Pearlie's Ghost Read online

  ‘It is a sad story that I’m about to tell you. Now, let me see . . . where should I begin . . . The people who owned this beautiful house before us were the Stirlings,’ Mrs Makepeace said. ‘They were dear friends of ours and we used to come here often to visit them. They had two children, an older boy named Archie and a daughter called Elizabeth. We had known them both since they were babies. Archie was a splendid sportsman. He played football and cricket and excelled at almost anything he tried his hand at. When war broke out, Archie was keen to enlist so he joined the RAAF . . .’

  Mrs Makepeace paused and took a little breath. ‘He was very brave and a skilled pilot, and he even won a medal for his actions. Tragically, on his fourth mission, his plane was shot down over North Africa. His body was never found.’ She dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. ‘We were all devastated by the news of his death. He was only twenty years old. And as if that wasn’t enough tragedy for one family, a year later, the Hatfields were both killed in a motoring accident. Elizabeth, who was eighteen at the time, was thankfully not in the car. She became sole heir of this house but had to sell it to pay off debts. She didn’t want the furniture – it reminded her too much of what she had lost – and she sold everything. That’s when Reverend Makepeace and I decided to buy the place . . . to help Elizabeth out. She went abroad to England and has never returned. We put the wardrobe across the door to Archie’s room. The Hatfields had left it untouched and so did we. I know it is what they would have wanted, God rest their dear souls.’

  Mrs Makepeace laid her head against the back of the armchair and closed her eyes as if the memories haunted her.

  Pearlie and Naoko waited. Then Naoko said, ‘We saw the grave at the back of the garden. Snowy’s grave . . .’

  ‘Yes, and a more faithful dog you never did see. The Hatfields told me that even when Archie was gone, Snowy used to sleep in his room every night as if he was waiting for his master to return.’

  Pearlie wanted to tell Mrs Makepeace about Snowy’s ghost, but she didn’t know how to start. ‘Um . . . we think Snowy’s ghost is trying to get into Archie’s room at night. That’s why Nao hears all those strange noises.’

  ‘Ghost?’ Mrs Makepeace smiled. ‘I don’t think so, dear.’ She pushed herself up out of the chair.

  ‘I hear it every night,’ Naoko said in desperation. ‘I’m scared sleeping in that room . . .’

  ‘It’s just the wind, dear. Now, I must get changed. I have some gardening to do. The Carringtons are coming for afternoon tea later.’

  ‘You’re right, Mrs Makepeace,’ said Pearlie, shooting Nao an apologetic look. ‘It is the wind. I heard it last night. Nao has always had a big imagination.’

  Naoko glared at Pearlie.

  ‘There, see?’ Mrs Makepeace said, rubbing Naoko’s cheek fondly.

  Pearlie took a deep breath. ‘But I was thinking, Mrs Makepeace. . . it’s so sad that Archie’s room has been locked up behind an old wardrobe like you’re trying to hide it away. It must be really dusty by now. Nao and me could clean it, make it look sparkly, in his memory.’

  Mrs Makepeace nodded slowly. ‘Why, what a lovely idea, Pearlie. Why don’t you two get to work on it right after lunch. I will see if Reverend Makepeace can help us move the wardrobe away. It’s solid oak and weighs a tonne.’

  Pearlie looked back at Naoko, who was grinning at her.

  After lunch they all went upstairs. Pearlie and Naoko wanted to help but Reverend Makepeace said, ‘Stand back, children.’ He was puffing a bit after coming up the stairs and his knee ached, but he insisted on doing it alone.

  ‘Watch your back, darling,’ Mrs Makepeace said.

  It took some time for Reverend Makepeace to manoeuvre the wardrobe away from the wall. When that was done, he told everyone to push while he pulled.

  At last the door to the tower room was visible.

  Reverend Makepeace drew a key from his vest pocket and Pearlie and Naoko held their breath as he put it in the keyhole. He jiggled it around, then pulled it out, turned it upsidedown and tried again. ‘That is strange,’ he said.

  ‘What is the matter, Arthur?’ Mrs Makepeace said.

  ‘It’s the wrong key, but I’m sure it’s the one I left in my bureau drawer.’

  Pearlie looked at Nao. What if, after all this waiting, they couldn’t get the door opened?

