Chapter 6

Chapter 6 THE BEST PLANS INVOLVE GHOSTS! WHICH IS IRONIC, BECAUSE GHOSTS AREN'T BIG PLANNERS. The next day, Harper got to school early. At her request, so did Jodi, Morgan, and Po. Harper was a problem solver. After all, she loved math and science, and most of the time, problem solving was what math and science were all about. There was almost always an answer, a solution. You just had to use the right skills to find it. That was why she was struggling so much with the news that Ash was moving. If there was a solution to this problem, she couldn't see it. And she wasn't the only one struggling.

Morgan felt the same way. Their team had overcome every challenge it had faced, and Ash's problem should be one more challenge they could overcome. PO was struggling because he normally laughed in the face of danger. But he couldn't find the humor in this situation. Jodi seemed to be in denial. She seemed certain that Ash would be in their lives forever. So, early in the morning, the four of them gathered beneath a great oak tree in the schoolyard. They wanted to discuss their problem. They wanted to solve their problem. "What has everyone come up with?" Harper asked. "Okay, get this," Po said. "We already put on a great play. What if we did it again? What if we put on a play that was so convincing…we got everyone to believe that Ash's house is haunted?!" Harper scrunched her eyebrows. "I don't understand how that would help. Wouldn't that make her parents want to move even

more?" Po gasped. "And leave the poor ghosts behind? Ghosts are the best! Who wouldn't want to live in a haunted house?"

Harper raised her hand, and so did everyone but Po. "Well, I like ghosts…," he grumbled,

crossing his arms. "I'm thinking about something a little more down-to-earth," said Morgan. "They can't move if they're not able to sell their house. Right?" Harper thought about it. "I suppose you're right." "Okay, so, what if we convince everyone that their house has termites? No one would buy it then!" Harper tapped her chin. "I think the only way that would work is if we actually put termites in Ash's house. And I can't imagine anyone would be very happy about that…." "Maybe we can involve the Wildling Scouts somehow?" Jodi asked. "Ash has more merit badges than any of the other scouts, and I know they all look up to her. What if Ash's troop named her Queen for Life?"

"I was thinking we could rope in Baron Sweetcheeks," said Harper. "He loves Ash's big playground set. What if we tell them that moving away will cause our class hamster to sink into a deep depression?" "It won't work," said a voice. They all turned around and saw Ash peek out from behind the tree. "Ash!" said Po. "How long have you been standing there? I could have used your vote a few minutes ago…." "I heard most of it," Ash said. "And everything you said made me happy…and sad…." She looked at each of them in turn. "My mom's job isn't giving her a choice. There's nothing any of us can do to change that. Believe me, I know." She took a deep breath. "But it means the world that you wish that you could fix this. I've never had friends