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it!”
    No, Robbie thought. No! No!
    â€œDon’t worry,” Dora whispered in Robbie’s ear. “Oliver won’t be this calm when I get through with him.”
    Robbie nodded. Right now he didn’t care who scared Oliver. As long as Oliver was really frightened.
    Then maybe Oliver would finally believe in ghosts!

12

    D ora and Robbie followed Oliver and Nell on the way to school, pretending to be their shadows.
    Robbie was peeved because Dora shadowed Oliver. She had picked first. So Robbie had to stick with Nell.
    He didn’t like being a girl’s shadow.
    It was perfect ghost weather. Dark clouds covered the sky. The wind blew dried leaves along the curbs. The air was cool and smelled like rain.
    Nell pulled a pink collapsible umbrella out of her backpack. She pressed the button to open it and held it above her head.
    â€œPut that umbrella down,” Oliver scolded. “It’s not raining yet.”
    â€œI like it up,” Nell replied.
    Oliver rolled his eyes. “You look dumb.”
    Nell stuck out her tongue, but she closed the umbrella. “Will you walk me over to this girl Tracy’s house after school today?” she asked. “I met her yesterday, and she invited me over.”
    â€œDid you check with Mom?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œDid you check with Tracy’s mom?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œOkay,” Oliver said. “I’m glad you’re making friends. Maybe you’ll leave me and Shawn alone now!”
    â€œHah!” Nell scoffed. “Maybe we’ll both spy on you!”
    â€œYou better not!”
    Nell just smirked.
    Robbie agreed with Oliver. Nell was a brat!
    They reached Shadyside Elementary School. Kids flooded down the street and out of parked cars, heading into the front entrance.
    â€œBe here after school!” Nell commanded before running off. She joined a little girl with pink-framed glasses on the front steps of the school.
    Robbie almost shadowed Nell into school. He noticed when she was halfway across the street. He jerked himself loose from her shadow just in time.
    â€œBossy! For a little kid, she’s awfully bossy!” Oliver was muttering as Robbie drifted back.
    â€œWake up!” Dora yelled for Robbie’s ears only. “We have a job to do!”
    â€œYou have a job. I’m just going to watch!”
    â€œAll right,” Dora growled. “Watch and learn!”
    * * *
    Both ghosts clung to Oliver’s shadow as he went inside the big redbrick school. There were so many students in the halls that Robbie was confused. He hadn’t seen these many people in one place in a long time! If ever—outside of TV.
    Oliver’s first class was English. Robbie was relieved to get to a room where they could stay still for a while. It was hard following Oliver when he dodged between people. This school was huge and noisy!
    Dora didn’t start anything yet. Robbie wondered if something was the matter with her.
    Maybe she was just trying to get used to being in this big building! It felt strange to be outside the house.
    By the end of Oliver’s class, Robbie began feeling better, more himself. Dora seemed to perk up too.
    Oliver’s second class was math. Robbie had an easier time navigating the halls this time. Dora winked at him, so she must be ready for the big scare.
    The teacher, Mr. Gerard, handed out a math test. “Now that we’ve gotten the introductory material out of the way, I want to see where you all are in math. We have some new faces in Shadyside this year.” He smiled at Oliver.
    Oliver smiled, looking embarrassed. He peeked at the kids near him. Robbie checked them out too. They were studying Oliver. He was the new kid after all.
    â€œOh, yeah,” Dora murmured. “This will be good. Now everybody’s looking at him.”
    Dora clasped her hands above her head and shook them like a champion. Robbie rolled his