Josh and the Magic Vial (42 page)

No words. No words. Just the voices raised and lowered in unison. Inside the music she could hear all sorts of things that had nothing to do with voices. Wind chimes, a horse whinnying, a baby babbling, bells calling the faithful, wind, waves crashing . . . all these things were in the song, but not a single word.

Then she felt something. A spirit had heard her. Millie had never felt anyone hearing her before, but that's what happened. And everyone else in the chorus felt it too, and they redoubled their singing.

Still she did not open her eyes, but clamped them shut even tighter, all her being concentrated on producing the perfect note in harmony with the swelling choir.

Again. A spirit harkened.

This time she could not help opening her eyes — just a bit. Josh lay perfectly calm. Had he slipped even deeper into his coma? “My God, no!” she pleaded.

A nurse opened the door to Josh's room, investigating the loud singing, which must have contravened at lease a dozen hospital rules. How long would she let this go on? Millie gave her a pleading look, and the nurse let the door shut.

“Please, Josh. Come now!” Millie urged quietly.

And at that precise moment, Josh's eyes flicked open — not with the glazed look of semi-consciousness, but fully open.

No one else had noticed, because all of them were singing their hearts out with their eyes closed. A look of amazement and surprise lit up Josh's face as he scanned the gathering. It was a radiant look — a look of utter innocence, which Millie would never, ever forget.

Mrs. Dempster, sensing something had changed in the atmosphere of the room, opened her eyes too. For a second she stared, not sure she could believe what she saw, then she whooped for joy and wrapped her arms around her son.

After that a joyful hubbub filled the room, bringing the nurse scurrying back — perhaps thinking the worst. Mr. Dempster was hugging his son, Ian was hugging Millie, Millie was hugging Josh. Through it all, Puddifant was sitting on the window sill with Charlie Underwood and a dizzy-looking Quiggle, beaming like a man who's just won a million-dollar lottery.

73

“Y
ou're back, my boy!” Puddifant said when things had settled down and the two of them were alone for a moment.

Yes. I'm back for good.”

“Well done,” the inspector chuckled.

“I'm changed though, aren't I?”

“Yes.” Puddifant agreed.

“I feel that I'm grown up, but still a kid.”

“That's a good feeling Josh,” Puddifant beamed. “Remember it. Remember it always.”

“I suspect there will always be someone nearby to remind me,” Josh teased, and the two of them laughed at the brand new future they would share.

C
RAIG
S
PENCE
is a communications manager with the Langley, British Columbia, School District. He has been a writer and journalist for more than twenty-five years. In addition to writing fiction for readers of all ages, he conducts story-building workshops with children.
Josh & the Magic Vial
is his first published book.