7 Fred the Ghostly Ghost

CHAPTER 7 FRED THE GHOSTLY GHOST 'Why are you shouting, Andy?' says Terry. 'Because I'm trying to scare you,' I say. 'Pretty scary, huh?' 'Not really,' says Terry. 'Ghosts aren't real. And even if they were, they wouldn't scare me.' 'Actually, ghosts are real,' says the kind scarecrow, 'and they can be quite scary. Did I ever tell you the story of Fred the ghostly ghost?'

'I don't think so,' says Terry. 'But a story about a ghost called Fred doesn't sound very scary.' 'I can assure you it is,' says the scarecrow. 'In fact, it's probably far too frightening to tell now when we're all alone out here in the woods in the dark.' 'I've never heard a ghost story,' says Mary Lollipoppins. 'But I'm sure I'd like it. I won't be scared.' 'Me neither,' says Edward. 'Robots don't get scared.'

'Please tell us about Fred,' I say. 'I'm not sure if I can,' says the scarecrow. 'I'm a kind scarecrow and it wouldn't be kind to scare people with a spooky ghost story.' 'But it would be kind to tell people a spooky ghost story if they really wanted you to,' I say. 'Especially if they said please,' says Terry.

'Pretty please?' says Fancy Fish. 'Pretty please with lollipops on top?' says Mary. 'And ice-cream?' says Edward. The scarecrow shrugs. 'All right,' it says. 'I'll tell you, but I'll try to make it a bit less scary.' We all lean forward. I pass the torch and the scarecrow begins speaking in a low voice. 'It was a dark and stormy night.' Terry gasps, his eyes wide.

'Well,' says the kind scarecrow, noticing Terry's fright, 'when I say "dark", I don't mean dark dark. It was quite light actually. In fact, to tell you the truth, it wasn't even night-time. It was the middle of the day. And there was no storm—just a light and pleasant summery breeze.' 'Oh, thank goodness,' says Terry. 'That was getting kind of scary. But where's Fred? When does he come into the story?' 'Right now,' says the scarecrow. 'One pleasant summer's day, Fred went to bed—'

'He went to bed in the middle of the day?' says Pinchy. 'That's weird.' 'Yes,' says the scarecrow. 'Fred was weird, but he was also quite tired. He only intended to have a short nap but when he got into bed he bumped his head—'