Jessie's Ghosts by Penny Garnsworthy Page B

to the left.
    ‘Tomorrow, how
about we put a couple of people into the painting, Jessie? Using the
luminescent paints?’
    ‘Yeah, that’d
be great,’ Jessie said as she stood back to admire the painting.
    ‘It’s not the
best I’m afraid, Jessie, given that we only have limited time. But I’m pleased
with it - I’m sure your Nanna will love it.’
    Jessie beamed.
‘I really enjoyed doing this Fleur. Next time I come to Nanna’s can you teach
me some more.’
    ‘I’d love to,’
Fleur replied, ‘Now, let’s get packed up and I’ll see you same time tomorrow?’
    ‘Thanks,
Fleur. Thanks heaps.’
    ‘Why did you
want to do that painting?’ Harmony asked irritably as she and Jessie went back
into the house.
    ‘Because I had
an idea. What if I painted a message on the painting, in the luminesc … ent
paint, and then my ancestors could see it at night, in the hall?’
    Harmony looked
impressed. ‘That just might work. You won’t see it during the day but then it
will really stand out at night. But how are you going to stop your Nanna from
seeing it?’
    Jessie
frowned. ‘I don’t know, I’ve been thinking about that. All I know is that I
have to give Harold the message. I’ll worry about the painting later. If I have
to,’ she stated, ‘I’ll destroy it so nobody will ever know.’
    That night
Jessie closed her door so that she wouldn’t be woken by the voices, but even so
she still heard Harold’s pleading voice in the middle of the night and crossed
her fingers that the message that she was composing in her mind would ease
Harold’s guilt.
     
    ‘I hope your
mum is able to get those paints,’ Jessie said to Harmony, as they walked
amongst Nanna’s fruit trees.
    ‘If anyone
knows about paints, it’s mum.’
    ‘But what if
she can’t get them? What if the shop doesn’t have any? What if …’
    ‘Oh, stop
stressing. Mum always says that what’s meant to be, will be.’
    ‘I guess.’
    Nanna had
provided lunch for the girls and made sure she catered for Harmony, with fresh
salad sandwiches. Jessie said she’d have the same.
    ‘That was
really nice,’ Harmony said as she finished the last mouthful of her sandwich,
‘I didn’t know you guys were vegetarians too.’
    ‘We’re not,’
said Jessie, ‘But we still eat salad sandwiches.’
    ‘I only eat
vegetarian when I’m with mum and it’s so boring. At home we have steak and
chicken, and all that. Dad even takes me to Hungry Jacks and MacDonalds. He
says he can’t live without meat. I often wonder if that’s why my parents split
up.’
    Nanna looked
shocked. ‘I’m sure that wasn’t the reason, Harmony. There are lots of reasons
men and women don’t get along. But in any case, next time you come to visit
I’ll be sure to make some ham sandwiches.’
    ‘Do you think
that had anything to do with their split, though?’
    ‘Oh, look,’
Nanna said brightly, ignoring Harmony’s question, ‘I think your mum is home.’
    ‘Great,’ said
Jessie, ‘we have a painting to finish.’
    ‘And there’s
another car pulling up as well.’
    Harmony raced
to the window.
    ‘It’s my dad. What’s
he doing here? He’s not due to pick me up until tomorrow. Let’s go!’
    ‘I see what
you mean,’ Nanna whispered to Jessie as she followed Harmony out the back door.
    ‘I so hope
your mum was able to get those paints,’ Jessie said as rushed to keep up.
    ‘Yeah,
whatever. I’m more interested in finding out why my dad’s here.’
    When they
arrived Fleur was out front holding the painting they had produced the day
before. Harmony’s dad was standing off to the side, moving his weight from one
leg to the other, and looking out of place in a suit and tie.
    ‘Hi dad,’ said
Harmony as she went up to him and they hugged, ‘why are you early?’
    ‘Well,
unfortunately I have to go out of town tomorrow, sweetheart, so I need you to
come home with me today.’
    ‘Today?’
    Fleur looked over
at the pair. Jessie couldn’t