Childish Spirits Read online

  She lingered for a moment.

  “You know that trick you did, when you helped me get out of the priest’s hole… You couldn’t do it to all of you, could you? Just for a minute?”

  Edward paused. Then he closed his eyes hard in concentration.

  A moment later, his whole form became solid.

  Ellie walked over and put her arms around him.

  He felt so real…

  “I say, steady on!” Edward put on a show of struggling. “Don’t go all soppy on me! Just like a girl. Honestly, sometimes you’re worse than Sally…”

  He took a deep breath.

  “Oh, crikey…”

  He moved his arms to return the hug.

  Ellie paused at the door.

  “I’ll make sure people don’t forget you. I’d like to write something about you, send it to that website. People ought to know…”

  Edward didn’t look back at her. He moved to the piano and sat down.

  He began to play, softly, clumsily, hitting the wrong note occasionally.

  And as Ellie watched him, he began to fade.

  For a moment, the keys continued to play themselves.

  Then there was silence.

  Ellie closed the nursery door.

  In the corridor, she met Marcus. He had an expression much like that of Edward. But worse. He looked like a little boy who’d had all his toys taken away.

  Ellie moved up to him.

  “I’m sorry, Marcus.”

  “Onward and upward,” Marcus said. “New horizons. New doors. They’re giving me two new sites in London to manage.”

  He paused.

  “Smaller ones. Including the one your Mum’s going to. You won’t have seen the last of me, just yet.”

  He shook his head.

  “I won’t be sorry to go. You think: countryside – great! No worries there. Farmers’ markets and flower shows. And what did I get? Priceless paintings being destroyed. Earthquakes. Floods…”

  He moved away towards the Site Office.

  Ellie stepped out of the front door onto the gravel path. She took a final look up at the house.

  It had seemed so magical once. Those ancient walls.

  Now, she knew what they had to hide.

  She looked at the nursery window. But there was no one to be seen.

  She moved over to their packed car. Charlie was already standing waiting, and his holdall was in the boot. Ellie had never seen anyone pack so fast.

  He’d been almost nice, since the flood. Hadn’t once called her “miniature one” or “small person”.

  “Hello, small person.”

  Ellie stopped walking.

  There was a pause before she said: “Hello.”

  “Can’t wait to be home.” Charlie clambered into the car. “Seeing my mates this weekend. Pizza… go bowling… If I find out who’s responsible for that flood, I’ll kiss ‘em.”

  Ellie hoped he wouldn’t.

  “Ellie!” Mum’s voice said. “Haven’t we forgotten something?”

  She came struggling out of the house, carrying Ellie’s easel – and the painting of the Manor.

  “Oh, crikey!” Ellie moved to collect them. “I’m awfully sorry.”

  Mum frowned.

  “Awfully sorry… Crikey…?”

  Ellie hastily bundled the easel into the car.

  “Can I put this on top?” She carried the painting round to the boot of the car just as Mum was about to close it. “I don’t want it to get damaged. You never know. It might be worth something, one day. You might be selling copies of it here. I could make your fortune. Pay for the whole place to be repaired…”

  The car door closed after her.

  In the boot, within the painting, there was a flicker of movement.

  Unseen by anyone in the car, a small, blond-haired figure in a tweed suit stepped out of the painted front door of the Manor, and walked into the foreground of the picture.

  Edward waited there a moment, grinning, long enough to give the real house a little wave as the car moved away.

  Then he stepped back into hiding within the frame.

  The car zoomed off along the drive.

  THE END

  Ellie and Edward’s adventures will continue in:

  The Spirit of London

  Enjoyed this? Why not read…

  THE ALIEN IN THE GARAGE AND OTHER STORIES

  ROB KEELEY

  Neil’s little brother is driving him mad. There can’t really be an alien living in the garage… can there?

  Luke is bored. Adam has too much to do.

  Until they decide to swap lives…

  A camping trip takes a spooky turn when a ghost story seems to be coming true…

  These are just some of the tales in this funny and sometimes scary collection. You can also find out whether Liam and Justin would eat earwigs, why aliens like custard creams, and what exactly is the sinister creature lurking outside the tent…

  The Alien in the Garage and Other Stories will appeal to boys and girls aged 8-12… And parents reading the stories to their children! Written for those with a boundless imagination, a strong sense of humour and a desire to learn more about their world.

  Available now from Matador in paperback and eBook

  Enjoyed this? Why not read…

  THE (FAIRLY) MAGIC SHOW AND OTHER STORIES

  ROB KEELEY

  Molly has just one day to become a magician...

  There’s someone very special in Mrs Hoskins’ class. The question is – who?

  A skipping rope holds the power of time travel...

  These are just some of the tales in this second collection of funny, sometimes scary stories from Rob Keeley.

  Available now from Matador in paperback and eBook

  Enjoyed this? Why not read…

  THE DINNER CLUB AND OTHER STORIES

  ROB KEELEY

  Being on home dinners gives Aidan the chance to make some money…

  A bridesmaid and a page chase a runaway wedding cake…

  Mia and her Dad turn detective...

  These are just some of the tales in Rob Keeley’s new collection.

  Available now from Matador in paperback