Shifting Read online

  “Look. I think its money,” he guessed. Meghan’s notepad was stuffed with the same.

  Jae entered the room and saw what they were holding.

  “Where’d that come from?” he asked.

  “It was on our pillows,” replied Meghan.

  “It doesn’t say who it’s from,” added Colin.

  “This is Svoda money,” said Jae, counting it. “You’ve got enough here to survive a long time.

  Did I tell you our money is enchanted by mermaids?”

  “Mermaids? They’re real?” choked out Meghan.

  “Yup. They enchant the money, that way it takes on the shape of whatever currency we need, depending of course on what world we are traveling in.”

  “It will change as we travel?” confirmed Colin.

  “Yeah, pretty cool, huh.”

  “Wicked cool,” said Meghan.

  28

  “Who would do such a thing?” wondered Colin.

  “Someone who wants to help I guess,” said Jae. “You don’t need much to survive in the village, but as I said, there are occasion’s money still comes in handy.” He hopped into bed. The twins followed. Mireya was already fast asleep. Meghan counted her money, dreaming of a lavish shopping spree.

  “It may be enchanted mermaid money,” she sighed, “but it’s still the most money I’ve ever held at one time.”

  4

  The twins worried they would not be allowed to go into Grimble on their own; however, it had not been questioned. They were anxious to depart, but decided to wait for Jae and Mireya to leave for school.

  Ivan had not come home the night before. Everyone assumed he was still at work, which was apparently something he did often. Irving Mochrie, feeling recuperated enough, had left early to try to catch up on his own work. He was a banker.

  “Jae,” Sheila hollered. “I need you to go down to the basement and grab a jar of blueberry preserves for breakfast… don’t give me that look! Your father would never accept that behavior.”

  “I’ll come with you,” offered Colin, following Jae to a small closet. On the floor of the closet was a wooden door, which opened to a ladder leading down to a musty, dank and dark cellar.

  He wished he had not offered to go. Jae climbed down. Colin held his breath and followed. It took a minute for his eyes to adjust to the dark. The basement held boxes of canned foods, most covered in dust.

  As Jae searched for the right preserves, a strange noise distracted Colin. It came from behind and reminded him of feet, shuffling across gritty sand paper.

  “Jae, did you hear that?” he whispered.

  “I forgot to warn you!” gasped Jae. “I can’t believe it. Colin, meet Corny.”

  “Corny is a… person?” asked Colin, his nerves relaxing.

  “Yeah, old guy, lives in the basement.” Colin turned around and came face to face with a toothless grizzled man. A wad of chewing tobacco punched out his cheek and the smell of the tobacco turned Colin’s stomach sour. Jae went back to searching for the preserves.

  “Corny, nice to, ah, meet you,” gulped Colin.

  “You can talk all you want, he won’t talk back. He’s a little crazy.”

  “Really?” replied Colin not surprised by this fact. Corny gaped and grinned as tobacco juice dripped down his chin. Colin hurriedly climbed up the ladder deciding to wait for Jae at the top, hearing Corny shuffle his way back to his dark corner.

  “Who is Corny?” asked Colin as Jae’s head popped up into the house.

  29

  “He’s real name is Cornell Tibbit. He went crazy after his family died. Some by illness, some by old age, one by the Scratchers. He is the last in his family line. Poor guy, I guess he couldn’t handle it.”

  “Why does he live in your basement?” asked Colin, thinking no matter how crazy he was, that could not a pleasant place to live.

  “He chose to. We tried to get him to live upstairs, but he would disappear for hours. We always found him in the basement. Eventually, we couldn’t get him to stay anywhere else.”

  “How odd,” said Colin.

  “Yeah, he’s a mess. Never talks. Grunts now and then. I’m shocked he came out of his corner, he usually doesn’t do that.”

  “Leave it to me to attract the weirdoes,” joked Colin, in a mocking high-pitched voice.

  “Jae, stop lollygagging and get those preserves in here,” Sheila Mochrie’s voice ordered from the kitchen. As breakfast ended, the announcement came that the twins dreaded to hear. “So you’re aware, there are plans in the works for your education. I’m not sure exactly when, we need to figure out what you’re normally taught. Billie Sadorus thinks she has a book about it somewhere.”

