Had his father turned it on while he slept?

Then the noises started, ever so faintly, like a quivering whisper. Like a voice from far away. Wwwaaan, it trembled. waaaannnnchu. waaaantt … chuuu.

The words pulsed from the fan. It was trying to speak, Liam was sure of it. “Want you … want you … gooooone.”

Gone.

Want you gone.

Liam leaped out of bed. The fan moved slowly, like a head swiveling from side to side, repeating “GOOONE, GOOONE, GOOONE,” over and over in vibrating, eerie tones.

Liam moved to flick the switch to OFF. But it was already set to that position. Liam next tried to pull the plug out of the wall socket.

But it was resting on the rug.

Already unplugged.

Yet the fan churned ceaselessly on.

“WANT YOU GONE,” it said. Over and over again.

“Shut up,” Liam cried. “Shut up!”

*   *   *

Mr. Finn never got the full story. The next morning, he found the old fan in the garbage on the side of the house.

“How’d this get here?” he wondered. “Liam, you know?”

Liam shrugged, looked away. “Beats me,” he replied.

6. Bloody Mary

6

BLOODY MARY

Kelly’s best friend in the world, Mitali Dristi, finally came for a weekend visit. It was, for Kelly, the biggest deal in the world. It turned out that Mitali had relatives nearby, so after a period of negotiation it was decided that a reunion of the two friends would be possible. Mitali was to be dropped off on a Saturday and picked up the next afternoon. Liam didn’t mind. It was nice to see someone from the old neighborhood, even if it had to be Kelly’s most annoying friend.

Mitali’s skin was the color of milk chocolate. She was an athlete, strong and beautiful, with large brown eyes and black hair. She was also a little bossy.

Liam listened from his room as the two girls giggled in the hallway.

“Okay, okay, stop pushing. I’ll do it,” Kelly said.

“We’ll need two candles,” Mitali said. “And a lighter.”

“Liam!” Kelly called. “Do you know where Dad keeps the lighter for the grill?”

Liam opened his door. “It’s in the junk drawer by the sink.”

“Well?”

“Well, what?” he asked.

“Get it,” Kelly demanded.

“Why should I?” Liam crossed his arms.

Mitali raised her hands, curving her fingers like wicked claws. “Because, my dearie, we’re going to pay a visit to Bloody Mary!”

“Who’s that?” he asked.

“It’s a ghost story. Go get the lighter,” Kelly said, bargaining, “and we’ll let you hang around. Just don’t let Dad see you.”

Liam shuffled down the stairs, murmuring as he walked:

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockleshells,

And pretty maids all in a row.”

Liam wondered what made that old rhyme pop into his head. “Silver bells and cockleshells,” he hummed to himself. He imagined a garden of beautiful flowers.