The mystery deepens . . .

The room was shabby and dirty, heavy with heat. None of the things which Kenny called his own remained. Even the painted walls and skylight were gone.
Baffled, he wondered if other things—even outside—had changed. Kenny went to one of the windows and looked down. On a stoop across the dark street a man was standing, gazing straight at Kenny's window. He was wearing what appeared to be a long black cape which reached his knees, and a hat, triangular in shape. Its brim obscured his face.

Behind the Book

Avi writes:

This is the first of my three interconnected Providence (Rhode Island) tales. Like the hero of the novel, I had just moved from Los Angeles (a new city) to an old city, Providence, Rhode Island. What’s more, I moved into the house on 30 Sheldon Street, which had been built in the 1830s. It was like going back in time. In fact, the house in the story is the house I used in the book. Many people ask if Kenny (the book’s main character) really told me this story—as per the first chapter—which is to say, is this a true story? My answer is, it’s true if you believe in time travel and ghosts. As for me, I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do believe in ghost stories.