The Hidden Corpse and the Ghost's Truth

pte

th the Fa

th the fa

"Everyone, form a line. No pushing.

iddle-aged woman asked

replied solemnly, "That's j

w, and with it, her ability to make money. Making

rich woman had crashed

as completely drained, she'd have to snea

ed a sol

s. Then bite him, cover up the mark with some h

the thought aside and turned

s the fir

, the same one who'd helped Mr. Turner find his missing daughter

iritual readings. She knew how

vy, my grandson's applying to college this year

randma, you know my grades. This is poin

"What do you know, kid? This isn't mumbo

And I'm paying for it myself. Your d

in his pocket, standing in front

ally. "Please excuse him

s fine. He's young. Th

barely looked older than him. His

t of paper. "Okay, write a word

thods you used in a reading, the more c

ivination wa

ted with curiosity. They'd never seen this kind of

d scribbled the word "Grace" on the pap

re top of your class, right? You should

inally let out the bre

If I can't get into college, who can? Grandma, you really spent

ear and snapped,

r yelped, quickly falling silent as he r

eepish smile. "Miss Ivy, wha

almly, "It hold

th elegance and promise. It's often associated with a bright, prosperous future. For a student like your gran

ot be good for much else, but he

e, grinning. "Well, I can't a

ookers

for a reading or just to

hush now." Then she turned back. "W

ce. 'Grace' is typically linked with harmony and love. It co

ha

's ear again. "You little rascal!

-?! How did she know? Not ev

ly! My ear! That

an barely handle algebra, but you've got

e you yelling at me

d to Ivy and pleaded, "Miss I

wat him. "What do you know about re

e young ones figure it out themselves. If you

name probably had something similar to "Grace" in it. Still, sh

ngs and cut straight to the point. "Miss Ivy, tell me

our grandson has a strong fo

rom relief. "Thank God. And thank

he boy home, still muttering

cene closely. Sensing an opportunity, he stepped forward

l get into college too

ll, it was the same word. If she gave him the same reading, he'd c

ace, smiling faintly. "Are you sure you wa

"Of course I am. Hurry. O

, "As you wish-pay

e table and scoffed, "You're not going to f

a gift for academics. You've always ranked at the bottom of you

discuss other people, it's all good news. But when it come

person wrote it straight and balanced. Yours is twisted, off-center-almost like

hing on, responded

er looked

d. "Exactly. It turns i

So what does that

ur entire path. I can see it in your face. You lost your dad when you were three, your mom

aker kids, even stealing from your neighbors. You've drifted through life, never r

cked. "Stop... I would

dead-end jobs-hauling bricks, tightening screws,

y how it all e

im. He stared at Ivy, desperate. "Is there anything I ca

he bad things you've done have chipped away at your luck. Turn it aroun

rd and whispered, "

off i

st told him the truth and pointed him toward something b

art over. From now on, he'd be Wade Fo

ead a few more fortunes before

nging around were

uckled. "Even his peanuts and sunflower seeds taste bett

tomorrow, Master

"Don't worry-I'll be

See you

tidied up his stall and wandered off

ll drifting through the street a

y, pickled eggs, roasted veggies, an

ay today, Master. Business has picked up a lot since you started setti

and sturdy hands. A good man, through and through.

pack up and head home right away. Something's no