosts get tired?” Mabel asked.
Gramps laughed, “They sure do.”
I ran forward to give old gramps a hug, but that was a big mistake, I went right through him and slammed myself against the wall.
“Ha ha!” Mabel started to laugh like crazy.
I tried to hide my embarrassment. “Laugh all you want Mabel!”
“Are you ok son?” gramps asked as he floated towards me.
I nodded as I rubbed one of my aching arms. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Kids, what’s all that noise? Come, Dinner’s ready!” I heard my mother’s voice downstairs.
“We’d better go.” Mabel said with a yawn. “I am getting hungry.”
“So gramps, are you coming with us? Mom and dad will be happy to see you.”
“They’ll have double heart attacks on the spot.” Mabel muttered.
I frowned at her.
“Hey I was kidding, and besides they don’t have much experience with weird situations like this. I mean we met mummies and etcetera etcetera”
“OK, I get it!” I snapped.
Gramps stared at the small piece of paper, which had the spell.
“Kids, your parents can’t see me or hear me. Only two chosen people can see the summoned ghost.”
“Oh, so that means we can be cool magicians! I mean gramps can make things float and…”
I shoved her, “Are you crazy or something? This is our gramps; he’s not a freak or anything.”
“Um, sorry gramps.”
“It’s fine my lass, now you two better have dinner.”
I nodded, “Are you coming with us?”
“Yes, I’m coming.”
The two of…um three of us headed downstairs. To our luck, the electricity came back.
“Oh, Nate you look delighted. I knew Mabel could cheer you up.” Mum said as soon she saw my face.
Mabel grinned, “Yep Aunt Cass, I can cheer up anyone!”
I rolled my eyes, “Whatever, I’m starved!”
My mother’s eyes widened. “Are you going to eat?”
I nodded feeling awkward. I mean I am a human being who feels hunger, so I of course I’m going to eat!
Mabel smiled and sat down at the dining table.
“Well I’m glad that you’re back to normal again, we were getting worried about you.” My mum said as she handed me a plate of lasagna.
Gramps sat on the chair in front of me. He gave me a warm smile and I smiled back.
“Son, why are you smiling at the empty chair?” My mum asked as she raised an eyebrow; she always does that when she’s curious.
“Oh, it’s nothing, um…”
Mabel giggled.
“This lasagna’s great!” I said to change the subject.
“Thanks, it took me hours to make that. This is the first time I made lasagna!” Mum said.
That explains why it’s so rubbery and salty. I glanced at Mable, pretended to punch her lasagna with her fists as if to show it was horrible.
Luckily, my mother didn’t see that.
“Son, I know how you miss your gramps and if there’s anything…”Mum started.
“Mum I’m perfectly over it!” I snapped noticing the fact that gramps was listing to the whole conversation.
“Oh, ok.” She said surprised.
Gramps stared at the lasagna, “I wish I can eat, I love to try out my daughters cooking again.”
Mabel smiled, “It’s a good thing you can’t.”
I frowned at her, “Mabel!”
“What’s up with you two?” mum asked as she got up. “Anyway, Mabel dear your parents’ wants you stay here for a little while longer. Is that ok with you?”
“Of course it’s ok!” Mabel shouted. “I mean, that would be great.”
Gramps and I smiled.
“So I guess we are going to have a lot of leftovers.” Mum sighed as she took the tray filled with lasagna.
Gramps floated towards her and tried to pick up a piece of lasagna, but his hand went right through the tray.
Mabel and I laughed.
“Why are you two laughing?” mum asked in a confused tone.
“Oh, we just remembered how fun gramps was, right Nate?” Mabel elbowed me.
“Right!”
“You kids are acting very strange today.” Mum muttered as she disappeared into the kitchen.
Gramps was floating in the sky singing a weird song, “My life oh yeah, I’m a ghost now and I don’t care!”
“Gramps that song is amazing!” Mabel shouted,
“Shush, Mum will think we’re crazy.” I whispered.
