Chapter Twenty Four (The Monkey Puzzle Tree)

It I late at night, and Carolyn is talking to Martha, they are sharing tea, or coffee, or something. Martha insults Captain's tree, which is never a good thing to do. He planted that tree himself and he loves that tree, he has told me so. It was a very long story that I had to sit through about some place called Santiago.

She sees Captain in the bedroom later and he is very upset about them tampering with his tree. He wants his home left alone and throws a tantrum. I have not seen him this mad in a long time. I fear a fight between them. I thought after all this time they had learned to get along, but I guess I was wrong.

People come in to remove his things the next day and he lets them! I do not understand, they belong to him how can he let them go? Why does he not say something? I corner him in the kitchen so that he will talk to me.

Captain, do something!

'What would you have me do?"

Stop them! They are taking your things!

"I cannot."

Of course you can! You only have to play tricks, scare them. I wagged my tail happily; I really do like Captain's tricks.

"No, you misunderstand, my furry friend. I promised I would stay out of the way," he seemed so sad as he said this that it made me mad.

Who did you promise this to? It was a bad promise.

"Carolyn," he said.

Hmm, now I see the dilemma. Carolyn wants to change things and because he loves her, he is letting her get rid of his things.

But you love those things.

"Yes, I do, but I gave my word." The Captain looks so sad that I whimper. "Don't cry, Scruffy. It will be all right, I will get over it."

Well I didn't agree! I tell him and run into the run to go after the moving men. As I run into the hallway he is in front of me. I try to get to the men by running another way but he is there again. I growl at him in frustration.

I didn't agree to anything. I glare at him.

"But I did, and I will not have you interfere when I have given my word."

Captain! I growl at him.

"No," he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

Fine!

With a last growl I go to sit on the porch. Why does a ghost have to keep his word anyway? And why Is Carolyn being so unreasonable? Shouldn't she at least ask him what he is willing to part with? That's the only fair thing to do. I thought she was a fair person, but now I'm not so sure.

I am very unhappy with her. When I go back in later I sit quietly and watch Captain. I see the sadness in his eyes when some of those things leave. How can Carolyn not see how this affects him? Even I'm sad to see his things go.

He is happy that he still has his tree, and I can't blame him for that. At least she hasn't taken that away from Captain. He suggests a good trimming but she insists on taking it down! After all she has taken from him, how can she do this? But she is determined and will not listen to anything that Captain says. I am so worried. I can feel how upset Captain is as he watches it cut down, he feels like he is being cut down, like Carolyn is removing him from the house that he built himself. I see him stare at the fallen tree for a long minute, then he looks at me and I see the sadness in his eyes.

Then I suddenly feel nothing.

Jonathan knows something is wrong when he gets home from school. He stares in horror at the fallen tree and is unhappy with Carolyn too. He looks for Captain but can't find him. Captain is gone! I do not feel him anywhere!

Dinner is sad. No one eats, not even me. The house feels different, lonely, without Captain. I am mad at Carolyn, this is her fault. If she hadn't been so mean he would still be here. I wouldn't tell him, but I miss him too. I don't even want the cookie that Martha offers me.

The Scared One, Claymore shows up and Carolyn brings him upstairs. I think she wants to find out if Claymore sees Captain. If Captain is here he will torment Claymore, we all know that, but he doesn't show up. Claymore is excited, glad that he is gone. I want to bite him. Captain is worth at least ten of Claymore.

Carolyn is very upset because Captain is gone, and she cries. Serves her right, she should be sad after what she's done. I am starting to think that maybe she loves him, but then why did she cut down his tree? She leaves in the middle of the night and goes to a place called Boston, but I don't know why. She returns the next day with a tree, the same kind of tree that she cut down. I think she is saying she is sorry, but will Captain come back? He has been gone a long time.

He's back! I hear him! So does Carolyn, she is very happy to have him back. They share a sweet moment with their longing glances, and then he acts proud again. He is not so good at disguising his feelings as he thinks, but it is good to have him home!

I wait until everyone is in bed and then I go and find him, he is in his attic, sitting by the desk.

Captain. I greet him happily and wag my tail.

"Scruffy," he inclines his head in acknowledgement.

I am glad you're back. We all missed you.

"Oh?" He gives me a sharp look. "Does that mean you missed me too?"

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. You are not so bad for a ghost.

"Spirit. And you are not so bad for a dog."

Terrier, but thanks.

"Anything else?" he asked with a smile.

No, I just wanted to say I'm glad to see you.

"Thank you, Scruffy. I missed you too."

I nod at him, not letting him see my dog smile at his words, but I think he knew.

I am playing with my playmates the next day when the Scared One comes back. He has come to gloat because Captain is gone. He is surprised when Captain is there and throws him out. I am happy to see this. It seems that things are good between Carolyn and Captain again.