Page 4 of The Neighborhood Ghost

“It’s not a stuffed animal.”

“Well, you seem to carry it around like one.”

“It reminds me of him,” Alice said as she attempted to find sleep. Her teeth chattered from the cold.

“Do you want me to play a soundscape or soft music?” her reflection asked.

“No,” Alice replied.

“Good. I can’t play either one of those,” her reflection said. “Come to think of it, I could use some good music up here.”

“I’ll add it to the list of things to do when Hugo’s back,” Alice said.

“How’s it going?” Alice’s reflection asked.

Alice opened one eye and tilted her head toward her reflection. “You know how it’s going.”

Her reflection shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, but I wanted to hear it from you. By the way, have you thought about what you’re doing for Thanksgiving?”

Alice closed her eyes again. “I’m not going.”

“Why not?”

“Carol hates me. She’s not talking to me because she blames me. I blame myself. Oliver keeps begging me to come over, but I think I’ll text him and let him know something came up, and I can’t go.”

“What about Mom and Dad?”

“Out of state.” Alice shifted, laying on her back and focusing on the ceiling. “Besides, it’ll slow me down. I have to keep working.”

“Why not invite them here?” Alice’s reflection asked. “They’ll like it. They haven’t seen you in person in over a year.”

Alice breathed deep. Seeing her parents would be nice. It would be great. It would be fantastic. She had last visited her parents before everything with Sam went down, and she was forced to move. Until a few days ago, she hadn’t heard the soothing words of her mother’s voice in over a year. She was forced to cut off contact with family and friends as she hid in the town of Newbury Grove to escape the Savinos.

The Savinos.

They ruined everything. Turned her life upside down. Cut her off from her friends and family. Stole her Hugo from her. She was glad they were dead. Suffering the same fate as Hugo—wooden stakes through their hearts and turned to ash.

“Mom doesn’t seem to think I can bring him back, and Dad can only think of spells requiring a body. Same with every other spell I have. I need a body.”

“Well, at least reconsider the Raskin’s offer.”

“You mean Oliver’s offer?” Alice interjected.

“Please, go over.”

“Maybe.”

Alice’s reflection tapped the porcelain sink with her fingernails. The sound echoed off the bathroom walls.

“What are you doing?” Alice asked.

“Providing music to sleep to,” her reflection answered.

“Please, stop.”

“Is that what you want for Christmas?” Alice’s reflection asked.

“I’m not even thinking about Christmas right now.”

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