“Right.” Mabel muttered.
“Come on. Let’s go back to my room.” I said as I dragged Mabel upstairs.
Gramps followed us.
“So gramps, are you going to be ghost forever?” I asked.
“Well Nate, that’s a really stupid question.” Mabel muttered as she closed the door behind us.
Gramps smiled. “Kids, I have something to tell you.”
“Please tell me that they are not about those mummy feet!” Mabel groaned.
Gramps settled himself on the ground. “Don’t worry, this time it’s not about mummies.”
“That’s a relief.” I sighed.
“This time it’s about another world!”
Mabel and I groaned.
“Another world, Gramps are you feeling all right?” Mabel asked.
Gramps nodded. “Of course I am. Kids there is another world where you can bring dead people back to life.”
“Bring the dead back to life!” I shrieked.
“Scaredy-cat” Mabel laughed.
“Hey, I’m not scared! It’s just not possible.”
“Nate has a point gramps, I mean even if there really is a world like that. How are we going to get there?”
Gramps smiled. “There is an answer for everything.”
We heard heavy footsteps outside our room.
“Kids who are you talking to?” Dad asked as he opened the door and peeked in.
“Oh hey dad.” I said with a nervous look.
“Hi Uncle Tom, when did you come home?” Mabel asked in a sweet voice.
“Right now actually.”
“Wow, I never saw that your father didn’t have hair in the middle of his head.” Gramps said as he floated above dads head.
Mabel giggled and I frowned, “Hey that was not nice gramps!”
Dad’s eyes widened. “What did you just say?”
“Oh we are practicing a drama called, ‘that’s not nice gramps’” Mabel cut in. “it helps Nate to get over his misery.”
Dad nodded still looking surprised. “Well I’m glad to see Nate acting normal again, have fun then.” He said as he closed the door behind us.
“Phew, thanks Mabel.” I muttered.
Mabel nodded. “Anytime coz. anyway gramps about that weird world, how are we going to get there.”
“OK, now listen kids.” He said as he signed us to sit down.
We both sat down and gramps started his story, “One day when I was passing a small town in my trusty old jeep, I was a small flickering light immerging from the wood nearby. Since I have a huge curiosity I went to see what it was.”
“Wow, was it a UFO?” Mabel shouted.
Gramps shook his head. “No, it was some kind of a portal. Two kids about your age were standing near it. They were battling monsters.”
“Gramps this is not a fantasy tale or something is it?” I asked suspiciously.
“Of course not!” gramps said with a broad expression. “This is true story. So I hid behind the bushes and waited. the boy managed to use some device and destroy the portal. but I have a strong feeling that they must know much more about those portals. I talked to them and headed back home.”
“So gramps you’re thinking that those kids would help us to go to that weird world.” I said scratching my head.
Gramps nodded.
“And they don’t even know you.” Mabel added.
“Yes again.”
“This is nuts!” I said raising my hands. “They are just two weird kids who never knew us. Will they help us?”
“Most importantly will they believe us?” Mabel asked. “They’ll think that we’re nuts!”
“Well, on my trip to undead hills…”
Mabel and I shared glances.
“I’ll tell you about it later, I found two scrolls which can bring back the dead. I gave one of them to you.”
“And the other one?” I asked,
“I was coming to that. I gave the other one to those two kids. Well it’s a small scroll and It can’t actually bring back ghosts from the spirit world. but it gives you the ability to see one.”
“Cool.” Mabel exclaimed. “So they can see you too?”
Gramps nodded as he looked at the clock. “You two better get some shut eye. It’s getting pretty late.”
“Ok, but do you know where those kids live?” I questioned with a yawn.
Gramps nodded. “Yes, I’ll tell you tomorrow. Now good night!”
“Where are you going?”
“I have a little unfinished business; I have to stroll in the museum. See you kids tomorrow.” Gramps said as he floated out of the window.
“Still the same old gramps.” Mabel muttered as she left my room. "Goodnight doofus!”
