Talking to a Ghost

“I’m going to scream.”

“No you aren’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you are whispering…”

“That doesn’t matter. I could still scream.”

“But you don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“Because you asked to see me.”

“Well… I… you weren’t supposed to just show up!”

“Watch out. You aren’t whispering anymore. Someone will hear.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s better, and I told you that you weren’t going to scream.”

Smart alec. “… What are you doing here?”

“You called, remember? You went to that lady with the jingly clothing and called me here. If you don’t remember, then…”

“No! I remember, but I thought all of that stuff wasn’t real.”

“It usually isn’t. When she said she talked to me, it wasn’t real. Didn’t sound a thing like me, hmm?”

“Well, no… but… how are you here, then?”

“A friend of mine was picking on her. You know, knocking things over in the back room, heavy footsteps, moans – trying to scare her really. He told me you wanted to see me.”

“But… I can’t see you.”

“What, talking to me isn’t good enough?”

“I… didn’t say that. I’d just like to know it isn’t someone playing a trick on me, I suppose.”

“I can’t show myself to you, too many complications, but I promise you there are no tricks. I’m here, having a blast. I even have my own house to haunt and people to torture.”

“Don’t you dare torture anyone! … It’s not nice.”

“Well, I don’t torture them too badly. I move their shoes.”

“You… move… their shoes.”

“Yes! And their keys, sometimes their wallets. It is quite funny, really. They have a big house, and the whole family looks everywhere. In the seat cushions, under carpets, one time I hid them in the refrig…”

“Stop! I get it. You’re out having fun when I’m sitting here missing you. That’s hardly fair.”

“Oh come on now, I miss you, too. It’s no good being just one half of a pair of twins. I’ve saved room for you, though, for whenever you come. We can hide shoes together.”

“Oh yeah, that is something to look forward to.”

“Oh, don’t be so sarcastic! You might just like it.”

“… Well, honestly, I don’t want to think about that quite yet. Can you at least come visit more often?”

“I can try… but we have to get special permission, and… well, it’s a pain. The only reason I can be here is…”

“… because it is Halloween night.”

“Right. I’m not used to you finishing my sentences anymore. Look, it’s almost midnight. I am going to have to go.”

“I wasn’t kidding about missing you. That crash, it wasn’t fa…”

“Don’t talk about it. I miss you, too.”

“I wish I could hug you.”

“I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll try to see you next year, okay? I’ll put in for it right now to get permission. Maybe I’ll come hide your shoes every now and then.”

“… sure.”

WC: 496