It isn’t until she’s seventeen that Keeley comes to understand that there really are ghosts in the carnival, and that they like drugs.

She doesn’t learn this, alas, while on them herself. She goes out with some townie skaters and comes back with the moon high and bright to find Chuy (the dog trainer’s apprentice) huddled over, surrounded by shadows with burning eyes.

“Shoo!” says Keeley, because it’s the word that comes out of her mouth.

The ghosts flee like roaches. Chuy stays huddled. Keeley kneels down next to him and takes the bottle of acetone from his warm, moist hands.