When the bus pulled up outside the Dramatic Society Hall, the kids raced towards the entrance, hardly waiting for the bus to stop. No amount of yelling;

Stand in line please girls and boys, by Polly Parker-Carr or Alvin Foyle, the deputy principal, had the desired effect. They did have to wait for Alvin Foyle to unlock the door, nearly knocking him down in the process as they stampeded into the hall. Stace and I thought the place smelt stale and musty, but then hardly anyone ever uses it except the drama kids. Stace actually said it felt creepy and that was even before we knew about its haunting legend.

The Dark Park kids had been expecting instant music action by the DJ Rabbit Man. Remember he's a friend of Wade Blade and the Raving Lunatics crowd. He's one of the top DJs around town and has actually worked overseas in Asia and Alaska we hear, so we can't understand why he's working out of Scrubber Town. We think he has an apartment in Emu Heights, which is next door to Beauvais Heights, but we're not sure. Both places are upmarket, so he must be doing ok.

Anyway, all the kids by now were yelling and shouting: We want Rabbit Man, we want Rabbit Man. You couldn't hear yourself think.

Mr Foyle yelled back; Shut the hell up, yer little mongrels. Rabbit Man isn't going to be able to make it today. He's been arrested on DUI charges and is twiddling his thumbs in jail.

The kids then started chanting; We hate the pigs, we hate the pigs. Free Rabbit Man, free Rabbit Man.

Bloody shut up; Rabbit Man isn't coming; so save your voices.' Mr Foyle sounded really pissed off.

Then Polly Parker-Carr said in a few moments of silence; Quiet children, quiet please, I've saved the day. I've brought along my CD player and you can all listen to the radio or my special selection of 70's and 80's music, which is great for dancing.'

This didn't go down at all well, but nevertheless, once they had accepted that Rabbit Man definitely wasn't coming, a few of the mob started dancing . They managed to find a radio station with their kind of music and some of the girls started twerking, with the boys standing to one side egging them on.

Other kids found their way into the kitchen and began having an early supper.

Cut that out, screamed Fiona Fitch the science teacher. You can't start eating yet.

Anyone for an early supper?

Try stopping us, Fitchy, said a couple of the boys and gave Fiona the finger. They then proceeded to offer food around to their mates. These were bacon and cheese fingers and we know for a fact that these are sold by the Stinky Deli and are a recipe for food poisoning..

Shall we tell them? Stace asked me. No, let them find out the hard way, I replied.

Then one of the boys without a shirt yelled: Crap food, crap music, crap teachers. Let's all escape to the Dark Park Tavern and he started to round willing kids up, which was just about everybody. Youse can't come he said to me and Stace, youse are too old. Youse could be cougars if youse want.

Stace said; No we don't want, but I like our chances of being let in rather than yours. You're all underage.

Just then though, everything went black; no lights, no music, nothing. Then just as suddenly they came back on again. The stage curtains began rising and falling by themselves. Polly who by now was beside herself, screamed,  Leave the bloody curtains alone, boys.

We're not touching them, honest, Poll. They're doing it by themselves. It's awesome and cool though, isn't it?

Lets have some respect, boys and girls, said Mr Foyle. Remember, Poll is Ms Parker-Carr, your Principal, Fitchy is Ms Fitch your Science teacher and I'm Mr Foyle, your Deputy Principal. So don't any of you forget it.'

Some girls came running out of the kitchen, squealing; Ms Parker-Carr, Mr Foyle, there's fireworks in the kitchen.

Stace and I cautiously peered into the kitchen and sure enough, coloured sparks were bouncing out of the microwave oven switch, and on the electric stove hot plates were glowing red by themselves and then plates of food began rising up, darting around the room like flying saucers

. The boys who before had been full of bravado, ducked for cover.

Stace said:  OMG this place is haunted. I knew it felt weird.

Just look at your hair, said one of the girls to another.

Just look at yours, slag,' sneered the other girl. Yours is standing up on end and it's making its own sparks. Actually it's an improvement on your usual image.'

Suddenly we realised that everyone's hair was standing on end complete with coloured sparks.

.The lights suddenly went off again, then on, even brighter than before, then off.

Order please, everyone, screamed Polly. We don't know what's happening or why, but I think we should leave. Make an orderly line children and we'll get ready to get back on the bus. I'll just have to phone the driver first.'

Oh, groaned the kids. this is fun. Just because Ms Parker Carr is having a nervous breakdown we don't see why we all have to leave. We should have freedom of choice.

While we're waiting, said one of the boys, why don't we play Doing it in the Dark?

Cheers went up. The boy continued. Why don't we let Ms Parker-Carr and Mr Foyle go first. Maybe Poll, I mean Ms Parker-Carr needs a diversion.

The kids all booed and swore. Everyone else, then prepare to play Doing it in the Dark. Youse can't be fussy, cos youse can't see no-one.

We're not playing any silly disgusting games,said Ms Fitch.

Come on Ms Fitch, we thought you was, like, desperate.

Enough shouted Polly. The bus driver can't come for another half hour at least, so I want you all to line up and be on your most mature behaviour, if that isn't too much to ask.

I think it probably is, Stace and I whispered to one another.

The lights were still off and Stace and I clung to each other. It was pretty scary. We even heard disembodied voices saying Get out, get out. Get out now. This caused some of the girls to become hysterical.

Mr Foyle said firmly; Whoever's making those silly voices, can stop immediately, you stupid little morons. Come to my office on our return to school and don't worry, I'll recognise you by your voices.

Honest Po and Al, I mean Ms Parker-Carr and Mr Foyle, nobody said nothing. The voices belong to weird spirits, said one of the girls.

I didn't really believe the Dark Park Drama Hall was haunted, although Stace did. Now it seems she might be right.

On the arrival back to the school, each kid had to report to Ms Parker Carr or Mr Foyle and funnily enough, each kid said that they'd seen the creepy cleaning lady, Lillian Malulu, who's from Haiti, outside, standing under a streetlight, doubled over with laughter.

Is she responsible? People say she casts Voodoo spells. Could it be true?

Lainie's auntie, Doris Brickyard, works for the Dark Park Dramatics Society and sews some of the costumes for Mums who can't sew. Anyway, she has a friend, Gladys who sews too and this friend apparently knows a priest who can come to investigate and maybe do an exorcism. Father Cedric has said there may be a mischievous poltergeist living in the hall. Well, good luck with that Father Cedric. We think this ghost will have you for breakfast and spit out the bits. Watch this space.

PS: Which ghost do you think is causing all the trouble at the Dark Park Hall? My money's on the orange one, as he has a suitably nasty expression.

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