Chapter Two

The ride over there is quiet. Not a good quiet. My new taxi driver -- "Jus' call meh Cait, darlin'" -- Miss Caitlin Forte seems sad and won't unlock the doors at first when we get there.
Miss Cait sighs. "Ya sure ya wanna be goin' in dere, sweetie? Not many people like bein' 'ere a' night... Seems wrong, ya hear? Ya don't have ta pay me er nuttin'. I'll jus' drive ya home an' we ken keep it betwixt us two." Her face looks really really serious.
I wring my hands and just kinda stutter out, "I'm fine, ma'am. Please don't-- don't worry." I grab the door handle. It clicks unlocked.

When I climb out, I glance at the lady already at the gates then look back at Miss Cait. "See? Other people are here. Well, one."
Miss Cait rolls down her window and huffs. "All right, fine. What time should I be back ta check on ya?"
I blush just a little bit at the condescension. She means well, but, I mean, I'm almost 30, even if I act a lot younger. "6:00 or 8:00 is fine," I squeak out anyway.
Miss Cait looks shocked, but lets it go and pulls away. I'm relieved I didn't have to tell her about my ghost friends. I've never told anyone other than my kinda friend Charmaine about my ghost friends, and only because she was at the graveyard once, too.

I may have had second thoughts earlier, but as soon as those gates CLANG behind me, I know I'm exactly where I belong.

I start my usual nighttime stuff while I wait for my ghost friends to show up. They usually don't like to come out until I've been there a few hours or until I'm alone. Well, unless it's Charmaine with me, but I'll tell you about her later.

Like I told Miss Cait, there's someone else here tonight.

Renee Williams-Brown is one of the town divorcees. I don't really like gossip, but it's hard not to overhear everyone that does. Apparently she's had a really hard life because she's always unhappy and she looks so much older than she is. And people around the town say her daughter is going to end up just like her. It's gotta be hard being Renee. Not just because of her life, but because I would hate knowing people are saying mean things about me and my children.
I'm one of them, but I don't understand adults a lot. Don't they know words hurt?

I try not to spy too much while she's here, but I can't help my curiosity. I wonder who she's mourning tonight?

Like everyone else, she leaves before it gets too late. And I guess she doesn't notice me. I would think the really pink hair would be a dead giveaway (heh) but I guess not. Maybe I was hidden under the fog. Twinbrook has a lot of fog.

There's a new ghost tonight. Even before I meet her, I can tell there's something really different about her. Something I've never felt for a ghost before.

She shakes my hand kinda hard and introduces herself as Penelope Sargeant. Even though her handshake is hard, her fingers are really soft and there's a heat there that's totally because she's a fire ghost. No other reason.

After failing at the gym with mystery lady, I'm not taking any chances. I just...kinda...quickly tag Penelope and sprint. Nothing like a game of tag to break the ice!

She likes it! In fact, I don't think I've ever met a ghost that likes playing tag as much as me. After her introduction, I thought for sure she was gonna be like Steward and not like kids at all. But she plays with me for hooooours. This is the best night ever!

"Heeeeeey! No fair! Going through walls is like illegal in tag!" I yell out as it starts to head toward morning, trying to distract both of us in any way I can.
Penelope grins. "Oh, c'mon! You're telling me you can't hop over an itty bitty wall? That's weak..."

But even though I'm trying so hard, Penelope can't really be distracted. Every few rounds I find her staring at her grave instead of running from me.
"Tag?" I poke her gently in the shoulder, but she pushes my hand away. She looks really tired. I don't like that. I don't like it at all.
She doesn't say anything, but plays another round with me. Then, right as I'm turning my back to her to run, I feel it...

She's gone.

It sounds really silly, but I'm feeling lonely again, so I just think of something pretty. But, I don't know, maybe it's a premonition or something.

'Cause I almost trip over something pretty walking out of the graveyard.

7:00 on the dot, Miss Cait pulls up looking really worried. When she sees me, her face relaxes a little, but not too much. "Ya survived, huh?" she jokes, still.

"Yeah..." I trail off, thinking about Penelope and the pretty thing in my pocket. "I guess I did."
That's when it hits me. Now I have something to always remember her.