Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR Dad hurried across the room and pulled open the door. A cloud of dust billowed into the air and spiders scuttled across the floor. Pink Rabbit jumped in alarm. He hates spiders. 'I don't think there's anything in there, Dad,' I said as we peered into the dark space behind the door. 'I think it's

just some sort of cupboard. 'Hmm,' said Dad, peering closer and brushing away the spiderwebs. 'But what's that?' He pointed up into one corner where there was something shadowy and silvery all curled up.

'OH...' I said, staring at it in wonder. 'Is it? Is it...?' 'A ghost!' said Dad. 'Yes! I think it is!' I felt little shivers prick all the way up and down my spine. I had never seen a real ghost before, even though Dad goes on about them all the time. Suddenly I felt a little bit afraid. 'Shut the door again, Dad,' I said. 'I don't think we should disturb it.' 'Rubbish!' said Dad as the ghost began to uncurl itself in the corner of the cupboard. 'Look—it's friendly!' But I didn't think the ghost looked very friendly. It raised its shimmery, glimmery arms up into the air and opened

its mouth into a wide 'O' shape. 'OOOooohhh!' it moaned. I put my hands over my eyes. 'It's just pretending,' laughed Dad. 'I can do that too! OOOoooohh!!'

I peeped out from behind my fingers and saw that the ghost was looking very surprised. 'OOOOOooooooOOOOOOHHHHH!' it wailed again, but this time much more loudly. 'OOOOOooooooOOOOOOHHHHH!' copied Dad. The ghost looked a bit cross. He crossed his silvery arms across his chest and frowned. 'You are supposed to run away when

I do that,' he said. 'That's what usually happens.' 'But why?' asked Dad. I thought we could have a nice chat!' 'A chat?' said the ghost. 'I haven't had one of those in years! Two hundred to be exact.' Dad looked horrified. 'Two hundred years!' he exclaimed. You mean to say you haven't spoken to anyone in TWO HUNDRED YEARS?!'