The Ghost of Oak Read Free

and carefully, she took her
first-next step. Then, she took more small steps. She was about to
pass up the cemetery, when she noticed something shimmering under a
small pile of grit by the cemetery fence. She knelt down beside the
strange object and brushed away some of the grit. The object
appeared to be some sort of necklace. Katie took a closer look at
the object.
             It was a locket, and it appeared to be a gold heart with an
American eagle in the center. It looked as if it had once belonged
to someone rich, but it also looked very old, as if whoever owned
it had bought it secondhand. Actually, it looked like it was way
older than any antique that Katie had ever seen. It was probably
something had been crafted in the 1600's at the very least. Though
beautiful, it looked as if had seen hundreds of thousands of better
days. Katie thought however that if she took it and cleaned it up
like new, that maybe it would be worth money. If it was, she could
sell it and buythe expensive bike that she wanted. Or, she could
just keep it. Having a piece of jewelry like that was probably
worth using her old bike. She would have to see about that, but one
thing was for sure. She was taking it home with her. So, hesitantly
and careful not to break it, Katie picked up the locket. Then, she
happily skipped the rest of the way home. If only she knew what she
was getting herself into by taking the locket
home.
     
  Chapter
Two
      Young Katie
Smith got home several minutes later, to find her mother awaiting
her arrival by the front door.
           "What took you so long?" replied Mrs. Smith in an
extremely discontented sort of way.
            Katie stood there, dumbfounded. She didn't understand just
how to explain the situation to her mother. However, she took the
courage to take a deep breath and say: "This." She pulled the
necklace out of her pocket and showed the "loot" to her
mother.
          
     Mrs. Smith examined the
locket in her daughter's hand closely with an occasional frown or
puzzled expression. "Where did you find this?" she asked, throwing
yet another question at her daughter. Katie explained to her mother
how she had come across the locket under the tiny pile of grit by
the cemetery gates. Mrs. Smith agreed with Katie on the fact that
the fancy locket was definitely worth loads of
cash.
           "Do we have to sell it, Mom? It is very pretty,
and I'd sort of like to keep it", Supplicated
Katie.
           "Well, O.k., she said after a long period of
hesitation. I suppose that there isn't really any harm in keeping
it. All I have to say is that if you ever find out that someone is
looking for a locket like that one, you will give it to them. Do
you hear me?" Katie nodded.
           She understood that if she were to come across
the locket's rightful owner, she would have no choice but to return
it. She was also pleased to know that if she never did find the
necklace's owner that it was all hers.
          "Katie, would you please help me get dinner?"
That was Mrs. Smith Calling her daughter to help
cook.
            Katie always enjoyed helping her mother with dinner, ever
since she was a little girl, and she hoped to become a chef
someday. Her father would be home from work in about an hour, and
he expected his dinner to be ready every single day, the minute he
walked through the door. It was his one annoying tendency that no
one could ever change. Katie walked into the kitchen, where her
mother stood over the stove, stirring a pot of soup with a wooden
spoon. Katie instantly got out some lettuce, peppers, cucumbers,
carrots, and tomatoes, and spread them out on the table. She got a
big glass bowl from the cabinet, and tossed a salad. She didn't add
the croutons or the dressing yet, though. If she did, it might get
soggy, and if it got soggy, Mr. Smith would be quite unhappy with
the meal.
          "That looks delicious." Mrs. Smith commented,
admiring Katie's cooking