as
she handed them out.
Another loud crack. Three more ghosts
appeared wearing dark suits. They entered the classroom stood in
the back and stared at Ms. Chilldress. Nova bit her nails. How
could she get rid of the ghosts?
"Fine students,” Ms. Chilldress said, “you
think about it. And as for the rest of you…” She met the ghost’s
stare. “I'm standing firm on the science fair. Now let's have your
research papers.” Nova’s heart lifted. She had never seen anyone
heroic enough to confront the ghosts like that.
As the students came up one by one to read
their reports in the front of the class, Nova’s mind wandered to
possible names for her filly. Her eyes brightened as she came up
with the perfect name. Shade.
When Nova looked at the teacher's desk, still
shoved
against the wall, she just felt so mad. It
was awful the way the ghosts thought they could lord it over the
living. She grunted.
All of a sudden, one of the ghosts fell
backward and hit its head on the floor. Nova wasn’t sure if she
should laugh or not.
A loud Rrrrrrrriiiiiipppp like a sheet
tearing echoed off the walls. The ghost disappeared in a burst of
greenish vapor. The other ghosts looked worried. So did the
class.
Had she done that?
Nova tried to make the grunt from her mouth
again, but it didn’t sound right. Did she do it? Or was it just a
coincidence?
Ms. Chilldress laughed. “Class did you see
that? We lost one of the ghosts. Well, I’ll be.”
Some of the students were moving and shifting
in their seats. Others were watching the clock and whispering to
each other.
"Does anyone know why we are having the
problems we are having today?” Ms. Chilldress strode back and forth
in front of the class, a huge smile on her face.
"We need to know science! You could be a
millionaire if you invented a new gadget."
This didn’t seem to impress the class as much
as she hoped.
"Okay,” she said, “let’s have two more papers
then we will quit for today."
One of the papers was about ghosts, and the
other one was about witches.
When the bell rang, the Ms. Chilldress said,
"Write on a sheet of paper a list of projects that you could do for
the science fair. It’s due when I see you again next Friday. Choose
three ideas. Put them in order: one is your favorite, and three is
your least favorite."
Students moaned as they shuffled out the
door. Some reached into the wastebasket by the door to retrieve
their balled up sheet.
When the ghosts disappeared, Ms. Chilldress
laid her head on her desk.
Nova ran to her. “Should I get the
nurse?”
"That’s all right, Nova. I just wish the
ghosts would let me teach science."
After math class, Nova followed her
classmates to the auditorium to watch, “The Great Nocturnal Ned.”
The strong odor of disinfectant assaulted Nova’s nose. Nova crawled
up the bleachers and took a seat in the back against the cold brick
wall. The air around her throbbed with excited kids talking all at
once. Nova looked all over for Takeesha. Where was she? Nova saw
her come in from gym class, from another doorway on the far side of
the auditorium and take a bleacher seat. Nova hoped they could sit
together, but it wasn’t going to happen.
The room was so packed there didn’t seem to
be room for any more kids, but they kept coming. When Nova noticed
Takeesha looking around, she stood up and waved to get her
attention. It took a while, but they finally saw each other.
Takeesha waved back, and Nova could see her slump in her seat.
There was a good chance they wouldn’t be able to talk to Nocturnal
Ned before or after the show.
When everyone was seated and hushed,
Nocturnal Ned came out from behind the black curtains. From a
distance, he looked pretty impressive. He wore a sea-green velvet
tuxedo with lacy cuffs, puffy front, and dark green bow tie. Buster
Brown saddle shoes were polished on his feet.
He gave a long, flowing bow then quickly
rotated his hands in circles and pointed to various
she handed them out.
Another loud crack. Three more ghosts
appeared wearing dark suits. They entered the classroom stood in
the back and stared at Ms. Chilldress. Nova bit her nails. How
could she get rid of the ghosts?
"Fine students,” Ms. Chilldress said, “you
think about it. And as for the rest of you…” She met the ghost’s
stare. “I'm standing firm on the science fair. Now let's have your
research papers.” Nova’s heart lifted. She had never seen anyone
heroic enough to confront the ghosts like that.
As the students came up one by one to read
their reports in the front of the class, Nova’s mind wandered to
possible names for her filly. Her eyes brightened as she came up
with the perfect name. Shade.
When Nova looked at the teacher's desk, still
shoved
against the wall, she just felt so mad. It
was awful the way the ghosts thought they could lord it over the
living. She grunted.
All of a sudden, one of the ghosts fell
backward and hit its head on the floor. Nova wasn’t sure if she
should laugh or not.
A loud Rrrrrrrriiiiiipppp like a sheet
tearing echoed off the walls. The ghost disappeared in a burst of
greenish vapor. The other ghosts looked worried. So did the
class.
Had she done that?
Nova tried to make the grunt from her mouth
again, but it didn’t sound right. Did she do it? Or was it just a
coincidence?
Ms. Chilldress laughed. “Class did you see
that? We lost one of the ghosts. Well, I’ll be.”
Some of the students were moving and shifting
in their seats. Others were watching the clock and whispering to
each other.
"Does anyone know why we are having the
problems we are having today?” Ms. Chilldress strode back and forth
in front of the class, a huge smile on her face.
"We need to know science! You could be a
millionaire if you invented a new gadget."
This didn’t seem to impress the class as much
as she hoped.
"Okay,” she said, “let’s have two more papers
then we will quit for today."
One of the papers was about ghosts, and the
other one was about witches.
When the bell rang, the Ms. Chilldress said,
"Write on a sheet of paper a list of projects that you could do for
the science fair. It’s due when I see you again next Friday. Choose
three ideas. Put them in order: one is your favorite, and three is
your least favorite."
Students moaned as they shuffled out the
door. Some reached into the wastebasket by the door to retrieve
their balled up sheet.
When the ghosts disappeared, Ms. Chilldress
laid her head on her desk.
Nova ran to her. “Should I get the
nurse?”
"That’s all right, Nova. I just wish the
ghosts would let me teach science."
After math class, Nova followed her
classmates to the auditorium to watch, “The Great Nocturnal Ned.”
The strong odor of disinfectant assaulted Nova’s nose. Nova crawled
up the bleachers and took a seat in the back against the cold brick
wall. The air around her throbbed with excited kids talking all at
once. Nova looked all over for Takeesha. Where was she? Nova saw
her come in from gym class, from another doorway on the far side of
the auditorium and take a bleacher seat. Nova hoped they could sit
together, but it wasn’t going to happen.
The room was so packed there didn’t seem to
be room for any more kids, but they kept coming. When Nova noticed
Takeesha looking around, she stood up and waved to get her
attention. It took a while, but they finally saw each other.
Takeesha waved back, and Nova could see her slump in her seat.
There was a good chance they wouldn’t be able to talk to Nocturnal
Ned before or after the show.
When everyone was seated and hushed,
Nocturnal Ned came out from behind the black curtains. From a
distance, he looked pretty impressive. He wore a sea-green velvet
tuxedo with lacy cuffs, puffy front, and dark green bow tie. Buster
Brown saddle shoes were polished on his feet.
He gave a long, flowing bow then quickly
rotated his hands in circles and pointed to various
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