The voice came from over my left shoulder, but I turned and saw nothing. “If you’re really here, prove—”
I heard an exhale from behind me and turned back to see the paper I was supposed to be writing fly off my desk and float to the floor like a feather. I sat in my chair, motionless, staring at the empty sheet with my mouth hanging open. “My homework!”
“Looks like a blank paper with your name on it, Greg. By the way, I’m Larry. Sorry to rush you, but we have to stop the ghost of Dillard Blake from killing someone in this house tonight. You know Dillard Blake, the seaman, don’t you?”
“Dillard Blake? The one they made the rhyme about? ‘Dillard Blake, Dillard Blake, if he sees you, your life he’ll take. Never caught, free to roam, finally stopped by a bleeding stone.’ That guy? I didn’t think he was real.”
“He was real, and he was finally caught after leaving a blood trail, so now he’s cursed to leave one just before he kills.”
“He’s got quite a curse. How can I help?” Larry had my full attention, which isn’t always an easy thing to do. Maybe it was because he hadn’t told me who Blake was going to kill.
“If you follow my instructions, we can stop Blake from killing your tutor in this house tonight.”
“Laura? Why would Blake want to kill her? She’s only in high school.” Of course, I was only twelve, so who was I to talk?
“Blake never needed a reason to kill before and still doesn’t. Tonight it’s your tutor, Laura, unless we stop him.”
“What are you, a guardian angel?” Laura was nice enough to have a guardian angel.
“Not much of one. As I said, it’s against the rules for me to even touch anyone. How about if I be the angel and you be the guardian? We’ll be a guardian angel together.”
“What can I do? I’m in sixth grade, and I already need tutoring on my English over the summer.”
“Don’t worry about Blake, he’s just a bloodthirsty, murderous ghost. Focus on saving Laura, and you can stop him.”
My head felt hot. If Larry didn’t want me to worry about Blake, he wasn’t very good with words. “I think I’d have a better chance at an A in English than stopping a bloodthirsty ghost. Can’t you do something?”
“The rules stop me. There are lots of rules here. But Blake has rules too. Once you save Laura, he’ll be gone.”
“But I don’t know how.”
“There will be a moment when something terrible can happen. It’ll only last for a few seconds, and then it’ll be over. Watch out for her at that moment, and you’ll both be fine.”
“How will I know when that is?”
“Once Blake arrives. You can’t miss it. First, you’ll hear him humming ‘Blow the Man Down,’ which is kind of a dum, dum, dum-da-dum, dum. And then you’ll see a blood trail you can follow. It’ll look like the red specks on that bloodstone you’re wearing around your neck. Follow the signs and protect Laura.”
“I don’t—I don’t think I can handle this.”
“Of course you can—with my help, anyway.”
“Really? Why is that?” I waited, but there was no reply. Larry left me talking to an empty room. It would’ve been embarrassing if there were anyone there to hear me.
I took my English homework to the dining room table and watched Laura cook up mac and cheese with bacon while I pretended to work. It was hard to believe anyone would want to hurt her. She had straight blond hair pulled back and tied behind her head; was a little over five feet tall, maybe just an inch taller than me; and usually wore bright colors—a pink shirt and white pants today. She was also kind and had dimples when she smiled. I would see the dimples when she was especially pleased with my schoolwork—which means I rarely saw them. Maybe Larry was mistaken and Blake was after someone else.
“Are you sure you’re working?”
“I’m trying. I guess I must be hungry. And it isn’t as if this elephant I’m reading about is as interesting as Harry Potter or Sherlock Holmes.”
“Dinner is almost ready. Soon you’ll have eaten, and you can go back to your required reading. When you finish the required reading, you can read whatever you want.”
“So my reward for reading would be more reading? You’re going to make a great teacher someday,” I said sarcastically.
