The Secrets of the Ghosts(Tara Callinan) Amber lived on the top of Deerfox Mountain. She lived with an old lady called Minnie. Amber wasn’t actually related to her but she was the closest family she had as she didn’t know anyone else. When Amber was just a baby, Minnie had found her at the bottom of the mountain. She had been abandoned and was wrapped in a thin blanket. There was nothing else to protect her from the cold. Minnie had picked baby Amber up and carried her to the small cottage nearby. It was a story Minnie had loved to tell her every night when she was younger, so she would never forget the things Minnie had done for her.

Amber wasn’t allowed to do very much. She helped Minnie clean the cottage and assisted her in the kitchen. She couldn’t read or write as she had never gone to school. Minnie had always said that education was a waste of time for girls. Amber couldn’t even leave Deerfox Mountain. She was often very bored with her life but never complained to Minnie for fear of being severely punished or even thrown out of the cottage for good. Although it was a very cramped home that could barely fit the two of them in, a small home was better than nothing. But there was one peculiar thing the old lady did that Amber was never tired of and that was assisting Minnie with the confessions of ghosts.

All the people who passed away with unfinished business were transported to Deerfox Mountain where Minnie would invite them into her cottage. They would whisper their secrets and sorrows and troubles to her. Minnie would comfort them briefly and then she would produce a special stew with an enchanting smell. She instructed the ghosts to inhale the fumes and afterwards, breathe out all that they brought of themselves to Deerfox Mountain. When the process was completed, Minnie would bring the ghosts outside where they would gradually disintegrate. Their lost souls would drift up into the sky and fade away into invisibility. Later, Amber and Minnie would eat the stew so good food wouldn’t be wasted. Amber would make some of the stew and if there were a lot of ghosts, Minnie would let her listen to their stories. Listening to ghosts’ secrets was something Amber really enjoyed.

Amber had so many questions that Minnie would not give answers to. How old was Minnie? She’d get a clip on the ear for that one. What happened to souls when they left Deerfox Mountain? Minnie would give her a light slap on her behind and reply, ‘None of your business!’ the most asked question was, what lay beyond Deerfox Mountain? Punishments varied for that one, each of them very sore. Amber didn’t know very much at all. Oddly enough, she wasn’t too frustrated by this. She was taught to be like that. Even though Amber was grateful for what the old lady had done for her, she vowed that she would run away from Minnie and her mountain. she knew that there was more to life than Deerfox Mountain and it's ghosts.
One day, she would see the world.

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