6 THINKING THINGS OVER

CHAPTER 6 THINKING THINGS OVER Mom!" Ally cried the second Mrs. Jeffrey walked in the door. "Mom, you've got to find somebody else to take care of the kids." Cosmo's nose was practically glued to Ally's head. He sniffed and pawed at the little ball on top of her ponytail. "Ally," Mrs. Jeffrey said as she sorted through the mail. "We've been over this. I know you'd like to see your friends after school—" "No, it's not about that," Ally said. She swatted at Cosmo as though she could feel him messing with her ponytail, but her hand went right

through him. "Then what is it about?" Mrs. Jeffrey asked. "David and Ben are scared to stay home alone without an adult. Right, guys?" Ally raised her eyebrows at them. "Yes," Ben said at the same time David said, "Well—" Mrs. Jeffrey turned to Ben with concern. "What are you scared of?" she asked. "Ghosts," Ben said. "There's no such thing as ghosts," Mrs. Jeffrey said. Kaz groaned. He didn't like it when solid people said that. "There is, too," Ben said. "They come to our house every day at five o'clock!" "Mom," Ally said, worming her way in between Ben and their mother. "Ava's mom watches little kids after school. She said she would love to have David and Ben." "You know we can't afford a babysitter, Ally,"

Mrs. Jeffrey said. She set the mail on the counter. "Ava's mom says you don't have to pay—" Mrs. Jeffrey shook her head. "I can't let her do that. But both boys have dentist appointments on Monday. You can see your friends then. Other than that, I need you here after school. I'm sorry, honey." "One day off. Big whoop," Ally grumbled as she left the room. Cosmo started to follow Ally, but Kaz called, "Cosmo! Stay here!" The ghost dog let out a low groan and swam back to Kaz. "Good boy," Kaz said, giving his dog a pat. Then Mrs. Jeffrey noticed Claire. "Who are you?" she asked, glancing curiously at the things in Claire's hands. "This is Claire," David said. "She's here to help us get rid of our ghosts." "I see," Mrs. Jeffrey said with a tight smile. Kaz had a feeling Mrs. Jeffrey didn't believe

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Claire could do that. "It's nice to meet you, Claire," Mrs. Jeffrey said. "But I think it's time for you to go home." "Okay," Claire said. She opened her water bottle, and Kaz and Cosmo quickly swam inside. Then she shoved everything else in her bag and headed for the door. "Wait." Mrs. Jeffrey called her back. She handed her a magazine called CQ. It was addressed to someone named J. C. Hill. "This mail was delivered here by mistake. Would you mind dropping it off at the next-door neighbors' house on your way home?" "Sure," Claire said, taking the magazine. "Bye, David. I'll see you tomorrow." Claire glanced down at the address on the

magazine, then up at the house numbers. "I think it's that house over there," she said, walking over. She put J. C. Hill's magazine in the mailbox, then adjusted the strap of her water bottle and started for home. "Those are strange ghosts at that house," Kaz said. "They only come out at five o'clock. They do the same thing every day: They turn on a lamp, they open the garage door, and they mess up the TVs. But then they stay there inside the TVs and the organ. They don't come out and glow or wail or anything." Claire nodded. "It makes me wonder if there's another explanation for what's happening at David's house." "Like what?" Kaz asked. "I don't know," Claire said. Kaz and Claire walked in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. If ghosts aren't turning on the lamp, opening the garage door, and talking through the TVs and