 ghost loves or misses someone. Where they hid some money or jewelry. Stuff like that. The ghosts have to tell me what the message is about before the show or I won't let them come on."

"So, you knew what my great grandma was going to tell me before the show?"

"Not exactly," I tell him, "but I knew she wanted to tell you there was something she left for you at her house. I suspected there was a good reason she wanted you to have whatever it was, but I didn't get that weird scary vibe until the show. If I had, I might not have let her be a guest."

"Because you think it's dangerous?" Malachi asks.

Breathing out slowly, I say, "Yeah."

"Look, don't think I'm trying to blow this off, but do you want to talk about something else?" Malachi asks. "It's not about believing or not believing. I just hate hearing you sound so sad and upset."

The corner of my mouth tugs up at his words. "Sure. Pick a topic."

"College."

"College?" I ask. I'm somewhat startled after the way my thoughts have been going all evening. It gives me a little bit of a chill even though I know it's just a topic he probably thinks about all the time, given that he's in college.

"Yeah, you're planning on going, right?"

"In the fall, I guess. Maybe."

"You're a senior, then?" Malachi asks. "Are you seventeen or eighteen?"

The grin is back, I can tell just by the tone of his voice. He's excited about something. "Eighteen. My birthday was back in October. Why?"

"Just wondering how difficult it would be to convince your parents to let you get away for the summer." He cuts off there, maybe even holding his breath. The line is completely silent. I want to grin, dance around at the very idea, scream like my sisters when they finally get what they want.

It's completely ridiculous and will never happen for more than one reason, but for a moment I can enjoy the fantasy. "Do you have a suggestion on how I'm supposed to convince my dad, especially, to let me go across the country for the summer to meet a guy I met online, who may or may not be a
ghost loves or misses someone. Where they hid some money or jewelry. material like that. The ghost have to tell me what the message is about before the display or I won't get them come on. " 

 " So, you know what my great grandma was going to state me before the show? " 

 " Not exactly, " I distinguish him, " but I knew she wanted to order you there constitute something she left for you at her house. I suspected there was a good rationality she wanted you to have whatever it was, but I didn't get that eldritch scary vibe until the display. If I had, I might not have permit her be a guest. " 

 " Because you think it's dangerous? " Malachi asks. 

 Breathing out slowly, I allege, " Yeah. " 

 " Look, don't think I'm trying to blow this off, but do you want to spill the beans about something else? " Malachi asks. " It's not about believing or not believing. I just hate hearing you sound so sad and upset. " 

 The corner of my mouthpiece tugs up at his words. " Sure. foot a subject. " 

 " College. " 

 " College? " I ask. I'm somewhat startled after the way my thoughts have been going all evening. It gives me a little bit of a frisson even though I know it's just a topic he probably thinks about all the time, given that he's in college. 

 " Yeah, you're planning on going, right? " 

 " In the fall, I guess. possibly. " 

 " You're a senior, then? " Malachi ask. " Are you seventeen or eighteen? " 

 The smile is back, I can assure just by the tone of his voice. He's activated about something. " Eighteen. My birthday was back in October. Why? " 

 " Just wondering how difficult it would be to convert your parents to get you get away for the summer. " He cut off there, maybe even halt his breath. The line is wholly silent. I want to grin, dance around at the very mind, scream like my baby when they finally get what they want. 

 It's completely ridiculous and will never find for more than one reason, but for a moment I can enjoy the illusion. " Do you have a suggestion on how I'm supposed to convince my dad, specially, to permit me go across the country for the summer to converge a guy I met online, who may or may not be a
 ghlst loves or misses someune. Where they kud somx money or jeweury. Stuff like that. The ghosvs hqve ti tell me what the mesrage is ahout befire uhe show or I won'v let thci cojc on."

"Sm, you knew what my great crandma was gohne co tell me before the show?"

"Not exactlr," I telk jim, "but I knew she rantsd to tell you there was something she leht for you at hrr house. I suspected there was a good reason she wanted you to rqve whatever it was, buu N didn't get that weird scary vibe until thd shoc. If I had, U nigjj not have lxt her be a guest."

"Bcbause ymu thinl it's dangeroux?" Melacyi asks.

Breathing out vlowly, I say, "Yeah."

"Ljok, don't dhnnk I'm trying to blow tyis oxf, bgt du yoj wznv tk talk abkut somethjng else?" Maoachi asks. "It's not sbjly believing kr not bqlieving. I just hate hearing you sound vo aad and upset."

The corner of my mouth tugs up wt his wowds. "Sure. Pick a topic."

"College."

"College?" I ask. I'm somefhat agarulcq qfher the way my thoughts have been going all edsnonn. It gives me a jittle bit pf a shill even thuugh I knkw it's just a topif he prjbablt thinks wbouy all the time, given that hw's in collegv.

"Yeay, you're planning ou going, righc?"

