“Yes, I did. And when they turned on the light I could see that I was right to interrupt. Chase was all sweaty, just like he is when he’s bench-pressing those heavy weights. And Odelia’s face was all red and puffy, and her pupils were dilated. And then when I asked what they were doing, Odelia said they were practicing a fire drill. But when I told her I hadn’t heard a fire alarm, she said that’s why they call it a drill. And then later when I told Kingman, he laughed and said it wasn’t a fire drill but something called sex. He didn’t explain, though, but it’s stuck with me ever since.” He glanced at Harriet and Brutus. “So maybe tomorrow I’ll come with you? I’m very curious about this sex thing, and how it works with humans.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dooley,” Harriet was quick to say.
“Not, human sex is not a great sight,” Brutus chimed in, then directed a look of concern in my direction.
“But I thought sex was just kissing?” asked Dooley. “But the way Odelia and Chase were kissing, it sounded more like they were wrestling.”
“Human sex does share certain similarities with the sport of wrestling,” I said. “And you know how violent wrestling can get, Dooley.”
“Oh, I know. They throw each other around all the time, and sit on each other, and rub their butts in each other’s faces.”
“Well, that’s exactly what human sex is like,” said Brutus.
“They rub their butts in the other person’s face?” asked Dooley, looking distinctly worried now.
“Um… they might,” said Brutus. “Absolutely.”
“What a strange way to make babies,” said Dooley.
“Humans are strange,” said Harriet. “We all know that. So is it any wonder that the way they make babies is also very strange?”
“No, I guess not,” said Dooley. “But I do hope they won’t make a second baby. If what I saw taught me anything, it’s that they might not survive the next time!”
“Wise words,” I murmured sympathetically. Though I hoped he wouldn’t share them with Odelia. She might not enjoy the implications.
We turned a corner, and suddenly found ourselves face to face with an elderly woman, who looked a little rough around the edges. She was dressed in a flannel nightgown, her long gray hair was flowing down bony shoulders, and she had a sort of haunted look in her eyes. She didn’t even seem to see us as those eyes were focused on a point in the middle distance. And all the while she was muttering strange oaths under her breath.
“What is she saying?” asked Brutus.
“I’m not sure,” I said, trying my darnedest to understand her message. “Something about… being late for school?”
She was heading for the emergency exit at the end of the corridor, and took a firm grip on the horizontal bar that unlocks the mechanism. She gave it a good rattle but lacked the power to push it all the way down, so the door wouldn’t budge.
“I’ll be late,” she muttered. “Late for school!”
“See?” I said. “I knew it was something to do with school.”
“Poor woman,” said Dooley. “She wants to go to school and they won’t let her. Such a pity.”
“It’s the middle of the night, Dooley,” said Harriet. “There is no school.”
“Maybe she means night school?” Dooley suggested.
“Night school doesn’t actually take place this late at night, though,” I said. “No, I think she’s probably confused.”
“Who is she?” asked Brutus.
“I think her name is Kate Doyle. Bob told Gran she’s a little confused.”
“Maybe she’s Henry’s wife,” said Dooley.
“Henry’s wife died, I think,” said Harriet.
“So maybe she’s the ghost of Henry’s wife?”
Harriet sighed.“Oh, Dooley.”
Mrs. Doyle kept on rattling that door, becoming more and more agitated. Until suddenly bingo meister Isaac turned up, perhaps alerted by the sound—or maybe they had CCTV in this corridor, and escorted the confused woman back to her room.
“Come along now, Mrs. Doyle,” he said as he gently took her by the arm and led her away.
“I have to get to school,” said the woman. “I’m going to be late. I can’t keep my students waiting.”
“It’s a holiday, Mrs. Doyle. Didn’t they tell you? There’s no school today.”
“Oh, why didn’t they tell me!” she complained.
“They must have forgotten,” said Isaac. “Now let’s get you back to bed, shall we?”
“Gosh darn it. And I graded all of those papers, and now there’s no school today?”
“That’s right.”
We watched the duo move down the corridor, and Dooley said,“Nope. That’s no ghost. Ghosts can move through walls, and no doors can stop them.” He thunked his head. “Silly me.”
17
The next morning at breakfast we sat with a woman named Ester Teasle. We’d already heard about her from Bob, but it was nice to put a face with the name. She was a heavyset woman with short-cropped hair and a fleshy nose who seemed nice enough, albeit a little sad. Which, if what Bob had told Gran was true, was understandable. And as she told us her story, it turned out that Bob hadn’t lied.
“It’s my evil daughter-in-law who got me into this mess,” she confided.
“What do you mean?” asked Scarlett as she expertly buttered a piece of toast, applied a thin layer of strawberry jam, and took the daintiest of nibbles.