Laura ignored me and continued, “Let’s stick to a schedule. After you eat you’ll have an additional twenty minutes to work while I clean the kitchen, and then we can review what you’ve done before your mother gets home. When’s it due again?”
“In two weeks, when school starts.”
“Correct. That time will be gone before you know it.”
“Yeah. Be careful around that stove, it looks hot.”
“I’m always careful. Pasta’s done . . . just need the strainer.”
Laura got a stepstool out and put it under the cupboard above the stove. Once she stepped on the top step of the stool, the humming started. “Dum, dum, dum-da-dum, dum.”
Blake was here! I couldn’t see him, just like Larry said, but I knew where he was going. And then drops of red started appearing on the white kitchen tile. The trail was moving toward Laura! I gasped and then sprang out of my chair, taking three quick steps toward her before I stumbled.
“Whoa—” Laura’s feet shuffled as the chair beneath her tipped and then fell away. I slammed into the counter, but regained my balance in time to see Laura’s head falling backward and her feet swinging upward, with the hard stone tile floor waiting beneath her.
I took one more step and started my best into-second-base slide when I heard her scream. It was loud and unnerving. I never saw anyone that frightened before. My hands shook as I stretched toward Laura. My slide continued, and she fell right into my arms. I caught and braced her head and shoulders, gently holding them in my hands and lap.
Laura’s feet slammed onto the floor, and I slid into another cupboard, which made a cracking noise, but at least she didn’t land on her head. The humming had stopped and was replaced by the echoes of Laura’s scream, and then silence.
I could see Laura’s teary eyes looking up at me as her head remained in my hands and lap.
“Are you okay?”
Laura nodded before speaking. “Ow.”
She sat up, and I placed my hands on her back for support.
“If you’re hurt, I can get on the phone and call for help.”
“I’m fine, but I think I broke your bloodstone.” She pointed at the floor next to me. Lying there was the birthstone I wore around my neck, and the now-broken chain that went with it. The blood trail was gone. “Did I do that?”
“I don’t know. I was a little busy sliding under you. You sure you’re okay?” I didn’t want to tell her what I was really thinking: her arms seemed to be far from my neck the entire time.
Laura rubbed her back. “I’m fine. I can’t believe I fell off that stool. I’m usually sure-footed. Sorry about your necklace.”
I picked up the bloodstone and chain. “Don’t worry about it. We aren’t even sure you did it.”
“It must’ve been me. You were busy catching me, and we’re the only two here.”
Either that, or Blake didn’t like my bloodstone for some reason.
“Pssst.”
The next day I heard the hiss in my room. I was alone with the door closed, so I just started talking.
“I didn’t think I’d hear from you again, but here you are when I’m working on my homework. Again.”
“The easiest time to contact you is when your concentration is weakest.”
I ignored his comment and changed the subject. “Did you see that I stopped Blake yesterday? I did it!”
“I did, and you were heroic. We’re halfway home now.”
“What do you mean? I stopped him.”
“You certainly did, but he’s going to make another attempt today.”
“Wait a minute. It was just going to be that one time. I thought you said there were rules. He’s cheating!”
“
It bothers me as much as it does you, but it isn’t as if I can accuse the ghost of a murderous seaman of cheating before he tries to kill someone. Just hang in there, you’re doing great.”
“That’s it? Can’t you get me a better deal?”
“You’re right, but I can’t stop him—only you can. Do you still want to help her or not?”
I bit my lower lip before speaking. “I’ll help her. But I still don’t know what I’m doing! Wait a minute . . . could Blake have been afraid of my bloodstone? I think he broke its chain.”
“That makes sense. The bleeding stone is what finally caught him. You could be right. Since he’s after Laura, why don’t you give the bloodstone to her? She lost hers not that long ago. If you save her one more time and then give her the bloodstone, I’m sure Blake will never bother her again.”
“Hey, you were right about Laura. She used to wear a bloodstone, too. How do you keep track of things like that?”