  At that moment, Tinto, who had been sitting on the stairs quietly watching, ran to the wardrobe and squeezed through the crack between its two doors. When he came out, he was carrying a key in his little hands.

  ‘Why, what a clever monkey,’ Reverend Makepeace said and Mrs Makepeace clapped her hands. She took the key from Tinto and pushed it into the lock. With a click and a sigh, the door opened.

  That afternoon, the window in Archie’s room was thrown open. The gauze curtains flapped in the breeze like a hand waving.

  Mrs Makepeace asked Pearlie and Naoko to clean every inch and to put everything back exactly as they found it, but not to clean inside any drawers or cupboards.

  Pearlie’s first job was to dust the photographs hanging on the wall above the dresser. Pearlie took down one at a time, cleaned the glass, then dusted the frame and returned it to its place. She took special care of the photograph of Archie sitting in front of the house.

  Naoko cleaned the four-poster bed, getting the damp cloth into all the cracks and crevices. While the two girls worked, Tinto sat on the sill until a blowfly with a shiny emerald green body buzzed in through the window. He chased after it, leaping in the air, scrabbling here, climbing there, until he caught it and gobbled it up.

  Naoko doubled over with laughter. ‘I forgot how funny that little guy is,’ she said, holding her sides. ‘Ow . . . now I’ve got a stitch.’

  Hearing Naoko laugh reminded Pearlie of how they used to be together. But in her heart she knew things could never be the same. It felt as if they had both grown up all of a sudden and laughing wouldn’t ever be so easy.

  ‘I can’t wait for tonight when Snowy finds the door unblocked,’ Naoko said. ‘He’ll get a real surprise, won’t he?’

  Pearlie smiled. ‘In Darwin I started a business called Pearlie’s Pet Rescue. You could start a business here called Naoko’s Pet Ghost Rescue.’

  Naoko laughed. ‘Maybe I could. I’m not scared of ghosts anymore. You’ve cured me of that, Pearlie.’

  It took the whole afternoon to make everything fresh and sparkly.

  When they finished they showed Mrs Makepeace, who was delighted with the job they had done. So was Mrs Ito. She made them each a big glass of chocolate milk. Pearlie had never tasted real milk before. In Darwin they only drank powdered milk. Then Mrs Ito brought out a plate of Milk Arrowroot biscuits and put them on the table. They dipped and drank until the plate was empty.

  That night they lay in their beds listening out for Snowy. Tinto was now sleeping under the covers with Naoko, which Pearlie was happy about.

  First they heard barking down in the garden below. But they didn’t get out of bed to look. They knew he would come.

  A short time later, just as the grandfather clock rang out its last chime, there came the mournful groaning and scratching sounds from the hall. Naoko climbed out of bed first with Tinto in her arms. She opened the door and they crept down the hall to the tower room. They had decided not to carry a torch or candle in case the light scared Snowy away.

  They proceeded very quietly. Pearlie imagined Snowy beside her. She could almost hear his paws padding along the floorboards. ‘It’s all right, Snowy,’ she said. ‘We’re here to help you.’ She turned to Naoko. ‘Open the door, Nao. It’s time.’

  Naoko turned the knob and pushed the door. It swung open and Pearlie felt a rush of wind at her knees as if something ran past her. ‘Did you feel that?’ she whispered.

  Naoko nodded, eyes wide. The curtains moved all by themselves even though the window was closed and there was no wind.

  Then something weird happened.

  The springs of the bed b
egan to creak and dents appeared in the mattress even though there was nothing there.

  At that moment, Tinto scrabbled out of Naoko’s arms and scampered across the room. He climbed up the bedspread and onto the bed and began to leap around with an invisible playmate.

  He looked so funny, jumping and rolling and doing somersaults.

  ‘That’s exactly how he plays with Goliath,’ Pearlie said, laughing. ‘He must be able to see Snowy. I always knew animals were special.’

  Naoko had suddenly gone silent. She was staring at the wall of photographs.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Pearlie asked, turning around to see why Naoko was so quiet.

  ‘Look at the picture . . .’ Naoko said. ‘There’s something else in it . . .’

  Pearlie’s hand shot up to her mouth when she saw what Naoko was pointing at. It was the photograph of Archie. But he was no longer alone.

  The moon shone through the curtains, its soft creamy glow illuminating Archie’s face. And sitting beside him was a black-and-white dog.