  The twins instantly thought of sneaking into Billie’s cottage and stealing the book.

  Sheila Mochrie sent them off, handing them each a bag lunch as they departed.

  “Do your best and make your father proud,” she said to Jae and Mireya, kissing their foreheads. She waved to the twins; they were already opening the gate, eager to depart.

  Mireya’s frame dissolved into a small group of girls walking ahead of them.

  “Do you have any idea what you’re going to do with your uncle?” asked Jae, once the trio was alone.

  “Not yet,” answered Meghan, grateful that at least for the time being, she did not have to lie.

  “How about you, Jae? How behind are you?” asked Colin.

  “I can catch up. I have to catch up. Getting behind doesn’t go over well ‘round here. Besides, I had a lot of chances to practice when I was on my own, best training I’ve ever had,” he said confidently.

  “You know I think you’re great!” said Colin enthusiastically. Jae laughed, brushing off Colin’s comment, but his face gave away how thankful he was to hear it.

  “See ya after school,” Jae yelled. He mouthed, “Good luck,” as he disappeared from view, leaving the twins alone. The twins waved back, noticing other students gawking at them.

  “Do these people ever stop staring?” asked Meghan under her breath.

  “Does not appear so,” Colin thought back to her.

  Up the road from the school, the twins slowed. Two unfriendly female voices rounded the corner. The twins moved to the side of the road hoping to let whoever it was pass by.

  “Hurry up, Dulcy. You’re making us late again,” the first voice admonished impatiently.

  “I’m trying, Darcy. Wait up,” the second girl answered in a whiny voice. As the one named Darcy spotted the twins, her eyes brightened with an ugly smirk. She blocked the road.

  “I was hoping I would come face to face with you two.” Meghan’s guard went up, and she went into defensive mode. Colin shut down, unable to speak.

  30

  “So what about it?” asked Meghan, her expression focused. The girl named Dulcy caught up to Darcy. She twirled her shoulder length brown hair, snickering.

  “Lucky for you, my time is short,” the girl said. She strode closer, her tan face scowling directly into Meghan’s. Her brown eyes were hateful and matched the color of her pulled back hair.

  “What do you suppose this is all about?” Meghan sent to her brother. Colin didn’t answer.

  Meghan glanced at him sideways. His face was blood red. “Okay, you’re not going to be any help.” She put her attention back on the girls. “I’m still waiting,” prompted Meghan, her gaze firm. Darcy’s eyes glared with fury.

  “Deliver the message,” she hissed to Dulcy.

  “You two better watch yourselves,” she warned, still twisting her hair. Meghan nearly laughed and bit her tongue.

  Did someone say valley girl! What an idiot! She thought.

  “It’s clear,” Dulcy continued, “you’re just a couple of wolves in cheap clothing! We’re watching you.”

  Meghan could not stop from laughing this time. Colin wondered if his sister had gone mad.

  “In cheap clothing… now that is an insult,” laughed Meghan.

  Darcy swatted Dulcy up side
the head.

  “What?” she whimpered. “That was the message wasn’t it?”

  Darcy dug into Dulcy’s arm and tore away; glaring at the twins as she stalked passed them.

  “You complete ding bat!” Darcy spat out. “Sheep’s clothing. Not cheap clothing! How many times did I tell you that?” The girls disappeared.

  Meghan, still laughing, was scolded by Colin.

  “What were you thinking?”

  “We can’t let them think we’re weak, Colin.”

  “Easy for you to say,” he muttered. They continued on their journey to Grimble. “We should try not to make enemies. Remember what Uncle Eddy said about good behavior and gaining trust?”

  “I know, Col, but think about it. Those girls had their minds made up already.” He knew she was right about the girls, but he still despised making new enemies. This was not a place they could simply pack up and leave behind.

  As they entered Grimble, Colin realized he had not told his sister about Corny, living in the basement. Part of him did not want to and wished she would discover him on her own.

