Page 24 of Fixing the Grumpy Pumpkin King
“Really. I promise.”
The ghost’s face transformed. The tears vanished. A huge grin spread across his face and he started laughing.
“Psyche! Oh man, you totally fell for it!”
Locke stared. “What?”
“Dude, you were all ‘I pwomise, you can stay!’” The ghost’s voice went high and mocking. “So gullible!”
“You were faking that!?”
“Duh! And now those kids are watching you talk to yourself. You look crazy!”
Locke looked over. The kids were indeed staring at him, huddled together and whispering. He was kneeling in the middle of the street talking to empty air.
He sighed. Deeply.
“Go away.”
The ghost dissipated mid-laugh. “Later, loser!”
Then he was gone.
Jack had emerged from the Briar House and was walking over, his familiars bobbing around him. The animatronics crisis was apparently handled.
“That was... eventful.”
“I can’t believe I fell for that.”
“You never know what personality your familiar will have. Sometimes I wish I could tailor my own familiars’ personalities.”
“Hey!” Pip protested.
“Rude,” Bramble added.
“Most ungrateful, my lord,” Russet said primly.
“I jest. Mostly.”
Locke stood up, brushing off his jeans. The kids were still staring. Great. “So that’s it? He’s just... gone?”
“You can call him back whenever you need him. You gave him a name.”
“I called him Ghosty. That doesn’t count.”
“It does. Names have power. You named him, you bound him. He’ll answer if you call.”
“I don’t think I want to call that little menace back.”
“He saved that child.”
“After causing the problem in the first place.”
“True summoning is rarely predictable. But you did well. You successfully summoned and controlled a spirit. That’s impressive for your first real attempt.”
Locke looked at him. Jack’s carved expression was unreadable to Locke, if he had to pick out any expression on that jack-o-lantern face it would be perhaps pride? But to Jack, his intentions were clear. ‘This young warlock is mine.’ He thought.
They were standing close. When had they gotten so close?
