Page 71 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
I shake my head. I’d ask Arthur about this later. Now I had more important things to deal with – like my builders downing tools.
‘Charlie,’ I say, crouching down next to him expecting to be almost level with his face, but suddenly realising that he’s grown since we’ve been here, and now if I do this he’s actually way taller than me, ‘do you think you could talk to Jasper for us?’
‘Sure,’ Charlie says, as though I’ve simply asked him to talk to Chester. ‘What do you want me to say?’
‘Can you ask him what the problem is? And if we can solve that problem, would he be kind enough to stay away from the stables until the work there is finished?’
Actually, would he be kind enough to stay away permanently. I don’t think it will go down too well when people are tucking into their sandwiches and cups of tea if a soldier suddenly rides his horse through a wall in front of them.
But again, I’ll have to deal with that possibility later.
‘I can try,’ Charlie says. ‘He might not appear to me if he doesn’t want to, though.’
‘But let’s at least try,’ I say, looking encouragingly up at Ed.
Trying might be enough to get the men back to work . ..
We all head over to the stables, and now we are joined by Benji too, who on seeing the gathering in the middle of the courtyard had come down to find out what was going on.
At least we’re not busy with visitors, I think as the motley crew troop across the courtyard towards the stables.Goodness knows what they’d think with me still in my dressing gown and sunglasses, and Ed with his white face and plaster-covered hands.
There is a row of builders sitting up against the outside wall of the stables – some looking anxious, some looking pleased they’ve been given an excuse to stop work.
‘The young fella here is going to try and talk to the ghost,’ Ed says, looking slightly embarrassed that he even has to utter this phrase to his colleagues.
‘Should we come in with you?’ I ask Charlie, as Chester darts off for some fuss from the builders.
‘Yes, but only you and Chester should come,’ Charlie says firmly. ‘Chester is fine with ghosts, and they’re usually interested in what you’ve got to say, Mum.’
‘Really?’ I ask as I put my hand out to the others to stop them following us. ‘That’s a first.’
Charlie calls Chester, and I follow them into the stables.
If it wasn’t for the reason we were actually here, I’d actually feel quite pleased and excited as we enter the building. The stables have been transformed into two brightly lit, modern-looking rooms that, except for a lick of paint, look like they might soon be finished.
‘What should I do?’ I whisper to Charlie.
‘Nothing, I’ll ask Jasper if he’ll come and speak to us, then we just need to wait and see if he wants to. Jasper?’ Charlie calls quietly. ‘Would you be so kind as to come and talk to us? We only want to know what’s wrong. My mum is here to help you.’
Charlie and I stand in the empty room that’s soon to be the gift shop, surrounded by power tools, pots of paint and a half-plastered wall.
After a minute or so of silence, Charlie asks again. ‘Please, Jasper – we only want to help.’
Suddenly Chester, who’s been wandering around sniffing the floor, stands to attention. His nose points forward and his usually waggy tail is stiff behind him.
I notice the hackles on the back of his neck have risen, too.
‘Hello, Jasper,’ I hear Charlie say as I’m still looking at Chester. ‘Thanks for coming.’
I look at the place where Charlie’s gaze is directed, but I can see nothing.
Charlie looks up in the air, and for a moment I think that Jasper must be about ten feet tall, and then I realise he must be still mounted on his horse.
‘What’s the problem?’ Charlie asks. ‘Why are you suddenly scaring the builders?’
It’s most disconcerting seeing your ten-year-old son talking to an apparently invisible being. It’s a bit like listening to someone on the phone: you can only hear one side of the conversation.
‘Yep,’ Charlie says now. ‘Uh-huh . . . Are you sure? . . . Okay, then, I’ll tell Mum.’ Charlie turns back to me. ‘Did you hear any of that?’
