Golden Box Book Publishing Three Ghosts in a Black Pumpkin | Page 15

porch, down the steps, and into the big backyard. Beyond the
white picket fence lay Weeping Meadow, and beyond that, the
small town of Diddlebury.
“It’s Saturday,” said Nikki, adjusting the backpack she wore
every day and carried with her everywhere she went. “No
school!”
Jack carried his favorite messenger bag on his shoulder because
he thought wearing a backpack made him look childish, but the
shoulder bag made him look cool. Except for when he carried
his books to school, he kept his bag empty, just in case, he
found some weird things to bring home.
“Better than that, it’s Halloween!” Jack said. “Let’s get out of
here before Grandma goes and changes her mind.” He winked
at Nikki playfully.
Nikki tugged three times on her left earlobe. “Okay, let’s go.
Ready?” she asked, leaning forward, getting ready for their
usual race to the front gate.
“Why are you doing that?” Jack asked, staring at Nikki.
“Doing what?” Nikki asked, surprised.
“You always pull your ear three times before you leave the
house. Do you have OCD? Because if you do, it’s okay. Penny,
a girl in my class, has these peculiar rituals and she told me that
it helps her anxiety when she does them.”
“No,” Nikki laughed. “I don’t have Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder. It’s a game Grandma started playing with me when I
was younger. I told her once that I needed good luck with my
math test, so she told me to tug on my ear for good luck. I
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