because they were such an obvious entry point , and nobody wanted to be caught messing with it . Nobody but us , that is . I withdrew a bolt cutter from my pack , angled the teeth onto a single link , and squeezed the levers . There was a metallic crack and the chain separated and fell from the handles . Access granted , we opened the doors and entered Penton Elementary School .
As we stepped through the doorway , I paused , took a deep breath , and focused my mind . Not towards the investigation — I ’ d been focused on that since we got to town . No , I was focusing my mind on dealing with a child ’ s spirit .
I love kids . I practically spoil Diesel ’ s kids , much to Diesel and his wife ’ s consternation . I can ’ t help it . If I see a child in pain , I want to make things right for them . And if a kid smiles , then it lights up my day .
This also extends to the spirits of children , and it ’ s even stronger with them . A lot of these kids died under horrible circumstances : murder , disease , neglect . It makes me want to take all the hurt these children felt while alive and find some way to make death easier for them . Whether that involves just talking to them using a digital recorder or leaving a teddy bear at the location they haunt . So long as they are helped a bit , that ’ s all that matters .
And this works most of the time . I find that a lot of child spirits — that is , those that aren ’ t demons masquerading as children — look for adult figures who can be both a playmate and
12 HANNAH AND OTHER STORIES
because they were such an obvious entry point , and nobody wanted to be caught messing with it . Nobody but us , that is . I withdrew a bolt cutter from my pack , angled the teeth onto a single link , and squeezed the levers . There was a metallic crack and the chain separated and fell from the handles . Access granted , we opened the doors and entered Penton Elementary School .
As we stepped through the doorway , I paused , took a deep breath , and focused my mind . Not towards the investigation — I ’ d been focused on that since we got to town . No , I was focusing my mind on dealing with a child ’ s spirit .
I love kids . I practically spoil Diesel ’ s kids , much to Diesel and his wife ’ s consternation . I can ’ t help it . If I see a child in pain , I want to make things right for them . And if a kid smiles , then it lights up my day .
This also extends to the spirits of children , and it ’ s even stronger with them . A lot of these kids died under horrible circumstances : murder , disease , neglect . It makes me want to take all the hurt these children felt while alive and find some way to make death easier for them . Whether that involves just talking to them using a digital recorder or leaving a teddy bear at the location they haunt . So long as they are helped a bit , that ’ s all that matters .
And this works most of the time . I find that a lot of child spirits — that is , those that aren ’ t demons masquerading as children — look for adult figures who can be both a playmate and