Scritch Scratch

Claire, Casley, and Emily arrive at Claire’s house. Claire’s mom has left dinner for her to put in the oven, with specific instructions. Claire puts the food in the oven and then sits Casley and Emily down and tells them everything. They talk about the white pants the ghost boy was wearing—Claire has learned that they are called knickerbockers—and the number 396 that keeps appearing. Emily wonders if the number could be a death toll. Claire and Casley both think this is a good idea, and Claire shows them the original piece of paper from the bus. Emily points out the paper’s strange shape. It looks like “a giant price tag” (141). The girls cannot find any disasters or accidents from the early 1900s with a death toll of 396. Claire feels hopeless.

Sam comes home and is surprised to see Casley and Emily. They fill him in on what they have learned and he joins their investigation. Sam is convinced that the ghost boy is a victim of the Iroquois Theater Fire, which killed more than 200 children. Claire is less confident. She remembers that the ghost tried to talk to her on the bus, and today in the bathroom he said, “Where are they?” (119).