If the Walls Could Speak

By Deirdre M. Silvestri

Its a beautiful, clear spring day, and soon the cherry blossoms will fall from the trees and blanket the ground like snow. This season promises to be extraordinary, but it wont be the same without Da, who passed away at Christmastime. Finn OBrine stares out the window, taking it all in. He cant believe his father will never spend time with him again. And he cant believe theres a bat at his windowtalking to him.

Before his death, Mr. OBrine told Finn many stories about colossal dragons, sorcery, and the magic of Wickum Mannor in Irelandbut they couldnt possibly be real, right? Wrong! Magic runs in the OBrine family; its part of their heritage.

Now thirteen, Finn will begin to show signs of his magical inheritance any day now. Its time for Finn; his twin sister, Neave; his younger brother, Jack; and his mother, Ailish, to leave the comfort of their home in America and journey to Wickum Manor themselves. They expect a summerlong adventure, but the OBrine children may not be as ready as they think. With all the fantastic things to experience and discover on the four-hundred-acre estate, will Finn want to enroll at the magical Wickum Academy, or will he choose to return to his friends and classes in America at summers end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491747995

Deirdre M. Silvestri

Deirdre M. Silvestri was born in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick City, Ireland. Because of dyslexia, her lifelong dream of becoming an author seemed dim. However, as her children grew, Silvestri told them often that they could do anything. If the Walls Could Speak is Silvestri’s first book, the first installment of the realization of her dream.

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Copyright © 2014 Deirdre M. Silvestri.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-4798-8(sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4799-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014918200

iUniverse rev. date: 11/19/2014

F inn glanced out his bedroom window, enjoying the fact that his house was the tallest one on the street. Soon the cherry blossoms would drop, and it would be like snow in the spring. But it wasn’t the same without Da. The sun twinkled through the trees and shimmered on Finn’s window. A sparrow flew by, making him look up and notice the clear blue sky.

Mr. Smith’s dog, Rex, dragged him down the street, but once they reached the O’Brine’s house, it was Mr. Smith doing the dragging. Always something strange going on with them, Finn muttered. Sometimes it was green smoke coming out of the windows or sounds of bad singing in the middle of the night.

Come on, Rex! Finn heard Mr. Smith hiss.

A knock sounded on the window. Sir Finn! said a squeaky voice. Open the window. I have to relay a message to you!

Finn, who had just left the window, turned around to see what was happening. As he crept over to the window, he thought, But I’m on the second floor. It couldn’t be up here. He opened the blinds, and there was a bat outside. The bat was talking like a human! It’s too early in the morning for me. I’m still dreaming, Finn thought and glanced at the clock: it showed 6.00 a.m. Finn screamed at the top of his lungs for Jack and Neave. He peeked back and rubbed his eyes, thinking to himself, I’m seeing things. But when he looked back, it was still there.

Neave ran into the room. What is going on? Why are you screaming? Did you see a ghost, Finn?

No, but what about this? Finn demanded as he pointed at where the bat was.

Neave laughed and said, It’s only a flying fox, Finn. That’s a kind of bat. Open the window, will you, and let him in! Maybe Ma will let us have a pet, she added, still laughing.

As Finn opened the window, the bat flew in, landed on his dressing table, and announced in a formal-sounding voice, Don’t be afraid. I have a message for you, Finn.

Neave yelled in shock. Finn, are you pulling my leg again? I know you, Finn; you’re the joker around here. When Finn shook his head, Neave seemed to calm down. "Don’t show Jack. He won’t be able to go to school without blabbing this to everyone. Besides, we won’t be able to show our faces anywhere in town if people think we’re crazy. Are you okay? Should I call Ma?

The bat announced, I am a regular bat – well, not quite your run-of-the-mill type. Finn, you’re thirteen now!

Mr. Bat, don’t forget the half – it’s thirteen and a half, Finn said.

I forgot the half is so important to you humans, admitted the bat. Let me tell you what I know about you. Finn, you’re the oldest boy in the O’Brine family. You have a twin sister, Neave, the same girl who is standing behind you right now. You are a typical teenage boy—

Finn interrupted the bat. We’re not a normal family; in fact, my father always called us a ‘very special family.’ The stories my father always told us were about colossal flying dragons, magic, and the magic Wickum Academy my parents attended for six years. They’re just stories, though. Da always turned out the lights and lit a candle in the room while he was telling a story. We had to be very quiet and sit on the floor as he talked. He said there was a flying dragon waiting for me and that I was to go to my mom’s family home just before I turned fourteen years old. I asked my father before he died about my brother and sister – if they have something waiting for them too. My father said, ‘Finn, you are the oldest boy, and you will get your magic first – one day soon.’ Finn added, "I have a younger brother, Jack. He’s ten years old. You have to watch out for him because he’s always getting into trouble. You met my sister. She’s not bad for a girl. And yes, we’re twins, but I was born first by five minutes. Our mother is probably down in the kitchen getting our breakfast.

Come over here, Neave, I have to make my bed before I go down. Will you help me do the corners? It’s always tricky tucking in the corners because my headboard is made out of a surfboard. It was so fun making my bed with Da. He used to help me with that. Looking at his bright orange-and-white surfboard leaning against a wall, Finn said, I can’t believe we’ll never get to hang out together again.

When the bed was made, Finn lay down and stared up at the clouds painted on the blue ceiling. Thanks for bringing the sky into my room, Da. I always think of you when my lights are off, and the stars you painted look like they’re twinkling in the darkness. I miss you, Da.