  ‘I think we did it, Pearlie,’ Naoko said.

  Pearlie smiled. ‘Archie and Snowy are together just like they were in real life.’

  Two weeks after they had solved the ghost mystery, Pearlie received a letter from her mum.

  Reverend Makepeace had found out from the government where Pearlie’s parents were living and had written to them.

  Pearlie smiled as she opened the letter. First, her mum told Pearlie how horrified she had felt when the ship left without her. Then they heard about the bombing and were even more worried.

  I cried a thousand tears, Pearlie, fearing that you were dead. I asked them to please wait for you, but they wouldn’t. Thank God you are safe. You will like it here. We are staying with friends in South Perth, right by the zoo. You can hear the lions roar at night and the monkeys howling by day. It’s near the water too. I can’t wait to see you and we all miss you terribly.

  Pearlie smiled and folded the letter. She couldn’t wait to see them either, but she also didn’t want to leave Naoko. Reverend Makepeace had bought Pearlie a train ticket to Perth, which was leaving in four days’ time.

  Everything seemed to be moving so fast now.

  Pearlie was about to put the letter back into the envelope when she saw another letter inside it. She thought that it must be from her dad. She opened it.

  ‘Who’s it from?’ Naoko asked.

  Pearlie grinned. ‘It’s from Reddy.’

  Hello Pearlie,

  I told you on the wharf that day I’m good at finding out things. It took a while, but I found out your parents were sent to Perth. I couldn’t believe my luck, so I visited them, thinking you’d be there. Then they told me how you’d been left behind. They said it had something to do with Tinto. They said you rushed off the ship but then you didn’t come back and it left without you. At least you’re okay. You HAVE to write and tell me all about it. Your mum said you’re staying with Naoko. Hello, Nao!

  My dad’s army unit was sent back to Darwin to help clean up after the bombing. Strewth, Pearlie, I can’t believe you survived that! He said not much of it’s left. Our house had been ransacked and all of Chinatown was burned to the ground.

  He also ran into that guy, Old Man Lizard. He talked about you. He said you changed him on the inside. I don’t know what you did, Pearlie, but it was something good cos he’s helping out around the town now. Turns out he’s pretty good with his hands. He always takes his two dogs with him, Goliath and Rusty. I thought Goliath was shot. Did he escape? Gee, I’m sorry for giving you hell over saving the pets. You did a good thing.

  I’m excited about you coming to Perth. When will that be?

  Write soon and tell me,

  Your mate, Reddy.

  ‘Old Man Lizard?!’ Naoko shivered.

  ‘Old Man Lizard is looking after all my pets,’ said Pearlie, ‘all except Tinto. His real name is Thomas Hardy and he is very nice. You’d like him, Nao. When we go back to Darwin, we’ll –’ Pearlie stopped herself and took a deep breath. It seemed impossible that they would ever go back.

  ‘What’s going to happen to us?’ Naoko said. ‘We have no home to go back to. And I might never see Dad again.’ Naoko sniffed. ‘I don’t want you to leave.’

  Pearlie felt Naoko’s despair but she didn’t know what to say.

  Naoko wiped her tears away with her arm. ‘We have to decide what to do with Tinto. If he’s staying with me or going with you.’

  ‘Of course he’s staying,’ Pearlie said.

  ‘But he loves you more.’

  ‘No, he doesn’t!’ Pearlie said.

  ‘We’ll let Tinto choose,’ Naoko said. ‘It’s the only fair thing to do.’

  They both looked at Tinto, who was sitting between them. Naoko stroked his head and tickled him under the chin. The little monkey made soft chittering sounds of delight.

  Pearlie prayed that when it came to the time, Tinto would choose Naoko. Naoko needed him more.

  ‘I’m scared we’ll never see each other again,’ Naoko said one night as the day of Pearlie’s departure drew near. They were lying side by side in Pearlie’s bed with Tinto curled up between them.

  ‘Let’s make a pact to meet in Darwin when the war ends,’ Pearlie said.

  ‘But it’ll never –’

  Pearlie put her hand gently over Naoko’s mouth. ‘Don’t say it, Nao,’ she said. ‘You must never talk like that.’ Even though she didn’t believe her own words, she had to say something to give them both hope. ‘We will meet again. And you will see your dad again.’

