Part III

***11 years later***

Joel: *in a whiny voice* Mom. Why can't we just go home?

Mel: Because the store just got a new shipment and we need a strong boy to lift some of it.

Juliette: Just don't break anything. I know I probably would.

Joel:Fine, but then can I go home?

Mel: I'll drop you at home. Okay? Juliette; you want to stay here, right?

Juliette: You know it!

*** I

Joel is at home and Juliette is helping Melinda and Delia with the creative placement of the new items in the store when the siren of an ambulance nears the store. There is an emergency in town square. Juliette and Melinda look up and go outside.

Juliette: I've always liked paramedics. Just a...weird fascination I guess.

A ghost is standing a few feet away from the ambulance, taking in the scene. He is glowing,pale-white, with spiky blond hair and intense blue eyes.

Ghost: Eleven years and you still haven't read the wall.

Mel: Eleven years and you still haven't told me who you are.

Ghost: You just weren't listening. I'm the shining one. I'm just here to watch.

Mel: How am I supposed to help you cross over if you never come to me? You're rather difficult.

Ghost: I visit. And besides, I can't leave yet anyway. Not until the gathering.

Juliette:What gathering?

Mel: What's that supposed to mean?

Ghost: It's in the book.

Juliette: "It's in the book" What book?

Ghost: You have to read the wall to understand it.

Juliette: To understand what? What wall?

Ghost:The book.

The ghost disappears lightning-fast, leaving Juliette dumbfounded, looking at her mother in hope of an answer.

Mel: Get in the car!

Juliette: What?

Mel: Now!

Both Juliette and Melinda climb into the red Saturn Outlook and speed off toward home. Delia comes outside and sighs.

Delia: Yes, Melinda. I'll watch the store while you go out on a ghost adventure. No problem. I'll call Ned.

***II

The twins are in their room, staring at each other silently. Joel is pacing the floor urgently, as if waiting for the opportune moment to break some really bad news.

Joel: Jules, I cant help you and mom anymore.

Juliette: Why not?

Joel: I can't deal with this gift. I don't want i. I want them to leave me alone! I feel like a total freak, and everyone thinks I', crazy. This gift is stupid and I want it gone.

Juliette: Joel! Don't say things like that! This gift is special and it deserves your respect.

Joel: I don't want this gift! It's done nothing but cause me trouble! So, like any sane person, I tune them out.

Juliette: *rolling her eyes disgustedly* Joel, you've got to be kidding me. With this gift, you have to sacrifice.

Joel: I'm done sacrificing! It's not worth it!

Juliette: Please, stop it! Joel, you were given this gift for one reason: to help others.

Joel: That's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to help you. I could make it all go away. I could help you so that you didn't see them anymore either.

Juliette: I don't want it gone!

Joel: *shaking head* Do you remember when we were younger? Do you remember the bond we had?

Juliette: Yeah.

Joel: A bond that only twins can share.

Juliette: That's right.

Joel: That bond is about to be broken.

Juliette: What do you mean?

Joel: Open your eyes! When they come to you, they come to me too! They bug me!

Juliette: Because you're supposed to help them!

Joel: Face the facts! You need to choose a side, because I'm not dealing with this anymore! You need to choose which side you want to take. Pick me, and you don't talk to them anymore, you don't tell mom, and you make them leave me alone. Pick them, and I will never assist you and mom on your ghost trips, I won't talk to them, i won't have anything to do with them, but we'll be against each other. We'll have that... distance between us. You'll be my "sister", and not my "twin".

Juliette: That's not fair!

Joel: *yelling* Life isn't fair! Besides, we both know how this is going to pan out in the end. Pick a side.

Juliette: *sobbing* Does it really have to be like this?

Joel: Yeah.

Juliette: *crying* Then I pick them. Sorry, Joel.

Joel: Like I said, the bond has been broken.

Juliette runs toward the door, but Joel stops her.

Joel: Don't tell mom!

Juliette: Or?

Joel: The whole school will know your secret!

Juliette: It's your secret too!

Joel: I just finished telling you. It's not my gift anymore.

Juliette runs out of her room, crying, and out the door onto the front porch. The night sky is peaceful, crickets chirping, wind rustling the bushes. Melinda comes outside looking worried, and sits down on a padded bench next to Juliette.

Mel: What's wrong?

Juliette: I...stubbed my toe. It's hurts really bad.

Mel: Well, I hope your toe fells better....Are you going to tell me what's really going on?

Juliette: *shakes her head no*

Mel: It's about the gift, isn't it?

Juliette: *nods* I guess you could say that.

Mel: It gets easier.

Juliette: That's good.

***III

Melinda climbs on her bed, letting Jim's arms wrap around her.

Mel: It's been a day. Pushy ghost, but at least he crossed over. That always makes me happy, but I bet a new one will come along in a week.

Jim: That's normal.

Mel: My guess is that the twins had a fight. I don't know what it was about, but...*takes a deep breath*

Jim: My brother and I would always get into fights at that age. It's just a phase. They're teenagers. What do you expect?

Mel: I wish I had known Gabriel then. Maybe he wouldn't have turned into such a creep. I don't even know why I mentioned that.

Jim: Well, on the bright side, we finally have some alone time.

Mel: It's so rare nowadays. It always makes me a little happier, though.

Jim: Haha! I hoped so. What else is on your mind?

Mel: I'm so lucky to have such a caring husband!

Jim: Stay on task. What's up?

Mel: I'm still baffled by that writing on the twins' wall. The ghost told me it was involved. It's been ten years and I still remember it perfectly. "Parum saviors". I've tried so many languages!

Jim: *encouragingly* You can try more tomorrow!

Mel: I need a hug.

Jim: And a kiss?

Mel: That's why I love you! You know what I like!

***IV

Payne: Two kids, husband in a new body, ten years, and you still look fabulous!

Mel: *Slaps Payne on the back* Still married. Same guy. Don't get any ideas!

Payne: Okay, so the ghost made the twins write "parum saviors" on their wall?

Mel: Yeah. I've tried so many languages: Polish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, but nothing comes up!

Eli: You're missing a big one!

Mel: What?

Eli and Payne: Latin!

Mel: That makes sense! Let me see your laptop! *Takes Eli's laptop*

Eli: Hey!

Mel: I'll give it back. I'm just looking it up. *Goes silent*

Payne: Well?

Eli: Melinda? *goes over to the computer*

Mel: It means "little saviors".

Eli: So, they get some major ghost-busting experience!

Mel: A ghost sent me a similar message. "You're the one". After that, I died! This isn't good at all. This ghost also said "It's in the book", so I'm guessing that the Book of Changes will tell us what this means. And since I can't touch it and you're the guard...

Eli: On it!