“Goodnight dweeb.”
That night I lay in my bed wondering about the weird worlds and portals. Could there be portals like that? Well I have a ghost gramps, so maybe weird things could happen. Before I could think about anything else, I dozed off.
“Nate! Wake up!” Mabel’s shrill voice made me jump out of my bed.
“Ughh, Mabel what is it?” I asked as I opened the door.
She was standing in front of my room, “Whoa, you overslept!”
“Yeah, I did! So why did you scream like that?” I asked as I rubbed my swollen eyes.
“Um, to wake you up, duh!” She said ironically.
I frowned, “Never do that again ok? Hey, where’s gramps?”
Mabel shrugged. “I dunno!”
“Oh, man! Where did he disappear to?”
“Good morning kids!” Ghostly gramps greeted us as he appeared in front of us.
“Good morning gramps, Nate was just talking about you, right Nate?” Mabel elbowed me.
“Hey gramps, did you sleep well?” I said ignoring Mabel.
Gramps smiled, “Well, I’m a ghost and I don’t feel like sleeping at all. Thanks for asking though.”
Mabel laughed, “Nate, you are the silliest person…”
“Kids! Breakfast’s ready!” Mom called us.
“We’ll be there in a minute!” I shouted back.
“Brush your teeth and change your cloths.” Mabel grinned. “And I think you drool in your sleep!”
Gramps tried not to laugh.
Well I drool in my sleep, but she doesn’t have to say it to me!
“I’ll meet you two downstairs, ok gramps?”
“Hey…kids…what’s all this chit chat?” Dad asked as he peeked out from the bathroom; he had his toothbrush stuffed in his mouth. “And for…a moment there…I thought you…were talking to…gramps!”
Dad really has to stop eavesdropping! And peeking in like that’s so annoying!
“Hey Uncle! We were just summarizing the script of our drama!” Mabel said quickly.
Dad raised an eyebrow and disappeared into the bathroom.
“Come on Mable dear, let’s go downstairs.” Gramps said as he floated away.
“Your dad has really sensitive ears.” Mabel muttered as she followed gramps.
I went to the attached bathroom in my room. It’s good to have your own one when dad’s around. He won’t come out for hours when he gets in.
After washing, changing and brushing I went downstairs to have breakfast.
Pancakes invaded the table; the sweet smell made my stomach growl. My mom makes the best pancakes. The golden colored, delicious…
“Nate, aren’t you going to eat?” Mum broke into my thoughts.
“Oh, yeah.” I said as I sat down quickly.
Gramps was staring at the pancakes like a sad little puppy waiting for a treat.
“Sorry gramps. You can’t eat them,” I blurted.
Mum looked at me with a kind look. “Oh Nate, I know your gramps would love to eat pancakes with you, and if you need any emotional support…”
My face felt hot, Mabel was grinning.
“Um, yeah so…” Gramps was staring at me as if he wanted to hear what I might say.
“I need a glass of water!” I jumped out my chair and ran into the kitchen.
TO BE CONTINUED
Ghost adventure(Vindu Jayasooriya)
I stared miserably at the old lighter on my desk. It was just an ordinary lighter, but it had memories endowed in it, memories of someone who had been very special to me.
The whole surrounding seemed to support my emotions. It was raining heavily outside. My room looked like a black and white movie because our fuse went off due to lightning. And everything was dull and quiet.
A knock on the door made me jump, “Who is it?” I asked gloomily.
“Just open the door dumb dumb!” I recognized that voice. It was Mabel my goofy cousin.
After a few seconds of silence, I dragged myself to the door and unlocked it.
“Nate! I thought you were dead or something!” Mabel said as she burst open the door and accidently whacked my nose.
“Oww!” I shouted as I grabbed hold of my aching nose.
“Oh, sorry!” She said. “I thought you wouldn’t open the door.”
“Whatever Mabel.” I said as I slumped on the chair nearby. “I just don’t care about anything anymore.”
