Finders Keepers

been holding. Oh, great. She thought he was interested in her — and not in a big brother way. What had Jack got him into? Man, if his best friend wasn’t already dead, Ken would have killed him.

Maybe Jack heard his thoughts, because he didn’t try to contact Ken the rest of the weekend, and Ken could think about more important subjects. Like the next seance on Monday.

He’d decided he was definitely going back. That Cassandra, the medium — Ken didn’t have any experience with mediums, but she seemed like the real thing. Her voice, when she related the messages from Margaret’s mother, sounded sincere to him. Like she was really listening to another voice, and like she really cared.

That poor Margaret! He hoped the medium would be able to help her. Maybe if she knew her mother was OK, in heaven or whatever, she’d feel better and be able to get on with her life. The older woman, Dahlia — she seemed a little nuts, but it was possible she actually had experienced other live s. Lots of intelligent people believed in reincarnation.

But the one who had really touched him was Stevie. The boy really cared about his family, and he was desperate to help them.

Ken was dying to talk about this, to share the experience. But he couldn’t tell his friends — they’d just laugh. And how could he explain his own interest without revealing his gift? Lucy knew about it, but he was afraid to talk to her about anything. She’d only think he was coming on to her. So for once he was really looking forward to the gifted class. His classmates were the only people he could tell.

He arrived early at class that Monday. Emily was the only other student already there.

‘I bought a Get Well Soon card for Amanda,’ she told Ken. ‘Will you sign it?’

Ken grimaced. Of course he’d have to sign it — it would be childish and mean to refuse. And it wasn’t as if he wanted her to die, or suffer terribly. But what would he write?

Emily had already contributed her message. ‘Hi, Amanda, we miss you!!! Get well quickly!!! Love, Emily.’

After thinking a moment, he scrawled,‘I hope you feel better soon. Best wishes, Ken Preston.’ It was the kind of thing you’d write on a card that was going to someone you barely knew. But that was how he felt about her now.

He sat at his desk and waited impatiently for the others to arrive. Emily made each of them sign the card, and when Madame arrived she had to sign it too.

As soon as the bell rang, his hand flew up. So did Tracey’s. Madame called on her first.

‘Madame, could we take up a collection to send Amanda some flowers?’

‘That’s a nice idea, Tracey,’ Madame said.

Charles didn’t think so. ‘Her family’s rich. They can afford to buy her plenty of flowers.’

Madame frowned. ‘That’s not the point, Charles. We want Amanda to know we’re thinking about her.’

Martin raised his hand. ‘I’m not thinking about her.’

Jenna turned to him. ‘Just fake it, Martin. It’s the right thing to do.’

‘I think she likes roses,’ Tracey said. ‘Yellow ones would be nice.’

‘Roses are really expensive,’ Emily said. ‘I don’t know if we’ll be able to collect that much money. Are tulips in season now?’

Ken slumped in his seat. Personally, he felt like agreeing with Charles and Martin. But mainly he wanted this discussion of flowers to end so he could bring up his news.

Finally the money was collected and Emily said she’d go to the florist and see what kind of flowers they could buy. The second she finished speaking, Ken put his hand up, and Madame nodded to him.

‘There’s something I want to tell the class about,’ he said. ‘Last Friday night I went to a seance.’

‘What’s a seance?’ Martin asked.

Madame answered for Ken. ‘It’s a ritual where people try to contact friends and family who have passed on.’ She frowned.‘What were you doing there, Ken?’

‘I just thought it would be interesting,’ he said. ‘To meet people who do what I do.’

Now Madame looked seriously concerned. ‘Did you participate in the seance, Ken? Did you let people know about your gift?’

‘No, no, nothing like that,’ he assured her. ‘I was just listening. Anyway, there was this kid—’

He was interrupted before he could get any further. ‘Are you nuts?’ Jenna asked. ‘Those things are scams.’

‘You don’t know if that’s true,’ he declared. ‘Hey, if I can talk to the dead, there must be other people who can do it.’

But Madame was shaking her head. ‘That’s not necessarily true, Ken. Your gift may be unique.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Ken argued. ‘This medium, Cassandra, she wants to help people. She doesn’t even charge money for coming to the seance.’

Madame didn’t look convinced. ‘I’m sorry, Ken, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to attend meetings like that. You’ll be urged to join in. You may feel compelled to share your gift.’

Ken scowled. ‘I can control myself, Madame.’

‘That’s not true,’ Jenna interjected. ‘You’re always saying how you can’t control your gift.’

Ken glared at her. ‘I meant, I know how to keep my mouth shut.’

‘I’m sure you do,’ Madame said smoothly. ‘But Ken, you’ll encounter temptations. Perhaps a participant in the seance will be desperate to contact a deceased loved one and you’ll actually receive a message from that person who’s passed on. You’ll want to relay the message.’

She had a point, and Ken found it extremely annoying. It was as if she didn’t trust him to behave properly. And his classmates weren’t sympathetic either.

‘Do you understand what we’re saying, Ken?’ Madame asked.

He shrugged. ‘Whatever.’

But that evening he told his parents he was going to the library. Instead he went back to Cassandra’s apartment.

He got there early, but he wasn’t the first to arrive. Dahlia was already there, having an intense conversation with Cassandra.

‘I knew Cleopatra very well, you see. I was one of her handmaidens. And I told her over and over again, “Cleo, Mark Antony is worth a dozen Caesars.” But would she ever listen to me? That woman had a mind of her own. She could be so stubborn.’

He really didn’t want to get caught up in this conversation, and he was relieved when Stevie arrived next.

‘Hey, how ’s it going?’ he asked the younger boy.

Stevie didn’t look any more cheerful than he’d looked at the last seance.

‘OK, I guess,’ he said.‘Mom took Dad’s old clothes to a second-hand shop and sold them. We didn’t get much though.’ He smiled sadly. ‘It’s not like he wore designer clothes.’

Ken nodded sympathetically, and Stevie continued.

‘I’ve been trying to get a job delivering newspapers, but you have to be twelve and I’m only eleven.’ He looked at Ken hopefully. ‘Do you know anyone who would hire me? I’m very mature for my age. I could run errands, mow lawns, carry groceries …’

‘I’ll ask my mother,’ Ken promised him. ‘Listen, I get a pretty decent allowance. I could give you a few bucks …’

Stevie shook his head violently. ‘I won’t take charity,’ he stated firmly. Ken could see that he was trying to look older than his eleven years. It made Ken hurt inside. He wished the medium would pay more attention to the boy and less to the lady with the past lives. Dahlia just wanted to say hi to old friends but Stevie was in serious need of help.

Another woman walked in, and it took Ken a minute to realize she was Margaret. She looked completely different tonight. Her hair was shorter, she wore jeans, and she was — well, kind of pretty! He was amazed. Had that brief message from her mother completely changed her life?

Cassandra seemed very surprised to see her too. She ushered them all to the table, but she kept looking at Margaret with a puzzled expression.

They joined hands and the medium began. ‘Oh spirits, hear our fervent plea. We are in great need of your