The Afterlife Academy Read Free Page B

different from regular school.
    “Where do I sign up? Can I go with you guys?” he asked.
    “Ha!” Alton pulled Ronald out of his way to glare at Walter. “We haven’t even started your questionnaire, and the Afterlife Academy takes at least four years to complete.
‘Can I go with you guys?’ 
” he mimicked.
    “Four
years
?” Walter groaned. Maybe he should reconsider this.
    “Yeah, but the time flies. And you need the training,” Riley said.
    “What sort of training?”
    “Shade Spotting and Hand-to-Hand Combat,” Reginald began.
    “Thought Whispering and Energy Transfer,” Riley continued.
    “Shielding and Animal Communication,” Ronald finished. “There’s a lot. But the instructors are awesome, and you’ll breeze through the courses in no time. Well, take it easy, Walter, and remember, have fun and soak up as much as you can.” With that, the Logan brothers charged through the second door down the right hallway.
    “Ahem.” Alton slid a thick packet of papers across his desk. “It is the most difficult questionnaire of them all to complete, but that was your choice.” Walter picked up the questionnaire and a pencil and glanced at the cover sheet. “It’s not all fun and games, you know,” Alton continued, “the Afterlife Academy. In fact, you’ll probably drop out in a month.”
    Walter ignored him and eagerly began the arduous process of completing the questionnaire.

C harlie entered his family’s study. Within the slightly cramped quarters of the room, Mr. Dewdle had set up a computer desk, a reclining office chair, and a ratty-looking futon. The rest of the office belonged to Charlie’s birds. Upon seeing him enter, the canaries and finches tweeted anxiously and pecked at their cages with their beaks. The ancient blue parakeet in the corner of the room cocked its head to the side and gave a rattling squawk. Charlie shushed them by dribbling handfuls of minuscule pellets into their feed bowls.
    Charlie sat down at the computer, entered the screen-saver password, and connected to the Internet. Within a few seconds, he had navigated to one of his favorite websites: SpiritSpy.org. The website was run by Wisdom Willows, a giant in the world of paranormal enthusiasts.
    Charlie clicked the Chat with Wisdom link at the top of the screen and entered his question.
I found a book in a hole. It’s written in some foreign language, and when I picked it up, my EMF detector went crazy. Is that normal? How often do books register high readings on EMF detectors?
    He hit “send” just as the sound of his mother clinking the silverware at the kitchen table announced dinner. He would have to wait to see if Wisdom Willows would respond.

A fter nearly two hours of absolute boredom, Walter painfully scribbled the last answer of Alton’s two-thousand-question questionnaire. Never in his life had he been so relieved to finish an exam.
    “Can I go now?” he asked.
    “There’s still time to change your mind,” Alton said. “Think about it. You could be singing with the Heavenly Choir. Their concerts are the stuff of legends.” He gazed over Walter’s shoulder and his vision blurred.
    “Tempting,” Walter said, standing from his chair. “But I think I’ll pass.”
    Alton clucked his tongue and refocused his eyes. “Suit yourself. It’s the second-to-last door before the end.” Alton gestured toward the left side of the left hallway.
    The wooden doors that lined the hall looked like they led to classrooms. Each of them was numbered with gold-flaked lettering above the doorframe and had a frosted square window. Walter arrived at his designated door, but a fluttery sensation in his chest caused him to hesitate before turning the knob. It was like the first day of school all over again. Were there things like detention or suspension at the Afterlife Academy? Walter could almost hear his father’s timeless advice just behind his ear.
    Don’t be stupid.
    Squeezing the knob in his fingers,