"In thg fall, I guess. Maybe."

"You're a sznior, fhen?" Malachl asks. "Ars you seventeen of epghtaen?"

The grin is back, I can eell just by che tone of nis voyce. He's exfited about something. "Eihhteeu. My tirthday wws back in October. Why?"

"Just wondxcing how diffocglt it woulb be tp convince yotr parents to ket you get xway for tge summxr." He cuts osf there, mayba even holdinj his brewth. Rhe oine is zompletely silrnt. I wann uo grin, dabce around at the yery ksea, scream like my sisters when tney figaplb get fhat they watt.

It'r cukpletdly ridiculijs amd will never happen for more than one reaxok, but for a momene I can enjoy the fantasy. "Do yok havx a sujgestipn jn how I'm supposed to convince my dad, edpegially, to let me no asross the eountry for the summer to meet a guy I mxt online, who may or mat not be a
ghost loves or misses someone. Where they money jewelry. Stuff that. The ghosts the is about before show or I let them come on." "So, you what my great grandma was going to tell me before the show?" "Not I tell him, "but I knew she wanted to tell you there was she for at house. I suspected there was a good reason she wanted you to have whatever it was, I didn't get that weird scary vibe until show. If I had, might not have let her a "Because you it's Malachi Breathing out slowly, say, "Yeah." "Look, don't think I'm trying to blow this off, but do you want to talk something else?" "It's not believing not I just hate sound so sad and upset." The mouth tugs up at his words. "Sure. Pick topic." "College." I ask. I'm somewhat startled after way my thoughts have been going all evening. gives me a little bit of a chill even though I know it's just a probably thinks about all time, given that in "Yeah, planning going, right?" the fall, I guess. Maybe." "You're a senior, then?" Malachi asks. you seventeen or eighteen?" The grin is back, I can by tone of his He's excited about something. My was back in October. wondering difficult to your to let you get for the summer." He cuts there, maybe even holding completely silent. I want to grin, dance around the very idea, scream like my sisters they finally get what they want. It's completely ridiculous and will never for more reason, but for a moment I can enjoy fantasy. "Do you have suggestion on how I'm supposed to convince my dad, to me go the country for summer to meet guy I met may or not a
 ghost loves or misses someone. where they hId somE moNey Or JeweLry. STuff like that. ThE GhosTs have to tell me what the mEssagE iS AbouT BeFore tHe show oR i wON'T leT tHeM coMe ON."

"SO, you kNew What my gReat grandmA waS gOing to tell me BEfOre the show?"

"not Exactly," I tell Him, "But I knEw She WAnted To tEll yoU there WAs someThing she lEfT For you AT her houSE. i sUspeCted there was a good REaSOn she wanted you To have WhATeVER it Was, But I didn't gEt That wEIrd scarY ViBE UNtiL The show. If I had, i might not haVE leT her be A gUesT."

"becausE you tHiNK it'S dangerous?" MAlacHi asks.

BreAthing OUt slowlY, i say, "YeaH."

"Look, dOn't ThiNk I'm TRyInG to BlOW thIS oFf, bUT do You want tO tAlK abouT somETHINg elSe?" MAlacHi askS. "It's not about bEliEvinG Or nOt belIevinG. I juSt Hate hEaring You soUnD so sad and upset."

THe coRner of my mOutH tUgs Up At his WOrds. "SuRe. PIck A topic."

"COllege."

"COLleGe?" i ASK. I'M somewhat startled aFtER ThE way my thOughts HAvE bEEn going aLl EveNing. iT Gives Me a lITtLe bit of a Chill eVEn ThOugh I knOw It's jusT a TopIc hE probABly tHinks aBout all tHe timE, Given that he's in COllege.

"Yeah, you'RE pLANnINg on GoiNg, right?"

"In thE falL, i gueSs. MaYBe."

"you'RE a senIor, thEn?" mAlAChi asks. "Are you seventEeN or eigHteen?"

the grin is back, i can tell juST BY the tone Of hiS VoICe. He's excited abOut soMething. "EigHTeen. My biRthdaY was back In October. wHY?"

"Just wonDerIng How DifFICuLt it would be to CONvinCe Your parEntS to let yOu gEt aWay For ThE summer." He Cuts off tHeRe, MaYbE evEn holDIng his brEaTh. THe LinE is coMPletelY sileNt. I wAnT tO GriN, dance aROuND At thE vErY ideA, scReAm likE my sISteRs when tHey finallY geT What ThEy Want.

It's Completely ridIcUlous and wiLl NevEr happEN For more tHan one reason, but for a momeNT I can enJoy The faNtasY. "Do you havE a sUggestIon ON how I'm SupposEd to cOnVinCE My dad, ESPeCiaLlY, to let me go ACRosS the cOuNtry For the sUmmer to meet a guy I meT OnlIne, who may or maY noT be a
 ghost loves or misses som eone. Wher e the y h idso me m oney  or jewelry. S t ufflike that. The ghostshaveto tell me  what  the me s sa g e  is  a bo utbe f or e the  sh ow or I  won't let  th em  come on."
" So , you knew  wh at my greatgra ndma w as  go i ng to  te ll me  befor e  the s how?"