Finn turned to the bat and said, Our mother’s name is Ailish. My father died last year after he got sick. We never saw much of him because he travelled for work. He was a captain on a large cruise ship. The cruise ship was gone months at a time. The time that my father was home was a blast, though. I miss having him and all of us together. I hear Ma’s calling us downstairs to get our lunches for school. Come on, Neave.

Turning once more to the bat, Finn warned, Watch out. Here comes my crazy family, and they will stomp all over us. You can hear my brother on the stairs.

The bat said, I know everything about you and your family. Also I’m here to tell you it’s time for you to come to Wickum Manor for the summer and learn all about your family magic. You could hear a pin drop in the room.

Finn gulped and asked in amazement, For the summer? We have a lot to do here all summer.

Neave’s eyes were wide as she stared at Finn. This bat knows what he’s talking about, right? Let’s go. Ma is calling us, and we don’t want Jack to see this. Bats sleep all day, right? So, Mr. Bat, you need to sleep and stay out of sight. We will come back later.

As Finn and Neave walked into the kitchen, they heard Jack ask, How much longer, Ma, do we have school?

Finn answered, laughing, Jack, a long time. In fact – months.

Jack said, No, I didn’t ask you. I asked Ma. Jack asked again, Ma, how much longer do we have to go to school? When do we have our summer holidays?

Finn laughed and said in perfect repetition, Jack, a long time. In fact – months.

Jack’s face went red and all scrunched up as he turned to Finn and pointed his finger at his chest. Finn, mind your own business; stay out of mine!

Ma sprinted from her chair over to Finn and Jack, stood right in the middle, and turned to Finn. Finn, stop teasing your brother. You and Neave are going to be late if you don’t hurry up.

Finn replied, Jack is certifiable, deranged.

Ma frowned at Finn and said, I want to talk to you about going somewhere this year. How about Newport in Rhode Island? She looked at Finn and added, We made a lot of friends there. Do you remember, Finn?

Jack’s face was livid with anger. No! We went there last time, and all we had was the beach. We have that here.

Ma asked, How about going somewhere farther – on a plane?

Why do you ask, Ma? Finn said.

I was thinking of going home to see your grandfather, uncles, aunts, and cousins this summer, she said.

Jack and Finn asked together, How long, Ma?

For two months at least, she said.

Surprised and upset, Jack said, I don’t want to go to Grandda’s for that long! Seemingly without taking a breath, he added, We won’t have anything to do. Every time we go there, we have to stay inside, sit down, and be good and quiet the entire time. All our friends are here, and I have plans for the whole summer, Ma. While all the grown-ups talk and drink tea, I’m staying right here. If Da were here, he would back me up. Jack stormed out of the room crying.

Finn was so jittery that he could not stay still. Ma, a bat came to us this morning. He is still upstairs. The bat said something about Wickum, but I have plans for the whole summer, Ma. I’m staying right here. You all can go without me.

Neave stated, "I don’t want to go either. In fact, I have plans with my friends too. Ma, I could go with Ann and Lisa next door to their grandmother’s this summer, but I don’t want to go to Grandda’s.

Ma replied, I’m aggravated about that. So Ardan is a bat now? He’s not meant to come here for a few more weeks. I wanted to talk to you all first. Did Jack see him? The twins shook their heads no.

Good. Neave, you can still see your friends’ grandmother. I talked to Ann and Lisa’s parents last night, and they said they will let you come with them when we get back – just before you go back to school.

Finn asked, startled, Ma, what was the bat before? You mean to tell me he wasn’t always a bat? I’m just dumbfounded.

Finn’s ma only shrugged her shoulders though and avoided answering. I know you both think you don’t want to go, but did you know that your uncle Declan lives with Grandda now?

Finn asked, Will our cousin Brandon be there?

Yes, and Aunt Ann, Uncle Eoghan, and all your cousins. They will be out of school too. You know, it might be Grandda’s last year with us. He’s getting very old. Grandda loves to tell stories and listen to all your new ones. It’s hard for him to come here to see you, and he would love to see you all again. All of the family wants us to be together this summer since your father is no longer with us. We all need a little bit of fun. Last summer was the last time you children had a great time, and, Neave, you said you wanted to go somewhere – not stay here all summer, remember? Now it’s time to go to Ireland, to the family home. Your father was just starting to explain about Wickum Manor before he passed. Ma was quiet a moment, thinking of Da.

Wickum Manor is very special. Your father had this trip planned for you this summer – for all of us. I remember your father talking about the excitement that we would all experience. Remember how your da told you that all family members in the house have their own dogs? Once we arrive they should be waiting for you two.

Jack crept back into the kitchen with his head down to get his lunch and schoolbag but did not say a word, still sulking.

Finn said, Maybe we should go there this summer after all. Jack, do you remember the stories he told us about Wickum Manor? Let’s find out if they’re true.

Jack’s head popped up. Yes, I do, and I remember Da telling me about dragons, dogs, the big house, and all of the land, and he said there was a lot to do – and don’t forget about the ghosts.

Finn laughed and said, Not ghosts. It’s our ancestors. That only means all the old people that are still alive. So, Jack? Are you changing your mind?

Jack asked Ma, Did Da say we would meet all our ancestors when we went to Wickum? And is the house really big? So big that we will get lost in it? Oh, Ma, does that mean we can run all around and stay up late? Ma, can we? Say yes, please … please!

Jack asked Finn, Do you remember the house from when you visited it last?

Finn replied, Yes, but we were too young to go through the house on our own. Da took us all around the estate. It is very big. We walked for what seemed like forever. There is a canal – they even have boats on the property. I think they’re called barges, not boats. But every time we go see relations, we have to—

Neave butted in. "Jack, remember when we went over to Aunty Eve’s, we had to seat down, not move a muscle, and put