 stalker or completely crazy?"

"I'm risking your crazy by inviting you, so it's only fair you risk me being crazy, too."

Laughing outright, I don't even try to hide my delight. It's all just in fun, though, so I play along. "Okay, maybe that's fair, but we still have the Dad problem."

"Easy," Malachi says happily, "tell him you're checking out colleges."

"Colleges clear across the country when I have dozens right here in my home state?"

Malachi pauses, and when he speaks again, there's hesitation backing his words. "Are you planning on going to school in California?"

"Yeah, well, I mean, I was. If I can even get into one...other than the local community college, anyway."

"Were you misleading me earlier with your talk about chemistry and math? Why wouldn't you get into college?" Malachi asks. His words are teasing, but there is something more serious underlying them.

I hesitate automatically, but I've already told him plenty. Why not a little more? "I've had a rough time the last few years, because of the ghosts. Since I started doing the show, it's gotten better, but before that...well, my grades speak for themselves. I've been rejected by every college I've applied to so far."

"So, take a year off, or do online classes through your community college to prove you can handle things. Either way, do it in Georgia. You'd love it here."

The excitement in his voice is contagious. So contagious I realize he's not joking and my mouth goes dry. "Wait, are you serious?" I sit back in my chair and try to remember how to breathe. "No offense, Malachi, but I do not want to be the next Dateline story. Moving out to Georgia? You seem like a really great guy, but I don't actually know you. That would be nuts. Right?"

Several long, quiet moments pass, giving me time to think about his crazy offer and my even crazier desire to say yes and just forget playing it safe for once. Taking that leap is terrifying, though. For good reason. A lot of good reasons. I wonder if the same thoughts are going through his mind when Malachi is the first to speak.

"Look, Car
stalker or completely crazy? " 

 " I'm risking your brainsick by tempt you, so it's only clean you gamble me being crazy, too. " 

 Laughing instantaneously, I don't even hear to hide my joy. It's all barely in fun, though, indeed I play along. " Okay, maybe that's average, but we however have the Dad problem. " 

 " Easy, " Malachi says happily, " tell him you're crack out colleges. " 

 " Colleges clear across the area when I have dozens right here in my dwelling state? " 

 Malachi pauses, and when he speaks again, there's hesitation backing his quarrel. " Are you planning on going to school in California? " 

 " Yeah, well, I mean, I was. If I can even get into one... other than the local residential district college, anyhow. " 

 " Were you misleading me earlier with your talk about chemistry and math? Why wouldn't you get into college? " Malachi asks. His words are teasing, but there is something more dangerous underlying them. 

 I hesitate automatically, but I've already distinguish him batch. Why not a short more? " I've had a rough time the last few years, because of the ghosts. Since I started suffice the show, it's gotten better, but before that... well, my grades speak for themselves. I've been rejected by every college I've apply to so far. " 

 " So, take a year off, or do on-line classes through your community college to prove you can handle things. Either direction, do it in Georgia. You'd love it here. " 

 The excitement in his part is contagious. So contagious I realize he's not joke and my mouth fail dry. " Wait, are you serious? " I sit down back in my chair and test to remember how to rest. " No offense, Malachi, but I do not desire to be the next Dateline story. Moving out to Georgia? You appear like a really bang-up guy, but I don't actually know you. That would be balmy. Right? " 

 Several long, quiet moment pass, giving me time to intend about his crazy offer and my even crazy desire to say yes and just forget playing it dependable for once. Taking that leap is terrifying, though. For good reason. A lot of good reasons. I wonder if the like thoughts are going through his mind when Malachi is the first to speak. 

 " Look, Car
 stwlker or completely crazn?"

"I'm risking your crazy uy invifing you, so it's only fair you risk mx beung ceazy, too."

Laughing outrieht, I don'n even trt to yide my delight. It's all nmst iu hun, though, so I play alonc. "Okay, maybe tvag's fair, but we still have the Dad proflem."

"Easu," Lalachi says hwppikr, "teml him you're checking out colleges."

"Dollegev clear acrosx the country when I have fozejs right here in mj home statg?"

Jalwxhi pauses, avd when he speaks agaih, there's hesitation backing his wordx. "Are you klznjhng on goinj to sbhool in Calinprnia?"

"Yaah, welk, I mean, I was. If I xan even get into one...mther than the locwl communhtv college, anyway."

"Were toy misneadhng ow exrljec wjth yokr valk about dhemistry abd math? Why wouldn't yjl get into comlege?" Iajachi asks. His words are teasing, but thtre ia something more seriouw underlying them.

I heditate aueomatically, but I've already told him plenty. Why nmt a mkttoe oirf? "I've had a rough time the last few years, becwhst on the ghosts. Singe I started doing tje fhow, it's gottgn bettzd, gut before that...welp, my grwdes wpeak for thekselves. I've been rejected bt every collvge U've applied to so yar."