  “He lives in the basement? Does he get out?” she asked, confused. Colin decided she did not comprehend the old man.

  “No, I don’t think he gets out.”

  “That’s awful. They need to get him out, get some air.”

  “I don’t think he wants air. Jae says they tried but he refused.”

  “They must not be trying hard enough, everyone likes to get out.”

  “If you’re so keen on him getting some fresh air, maybe you should try,” he insisted smugly.

  31

  “Maybe I will,” she retorted. Colin decided she would not understand Corny until she had met him, and gave up the topic. They realized they were in the ghost town and quickened their pace, easily locating the meeting spot. A rustle in the trees above distracted them.

  “Hey, look, Col.”

  His gaze followed Meghan’s pointing finger.

  “No way!” he breathed in disbelief.

  “It sure looks like it,” said Meghan. A bird with a scruffy crest and gray-blue body sat high in the tree, watching the twins.

  “Maybe our eyes are playing tricks on us,” suggested Colin.

  “Sure looks like the same one to me,” said Meghan.

  “Maybe it accidentally went through the doorway, like we did?” he said.

  Uncle Eddy’s ghostly figure appeared.

  “Hi, Uncle Eddy,” the twins greeted in unison.

  “Hello back! Follow me this way, but carefully, we don’t want to be followed.”

  “Speaking of being followed, there is this strange bird, right up…” Meghan searched, but it had flown away. “That figures, it’s gone.”

  “You’ve been followed by a bird?” asked their uncle, cautiously.

  “Not sure it meant to follow, but it is similar to one we’ve seen back home. It’s an unfamiliar species, with a scruffy head, and gray-blue body,” answered Colin. Uncle Eddy floated high into the trees, but saw nothing.

  “Lets get moving. Lots to do, sure it’s nothing.” They followed their floating uncle down a path lined with dead trees, straying onto a smaller path, until they came to an abandoned, gray-shingled mill.

  “It’s the only area I’m aware of that no other ghosts or Svoda typically come, and we must be alone. I created this place from a memory,” Eddy told them. He saw the questioning gazes of the twins and continued. “You may notice, as ghosts arrive or move on from Grimble, sometimes things change. Like the buildings or the scenery. On occasion, even color will pop in somewhere. Grimble is built by the memories of the residing ghosts. Many ghosts spend a lot of years here, though, so some things don’t change.”

  The twins’ gazes turned to comprehension.

  “I realize that both of you must have numerous questions for me,” Eddy continued. “Firstly though, I must warn you, that at least for now, the subjects we discuss are for your ears only.” He rested his floating body a few feet in front of them. The twins got as comfortable as they could amongst the dust and cobwebs, sitting on an old pile of wood.

  “How about for today, we start with one question from each of you. Then we will begin your training.”

  The twins pondered what to ask first. Colin, still deciphering what he wanted to ask, let Meghan go first.

  “Can you tell us anything about our parents?” she blurted out.

  Their uncle smiled sadly.

  “I assumed this would be one of your first questions. I am afraid I do not have much to offer on the subject, any more so than you probably already know. You see, I died about a year after 32

  your parents met. I do remember your mother was a striking beauty. Inside and out. Not that everyone agreed with me,” he chuckled. “They did agree that she was one of the prettiest girls they had ever seen, but she was also infamous for her temper.” So our mom had a temper… no wonder Meghan’s always…

  Meghan punched his arm before he could finish.

  See. Proves my point, his thoughts shouted.

  “And daring!” Eddy added, continuing. “Quick witted too. Now your father on the other hand, I am afraid we were just not that close. He was a charismatic man, though. Well respected in his community.”

  The twins listened intently; their parents were not a topic Uncle Arnon ever discussed. They assumed it brought back too many memories for him.

  “I’m afraid that I don’t have much else to add,” said Eddy. “I never met either of you in person, but something kept me here in Grimble. Something nagged in the back of my mind that I had to wait for you.”

  “Honestly, Uncle Eddy, we’ve never known much about our parents, so even the little you can tell is fascinating,” Meghan told him.

