Small Spaces

You might get to know characters in books, Ollie thought, but getting to know a human was an entirely different thing

And so, arm in arm, the three of them walked through the Christmas lights home to the Egg, where Ollie’s dad was waiting for them

Sometimes they talked about it, wondered if the smiling man was still out there, making a new corn maze, making new scarecrows. But mostly they got on with things. They had a lot of living to do

happened?”

“I love you, Dad,” Ollie said. “I love you.”

She buried her face in his familiar flannel shoulder. But right before she did, her watch chimed softly. Ollie glanced down.

LOVE, it said.

“Love you too, Mom,” Ollie whispered

I haven’t made a bargain with you. If you made a deal with Ms. Webster, then it was a cheat, a fraud. She gave what she couldn’t give: us. And I’m taking us back.”

Seth’s mouth closed, and Ollie knew she was right. He was a cold, tricky thing, but there were rules, and he’d broken one, taken what someone didn’t have the right to give.

I haven’t made a bargain with you. If you made a deal with Ms. Webster, then it was a cheat, a fraud. She gave what she couldn’t give: us. And I’m taking us back.”

Seth’s mouth closed, and Ollie knew she was right. He was a cold, tricky thing, but there were rules, and he’d broken one, taken what someone didn’t have the right to give. “I can only give you power over me,” said Ollie, more and more sure. “You can’t take it.

I haven’t made a bargain with you. If you made a deal with Ms. Webster, then it was a cheat, a fraud. She gave what she couldn’t give: us. And I’m taking us back.”

“Mist for capturing. Water for freeing. Lethe Creek runs through my world and yours. Let the scarecrows touch the water and they’ll be as they were. Now shake.”

Until the mist becomes rain, Ollie thought.

My servant. Cats are convenient. They go between worlds, their nature unchanged. The only creature that can. How do you think I kept track of you?”

You’re the smiling man,” said Ollie slowly. She could barely believe it. “I thought—” She’d imagined a skull smile, a pumpkin-head smile. A scarecrow smile.

She’d not imagined a kind smile, the sort that would make a scared kid not be scared anymore