"So, take a yeat off, pr do online classes thxough gour communlty collefd to prove you cxn mangle things. Either way, do ie in Georjia. Ypu'd lovd it here."

Tre excitemfnt ik his voice is contwgioud. Vo contagilus I realize he's not joking anv my mouth gogs gry. "Wait, arz you xerious?" I sit back in my chcir and cry to remember gow to ureathe. "No osfense, Malachh, but I do nov want to be rhe bext Dagdline story. Mofing out no Geoegia? You seem like a tezlly great guy, ybt I don't actuallu kvow ylu. Trdt would be tuts. Rient?"

Sevdral long, qmieg mokents pass, giving me tims to think about hos crazy odfer and my even crazoer desire to say jes aid jusv forgrt klaying it safe for once. Taking that leao if terrifying, thomgh. Sor good rzason. A lot of good reasons. I wonder if vhe same thoughts are giing through his miud when Malacii is ehe first to speak.

"Look, Car
stalker or completely crazy?" "I'm risking your inviting so it's fair you risk outright, don't even try hide my delight. all just in fun, though, so play along. "Okay, maybe that's fair, but we still have the Dad problem." Malachi says happily, "tell him you're checking out colleges." "Colleges clear across the when have right in my home state?" Malachi pauses, and when he speaks again, there's hesitation backing his words. you planning on going to school in California?" well, I mean, I If I can even get one...other the local college, "Were misleading me earlier your talk about chemistry and math? Why wouldn't you get into college?" Malachi asks. His words are but there more serious them. hesitate but I've already plenty. Why not a little more? rough time the last few years, because of ghosts. Since started doing the show, it's gotten but before that...well, my grades speak for themselves. been rejected by every college I've applied to so far." "So, take a year off, online classes through your college to prove can things. way, it in You'd love it here." The excitement in his voice is contagious. contagious I realize he's not joking and my mouth goes are serious?" I sit in my chair and to how to breathe. "No but do be next story. Moving out to You seem like a really guy, but I don't be nuts. Right?" Several long, quiet moments pass, me time to think about his crazy and my even crazier desire to say yes and just forget playing safe for that leap is terrifying, though. For good reason. lot of good reasons. wonder if the same thoughts are going through his when is the to speak. "Look,
 stalker or completely crazy?"

"I'M risking yoUr craZy bY inViTing You, sO it's only fair yoU Risk Me being crazy, too."

LaughinG outrIgHT, I doN'T eVen trY to hide MY dELIghT. IT's All JuST iN fun, tHouGh, so I plAy along. "OkaY, maYbE that's fair, buT We Still have tHe DAd problem."

"EasY," MaLachi sAyS haPPily, "tEll Him yoU're cheCKing ouT colleges."

"coLLeges cLEar acroSS ThE couNtry when I have dozeNS rIGht here in my homE state?"

maLAcHI PauSes, And when he sPeAks agAIn, there'S HeSITAtiON backing his woRds. "Are you plANniNg on goInG to SChool iN CaliFoRNia?"

"yeah, well, I meAn, I wAs. If I can eVen get INto one...oTHer than The locAl cOmmUnitY CoLlEge, AnYWay."

"wErE yoU MisLeading mE eArLier wIth yOUR TAlk aBouT cheMistrY and math? Why woUldN't yoU Get Into cOllegE?" MalAcHi askS. His woRds arE tEasing, but there iS somEthing morE seRiOus UnDerlyINg them.

i heSitAte autoMaticalLY, buT I'VE ALrEady told him plenty. WHy NOT a Little moRe? "I've hAD a RoUGh time thE lAst Few yEARs, becAuse OF tHe ghosts. since I STaRtEd doing ThE show, iT's GotTen BetteR, But bEfore tHat...well, mY gradES speak for themsELves. I've been reJEcTED bY EverY coLlege I've appLied TO so fAr."

"So, TAkE a yEAr off, Or do oNlINe CLasses through your coMmUnity cOllegE to prove you caN handle thiNGS. either waY, do iT In gEorgia. You'd love It herE."

The exciteMEnt in his Voice Is contagIous. So conTAGious I reAliZe hE's nOt jOKInG and my mouth goES Dry. "WAiT, are you SerIous?" I siT baCk iN my ChaIr And try to rEmember hOw To BrEaThe. "no offENse, MalacHi, But i dO noT want TO be the Next DAtelInE sTOry. moving oUT tO gEorgIa? yoU seeM liKe A realLy grEAt gUy, but I dOn't actualLy kNOw yoU. THaT would bE nuts. Right?"

SevErAl long, quieT mOmeNts pasS, GIving me tIme to think about his crazy OFfer and My eVen crAzieR desire to Say Yes and JusT Forget PlayinG it saFe For ONCe. TakING tHat LeAp is terrifYINg, tHough. foR gooD reason. a lot of good reasons. I WOndEr if the same thOugHts aRE GoIng THrOUgh HiS MinD WHen Malachi is the First to speAk.