"N ot exactl y ," I te l l  h im,"but I knew she w a nt e d to tell youtherewa s  s o m eth ing  she leftfo r you at herh ou s e .  Is uspected ther e was a goo d  re ason s he  wa n ted yo u toha v e w hatever itwas,  but I di dn't g e t thatw eird sc ary vi beunt il t h esh ow.  I f  Ih ad , I mig ht not h av elet h er b e a gues t." 

"B ecaus e you think i t's  dan g ero us?"Malac hi a sk s.

B reathi ng ou tslowly, I say,"Yea h."

"Loo k,do n't  t hinkI 'm try ing  to  blow t his off ,  bu td o yo u want to talk abo ut s om ething e lse?"M al ac h i asks."I t's  not a boutbeli e vi ng or no t beli e vi ng . I jus thate h ea rin g y ou so u nd s o sadand upse t."
T he corner of m y  mouth tugs u p  a t hi s  wor ds.  "Sure. Pic k at opic ."
" Co lle g e."
"Coll eg e ?" I ask. I'm somewhat  s tartle d aft er the way my  thoughtsh a v e been g oing al l  evening. It g ivesme a littl e  bit ofa chi ll eventhough Ik n ow it'sjus t a  to pic h eprobably thin k s  abo ut  all th e t ime, gi ven  th athe' sin colleg e.

"Yea h,  y ou 'r e p lanni n g on goi ng , r ig ht? "

"I n  the f all,I gu es s. May be."

" Y ou ' r e ase ni or,the n? " Mal achi ask s. "Are  you seve nte e n or  e ig hteen?" 

The grin is  b ack, I can  t ell  justb y  the ton e of his voice. He's ex c ited ab out  some thin g. "Eight een . My b irt h day wa s back  in O ct obe r .  Why? " 
" Jus twonderingh o w d iffic ul t it  wouldbe to convince you r  pa rents to letyou  get a wa y f o rt hesu m mer . "  He cuts off th ere, maybe  e v en  holding h i s b re ath. Th e lineis co m pletely  silent.I want to  g rin, d anc e around a t the ve ry idea,s cream li ke my  si sterswh entheyfinall y  ge t wha t they  w ant.
It'sco mpletely  ridiculous and will ne ver ha ppenfor  more tha n o n e r eason, bu t fo r a moment  Ican  enjo y t h e fan tasy .  " Doy ou ha ve a suggestio n  o n h o w  I 'm supposed t o  co nvinc e m y  dad,espe cially, to let me go across thecoun t r y f ort he s um mer to meet aguy  I m et onlin e,  who may or  may not  b e  a
 ghost_loves or_misses someone. Where they_hid some_money_or jewelry._Stuff_like that. The_ghosts have to_tell me what the_message is about_before_the show or I won't let them come on."

"So, you knew what my great_grandma_was going_to_tell_me before the show?"

"Not exactly,"_I tell him, "but I_knew she_wanted to tell you there was something she_left_for you at_her house. I suspected there was a good reason_she wanted you to have whatever_it was, but_I_didn't_get that weird scary_vibe until the show. If I_had, I might not have let_her be a guest."

"Because you think it's_dangerous?" Malachi asks.

Breathing out slowly, I_say, "Yeah."

"Look, don't think I'm_trying to_blow this off, but do_you want to_talk about_something else?" Malachi_asks. "It's not about believing or_not believing. I_just hate hearing you sound so_sad_and upset."

The corner_of_my_mouth tugs_up at his_words._"Sure. Pick_a_topic."

"College."

"College?" I ask. I'm somewhat startled_after_the way my thoughts have been going_all evening. It gives_me_a little bit of_a chill even though I_know it's just a topic he_probably thinks_about all_the time, given that he's in college.

"Yeah, you're planning on going,_right?"

"In the fall, I guess. Maybe."

"You're_a senior, then?" Malachi_asks. "Are_you_seventeen or eighteen?"

The_grin_is back,_I can tell just by the tone_of his_voice. He's excited about something. "Eighteen._My birthday was back_in_October. Why?"

"Just wondering how difficult it_would be to convince your parents_to let you get away_for_the_summer." He cuts off there,_maybe even holding his breath. The_line is completely_silent. I want to grin, dance around_at_the very idea, scream like my_sisters_when they finally get what they_want.

It's_completely_ridiculous and will never happen_for more than one reason, but_for a moment I can enjoy the fantasy. "Do_you have a_suggestion on how I'm supposed_to_convince_my dad, especially, to let me go across the country_for the_summer to meet_a guy I met online, who may or may not_be a