GHOST LIGHT BURNING by Jan Fields illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti
Chapter 1 Welcome to Dareville Jack Watson stared up at the old brick building that loomed over him The narrow windows at the front of the building were mostly broken One was covered with warped plywood Someone had spray-painted the outline of a cartoon ghost on the plywood The sign over the doors read EVIL COMMUNITY THEATER His dad followed his gaze and chuckled Looks like the Dareville Community Theater could use a new sign Among other things Jack muttered shifting the cardboard box of books in his arms 4
Look on the bright side his dad urged I’ve got a job and it comes with a place for us to stay Jack’s dad was big on looking at the bright side in gloomy situations Jack preferred to look on the reality side As bad as the old building looked it was probably worse inside He sometimes wondered why his dad couldn’t get a job looking after a mansion Jack imagined spending the summer before fifth grade splashing in a private pool He would sit in a poolside chair and reread his favorite mysteries while sipping cold lemonade A job like that would be all bright side You wouldn’t even have to look for it They trudged to the stage door where his dad fiddled with the old locks Jack stepped up to a window near the door A thin board covered part of the window but Jack could see glass behind it He tried to make out shapes in the dark interior Just as Jack’s dad coaxed the lock to turn and pulled open the door sudden movement flashed 5
