A Good Night for Ghosts

talked while they ate their doughnuts. When they were finished, they all wiped their sticky fingers on their shirts and pants. By now, Jack’s clothes were soaked with rainwater, coal dust, kitchen grease, sweat, and grime.
A little powdered sugar and butter won’t make a bit of difference
, he thought.
    “So, Dipper,” said Annie. “You know you’re a really great musician, don’t you?”
    Dipper smiled at her.
    “Actually, you’re a creative genius,” added Jack.
    Dipper laughed out loud. “And y’all know who
you
are, don’t you?”
    “Yup, the biggest potato heads you ever met,” finished Jack.
    “But
this
time we’re
right,”
said Annie.
    “Nope, sorry,” said Dipper. “I’m definitely no genius. The truth is I never got past elementaryschool. I don’t even know how to read music.”
    “But don’t you love to
play
music?” said Annie.
    “Yeah, sure, I do. Somehow I’ve got music in my bones,” said Dipper. “Sad to say,
all
I really ever want to do is blow my horn.”
    “Then why don’t you?” said Jack. He felt desperate. Even without their mission for Merlin, it seemed incredibly sad that Dipper had turned his back on his music.
    “Yeah, why don’t you go play on the riverboat with the fellas?” said Annie. “It wouldn’t hurt you to miss a few hours’ sleep.”
    Dipper took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “When I was twelve years old, I got too rowdy one time,” he said. “It was New Year’s Eve. I was singing with the fellas, and I got carried away and fired off a gun… just into the air. I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. But I got caught and I got sentenced to two years in the Waif’s Home. I just got out a little while ago. I feel really bad for letting my family down like that. So right now, all I wantto do is help them by keeping a steady job.”
    “But what about a job playing music?” said Jack. “Great musicians can make a lot of money and help their families.”
    “Not playing the music
I
want to play” said Dipper. “At least I haven’t met any. Have you?”
    “Yes. Actually we have,” said Annie. She turned and looked at Jack. “We have to do it.”
    Jack sighed, then nodded slowly. Annie was right. He reached into his bag and pulled out their research book.

J ack pushed his glasses into place and opened
A History of New Orleans Music
.
    “What’s that, man?” Dipper asked.
    “It’s a history book,” said Jack.
    “Teddy and Kathleen gave it to us,” said Annie.
    “Oh, yeah, my best friends,” said Dipper.
    Jack looked in the index of the book. He found the right page and turned to it.
    “I’m going to read something to you, man,” said Jack. “Just listen.” And Jack read:
    As a young teenager, Louis Armstrong often performed with “kid bands” on the streets of the city. Eventually he played with older musicians in dance halls, and he developed his musical talents performing on Mississippi river-boats. When he was twenty-one, he moved to Chicago, where he played in the well-known band of his old friend Joe Oliver .
    “Joe Oliver?” said Dipper. “Joe’s in that book?
I’m
in that book?”
    “Yep. Hold on, there’s more,” said Jack. He read:
    Over time, Louis Armstrong became world-famous, but he always called New Orleans home. The city honored him by naming a large park the Louis Armstrong Park. It also named its airport the Louis Armstrong International Airport .
    “What’s that?
International airport?”
asked Dipper.
    “That’s where planes fly in and out from all over the world,” said Annie.
    Dipper started laughing. “Y’all are pulling my leg.”
    “No,” said Jack. “We’re not. Look at
this
, Dipper.” He held up the book and showed Dipper the picture of Louis Armstrong, the King of Jazz, playing the trumpet in front of a huge crowd. “That’s you, Dipper.”
    Jack waited for Dipper to laugh and say the picture wasn’t him. But Dipper stopped smiling and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ve seen that picture before,” he said softly.

    “You
have
?” said Jack, stunned.
    “You’ve seen
this
picture before?” said Annie. “Where?”
    “Here.” Dipper touched his chest. “Here, in my heart. It’s the picture I’ve had in my heart for along time, like a dream. Hey, y’all, is this a dream?”
    Jack and Annie laughed. Annie smiled. “Yes, you could say that,” she said.
    “But it’s a
true
dream,” said Jack.
    “Keep that picture in your heart, Dipper,” said Annie. “Hold it