  She climbed out of bed and reached inside her satchel. It was the same old satchel she had brought with her all the way from Darwin. Mrs Makepeace wanted to buy a new one for Pearlie. But Pearlie insisted on keeping it. It was all she had of home.

  ‘This is what we’re going to do,’ she said, pulling out the small notebook she used to record the places Beake visited when she was spying on him. She flipped through the pages to find a clean one. Then she took a pencil and wrote the date at the top of the page.

  March 15th, 1942.

  This notebook belongs to Naoko Ito and Pearlie Chan, aged twelve years. I promise that when the war is over, I will meet my best friend Naoko wherever she may be. I promise to write to her. I promise that she will be my best friend forever and always.

  Pearlie handed the notebook to Naoko. ‘Now you write something, but it has to be only good things.’

  Naoko read what Pearlie had written. She thought for a moment, chewing the end of the pencil. Finally she wrote: We will have lots more adventures together. Then she drew a picture of them both standing outside Diamond Cave.

  ‘You keep it first,’ Pearlie said. ‘When you’ve drawn your first adventure, send it to me and I’ll write about mine. Our scrapbook is with my parents, so this can be a temporary one.’

  ‘I like that idea,’ Naoko said, smiling.

  They were both trying to be very brave as they stood in the hall of the big house. They had made the most of their last four days, but it had still gone so quickly. And now Saturday was already here.

  The Carringtons, good friends of Reverend Makepeace and Mrs Makepeace, were also travelling to Perth and had agreed to look after Pearlie on the journey. The memories of that horrible train trip from Darwin still lingered. Pearlie had written a letter to Hazel even though she didn’t know where Hazel was. But Reverend Makepeace said he’d make enquiries and pass the letter on to her if he could.

  Mrs Ito stepped forward. ‘Good luck, Shinju,’ she said and kissed Pearlie on the cheek.

  ‘I hope Mr Ito gets out of the Camp soon,’ Pearlie replied.

  Mrs Ito smiled sadly.

  ‘Mum, can you hold Tinto?’ Naoko said. ‘We’re letting him decide who he wants to stay with. Pearlie or me.’

  ‘He’s only a monkey,’ Mrs Ito said. ‘Do you think he can do a thing like that?’

  ‘He’s the smartest marmoset in the world,’ said Naoko. ‘All you hav
e to do is hold him like this.’ She put Tinto into her mum’s hands. Then both girls stepped back so they were equal distance away from him.

  Pearlie began talking first. ‘I have to go away and you need to choose who you want to live with, all right, Tinto?’

  Tinto looked at Pearlie.

  ‘Go to Pearlie if you want to be with her, or come to me if you want to stay here . . .’ said Naoko.

  Tinto looked at Naoko.

  ‘You are confusing him,’ Mrs Ito said.

  ‘Shhh, Mum, he’s trying to concentrate.’

  Pearlie kept her head straight, pretending to look at Tinto, but really looking off to the side. Her thoughts, though, were directed straight at him. Please choose Nao, please please choose Nao, she repeated over and over in her mind.

  After a short while, and to Pearlie’s great dismay, Tinto leapt out of Mrs Ito’s arms and onto her shoulder. Then he crawled down and snuggled into his usual spot under her chin.

  ‘I’ll get his pouch,’ Naoko said in a wobbly voice. She turned and ran up the stairs.

  Pearlie could see her brushing away the tears. ‘Wait, Nao!’ she called, but Naoko kept on going.

  ‘It’s time, dear. The Carringtons are here,’ Mrs Makepeace said, coming in from outside.

  ‘I’ll be there in a minute,’ Pearlie said. She looked at Mrs Ito. ‘Will Nao be all right?’

  ‘Don’t worry, Shinju,’ Mrs Ito said.

  Naoko returned with the pouch. ‘Here it is,’ she said, trying to sound cheerful. As she put out her hand to give it to Pearlie, Tinto leapt onto the front of her dress and climbed up onto her shoulder. ‘Come on, you little rascal, you’re going with Pearlie,’ said Naoko.

  But when she went to take him down, Tinto curled his long tail around her arm and would not let go.

  ‘I think he’s saying he wants to stay with you,’ Pearlie said, smiling. ‘He was only saying goodbye to me.’

  Naoko wiped her eyes and nodded. ‘I think so too.’