The Ghost in the Third Row by Bruce Coville Read Free Book Online

into making a show.
    â€œIt’s haunted by applause, and the memory of greatness. It’s haunted by the things that haunt every theater worth working in, and if you want to keep working on stage, you’d better get used to them.”
    Well, all in all, it was one of the best speeches I’d ever heard. Gwendolyn talked about theatrical traditions, and the show must go on, and what’s a little ghost compared to being on the stage, and not confusing facts with fears, and all kinds of other stuff. I thought it was really impressive. At least, it convinced me. I was ready to jump up on the stage and start acting that very minute.
    â€œWhat a performance,” said Melissa after Gwendolyn was all done.
    I looked at her strangely.
    â€œOh, come on,” she said. “It was a terrific speech. But don’t get all dreamy eyed about it. What you just saw was acting, pure and simple.”
    As much as it galled me to agree with Melissa, I had to admit she was right. It was a remarkably good piece of acting.
    But somehow the way Melissa said it made it sound as though there was something wrong with that. I felt confused. If someone else had given Gwendolyn’s speech, it probably wouldn’t have worked half so well. Did that mean there was something wrong with the speech? Was it wrong for Gwendolyn to use her skills to persuade us?
    I was trying to figure all that out when two things happened. One: Barney Caulfield got in a shouting match with Gwendolyn. Two: I felt a cold chill run down my spine.
    The first was easy to explain. Despite Gwendolyn’s speech, Barney started asking stupid questions and talking about walking out on the show. Gwendolyn, who had been quiet and reasonable for more than ten minutes that night—which was about her limit—went off like a skyrocket. It was no big surprise.
    The chill down my spine was a little more difficult to explain—until I turned around and saw the Woman in White sitting in the seat behind me. She seemed to be listening to Gwendolyn and Barney argue.
    She had a sad look on her face. But she was beautiful. Really, truly beautiful.
    I gave Chris a little nudge with my elbow. She turned to see what I wanted and caught her breath.
    â€œIt’s her!” she whispered.
    The Woman in White gave us a tiny smile. Then she raised a finger to her lips, indicating that we should keep quiet.
    Unfortunately, Melissa noticed that we weren’t paying any attention to the Barney-Gwendolyn argument. “What are you two looking at?” she asked loudly. “The ghost?”
    Chris started to laugh. “I knew she couldn’t see her,” she said.
    â€œYou are looking at the ghost!” yelped Melissa.
    That was all it took. The Woman in White faded out of sight.
    And the crowd went nuts.

CHAPTER NINE
    Gwendolyn
    As things worked out, we had no rehearsal that night. When the excitement finally died down, Gwendolyn just sent the cast home. I assumed she was hoping that by morning we would settle down—and that by the next night most of us would be back, ready to work.
    Actually, she didn’t dismiss quite everyone. Chris, Melissa, and I were taken to her office for special treatment.
    She was furious, of course. That didn’t really bother me that much: Gwendolyn was always furious. But Edgar was with her, and the look in his eyes was breaking my heart. I could tell he thought we had started all that trouble just trying to be funny. As far as he was concerned, we had stabbed him in the back. It was killing me to have him believe that.
    I don’t think there’s any feeling in the world worse than having someone you care about think you’ve let them down.
    Gwendolyn started things off. “I cannot accept such foolish, irresponsible, stupid, childish behavior in this theater. That little stunt you three pulled tonight was one of the most unwarranted, unkind …”
    Well, you get the idea. She was off and