The Stone of Clarissa By Kaitlynn Motley

Hailey Martin walked down from the creek to the old barn. She loved to just sit there and write in her journal.

Dear Diary, she wrote, today I found a toad, two salamanders, and a crayfish at the creek. The salamanders were orange with pink spots.

Hailey shifted in the soft hay. She reached under her leg and pulled out a sparkling ruby. ”Oh my gosh!” Hailey said. Diary, you’ll never guess what I found! A ruby! Yes, I’m serious. I’m going to go home and show my mom.

Hailey ran down the dirt road to her house in Three Springs, West Virginia. “Mom, mom! Look what I found!” Hailey yelled, running into the kitchen where here mom was checking for ticks on their new puppy, Honey. “Well I’ll be! Where’d you find that, Hail?” said Mrs. Martin. “Well, I was sitting in the hay in that old abandoned barn, you know, down by the creek? And I just found it under my leg!” Hailey exclaimed.

That night Hailey lay in bed and thought about who she was going to show her ruby to. After all, if she showed it to a lot of people, someone might try to take it. Hailey got out her dairy, pen, and flashlight and started to write.

Later- My mom and Dad were thrilled when they saw what I had found. My new little brother liked it, too. Unfortunately, my dog, Honey has a lot of ticks. I think it’s about 5.

Hailey heard a rustling come from outside her door. She waited to see what it was. It’s probably Honey, she thought. Then a ghostly figure came into the room. It seemed to be glowing blue. “My stone, give me my stone! Or doom to all who touch it!” The ghost gasped, it seemed to be choking. “WH-who are you?” Hailey asked. “I am Clarissa Depollo. That is my stone! Give it back in one piece! DOOM, doom!” Clarissa shrieked, reaching towards the stone. Hailey screamed and the ghost disappeared.

The next day Hailey decided to go to the library to look up information on that Clarissa . When she got there, she went on the computer, typed in Clarissa Depollo, and hit the search button.

Clarissa Depollo died when she was only twenty-one. She is buried in Three Springs, West Virginia. In her childhood, her father gave her a rare ruby that he had bought in China. Wherever Clarissa went, she brought her ruby with her. Whether it was catching salamanders or taking a test in school, she brought the ruby with her. At age twenty, Clarissa got married. Her husband had the ruby put into a ring. A year later, she was outside in the barn near her house sitting in the hay when a cow got really spooked by her husband, who was milking her, and in all her panic, she ally ran over Clarissa. In the process, Clarissa died and her ring got thrown off her finger and the ruby fell out. It is said that she will not rest until she has her ruby returned on her finger.

Oh man, I have to return it on her finger? Hailey thought. Hailey got out her diary. Dear Diary, I’m so scared! I have to return Clarissa’s ring onto her finger. If I get caught, everyone’ll think I’m a grave robber. When she came to me last night, she said doom to all who touch it. So I’ll have to bring it in a cloth. And as for the ring part, I’ll have to go to the barn and look for it. I hope I don’t run into Clarissa there. And I’ll also have to use all of my allowance to get the ruby put back into the ring, if I find it. Well, I’m going to go look for it now. Bye!

Within fifteen minutes Hailey was at the barn and looking for the ring. Finally, she found it. “Wow, to think it was sitting here in the hay all these years.” She said, careful to put gloves on before she picked it up. She admired it for a few minutes and then rode her bike to the jewelry store.

“May I please have this ruby put into this ring?” Hailey said to the woman at the counter. “Sure, Honey. Who is this for, may I ask?” “Don’t let it get around, but it’s for Clarissa Depollo. ”You mean the Clarissa Depollo? I’m sorry sweetie, but she’s been for almost fifty years.” The lady said. “I know.” Hailey said. The woman gave her a surprised look, shrugged, and went to the back of the store.

When she came back, the ring looked good as new. “Thank you so much!” Hailey said. “Okay, that’s $50.” Said the lady. “Oh man, I only have $45.” Hailey said, disappointed. “Well, I guess I can give you a discount, if you don’t tell anyone. Deal?” “Deal! Bye.”

That night at about 2:00 a.m. Hailey put on coat, grabbed a shovel, and carried the ruby in gloves and rode her bike to the graveyard. It was cool outside and Hailey could tell that Clarissa was waiting for her in her grave.

When she got there, fog had filled the air. Hailey lifted her shovel and started to dig. When she got to the coffin, she opened it up and a wave of foul air swept over her. “Ugh!” Hailey cried. The body was tinted green, and the hand was just bones except for some rotten flesh on the fingers. Its head was small, and the hair was rotten. “Ew, gross!” Hailey shrieked. The body sat up. “You dare disgrace the corpse of Clarissa Depollo?! Why you, you scoundrel! You are not even worthy to put the ring on my finger. No matter, do it any way.” Said Clarissa. “Uh, miss? Could you please remove the curse you said the other day? You know, doom to all who touch it?” Hailey asked, terrified. “All though I shouldn’t, for you insulted me, we don’t want your body falling apart just as you’re putting the ring on me, now do we? Very well, the curse is lifted.” Said Clarissa, sighing deeply.

Hailey got the ring out of the glove, and Clarissa extended her bony hand. “Now bow down, you filthy, unworthy pile of dirt and put it on my finger!” Trembling, Hailey did what she was told and put the ring on Clarissa finger.

Hailey was very surprised when the ghost she had saw only two days earlier rose up and out of sight. The body was different, too. The hair was no longer rotten, but a pretty gold color. Her face was peach, her lips red. Her hands and feet were returned to normal, and her clothes were very colorful.

“Hi, what’s your name? I don’t believe you said it.” She said, her voice much sweeter. “It’s Hailey.” “Well, thank you very much for returning my ring, I owe you. Tell me, how much did it cost to get the ruby put into this ring?” About $50, but I got it for only $45.” Hailey said. “Where did you get this money?” Clarissa asked, getting up. “Um, it was from my allowance.” “Well then, when I get home I’ll get you $45.” Clarissa said, smiling. “Oh thank you!” Hailey said.

So Clarissa and Hailey climbed out of the grave, and set off to her house.

THE END