Troublemaker Read Free Page A

spirit world. Travelin’ between worlds can be dangerous. Life and death is on two different sides, and once you cross over that’s where you stay.”
    Allene explained that travel between the spirit world and the world of the living was no easy feat. Only a select handful of highly skilled individuals, all of whom had possessed the gift when they’d been alive, were able to exist between realms.
    Although Allene was an apparition, and in her world she could float across a room, walk through walls, and defy space, she was limited in her abilities once she left the spirit realm and came to the time and place where Alexandria existed. She’d been ninety-eight years old when she’d passed away, and upon her return to the living world, her nearly century-old bones would revert back to their fragile state, the same as when she’d taken her last breath. Gravity and the earth’s other elements could work against her.
    â€œI did come to see you one time,” Allene had told her. “It was last year, shortly after I first made contact with you. I came to your mother’s house and sat right in between you and her at the table in her big fancy kitchen.”
    â€œYou did?” Alexandria said in shock.
    â€œYes, but I was only able to stay a short while. I wasn’t fully prepared for how much it would take outta me. But it was worth it ’cause I got to see two generations of my family. Bein’ in the presence of you and your mama was a joy.”
    â€œBut if you’re a spirit why do you get tired?” Alexandria asked. “I thought you were impervious to physical ailments.”
    Allene shrugged and then nodded. “I used to think the same thing about spirits until I became one. God sets up everything ’xactly the way it’s ’sposed to be. Can you imagine how much devilment spirits could cause if all of us could freely walk among the living, and do whatever we wanted without fear of harm, hurt, or danger to our bodies?”
    â€œYou’ve got a good point,” Alexandria said in amazement.
    â€œI’m one of few who can do it, and even though I only visited for a short spell I overjoyed to see you and your mama.”
    â€œI can’t believe you were sitting next to me. . . . I wonder why I didn’t feel your presence.”
    â€œ ’Cause I didn’t want you to. I was there to observe.”
    â€œI didn’t know you could cloak yourself like that.”
    â€œI could then, but I doubt I’d be able to do that now. Your abilities have gotten much stronger. I don’t think I could hide from you if I tried.”
    â€œGrandma, I really wish it wasn’t so hard for you to come visit me. I want to see you. I miss you.”
    â€œAww, I want to visit with you, too. But it’s difficult, baby girl, and I see why my great-grandmamma only came to visit me every once in a blue moon, and when she did, it was only in my dreams. Even though I’m in spirit form, I still have to use human energy to travel from my world to yours.”
    â€œI’ve been able to glimpse into your world through my visions, and sometimes I can see you just as plainly as if you were sitting next to me,” Alexandria said with excitement. “Maybe if I concentrate hard enough I can come to where you are.”
    â€œNo, baby girl,” Allene said with caution. “You can look back into the past, and you can see things that’s gonna happen in the future. But the only way you can step into my world is if you pass on.”
    Alexandria nodded as she listened to her grandmother’s voice. Knowing what she was going to say next.
    â€œJust like you and I both know,” Allene said gently, “that won’t happen for another seventy years. But don’t worry. I’m gonna always be with you—even when you can’t see or hear me, I’ll be near. I’m gonna protect and guide you.”
    As Alexandria