The house that sat alone on top of the hill was filled with light and very quiet. Lily Ray’s mom went to town to the market to do her weekly shopping. Lily Ray was never afraid to be home alone because she had a good friend that always protected her. Her friend was an old skeleton named Foxy. No one besides Lily Ray knew that Foxy lived in the attic of their home. Foxy only came down from the attic when no one but Lily Ray was home.

On this early October day, Foxy was sitting with Lily Ray while she finished her breakfast bowl of fruit when there was a knock on the door.

Lily Ray looked at Foxy and said, “Oh no, who can that be?”

Foxy replied, “I don’t know. You answer the door, and I will hide behind it in case you need my help.”

So Lily Ray went to the door and yelled “Who’s there” in her loudest voice.

“I am a friendly neighbor coming to bring you a treat.” said a crackly voice from the other side of the door.

Lily Ray looked at Foxy to see if he thought she should open the door.

“It sounds like an old lady. I am sure it is safe for you to open the door.” Foxy moved so that Lily Ray could open the door and not be seen.

Lily Ray slowly opened the door to find a wicked witch standing in a black dress and a tall pointed hat.

“Oh my, you are just what I needed for my dinner stew.” said the witch as she twisted her hands together.

Lily Ray quickly pushed the door shut when the wicked witch pushed it open. The witch pushed the door so hard that Foxy was crammed between the door and the wall and could not move to help Lily Ray.

Lily Ray screamed as loud as she could, but there was no one near to hear her. The wicked witch grabbed Lily Ray and turned around to run down the hill when something came flying out to the door.

It yelled, “Put her down now,” as it swooped up Lily Ray and put her back in the house. Lily Ray had no idea what was happening. The witch looked up, took one look at the flying object, and ran down the hill.

Foxy pushed the door shut and walked toward Lily Ray, a bit dazed.

“Lily Ray, I didn’t mean to scare you. My name is Clay, and I am the friendly ghost that lives in your house.”

Both Lily Ray and Foxy looked at each other and then at Clay.

“How can that be? I have never seen you before.” Lily Ray said in a baffled voice.

“I am here to protect you whenever Foxy can’t. This is the first time Foxy was not able to keep you safe.” Clay said.

“Thank you,” Foxy said to Clay. “I was stuck behind the door and couldn’t move, but I would have run after her to save Lily Ray if you didn’t show up,” Foxy said, sounding a bit sad that she wasn’t the one to keep Lily Ray safe from danger.

“Well, my work is not done. I need to go after Ivybat,” he said as he swiftly moved toward the door.

“Ivybat?” questioned Lily Ray.

“What is that?” asked Foxy

“She is the wicked witch that goes after little boys and girls but has never caught one yet.” and then Clay picked up speed as he disappeared through the front door of the house.

“Oh my goodness,” said Foxy. “Are you all right, Lily Ray? Did Ivybat hurt you?”

“No, I was just scared.” Lily Ray said as she sat down on the hallway chair.

“Well, now that we know you are safe and that Clay is taking care of that wicked witch, are you ready to go out back and pick followers for your mom?” Foxy asked as he started for the back door.

Lily Ray didn’t answer; she just started to follow Foxy when Clay came swooping into the room again.

“All done,” he said with a smile.

“All done?” asked Foxy

“What does that mean?” Asked Lily Ray

“I caught up to Ivybad, swooped her up, and carried her to her shack in the woods. I told her that if she ever tried to steal a little boy or girl for her stew, ever again, that I would take her so far away she would never be able to return home.” Clay said as he led the way to the yard.

Lily Ray, Foxy, and their new friend, Clay, picked a basket of flowers for Lily Ray’s mom.

“It is time to go back into hiding, Clay.” said Fox, “I can hear Lily Ray’s mom coming up the hill.” So Foxy and Clay gave Lily Ray a big hug.

“Thank you both for keeping me safe from that wicked witch. Let’s all play together again tomorrow when mom takes food baskets to the neighbors,” Lily Ray suggested.

Foxy and Clay agreed to come out of hiding tomorrow when Lily Ray’s mom left the house.

Lily Ray ran inside, too, and sat at the table and began to read her book when her mom came through the front door.

“Lily Ray, I am home. How was your morning? Anything exciting happen?” Her mom asked.

Lily Ray told her mom everything. She always did because she never lied to her mom.

“Oh, Lily Ray, I love your imagination. We should write down some of your tales. I believe other children would love your stories.” Lily Ray’s mom gave her a big hug and began to put away groceries when Lily Ray spotted Foxy and Clay peeking around the corner smiling.