I couldn’t see Mable’s face clearly because it was dark, but I could sense that she’d been crying.
“Nate I know it’s hard to believe the fact that gramps is not coming back…”
I sighed, still rubbing my reddened nose.
“But you have to move on! How long are you going to stay like this? Look at your room! It’s like a dark trench filled with garbage.”
I tried to ignore her speech.
“Your parents are waiting for you to come out and act normal again.” She said sternly.
I frowned at her. “Mabel, I’m really not in the mood to have a ‘how to be neat and normal’ lecture from you! And my room is always like this, and for the darkness; we have no electricity!”
“You didn’t pay the bills?”
My face felt hot, I got up and dragged her out from my room, “Leave me alone! And this time I mean it!”
I tried to slam the door but Mabel stopped it using her foot, “Nate, I’m sorry. I thought I could make you feel better by goofing around.”
This time her voice sounded much more gentle.
I sighed again and let her come in. “Mabel it’s true that gramps is a major weirdo, but he’s our gramps. He loved us for who we are. I mean remember that time in Egypt…he…he…”
I tried to speak but the words seemed to be knotted somewhere in my throat.
“I know how you feel. I thought gramps would live a long, well longer life.” She said as she sat on my bed.
“He…wanted to…be a cool guy and live with us…but…but…” I choked.
“But he couldn’t, yes. But Nate remember the cool adventures we had together…we fought mummies… and gramps…he…was amazing.”
I wiped away a few tears that were trickling down my cheeks, “Yeah and he never learned his lesson…”
“Do you remember his last words?” Mabel asked softly.
I nodded. Of course I did, he said them a week ago when he was lying in his small wooden bed with all of us around him. I remembered how he asked me and Mabel to come forward and bend down, so he could tell us a little secret,
“I know that you can do this my children…deep in my last locker is something I wanted to give you…I…I…will always be with you…” I repeated what gramps said.
“And he really will be with us.” Mabel said as she covered her face with her hands.
We both started crying. Neither of us had the courage to hold back our grief.
“Did you open the locker?” I heard Mabel’s voice after a few minutes.
I nodded and handed over the lighter.
“This is your lighter…and what is this?” she asked as she pulled out a small piece of paper attached to it.
“I didn’t see it!”
“That was because your eyes are covered with tears for weeks.”
I didn’t laugh, “Whatever, just unfold it.” I said grumpily as I wiped away my wet tears with my sleeve.
“Well, I can’t read it because it’s too dark.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my flashlight.
“Here, hold it towards the light,” I said as I lit it.
“Hmm,” Mable started to read. “Woo doo spi rit, be the hoo rin gog to go?”
“What was that dweeb? It sounded like an orangutan singing in the bathroom!”
“Do orangutans go to the bathroom doofus? And besides I read what it said, see for yourself!” she said as she handed me the small piece of paper.
She was right; it had weird words in it. “What do they mean?”
“Well, it’s an ancient spell which can summon ghosts. But I really don’t know the full meaning of the spell.”
An answer came from above, Startled we both looked up. A pale ghostly figure was smiling at us.
“Ahhh!” Mabel shrieked.
“Whoa!” I shouted as I took a step back.
The ghostly figure floated towards us. My whole body went numb; I saw a white Mabel standing right next to me.
“What’s wrong with you kids? It’s me. Can’t you recognize your own gramps?” The ghost asked in a friendly way.
Mabel and I gasped. “Gramps!”
“Well hello my little friends!”
“Um, but you’re dead…I mean you um…” I stammered.
The ghost laughed, “Well I am dead, that’s why I’m a ghost!”
“But there’s no such thing as ghosts!” Mabel shrieked.
“Lass, you’re talking to one right now.” The ghostly gramps smiled.
Could this be true? Our gramps is a ghost!
We managed to get over our fear and shock after a few seconds.
“But gramps, how can you become a ghost?” I asked to break the silence.
