Groovy

It’s Halloween and two boys are bored. Hopefully they won’t make a grave mistake.

“This wasn’t a good idea.”

“Oh, and staying at that lame Halloween party was?”

“At least I was warm!”

“Quit whining. It’s only a little chilly. We’re almost there.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “So you actually believe ghosts appear at midnight in this abandoned cemetery?”

“That’s the rumor. Nobody’s been buried here since 1972.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know! The important part is a ghost appears at the gate and asks permission to leave.”

“So we tell it yes?”

“No, genius! We tell it to get back in its grave.”

Caleb grinned mischievously "I vote yes!"

“And unleash an evil spirit?”

“You don’t know it’s evil.”

“You really want to gamble with that?”

They reached the rusted cemetery gate with one minute until midnight.

The church bell struck twelve.

Nothing.

Jake sighed. “Fantastic. I froze half to death for—”

“Yo, dudes! Where’s the party? Sounds groovy!”

Both boys spun around.

Floating above the entrance was a transparent hippie with waist-length hair, a tie-dye shirt, bell-bottoms, sandals, and enough beads to decorate a Christmas tree.

Jake pointed with a trembling finger. “Y-you’re a ghost!”

The spirit smiled. “I prefer Stoner. That’s my nickname. Say… could you let me out? This scene is becoming a real drag!"
Jake screamed, turned, and disappeared into the darkness so fast he nearly outran his own shadow.

Caleb couldn’t move. His knees had resigned.

“I can’t,” he whispered. “You’ll possess me.”

Stoner laughed. “Nah, man. Some grumpy old caretaker made that story up to keep teenagers away.”

After an hour of talking, Caleb saw opportunity where others saw danger. Releasing him!

Best decision ever.

Every Halloween they terrified neighborhood kids together.

The rest of the year?

With the success of Caleb's Ghosts Mystery Novels they vacationed in the Caribbean, where even ghosts appreciated sunshine.