“It’s what I do. Good luck, Greg. And be patient. He’s coming tonight, but I can’t say when.”
“Okay, I’m going. So will he be angry with me after what happened last time? Is there a chance he might try to hurt me?”
I waited, but there was no reply. Larry left me talking to myself again. I wondered if I would need a guardian angel while I worked with Laura’s guardian angel as I went out into the dining room and took my usual seat at the table.
“Finished already?”
“Um, no. I can’t work in all that quiet. Besides, you might need me to catch you again.” I grinned weakly.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine; last time was just a freak accident. Besides, my mom and I are moving tomorrow, so I’m going to have to learn to get along without you soon anyway. And you’re going to have to get along without me, so get back to work while I’m still here to review it with you.”
I kept waiting for Blake to show up, humming his goofy tune, but nothing. Laura prepared dinner, we ate, we reviewed my homework, which didn’t go as well as I hoped, especially considering that I saved her life yesterday, and then Mom came home.
“So how are we doing?” Mom asked as she checked emails on her phone.
“You mean me and my protector?” Laura said.
“‘Protector’?” I said.
“Today you stood beside me in the kitchen every time I handled a knife or stood near something hot. Yesterday’s event might have turned you into a bit of a worrier.”
A worrier? Me? Someone who doesn’t worry about doing homework, taking out the garbage, cleaning my room. No one worries less than me—until Blake came along.
Mom took some money out of her purse and handed it to Laura. “Thanks, Laura. We’re really going to miss you around here. Right, Greg?”
“Right.” I kept looking all over the room as I listened for the humming. Still nothing.
“Greg, will you give me a hug before I go?” Laura extended her arms to me.
“No, I, uh—I can’t say good-bye yet.” I listened for the humming that still wasn’t there. Then I remembered Larry saying the attack could happen anytime today. “Can I walk you home?”
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Laura said. “But it’s just a couple of blocks.”
“Then I should be back soon,” I said as I looked at my mom.
“Is your homework done?” Mom said.
“Of course. We can go over it together when I get back if you like.”
Mom looked me over carefully, the way moms do when they aren’t sure they believe you. I couldn’t help but be disappointed in her lack of trust, even if she was right about my homework not being done. “Okay, that’s a good idea.”
Great. If Blake didn’t get me, my mother would.
Then Mom’s phone rang. “Okay, I have to be on this call. Greg, I want you back in your room, reviewing your homework when I get off the phone.” Mom was already walking to her room with the phone to her ear before I could answer.
“You will,” I said as she disappeared behind her bedroom door.
As Laura and I left my house and we walked toward hers, I glanced in every direction for trouble and still didn’t hear the humming. We lived on a quiet street, and it wasn’t dark outside yet. It was a clear, cloudless summer day, so I expected to spot trouble right away and was determined to not miss anything.
“Greg?”
I looked back to Laura. “Yes?”
“It’s so nice of you to walk me home. You’ve turned into such a nice young gentleman.”
“Thanks. You probably guessed that I wanted to speak to you alone.” The street remained quiet, and so did the sidewalk. I kept looking around while trying to talk to Laura at the same time—it wasn’t easy.
“You had plenty of time to do that before your mother got home.”
“I just—wanted to make sure nothing happened to you.”
“Oh, I’ll be fine, but now I’m worried about you. Won’t you be in trouble when your mother sees your homework isn’t done? You remember the changes I told you about, right?”
“It’ll be done soon. I just have to make up some nice things to say about that book I’m reading.”
“Why don’t you write about what you didn’t like?”
I stopped walking. “You can do that?”
“Of course.”
“No problem. I can write a whole book about why I didn’t like that book.”
I looked around again and saw nothing dangerous. Then I looked into Laura’s eyes and felt a little nervous, so I put my hands in my pockets. And I felt my birthstone. I held it out to Laura. “I’d like to give you this.”
“That’s so nice, but I can’t take it. It’s yours.”
