Page 41 of Ghost in the Night

She stares at me, her eyes growing serious. “That one in there,” she says, her chin tipping toward the house. “We keep her close for a reason. See, some my stories got deep in her head. So deep that Myah think she can talk to the dead folk. She was using one of those Ouji boards to try to communicate with them and charging kids to speak totheir dead loved ones like one of those psychics with a crystal ball. Playing with them people like those ghost tours do. Her father had to pay all those families back. She almost got kicked out of school! When I saw what she was doing, I took the board from her. So, I don’t tell my stories no more like I used to.”

My stomach drops. Myah was selling fake readings?

“Then, you don’t really believe in ghosts, do you? Is that why there’s never any Black people on the ghost tours?” I ask.

Grandmama shrugs. “Well. I can’t speak for everybody everywhere, but us Gullah Geechee people don’t mess with them ghost tour stuff ’cause we been around here a long time and know more than anybody that them haints are tricksters. Our ancestors taught us that. You may think you talking to ghost, but you really talking to a demon. And one is harder to get rid of than the other.”

I open my mouth to ask more just as Myah skips out the house, book bag on her shoulder, smiling.

“You find what you looking for?” Grandmama asks.

She shakes her head. “Nah. Daddy, we ready to go!”

When Mr. Horton drops us off, Dad is loading his car up to head to the club. He stops to chat with Mr. Horton as Robby runs inside to Lena.

“So, what time we linking up tomorrow?” Myah asks me.

“Umm. I don’t know,” I mumble, backing away from her. “I might be busy.”

Myah’s smile slowly fades. She sighs. “Grandmama told you, didn’t she?”

I start to deny it, but I can’t hold my anger in much longer.

“You were selling readings!”

Myah holds up her hands. “It’s not like that.”

“You said you could talk to spirits.”

“I can! Girl, I swear,” she insists, checking over her shoulder to make sure our dads aren’t listening. “Grandmama just don’t believe me.”

“Okay, fine, this city is full of ghosts. Talk to one right now.”

Myah chokes. “It’s … it’s not that simple! And you of allpeople know it. How many of them ghost tours have you been on where nothing happened? Ghost come when they come, ain’t no call on demand.”

“Then how do you think you’re gonna help us talk to Mr. Truman?”

“ ’Cause I can just … feel it this time. Okay? Trust me!”

“Trust you? You out here pretending you can talk to the dead and ripping people off. Wait, did you really hear screams that day by the Myers House, or were you just making that up too?”

Myah squirms. “I … I heard something,” she mumbles.

“Girl! We’re about to risk our lives going into that house. We don’t know what could be in there. Ghost, demon, or nothing, and you want me to just trust you?”

Myah huffs, arms crossed. “Well, I’m putting a lot of trust in you too, ghost hunter! This whole thing was your idea. Meanwhile, everybody and they mama is looking for Jabari. Really looking. Do you really think you can help the way you think you can?”

I start to pop back but freeze up. ’Cause I don’t know if  I can really help. I don’t even know who Mr. Truman orJabari are, and I’m out here risking my life for strangers.

I say nothing and walk off.

I hope Myah’s being honest now, and she can “feel” that Mr. Truman’s ghost is in that house.

And I hope nothing happens in that house that’ll make me regret ever opening my big mouth.

FOURTEEN

Iwas just about to ask after you,” Lena says as I walk in. “Dinner’s ready.”