Free Ghost Time by Courtney Eldridge Page B

really is. That’s why she has a babysitter, because she’s in a chair and she has palsy or something like it; I don’t know what. I could tell right away, too, that when she gets excited or when she’s trying to say something, she flails, because she can’t move her arms or legs.Like when she saw us walk in, she looked so excited, but all Melody could do was moan and flail. She can’t speak—I heard her talking, but she can’t speak a word.
    I didn’t understand what was happening, and I didn’t know what else to do, so I held out my hand, and she tried to move, to reach for my hand, so I shook her hand, and it was like… it was like being shocked. Except it didn’t hurt—it wasn’t like that at all. It was like, it was like hearing this voice—just the most beautiful voice, and Melody said, I’m so glad you’re finally here . Knox’s mouth started to open, then she did it again—she said, Will you tell him I want to get my hair cut? I didn’t think about it, I just did as she asked. I said, She said she wants to get her hair cut, and then Knox took a step back, and he goes, Thea, this isn’t funny—. For her birthday, I said, because that’s what she said, and he was like, Please, Thea. Tell him about this morning , she said, so I told him. She says you asked her what she wants for her birthday this morning, when you were putting on her shoes, and she wants you to take her to get her hair cut, I said.
    Knox’s face—I’ve never seen that look on anyone’s face before. Then, finally, he closed his mouth, and he had this look like he was getting angry, and he goes, Thea, why don’t we go downstairs? All of a sudden, Melody starts yelling at me: I’m here! I’m right here! She goes, Don’t go! Please don’t go! I turned back and I said, I won’t—I won’t go. Knox looked at me, like, Are you out of your mind? So I told him: Can’t you hear her? She’s shouting, I said, plugging my ears.
    Knox covered his face with both hands, and seeing him like that, seeing Melody, hearing her, I almost started bawling.Because I got so scared, and I didn’t know what the hell was going on, and the whole time, Melody kept begging me not to leave. I looked at her, and I kept seeing the beautiful girl, and all I could do was nod my head, because I was so confused. She just kept saying, I’m here, please believe me, Thea , and I said, I do. I know you’re here. I know, but I—I don’t understand what’s happening, and then the real Melody moaned, out loud, and you could almost hear a syllable, and I said, I’m sorry….
    Knox stood, perfectly still, and he grabbed my arm, like he was about to walk me outside, then he said, You understand? You know what she’s saying? I said, Yes. Yes! She’s saying, I’m here! I’m here! I was almost shouting, so I could hear myself over her. I even put my fingers in my ears, but it didn’t help, because she was inside—her voice was inside my head, not out. Baby blue , she said, almost yelling. Thea, tell my dad I said, Baby blue , and I said, Baby blue, and I looked at her, wondering what that meant, and Knox froze. He goes—almost hissing—he goes, What did you say? I didn’t know what to say, and Melody goes, Tell him, “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”! Knox grabbed my arm, and I go, She said to tell you it’s all over now, baby blue, and Knox stared at me, and Melody goes, Sing, Thea—sing the song! Sing “You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last,” and I go, I can’t sing, but Melody wouldn’t listen to me. She goes, Tell him, please—sing the song, he’ll know—he’ll know you’re telling the truth if you sing it to him, I swear! Sing, Thea. And she started singing, and I tried to tell her no, no, I don’t want to sing, and my throat was contracting, but she kept singing. I couldn’t even hear my own voice, so I had to sing as loud as I could: Youmust leave now, take what you need, you think will last! But whatever you