“Sure you can. The chain’s already broken, so I can’t wear it anyway. You could put it on one of your chains, couldn’t you?”
“Probably, but—”
“Please. I need you to take it. It’s really important.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’m not sure. Please—just take it.”
She took the bloodstone from my hand, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe it would protect her from Blake.
I immediately knew it wouldn’t as we approached the Johnson and Elm intersection. I could hear the humming. “Dum, dum, dum-da-dum, dum.”
I didn’t see a threat in front of us, so I turned quickly to face any danger behind us, but there was nothing! Where is he? I hoped the bloodstone would keep her safe, but Blake was still nearby, humming his deadly tune.
I glanced back at Laura, who kept walking when I had stopped. And then I saw the blood trail start following her—drops of red on the light-colored sidewalk—as she reached the crosswalk and turned to look at me. I could feel my heart in my throat.
Laura was maybe five steps ahead of me. Five precious steps! I could still hear the humming—“dum, dum, dum-da-dum, dum”—over the sound of my feet pounding the sidewalk as I desperately closed the distance between Laura and me.
One, two—the sound of a racing motor.
Three, four—the sight of Laura turning into the street to see what was behind her.
And there it was: the car I’d heard, zooming right at us, going the wrong way on a one-way street!
With my momentum still taking me forward, I reached out and grabbed Laura’s left wrist, threw my weight backward, and pulled as hard as I could.
The two of us fell backward. I fell flat on my back, onto a sidewalk that was harder than I ever realized. Laura had better luck and landed on something softer: me!
The car raced past us and took out a mailbox in front of the first house down Elm Street, before stopping at the second house down the street.
“Ow.” I looked at the side of Laura’s face as I sat up. She was watching the car and then turned and looked at me. When I saw her smile and dimples, I knew we were okay and smiled back.
Laura then got up and hurried over to the stopped car, with me following her. Mrs. Dunston, one of our neighbors, was behind the wheel of her green four-door car, with a
cracked windshield and a mailbox sitting on its hood. She was sweating and had gray hair hanging in her face. There wasn’t a mark on her.
“That mailbox is in the wrong place . . . ,” Mrs. Dunston said.
Yeah, Laura and I almost were too.
Laura called the police, and we waited for them to see to Mrs. Dunston before we continued our slow limp to Laura’s home. And nothing else happened on the way there that would interest anyone—well, with maybe one angelic exception.
“Pssst.”
I looked around my bedroom to make sure Mom hadn’t wandered in to see how I was doing with my homework.
“Larry?”
“Yeah. So everyone’s fine, and she kept the bloodstone.”
“Yes, and she thanked me for saving her life again. She even hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. And she said that whenever she looks at it she’ll think of me and her father. Her father gave her her bloodstone before he died. The one she lost. You should’ve seen the shocked look on her face when I asked her if her father’s name was Larry. I never saw anything like it, Larry.”
“That’s because you couldn’t see your face when she kissed you,” Larry said. “You looked just as shocked.”
“Of course. You were there too. Were you the one humming?”
For the first time Larry didn’t answer right away. Finally: “Yes. How did you know?”
“Because Blake didn’t try to push us in front of the car or even hold us in front of the car. As far as I could tell, he just hummed and left the blood trail. Kind of helpful for the ghost of a murderous seaman.”
“Smart kid. Okay it was only me, not Blake. I was just trying to protect my daughter. Laura was fated to die, and because I wasn’t sure where the dangers would come from until the last minute, it was easier to use an imaginary Blake to get you moving in the right direction.”
“After she hugged me tonight, I felt kind of sad. It’s . . . hard to explain.”
“You don’t need to, I understand. It was a good-bye hug. She’s hugged me before, too. I can still remember that last hug. So no one would understand better than me.”
I waited for Larry to say something else, but about thirty seconds went by without any noise at all, so I spoke up. “You’re sure Laura will be okay? Will the bloodstone help?”