Read A Good Night for Ghosts for Free Online Page B

it.” He handed the trumpet to Annie.
    “Do you want to keep it?” she said.
    “No, thanks. I have my own horn back at my house, a cornet they gave me at the Waif’s Home,” said Dipper. “Someday when I’m grown, maybe I’ll bring it out again.”
    “I think you should have gone with the fellas,Dipper,” said Jack, “to share your musical gifts—”
    “I know, I know,” said Dipper, “to share my musical gifts with the world.” He shook his head as if he were shaking off the thought. Then he beamed a big smile at Jack and Annie. “Hey! Weren’t we talking about dessert a little while back? That’s a gig I can get behind and still get some sleep. Come on!”
    As Dipper led Jack and Annie down the rain-slicked street, the wet sidewalks glistened like silver. Life had returned to the French Quarter. Horses and mules splashed through puddles. Streetlamps burned brightly outside dance halls and restaurants. Waiters carried tables and chairs back outside.
    When Dipper, Jack, and Annie came to Jackson Square, they found kids playing music again. A band was playing a song Jack knew: “When the Saints Go Marching In.” A few people in costumes were wandering about.
    Dipper led Jack and Annie to the back door ofthe River Café. “The cook here is a friend of mine. So don’t worry about the waiters,” he said with a wink. “Be back in a minute.” He slipped into the café kitchen.
    As Jack and Annie waited for Dipper, they could hear the jazzy music coming from the square:
    Oh, when the saints go marching in
,
Oh, when the saints go marching in
.
    “Teddy was right. I love New Orleans,” said Annie.
    “Me too,” said Jack. “But how are we ever going to accomplish our mission for Merlin? Dipper seems like he’s never going to change his mind about making music.”
    “I know,” said Annie. “In fact, I was just thinking that we might have to do something really drastic.”
    “What’s that?” said Jack.
    “Show him our research book,” said Annie.
    “Whoa!” said Jack. “Do you really think—”
    Before Jack could finish, Dipper came back outside. “Mmm-mmm! Talk about something good!” he said. He clutched a greasy napkin filled with freshly made doughnuts. “Follow me.”
    As Jack and Annie followed Dipper to the river, Jack’s mind was racing.
Should
they show Dipper the research book? It would prove they’d come from the future. What would Dipper say? What would he think?
It’s too weird
, Jack thought.
    “Let’s just try talking to him first,” Jack whispered to Annie. She nodded.
    Dipper led them to a bench near the water. Jack and Annie sat on the wet wood on either side of him. Dipper unwrapped the doughnuts and handed one to Jack and one to Annie and kept one for himself.
    “Careful,” Dipper said. “The sugar will get all over y’all.”
    Jack lifted the warm, sticky doughnut to his mouth and took a big bite. Powdered sugar, flour,butter, vanilla—all melted in his mouth. It was mighty good.
    Nobody talked while they ate their doughnuts. When they were finished, they all wiped their sticky fingers on their shirts and pants. By now, Jack’s clothes were soaked with rainwater, coal dust, kitchen grease, sweat, and grime.
A little powdered sugar and butter won’t make a bit of difference
, he thought.
    “So, Dipper,” said Annie. “You know you’re a really great musician, don’t you?”
    Dipper smiled at her.
    “Actually, you’re a creative genius,” added Jack.
    Dipper laughed out loud. “And y’all know who
you
are, don’t you?”
    “Yup, the biggest potato heads you ever met,” finished Jack.
    “But
this
time we’re
right,”
said Annie.
    “Nope, sorry,” said Dipper. “I’m definitely no genius. The truth is I never got past elementaryschool. I don’t even know how to read music.”
    “But don’t you love to
play
music?” said Annie.
    “Yeah, sure, I do. Somehow I’ve got music in my bones,” said Dipper. “Sad to say,
all
I really ever