Chapter X

Kat and James packed wordlessly, seated on the foyer floor. Casper looked out the window at the snow, which had begun to fall rather heavily. The Trio - ghosts once more - played above, laughing and chasing eachother and having a ball with the Harveys' sparse Christmas decorations, as there was no tree to put them on.

There was a knock at the front door.

Everyone looked up. James glanced at Kat, then went to see who would visit them so late on Christmas Eve.

"Hello Peter," he greeted Dibs. "Wendy," he added when the aforementioned's niece popped into view. "Won't you come in?"

"We won't be long," Dibs said as he and Wendy stepped into the foyer. "We just have a package for...Casper."

Wendy smiled and held out a large manilla envelope.

"For me?" Casper floated over. Above, Stretch paused in the middle of winding a silver tinsel garland around Stinkie's neck. The Trio watched silently.

"Well, Happy Christmas." Dibs smiled and stepped back outside.

"See you later," said Wendy with a grin. She followed her uncle, and James closed the door after them.

"What is it, Casper?" Kat was practically bursting.

Casper slowly opened the envelope and slid out a bundle of papers, some crisp, many old and yellow. He read the recently-dated cover letter to himself. "I don't understand," he said at last. He looked up at the Harveys. "This says that I own Whipstaff. Even though I'm a ghost."

"Let me see that," said James. He took the cover letter. "It's signed by the Mayor," he pointed out, noting several childish scrawls around the paper's margin.

"This letter was written by my father," Casper went on quietly, scanning the next paper in the stack. "He left the house to me, if it could be proven that I haunt it."

Kat frowned. "Is it proven?" she asked.

James nodded. "Yes," he said. "The Mayor acknowledges the presence of spirits - for the tourist attraction."

Kat harrumphed. "I bet it's not Casper he really acknowledges," she said in a whisper.

"Yeah," agreed Casper, turning around. "Hey guys!" he said, holding up his father's letter. "Look! I own Whipstaff. The Harveys don't have to go."

The Trio were gravely silent for a few moments. Stinkie and Fatso, who appeared concerned, looked expectantly at Stretch, who for his part seemed lost in thought. Finally, the tall ghost looked round at his companions; then, handing the garland to Stinkie, floated down to Casper. Stinkie and Fatso followed in silence.

"That's uh...that's real nice, there, Casper," Stretch said slowly, examining the letter the small ghost held up to him.

Casper beamed with pride, because he could sense that Stretch really meant it. "Yeah," he said. "Isn't it great? I actually own it."

Stretch nodded. Behind him, Stinkie and Fatso burst into a shortlived bout of agreeable comments, before falling silent again.

"Well," said Stretch suddenly, drawing himself up. "The best joints fill up quick on the holidays so we'd better get goin', boys."

The Harveys and Casper frowned in confusion.

"See ya Doc," Stretch went on as Stinkie and Fatso gathered behind him, not making eye contact with anybody. "Later, Bulbhead. Adios...Kat." And with that the Trio headed for the ceiling.

"Wait!" cried Casper, suddenly realizing what was happening. He handed the stack of papers to Kat and began floating after his 'uncles'.

Stinkie and Fatso looked back at the small ghost, but Stretch didn't take his eyes from the ceiling.

Casper flew up to intercept the tall ghost. "Don't leave," he said as they stopped.

"Outta the way, Sta-Puft," Stretch told him. "A deal's a deal."

Casper shook his head. "No," he protested, casting glances at the Harveys. "I don't want you to go," Casper went on, facing Stretch again.

"Yeah, right," grunted Fatso.

"No way you'd want us around your house," added Stinkie.

Casper exhaled in exhasperation. "Come on, guys," he pleaded. "You're like, my family. I wouldn't want my family to leave. I - " He looked down at James and Kat, who nodded. "We really want you to stay."

While Stinkie and Fatso seemed relieved, Stretch was hesitant.

"Oh, don't pull that 'friendly ghost' garbage with us," the tall ghost snapped, narrowing his eyes. "We don't want your charity. Do we, boys?"

Stinkie and Fatso examined the chandelier.

"Um," said Casper, thinking fast. "Well, I wouldn't even have the house if it weren't for you guys, you know."

"Yeah? And how's that?"

"Well," explained Casper, glancing down at Kat, "you're the ones the Mayor officially recognizes as the haunters of Whipstaff, not me at all." He clasped his hands behind his back. "So...it might be my name on the deed, but it's only because of your skills as...real scary ghosts."

"That's right," agreed James. "You three are the only ones who really haunt this place."

"I couldn't haunt a dollhouse!" concluded Casper.

Stretch looked over his shoulder at Stinkie and Fatso, who nodded eagerly. "Well..." He met James' eyes briefly, then looked back at Casper. "For once you've got a point on that round head of yours," he said finally. He turned around. "Come on, boys, let's go mess with the lighthouse lamp again."

Casper floated back down to the Harveys as the Trio shot off through a wall. "No prizes on if I'm going to regret doing that," he smiled.

Kat burst into a grin. "Don't worry," she said. "I plan on forcing them to help me write that American History assignment I have to do now that I'll be going back to school in January. I'm sure they'll love that." She hugged Casper.

Then they both hugged James, who for once had nothing to add.

Story copyright © 1996 by Cynthia "Sparky" Read