“Well duh, he died and poof he’s a ghost!” Mabel snapped; great she’d returned to her ratty self.
The transparent whitish gramps laughed, “I couldn’t leave my little grandkids just like that,”
I forced a smile, “I’m glad you came back gramps! I really missed you.”
“Yeah he was crying like a baby.” Mabel said plainly.
I frowned, “Well you were crying too.”
“Kids I was in the spirit world at that time. What took you so long to summon me?”
My face felt hot, Mabel shrugged, “Well g g, Nate was so depressed and crying all the time…”
“G g? What does that mean?” I cut in before she could say anything else.
“Ghost gramps, duh.” Mabel frowned.
Gramps laughed, “Well now that I’m back you two can cheer up. And I think this place could use some tidying.”
Mabel laughed, “I told him so! But he just got mad.”
I stared at my room; it was untidy. I get it!
Gramps landed on the ground, “All this floating makes me tired.”
“Do ghosts get tired?” Mabel asked.
Gramps laughed, “They sure do.”
I ran forward to give old gramps a hug, but that was a big mistake, I went right through him and slammed myself against the wall.
“Ha ha!” Mabel started to laugh like crazy.
I tried to hide my embarrassment. “Laugh all you want Mabel!”
“Are you ok son?” gramps asked as he floated towards me.
I nodded as I rubbed one of my aching arms. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Kids, what’s all that noise? Come, Dinner’s ready!” I heard my mother’s voice downstairs.
“We’d better go.” Mabel said with a yawn. “I am getting hungry.”
“So gramps, are you coming with us? Mom and dad will be happy to see you.”
“They’ll have double heart attacks on the spot.” Mabel muttered.
I frowned at her.
“Hey I was kidding, and besides they don’t have much experience with weird situations like this. I mean we met mummies and etcetera etcetera”
“OK, I get it!” I snapped.
Gramps stared at the small piece of paper, which had the spell.
“Kids, your parents can’t see me or hear me. Only two chosen people can see the summoned ghost.”
“Oh, so that means we can be cool magicians! I mean gramps can make things float and…”
I shoved her, “Are you crazy or something? This is our gramps; he’s not a freak or anything.”
“Um, sorry gramps.”
“It’s fine my lass, now you two better have dinner.”
I nodded, “Are you coming with us?”
“Yes, I’m coming.”
The two of…um three of us headed downstairs. To our luck, the electricity came back.
“Oh, Nate you look delighted. I knew Mabel could cheer you up.” Mum said as soon she saw my face.
Mabel grinned, “Yep Aunt Cass, I can cheer up anyone!”
I rolled my eyes, “Whatever, I’m starved!”
My mother’s eyes widened. “Are you going to eat?”
I nodded feeling awkward. I mean I am a human being who feels hunger, so I of course I’m going to eat!
Mabel smiled and sat down at the dining table.
“Well I’m glad that you’re back to normal again, we were getting worried about you.” My mum said as she handed me a plate of lasagna.
Gramps sat on the chair in front of me. He gave me a warm smile and I smiled back.
“Son, why are you smiling at the empty chair?” My mum asked as she raised an eyebrow; she always does that when she’s curious.
“Oh, it’s nothing, um…”
Mabel giggled.
“This lasagna’s great!” I said to change the subject.
“Thanks, it took me hours to make that. This is the first time I made lasagna!” Mum said.
That explains why it’s so rubbery and salty. I glanced at Mable, pretended to punch her lasagna with her fists as if to show it was horrible.
Luckily, my mother didn’t see that.
“Son, I know how you miss your gramps and if there’s anything…”Mum started.
“Mum I’m perfectly over it!” I snapped noticing the fact that gramps was listing to the whole conversation.
“Oh, ok.” She said surprised.
Gramps stared at the lasagna, “I wish I can eat, I love to try out my daughters cooking again.”
Mabel smiled, “It’s a good thing you can’t.”
I frowned at her, “Mabel!”
