Mrs. Cannon finished her story about banshees with the words "If people saw a banshee they were sure it meant that a death was about to take place. "The children laughed at the idea of people believing in an old lady, combing her hair and keening by night. The things people believed long ago.

Ciarán looked at his watch. Just a few more seconds until the bell rang. Aces had planned to meet after school in Kildorka Wood. He couldn't wait. Ding, ding, ding, dong, ding. It was Friday. The week of hell and torture was finally over. They were having a half day but Caitríona and Ciarán had forgotten to give their parents the note telling them about it. Shauna was staying overnight in Cliona's house. Ciarán and Caitríona charged out the gate and most embarrassingly bumped into Mr. Ryan "Well I never........Caitríona and Ciarán Carroll running. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Stay back until the younger children have gone."

By the time they got out of school Barry Egan's bus had left so they walked very quickly, sometimes running down River Road, over Ballybridge and right onto Mill Road towards Kildorka Wood. Their friends in Aces were not there. It started to rain. Ciarán glanced around and spotted the ruins of the old flax mill in the distance.

"Come on, we'll go into the old mill" mumbled Ciarán. "Or are you scared that it's haunted?" he jeered. "No I'm not" replied Caitríona. So they sprinted through the wood and jumped over the wall.

On entering they felt a shiver go down their spines. It was cold, dark and musty with bits of wool on the ground. Cobwebs were everywhere and spiders crawled in corners. All they could think about was the story their Grandad told them about the ghost of a little boy who was supposed to haunt this very tower. "I'm scared - suppose there is a ghost here" stuttered Caitríona. "No there isn't, don-t tell me you believe in ghosts, Cat," groaned Ciarán.

They stood in silence for a few minutes. All they could hear was each others teeth rattling as if they were about to crack. As they ventured up the old, rotten, wooden stairs every step creaked beneath them. Caitríona started to cry but Ciarán shut her up by placing his shaking hand over her mouth. Then the children saw something.

They saw a white filigree figure standing before them. They thought it was a ghost so they darted down the rotten stairs and dashed home over the mucky fields. By the time they got home they were exhausted, wet and dirty.

Their parents were very annoyed. "Where were ye? We were worried sick. Cliona's Mum rang to let us know you had a half day" They started "W...w....w..we missed the bus a..a...and we saw a banshee..." Without letting them finish they sent them up to their bedrooms. As they left the kitchen they heard their grandfather shout "Shut that door." They could smell their favourite food - spicy chicken curry with no onions. They were both scared and upset.

It was a dark night and the stars were gloomy in the sky. Oisín was cuddled up to his teddy and was fast asleep in his cot. Caitríona and Ciaran were dozing off when they heard a wailing noise. It gave Caitríona the shivers. "It is probably just a dog crying" whispered Ciarán.

They heard it again. Oisín moved under the soft velvet blanket. The noise continued. It was a screeching, shivering, piercing and frightening noise. That's when Caitríona and Ciarán got scared. They tried to console each other by saying it was Bart annoying Bubblegum.

On Monday when school was over the children charged down to the gate where their friends were waiting for them. Caitríona's friend Jade asked them if they were going to the old flax mill with Aces. "We went to Kildorka wood on Friday and ye weren't there. Where were ye?" "It started to rain so we decided not to go" replied Jade "Are ye sure ye won't come to the mill " "No, it's all right" answered Caitríona. "Then we'll see ye tomorrow" shouted their friends after them. As Barry Egan drove off his bus Caitríona whispered to Ciarán "Thank God we're not going."

Their friends strode to the ruins of the old mill. Matilda said "I can hear a wailing sound." They jeered her "There's no such things as Banshees. You know that". Rocky, Jade's dog followed them but they didn't realise it. As Rocky entered the mill the old stairs creaked under him. The children heard the noise, screamed with fright and ran home.

When they returned to school the following day - Tuesday- Jade was absolutely devastated. All her friends were asking her what was wrong with her. "I haven't seen Rocky, my dog since last night" mumbled Jade. Her friends were feeling very sorry for her. She went into the class and then the teacher asked her what was wrong with her. She was so upset she couldn't answer. Caitríona answered the question for her.

On Tuesday Ciarán and Caitríona were watching their T.V. in their bedroom when they heard the wailing noise again. It seemed to be coming from the old mill far in the distance. They gazed out the window towards the mill. Suddenly they noticed a movement. The object seemed to be floating in the sky. It was a banshee. They rushed back to bed terrified.

On Wednesday Jade wasn't in school. Their teacher Mrs. Cannon reported to the class that Rocky had been found dead earlier that morning under some rubble in the old flax mill. An eerie silence filled the classroom.