Ghost Boy of Mackenzie House by Patti Larsen Page B

don’t know if I’ll be able to take you with me to Africa after all.” Her aunt winked at her. “You might not like the food.”
    Chloe didn’t want to think about it. “How can you stand it?” she asked.
    Aunt Larry pretended to shudder. “You have no idea,” she said. “The first time I went, they asked me to help make dinner. That involved killing a small pig.” She rolled her eyes. “There was no way. I could barely eat for a week. I didn’t know what a huge honour it was. They were having a feast for me. They got by on very little. I almost insulted them when I couldn’t eat it. I was lucky, though. My guide had seen it before.” She was smiling at the memory. “You get used to it when you’re hungry enough.”
    Chloe was quite certain she would never in her life be that hungry, ever.
    â€œSo we’ll leave here around 12:30, okay?”
    Chloe was confused. “I thought you said dinner.”
    â€œOh yes, right,” Aunt Larry said on her way to her office with a fresh cup of coffee. “Another Island thing. Dinner is lunch and supper is dinner. Funny, huh?”
    Chloe agreed. It didn’t stop her from worrying about the whole thing, however. She fretted all morning about seeing Marsh’s brothers again, not wanting to relive the embarrassment of two days before. Plus, she wanted time to fix the journal so she could read it. She was able to get a few more pages separated by the time Aunt Larry called for her, but not many. It was a slow and frustrating process and Chloe was sure her aunt could help her. But getting help with the journal would lead to telling Aunt Larry too much and Chloe didn’t want to share.
    Aunt Larry was standing by the edge of the field when Chloe came down. She was disappointed.
    â€œWe aren’t driving?” she asked, thinking about the last time she walked to Marsh’s and how hot and dirty she was when she got there.
    Aunt Larry smiled at her. “The fresh air is good for us,” she said.
    Under her breath Chloe muttered something unhappy about fresh air, but followed anyway.
    Instead of cutting through the field like Marsh had, however, Aunt Larry walked along the edge for a bit before turning in. Chloe was delighted, then angry.
    â€œA path?” She stopped at the head of it so Aunt Larry had to pause and turn to see her. “He dragged me all the way through that,” she pointed at the long, heavy grass, “when there was a path?” She was going to hit Marsh when she saw him.
    Aunt Larry was laughing. “Come on, you,” she said. “We’re going to be late.”
    When they emerged in the MacKenzies’ yard, they were greeted with great gusto by the very enthusiastic Shep. His baying barks brought Marsh running. He was scrubbed pink, his curls smashed into some kind of order behind his ears which, Chloe noticed, stuck out a little.
    â€œDinner’s ready!” he said before turning and running back toward the house. He looked over his shoulder once and waved for them to hurry. “C’mon! You’ll miss the crunchy stuffing!”
    Not sure what to expect, Chloe picked up the pace. By the time she and Aunt Larry reached the front door, Marsh had already gone inside. His mother, Mary, met them with a beaming smile. She had deep red hair and soft blue eyes. Her pale yellow sundress was protected by a red and white checkered apron. She hugged Aunt Larry before turning to Chloe.
    â€œIt’s very nice to meet you,” Mary said. Chloe smiled back, shyness returning.
    They were ushered through the small porch full of rubber boots and plastic tubs and boxes of old nails and bits of odds and ends, and into the main room with a big wood stove in the corner. Chloe followed Aunt Larry to the dining room. The whole house smelled great. Chloe’s mouth watered as she sat down between Rebecca and her aunt. Marsh sat across from her.