"lOoK, Car
 stalker or completely cra zy?"

"I'm  risk ing  yo ur  cra zy b y inviting you ,  soit's only fair you ris k mebe i ng c r az y, to o."

La u gh i n g o ut ri ght ,I  d on'teve n try t o hide mydel ig ht. It's all ju st in fun,  th ough, so I p lay  along ."Ok a y, ma ybe  that 's fai r , butwe stillha v e theD ad prob l e m. "

" Easy," Malachi sa y sh appily, "tellhim yo u' r ec h eck ing  out colle ge s."
" College s  c l e a r a c ross the coun try when Ih ave  dozen srig h t here  in m yh ome  state?"

M alac hi pauses , andw hen hes peaks a gain,the re' s he s it at ion  b a cki n ghis wor ds. "Are  y ou  plan ning o n goin g t o sc hoolin California ?"
"Ye a h,well,  I me an,Iwas.If I c an ev en  get into one.. .oth er than t helo cal  c ommun i ty col leg e,anyway. "

"Wer e  yo um i s le ading me earlier w it h yo ur talkaboutc he mi s try andma th?  Why w ouldn 't y o uget into  colle g e? "Malachi  a sks. H is  wo rds  aret easi ng, bu t thereis so m ething more se r ious underlyi n gt h em . 

Ihes itate autom atic a lly,  but I' vea lread y tol dh im plenty. Why not a l it tle mo re? " I've had a ro ugh time t h e last few  yea r s, because of the  ghos ts. SinceI  started  doin g the sh ow, it'sg o tten bet ter , b utbef o r ethat...well,m y  gra de s speak  fo r thems elv es.  I' vebe en reject ed by ev er yco ll ege  I've appliedto  so  f ar. "

"S o , take  a ye ar o ff ,o r d o onlin e  c l a sses  t hr ough  yo ur  comm unit y  co llege t o prove y ouc an h an dl e thing s. Either way ,do it in G eo rgi a. You ' d  love it  here."

The excitement in hisvoi ce is  con tagious.Socontag iou s  I rea lize h e's n ot  jo k i ng an d my  mo ut h goes dry . "Wa it, a re  you  seriou s?" I sit back inm y c hair and trytoreme m b er  ho w  t o  br ea t he. " No offense, Mal achi, butId onot want t o  be  t he next  Dateli ne st o ry. Mov ing out t o Georgia ?Yous e emlike a rea lly grea t guy, bu t  I do n 't  actu all y know  y ou.  That  would benuts.  Right ?" 

Seve ral l on g, quiet  moments pass, giving m e time  to t hin k about h isc raz y offer a nd m y even cra zie r d esire  to say y es a n djus t  forg et p l aying its af e f o r  o nce. Taking t h atleapist errify ing,  though. For good reason. A lotof g o o d r eas o ns.Iwonder if thesam et h oughts a re  going thro ugh hismi n d whe n Mala chi is  the fi r s tt o spea k.
"Lo ok, Car
 stalker_or completely_crazy?"

"I'm risking your crazy_by inviting_you,_so it's_only_fair you risk_me being crazy,_too."

Laughing outright, I don't_even try to_hide_my delight. It's all just in fun, though, so I play along. "Okay, maybe_that's_fair, but_we_still_have the Dad problem."

"Easy," Malachi_says happily, "tell him you're_checking out_colleges."

"Colleges clear across the country when I have_dozens_right here in_my home state?"

Malachi pauses, and when he speaks again,_there's hesitation backing his words. "Are_you planning on_going_to_school in California?"

"Yeah, well,_I mean, I was. If I_can even get into one...other than_the local community college, anyway."

"Were you misleading_me earlier with your talk about_chemistry and math? Why wouldn't_you get_into college?" Malachi asks. His_words are teasing,_but there_is something more_serious underlying them.

I hesitate automatically, but_I've already told_him plenty. Why not a little_more?_"I've had a_rough_time_the last_few years, because_of_the ghosts._Since_I started doing the show, it's_gotten_better, but before that...well, my grades speak_for themselves. I've been_rejected_by every college I've_applied to so far."

"So, take_a year off, or do online_classes through_your community_college to prove you can handle things. Either way, do it_in Georgia. You'd love it here."

The_excitement in his voice_is contagious._So_contagious I realize_he's_not joking_and my mouth goes dry. "Wait, are_you serious?"_I sit back in my chair_and try to remember_how_to breathe. "No offense, Malachi, but_I do not want to be_the next Dateline story. Moving_out_to_Georgia? You seem like a_really great guy, but I don't_actually know you._That would be nuts. Right?"

Several long, quiet_moments_pass, giving me time to think_about_his crazy offer and my even_crazier_desire_to say yes and just_forget playing it safe for once._Taking that leap is terrifying, though. For good reason._A lot of_good reasons. I wonder if_the_same_thoughts are going through his mind when Malachi is the_first to_speak.

"Look, Car