  “I’m glad. I only wish I had more to tell.” His face smiled compassionately as he turned his attention to Colin. “Do you have your question ready?”

  He did.

  “How come I can do magic, Uncle Eddy?”

  Eddy floated back and forth for a moment before answering.

  “You are what the Svoda like to call lost ones, people who survived magic’s demise but whose families didn’t join a larger clan.”

  The twins stared at each other in stunned silence.

  “Is that why we can talk to each other?” Meghan divulged the truth before she could stop herself. It was a fact they usually kept secret.

  “Can you? No, I do not think that’s magic related. I would guess that has more to do with your twinly bond,” he answered.

  “That’s why we traveled around with Uncle Arnon isn’t it?” asked Colin. “If anything magical happened, he didn’t want us to get caught.”

  “Yes. I am sure he wanted to raise you away from prying eyes.” They were saddened again at the memory of their uncle, but Eddy continued.

  “And now you are with the Svoda. There is much you can learn from them.”

  “So where do we start?” asked Colin, eager to begin.

  “With the Magicante. If you don’t mind, Colin,” he gestured for him to take it out and hold it open. The leaves glimmered.

  “Ah, Magicante! Any ideas on how this book works, either of you?” asked their uncle.

  “When we were in trouble and asked for help, it gave it to us. Although it was quite unexpected, I might add. I guess you have to ask it?” answered Colin.

  “Make sure you say please, though, Uncle Eddy,” muttered Meghan. “It doesn’t do rude.”

  “A spirited book is it?” he chuckled. As his ghostly hands hovered over the leaf-filled pages, the book came to life.

  33

  “I see I’m moving up in the world,” a snide, bored voice announced. “Finally, someone with experience. Dead, but knowledgeable, at least.”

  “See?” Meghan rolled her eyes.

  “Magicante isn’t just a magical book, it’s original magic,” continued their uncle. “Magic long forgotten by most. If you ask for help, it may choose to help you or it may not. Or it may
offer help, but not in the manner you might desire or understand.”

  “Uh, okay. So I guess when we were first unaware of what it could do, it offered help, knowing we needed it.” Meghan tried to understand. Colin butted in.

  “It didn’t offer me help when I was trying to save Meghan back in Cobbscott. Why?”

  “What do you mean?” she demanded.

  Colin realized that he had never explained to Meghan how he had gotten her home, when she had first fallen ill under the oak tree.

  “Maybe before I continue, you should fully disclose to your sister what the book did and did not do. First lesson- never keep secrets from each other.”

  “What are you keeping from me?” She bore into his mind trying to infiltrate his thoughts.

  “It wasn’t that big a deal,” Colin said, blocking her. “After you stormed off, the book told me you were in trouble and I had to find you.” He explained the leaf tornado which led him to her.

  “I wasn’t sure how to help you. I asked the book to get us out of the woods. But it wouldn’t, it told me I had another way.”

  “Another way?” she questioned, adding, “I couldn’t even move. I was paralyzed.” Meghan shuddered at the memory.

  Colin continued.

  “I couldn’t move you and the book wouldn’t help me. I panicked. All I could focus on was getting you home, and BOOM! I was there.”

  “Without the book’s help?” she asked.

  The book answered her question.

  “Not with my help, lassie. He didn’t need it, did he?”

  “What I want to understand,” she whined, “is why can Colin do all this magic stuff, but not me?”

  “Before we get to that, Colin, let me ask you, why do you think the book made you figure it out for yourself, instead of doing it for you?”

  Colin recounted the incident in his head before answering.

  “I think it was because the book thought I should learn how to do it on my own.”

  “Correct. Magicante is a complex thing. Think of it as a textbook to end all textbooks. It will not, however, perform what it thinks you should be able to do for yourself.”

  “So back to my question,” implored Meghan. “Why - can’t - I?”

  “Have you tried?” enticed her uncle.

  “No, I suppose I haven’t,” she answered less impatiently. “The first time the book helped us we weren’t sure that it wasn’t a fluke. Even after the second time, and Colin doing magic, it honestly didn’t dawn on me to try.”