“What did you say?”
“Nothing. How long have you been living here?”
“Twelve years. All my life. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
“You mean, it’s really neat living in Springville?”
“No. I mean I’m lucky to be alive still. Not all kids last twelve years in Spooksville.”
“What’s Spooksville?”
Sally spoke in a serious tone. “It’s where you’re living now, Adam. Only adults call it Springville. Kids know the real story of this place. And let me tell you it deserves to be called Spooksville.”
Adam was bewildered. “But why?”
She leaned close, telling him a great secret. “Because people here disappear.
Usually kids like us. No one knows where they go, and no one talks about the fact that they’re gone. Because they’re all too afraid.”
Adam smiled uneasily. “Are you pulling my leg?”
Sally stood back. “If I was pulling your leg, you wouldn’t be standing. I’m telling you the straight truth. This town is dangerous. My advice to you is to drive out of here before the sun goes down.” Sally paused and put a hand on his shoulder. “Not that I want to see you leave.”
Adam shook his head. “I’m not leaving. I don’t believe a whole town can be
spooked. I don’t believe in vampires and werewolves and junk like that. I’m surprised you do.” He added quietly, “I think you are going through an identity crisis.”
Sally pulled back her hand and regarded him gravely as she spoke. “Let me tell you the story of Leslie Lotte before you decide I’m crazy. Until a month ago she lived down the block from me. She was cute. You might have been interested in her if you met her before me. Anyway, she was great at making stuff: jewelry, clothes, kites. She was really into kites. Don’t ask me why. Maybe she wanted to be a bird when she grew up. Anyway she used to fly her kites in the park by the cemetery. Yeah, that’s right. In Spooksville the park is next to the cemetery, which is next to the witch’s castle—which is a story in itself. Leslie used to go to the park by herself, even close to dark. I told her not to. Last month she was there all alone flying her kite when a huge gust of wind came along and blew her into the sky. Blew her right into a dark cloud, which swallowed her whole. Can you believe that?”
“No.”
Sally was exasperated. “I’m not lying! I may be confused about my personal values at the moment, but the truth is still very important to me.”
“If she was flying the kite all alone in the park, how do you know what happened to her? Who told you?”
“Watch.”
“Watch what?”
“Not what. Watch is a who.”
“Who’s Watch?”
“You’ll meet him. And before you get worried, I want you to know that our relationship is not and never has been romantic. We’re just good friends.”
“I’m not worried, Sally.”
She hesitated. “Good. Watch saw Leslie disappear into the sky. He wasn’t in the park but in the cemetery. So you see, technically, Leslie was in the park all
alone.”
“It sounds to me like your friend Watch has a vivid imagination.”
“That’s true. He can’t see very well, either. But he’s not a liar.”
“What was he doing in the cemetery?”
“Oh, he hangs out there a lot. He’s one of the few kids who lives here who enjoys Spooksville. He loves mystery and adventures. If he wasn’t so weird I’d be attracted to him.”
“I like mystery and adventures,” Adam said proudly.
Sally wasn’t impressed. “Then you can camp out in the cemetery with Watch and tell me what it’s like.” She stuck out her arm, pointing. “That’s not your house down the street with that chubby nerd on the front lawn?”
“Yes, and that chubby nerd is my father.”
Sally put her hands to her mouth, “Oh no.”
“He’s not that bad,” Adam said defensively.
“No. I’m not upset about your father’s appearance, although you’re going to have to watch your diet and the amount of TV you watch as you get older. It’s your house that’s no good.”
“What’s wrong with it? Don’t tell me someone was murdered there?”
Sally shook her head. “They weren’t murdered.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“They killed themselves.” Sally nodded seriously. “It was an old couple. No one knows why they did it. They must have been going through an identity crisis.
