A Brighter Outlook

Chapter 20

The last of the stray polka notes had finally faded from the air, leaving behind a silence so profound it felt like it was wearing earmuffs. Mr. Henderson’s prize-winning petunias, which had spontaneously sprouted dazzling polka dots for reasons no one could quite fathom, were back to their normal, un-dotty selves. And the garden gnomes, bless their ceramic hearts, had all reappeared precisely where they belonged, looking slightly sheepish, as if they’d been on a very wild, gnome-sized adventure. Bartholomew ‘Barty’ Buttercup, the grumpy ghost who’d orchestrated this entire town-wide tizzy, was currently doing a little jig of delight in the corner of my room, a spectral flour cloud puffing around him. He’d finally found his Grandma Mildred’s legendary “Cloud Nine Crumb” biscuit recipe, which, as it turned out, had been tucked inside a giant, glitter-bombed disco ball that had mysteriously appeared in the town hall basement during a particularly enthusiastic Zumba class last year. Who knew disco balls were such good secret keepers?

“Oh, Elara, my dear! You’ve done it!” Barty chirped, his spectral voice no longer a gravelly grumble but a surprisingly melodious hum. He dusted off his incorporeal chef’s hat. “My biscuits will live on! My legacy! My… my crummy legacy!” He did another little jig, nearly knocking over my lamp.