The Barking Ghost

16

I raced home without glancing back.

I crashed through the front door and charged straight for the bathroom. I had to check myself out in the mirror.

I don't know what I thought I'd see.

A dog face staring back at me?

Even I know how stupid that sounds.

But I couldn't explain the dog reflection in the water. I should have seen my face in that stream — not the growling face of a black Lab.

Stepping into the bathroom, I approached the mirror slowly. I peeked in.

And I saw — my own freckled face.

Did it make me feel better?

Not much.

I didn't speak to anyone in my family for the rest of the afternoon. And at dinnertime, I nibbled a few bites, then asked to be excused.

"Are you feeling okay, Cooper?" Mom asked, frowning. "Liver and onions is your favorite. I've never seen you leave liver and onions on your plate."

She walked over and felt my forehead. That's what she always does whenever I act a little strange. Feels my forehead.

"I'm fine, Mom," I replied. "I'm just not very hungry. That's all."

"Cooper is probably a little nervous about tomorrow. His first day in a new school," Dad said to Mom. He turned to me. "Am I right?"

"Yeah, that's it," I agreed. No sense in bringing up the dogs again. No one would believe me, anyway.

"Aw. Poor little Drooper. Scared of his new school," Mickey teased.

Mom and Dad shot Mickey a warning glance. "Mickey — not tonight," Dad muttered.

I ignored my dumb brother. I climbed up from my chair and headed for my room.

I couldn't fall asleep that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the face of the angry black dog, rippling in the stream.

I finally dozed off after midnight.

I awoke to Mom's impatient cries. "Cooper. Cooper. You've overslept. Time to get up!"

I couldn't believe it. I'm always up early. I never oversleep.

I'm going to be late for my first day of school! I thought unhappily. And it's all because of those creepy dogs.

I threw my T-shirt and jeans on and rushed down the hall to the kitchen. No time for a big breakfast. I gulped down a glass of milk. Then I opened the fridge and reached for the peanut butter and jelly to make a sandwich for lunch.

As I spread the peanut butter on the bread, I heard whimpering behind me.

"Cut it out, Mickey," I said without turning around.

The whimpering grew louder.

"Mickey! Quit it! Stop being such a — "

They sprang out of nowhere. The dogs.

They were in the kitchen!