Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen Read Free Book Online Page A

got?” Cole asked.
    Peter walked over and handed an object to Cole. “That’s what the guy was carving.”
    Cole turned the small chunk of carved wood over in his hand. The guy had started carving a bear’s head. It was amazingly lifelike.
    Peter took the carving back from Cole. “Man, this thing looks real—I want to try and carve one just like it.”
    That night, Garvey brought his old station wagon by to pick up Cole and his mother for the Circle meeting. They all sat in the front seat. “So what have you and Peter been up to?” Garvey asked.
    “Trying to pretend we’re on the island again. For a pond, we sat in a freezer down at Frazier’s grocery store. For ancestor rocks, we dropped bowling balls from an old abandoned building. But it’s not working.”
    “You don’t need ponds or ancestor rocks anymore,” Garvey said. “Look at a leaf, glance up at the stars, or just close your eyes and breathe deeply. Go inside yourself to the place you’re already at. The island taught you where that place was. Now all you have to do is
be
there.”
    “You make it sound so easy.”
    “Because it is. Don’t fight it.”
    “I’ll try,” Cole promised.
    “How about the Spirit Bear?” Garvey asked. “Have you seen the Spirit Bear?”
    Cole looked over at Garvey quizzically. “We thought we did on Monday, but it was just an old man.” Cole told Garvey and his mom about the homeless man being arrested. “When we picked up his stuff this afternoon, Peter found a bear head the old guy had started carving.”
    “That’s a good sign,” Garvey said.
    “Yeah—isn’t that a coincidence!”
    “There are no coincidences,” Garvey said. “Remember that.” His face turned serious. “I don’t like that you two dropped bowling balls from an abandoned building.”
    “We already quit doing that. It was a mistake.”
    “A stupid mistake.”
    “Hey, didn’t you ever make mistakes at my age?”
    Garvey nodded. “Plenty of mistakes—but I also discovered that if you’re where you should be in your heart and spirit, you don’t make those mistakes. Cole, your heart and spirit not being in the right place really scares me.”
    When Cole arrived at the Circle, half the chairs were already filled. He recognized the Keeper, the plump woman who had led the Circle that banished him to the island. Others from that meeting sat chatting quietly. One new face surprised him. “Ms. Kennedy, what are you doing here?” he whispered.
    “Garvey invited me. Do you mind?”
    “Uh, no,” Cole said nervously. Sitting down, he glanced around the room for any other surprises. Peter arrived, but his parents made him sit on the opposite side of the Circle.
    At exactly seven o’clock, the Keeper stood and walked to the center of the group. As she called the meeting to order, everyone stood and joined hands as they had in previous Circles. This time, Cole found himself holding hands with his mother and Garvey. The last time, he had been between both his parents. Now his father was absent.
    The Keeper began with a simple prayer—but it wasn’t a prayer to God, like in a church. It was a prayer to the powers that surrounded and filled all things. It was a prayer of honor and thankfulness.
    Then the Keeper held up a large brown hawk feather. “This feather symbolizes honesty and respect. No one may speak without holding this feather. When you speak, speak from your heart. Tonight I’m beginning our Circle by letting Peter and Cole each tell of their experiences on the island. And then I would like Cole’s parole officer to tell of his experiences with the boys and how he thinks Cole has changed.” The Keeper turned to Ms. Kennedy. “I’ve also invited their new principal, Ms. Kennedy, to share her experiences with Peter and Cole since their return. Then we’ll pass the feather around the full Circle.”
    As the Keeper handed him the feather, Cole tried to remain calm. It felt like he was telling someone else’s story when he