6 The long mirror was dark reflecting back the cobwebs and the dim corners of the room The doll stood before it and gasped She was different She was white and shining Her legs had disappeared and her body was transparent She’d become a ghost Crystal tears streamed down her pale cheeks and she crumpled to the floor like an old tissue How had this happened Why had she been left behind And why was she awake now Then she heard it Ever so quietly something was walking around down stairs Ghost Doll sprang from the floor and dashed to the top of the steps She was floating Zooming No feet no legs and she could go fast and as silent as the dead She couldn’t help giggling it was quite fun Ghost Doll peered over the rickety banister Perhaps her girl had come back for her after all She’d come back to find her special doll and take her to a new house But there was no little girl standing in the room below At first Ghost Doll couldn’t see anyone there Then she heard the faint noise again a slight movement a gentle breath In the far corner where she herself had been lying for so long now lay a mangy black cat Just a cat thought Ghost Doll disappointedly Looking for shelter perhaps It certainly hadn’t belonged to the family Mother
7 had been allergic to animals so there’d never been one in the house Nasty dirty things Father had said Ghost Doll had been inclined to agree with him but she remembered how her little Lucy had wanted a pet so much With that thought in mind Ghost Doll silently drifted down the stairs The cat was busy cleaning its leg Drops of something dark fell to the floor blood Ghost Doll felt a pang of sympathy for the cat It was hurt Kitty kitty she called The cat whirled around in a blur of black fur and sharp claws Ghost Doll crept closer Kitty kitty she called again It’s all right I won’t hurt you
8 The cat backed further into the corner its back arched and its tail swelled out like a toilet brush hissing and spitting Ghost Doll could see more blood oozing out of a long gash on its upper leg The poor cat had been in a fight Come on kitty she coaxed floating closer The cat lashed out and its paw sank through the doll’s body The cat cowered in fear What was this new threat he wondered Ghost Doll reached out and put one finger on the tip of the cat’s nose Perhaps a speck of stardust lingered on her finger because suddenly the cat relaxed The two stared at each other for a whole minute
9 What on earth are you asked the cat What do you mean what on earth are you I’m a doll said Ghost Doll annoyed Uh not meaning to be rude said the cat but you are a bit see-through Well I’m rather old I think said the doll And what are you doing in my house Your house said the cat I didn’t think anyone lived here any more Well I do replied the doll Let’s see your wounds You happen to be dripping blood all over my wooden floor and it will stain The cat gave her an odd look but let Ghost Doll gently prod and poke him She used spiderwebs to clean the cuts and bites Well I’ll be off now said the cat limping towards the door You can’t go out like that said the doll Your wounds will get infected and you could freeze to death Stay here just for the night The cat was hesitant as if he didn’t trust her Don’t suppose you’ve got anything to eat he asked Mice You’d have to catch them yourself Ghost Doll replied I’ll just go to sleep then if you don’t mind The cat looked around suspiciously He curled around a couple of times then made himself into a tight ball Thanks for letting me stay he said and went to sleep Ghost Doll sat and watched him She was a bit disappointed that the cat hadn’t wanted to talk After all those years of silence she thought it would be nice to catch up on the happenings of the world Perhaps in the morning the cat would feel better and be more talkative Ghost Doll sat as still as if she had been made of stone The mice came out as usual but when they saw both the shimmering figure and the sleeping cat they tiptoed away as quickly as possible