“What’s up with you two?” mum asked as she got up. “Anyway, Mabel dear your parents’ wants you stay here for a little while longer. Is that ok with you?”
“Of course it’s ok!” Mabel shouted. “I mean, that would be great.”
Gramps and I smiled.
“So I guess we are going to have a lot of leftovers.” Mum sighed as she took the tray filled with lasagna.
Gramps floated towards her and tried to pick up a piece of lasagna, but his hand went right through the tray.
Mabel and I laughed.
“Why are you two laughing?” mum asked in a confused tone.
“Oh, we just remembered how fun gramps was, right Nate?” Mabel elbowed me.
“Right!”
“You kids are acting very strange today.” Mum muttered as she disappeared into the kitchen.
Gramps was floating in the sky singing a weird song, “My life oh yeah, I’m a ghost now and I don’t care!”
“Gramps that song is amazing!” Mabel shouted,
“Shush, Mum will think we’re crazy.” I whispered.
“Right.” Mabel muttered.
“Come on. Let’s go back to my room.” I said as I dragged Mabel upstairs.
Gramps followed us.
“So gramps, are you going to be ghost forever?” I asked.
“Well Nate, that’s a really stupid question.” Mabel muttered as she closed the door behind us.
Gramps smiled. “Kids, I have something to tell you.”
“Please tell me that they are not about those mummy feet!” Mabel groaned.
Gramps settled himself on the ground. “Don’t worry, this time it’s not about mummies.”
“That’s a relief.” I sighed.
“This time it’s about another world!”
Mabel and I groaned.
“Another world, Gramps are you feeling all right?” Mabel asked.
Gramps nodded. “Of course I am. Kids there is another world where you can bring dead people back to life.”
“Bring the dead back to life!” I shrieked.
“Scaredy-cat” Mabel laughed.
“Hey, I’m not scared! It’s just not possible.”
“Nate has a point gramps, I mean even if there really is a world like that. How are we going to get there?”
Gramps smiled. “There is an answer for everything.”
We heard heavy footsteps outside our room.
“Kids who are you talking to?” Dad asked as he opened the door and peeked in.
“Oh hey dad.” I said with a nervous look.
“Hi Uncle Tom, when did you come home?” Mabel asked in a sweet voice.
“Right now actually.”
“Wow, I never saw that your father didn’t have hair in the middle of his head.” Gramps said as he floated above dads head.
Mabel giggled and I frowned, “Hey that was not nice gramps!”
Dad’s eyes widened. “What did you just say?”
“Oh we are practicing a drama called, ‘that’s not nice gramps’” Mabel cut in. “it helps Nate to get over his misery.”
Dad nodded still looking surprised. “Well I’m glad to see Nate acting normal again, have fun then.” He said as he closed the door behind us.
“Phew, thanks Mabel.” I muttered.
Mabel nodded. “Anytime coz. anyway gramps about that weird world, how are we going to get there.”
“OK, now listen kids.” He said as he signed us to sit down.
We both sat down and gramps started his story, “One day when I was passing a small town in my trusty old jeep, I was a small flickering light immerging from the wood nearby. Since I have a huge curiosity I went to see what it was.”
“Wow, was it a UFO?” Mabel shouted.
Gramps shook his head. “No, it was some kind of a portal. Two kids about your age were standing near it. They were battling monsters.”
“Gramps this is not a fantasy tale or something is it?” I asked suspiciously.
“Of course not!” gramps said with a broad expression. “This is true story. So I hid behind the bushes and waited. the boy managed to use some device and destroy the portal. but I have a strong feeling that they must know much more about those portals. I talked to them and headed back home.”
“So gramps you’re thinking that those kids would help us to go to that weird world.” I said scratching my head.
Gramps nodded.
“And they don’t even know you.” Mabel added.
“Yes again.”
“This is nuts!” I said raising my hands. “They are just two weird kids who never knew us. Will they help us?”
“Most importantly will they believe us?” Mabel asked. “They’ll think that we’re nuts!”
