Marilyn Kaye - Finders Keepers

Ken chatted quietly with a couple of friends, but all the time he was thinking about how and when he could get into Jack’s bedroom. Should he come up with an excuse? He could say he wanted to get the tennis racket he’d loaned to Jack. But that would sound kind of cruel, like he was afraid he’d never get the racket back now that Jack was dead. Maybe he could say he wanted to borrow a book, but that didn’t seem right either. Jack wasn’t much of a reader.

It might be best just to sneak into the room. There were plenty of other people there — no one would notice if he went missing for a little while. And there was a bathroom right next to Jack’s bedroom — he could say he was going there if anyone asked.

In the end, he didn’t have to invent an excuse. Jack’s father took him aside.

‘Ken, you were Jack’s best friend, and we’d like you to have something to remember him by. When you have a chance, go into his room and choose something — anything. His jacket, maybe. Or the karate trophy. Whatever you want.’

Ken nodded. ‘Thank you, Mr Farrell.’

On his crutches, he hobbled down the hall to Jack’s room. Once inside, he closed the door, and went over to Jack’s desk. Just as Jack had told him, the seashell bracelet was in the top drawer. He shoved it into his pocket.

But what if Mr Farrell wanted to see the souvenir he’d chosen? He looked around the room. There was a stack of old comic books on a shelf. He and Jack had been Spider-Man fanatics when they were little kids. He took an issue off the pile, and left the room.

When he returned to the living room, he saw that some people had left and others had arrived. And among the new arrivals was Lucy. He stood back and watched her for a while.

He had to admit, for a pretty girl she looked pretty awful. Her normally pale face was even paler than usual, and there were dark shadows under her red eyes. Clearly, she’d been crying a lot and hadn’t had much sleep. So maybe he’d been wrong about her feelings for Jack. She certainly looked grief-stricken, like someone who’d lost the love of her life, and his heart ached for her.

He adjusted his crutches and limped over to her.

‘Hi, Lucy.’

She managed a small, woebegone smile. ‘Hi, Ken. How are you feeling?’

‘OK. How are you?’

She shrugged. ‘Well, you know. ’

‘Yeah. I know. Look, Lucy, I need to talk to you. It’s kind of personal.’ He glanced around. The room was getting crowded, and he didn’t want anyone else hearing what he had to say. ‘Um, do you want to go outside for a minute? Get some air?’

She followed him through the kitchen and out the back door. Fortunately, there was no one else in the back garden.

But how to begin? How was he going to tell this unbelievable tale?

‘I know how awful this must be for you,’ he said.

‘Tell me about it,’ Lucy said. ‘You know, Ken, this was going to be the best year of my life. Jack was the coolest guy I ever went out with. I mean, he was cute, he was vice-captain of the soccer team. all my girlfriends were jealous. I’d already bought a dress to wear for the eighth-grade dance. ’ A tear trickled down her cheek. ‘I can’t believe this happened to me.’

‘You could still go to the dance,’ he said, and immediately wanted to bite his tongue. What a lame thing to say.

She sighed. ‘With who?’

He thought she probably meant something like she wouldn’t want to go with anyone but Jack.

‘I still don’t understand how he died,’ she murmured. ‘He just fell down.’ She looked up. ‘You crashed into him, right?’

‘Well, we sort of crashed into each other,’ Ken said.

‘But you’re not dead.’

He bit his lower lip. ‘I’m really sorry, Lucy.’

‘Sorry you’re not dead?’

‘Well, no, but. ’

‘Sorry you didn’t look where you were going?’

Ken felt sick. ‘Lucy, I don’t think it was my fault. The coach, the doctor — everyone said it was an accident.’

She shrugged. ‘Whatever.’

‘Jack doesn’t blame me,’ he blurted out, needing to convince her he wasn’t in the wrong.

‘How do you know?’ she asked sharply.

This wasn’t how he’d wanted to bring it up. But he had to tell her sooner or later. ‘Because. because he told me.’

Her eye brows went up. ‘Before he died?’

‘No. After.’

She stared at him for a moment. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Neither do I,’ Ken admitted. He took a deep breath. ‘Lucy, I know this is going to sound pretty bizarre, but. Jack’s been talking to me.’

Her eyes widened. ‘You mean — you’ve seen his ghost?’

‘No, it’s not like that. I hear his voice. In my head.’

She blinked. ‘He — he contacted you from beyond the grave?’

Ken nodded. ‘He started talking to me while I was in the hospital. I don’t understand it — maybe it’s because we collided, but. he’s able to talk with me. I know this sounds totally crazy. ’

Lucy gazed at him thoughtfully. ‘Not really. Lots of people believe in stuff like that. My mother went to a medium once. Do you know what a medium is?’

‘No.’

‘It’s someone who’s in contact with the spirit world. My mother said the medium put her in touch with her great-great-grandfather.’ She smiled. ‘There’d always been a rumour in the family that he’d buried some treasure during the Civil War. She wanted to know where it was.’

‘Did she find out?’

Lucy shook her head. ‘It turned out to be a legend. Too bad, huh?’

‘That’s. interesting,’ Ken said.

‘What did Jack tell you?’ she asked. ‘Did he say anything about me?’

‘Yeah. He wanted me to give you this.’ He reached in his pocket and pulled out the bracelet. ‘He got it for you in California.’

‘Oh, wow!’ Lucy exclaimed. ‘It’s really cute.’ She put the bracelet on. ‘How does it look?’

‘Fine,’ Ken said quickly. ‘And he wanted me to tell you he was sorry about that argument you guys had just after he came back from California.’

‘OK.’ She admired the bracelet on her arm. ‘At least now I have something to remember him by. Thanks, Ken.’

‘You’re welcome.’

‘And if you talk to Jack again, tell him. tell him I forgive him. About the fight.’

‘OK, I will.’

‘I want to go and show off the bracelet to my friends,’ she said, and turned to go back to the house.

‘Lucy, wait!’

She turned back. ‘What?’

‘Um, listen, you can’t tell anyone how I knew about the bracelet. How Jack’s been talking to me. Everyone will think I’m nuts.’

Lucy nodded. ‘You’re probably right. I mean, people just aren’t very open-minded about this kind of thing. Don’t worry, I’ll say Jack mailed it to me from California and it just arrived today.’

‘Thanks a lot,’ Ken said fervently.

She smiled, cocked her head to one side and gazed at him oddly, like she was scrutinizing him or judging him. Which wasn’t surprising, Ken thought, considering what she’d just learned about him. Then, without saying anything else, she ran back into the house.

When Ken went back inside, he was grateful to find his parents ready to leave. He said his goodbyes to the Farrells, and once he was in the car he told his parents he was really tired so they wouldn’t talk to him.

What a relief to have that over with! Now he could give Jack an honest report. He’d given Lucy the bracelet, apologized on Jack’s behalf, and Lucy had seemed pleased with the gift. Maybe. maybe this would put an end to Jack’s communication.

And then he felt terrible. Jack was dead . The least Ken could do for him was listen. Maybe he’d get used to it. He’d have to get used to it. He could never tell his best friend to stop talking to him.