“Well, on my trip to undead hills…”
Mabel and I shared glances.
“I’ll tell you about it later, I found two scrolls which can bring back the dead. I gave one of them to you.”
“And the other one?” I asked,
“I was coming to that. I gave the other one to those two kids. Well it’s a small scroll and It can’t actually bring back ghosts from the spirit world. but it gives you the ability to see one.”
“Cool.” Mabel exclaimed. “So they can see you too?”
Gramps nodded as he looked at the clock. “You two better get some shut eye. It’s getting pretty late.”
“Ok, but do you know where those kids live?” I questioned with a yawn.
Gramps nodded. “Yes, I’ll tell you tomorrow. Now good night!”
“Where are you going?”
“I have a little unfinished business; I have to stroll in the museum. See you kids tomorrow.” Gramps said as he floated out of the window.
“Still the same old gramps.” Mabel muttered as she left my room. "Goodnight doofus!”
“Goodnight dweeb.”
That night I lay in my bed wondering about the weird worlds and portals. Could there be portals like that? Well I have a ghost gramps, so maybe weird things could happen. Before I could think about anything else, I dozed off.
“Nate! Wake up!” Mabel’s shrill voice made me jump out of my bed.
“Ughh, Mabel what is it?” I asked as I opened the door.
She was standing in front of my room, “Whoa, you overslept!”
“Yeah, I did! So why did you scream like that?” I asked as I rubbed my swollen eyes.
“Um, to wake you up, duh!” She said ironically.
I frowned, “Never do that again ok? Hey, where’s gramps?”
Mabel shrugged. “I dunno!”
“Oh, man! Where did he disappear to?”
“Good morning kids!” Ghostly gramps greeted us as he appeared in front of us.
“Good morning gramps, Nate was just talking about you, right Nate?” Mabel elbowed me.
“Hey gramps, did you sleep well?” I said ignoring Mabel.
Gramps smiled, “Well, I’m a ghost and I don’t feel like sleeping at all. Thanks for asking though.”
Mabel laughed, “Nate, you are the silliest person…”
“Kids! Breakfast’s ready!” Mom called us.
“We’ll be there in a minute!” I shouted back.
“Brush your teeth and change your cloths.” Mabel grinned. “And I think you drool in your sleep!”
Gramps tried not to laugh.
Well I drool in my sleep, but she doesn’t have to say it to me!
“I’ll meet you two downstairs, ok gramps?”
“Hey…kids…what’s all this chit chat?” Dad asked as he peeked out from the bathroom; he had his toothbrush stuffed in his mouth. “And for…a moment there…I thought you…were talking to…gramps!”
Dad really has to stop eavesdropping! And peeking in like that’s so annoying!
“Hey Uncle! We were just summarizing the script of our drama!” Mabel said quickly.
Dad raised an eyebrow and disappeared into the bathroom.
“Come on Mable dear, let’s go downstairs.” Gramps said as he floated away.
“Your dad has really sensitive ears.” Mabel muttered as she followed gramps.
I went to the attached bathroom in my room. It’s good to have your own one when dad’s around. He won’t come out for hours when he gets in.
After washing, changing and brushing I went downstairs to have breakfast.
Pancakes invaded the table; the sweet smell made my stomach growl. My mom makes the best pancakes. The golden colored, delicious…
“Nate, aren’t you going to eat?” Mum broke into my thoughts.
“Oh, yeah.” I said as I sat down quickly.
Gramps was staring at the pancakes like a sad little puppy waiting for a treat.
“Sorry gramps. You can’t eat them,” I blurted.
Mum looked at me with a kind look. “Oh Nate, I know your gramps would love to eat pancakes with you, and if you need any emotional support…”
My face felt hot, Mabel was grinning.
“Um, yeah so…” Gramps was staring at me as if he wanted to hear what I might say.
“I need a glass of water!” I jumped out my chair and ran into the kitchen.
TO BE CONTINUED
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