THE GHOSTLY CHRONICLES

by D T Yarbrough

  As the crowd began filing into the chamber, Jack and Rita headed in the direction where they had seen the sprites. The crowd was so thick you couldn't see six feet in front of you. The ushers forced everyone to take the first available seat. Jack and Rita took a seat but continued to search the room visually. There was no sign of the sprites. In a moment the ceremony began. After a brief introduction the president took the podium and began speaking. Jack was still scanning the room in search of the sprites. As the speech came to an end Jack saw the sprites stand for a moment and then vanish. They had been seated in a roped off section of seats reserved for international dignitaries. Many had boycotted the speech, leaving a lot of the seats vacant.

  As the crowd burst into applause, Jack turned to Rita. She was applauding along with everyone else. Jack had missed the entire speech, but there would be weeks of reruns on CNN. As the crowd left, Jack and Rita remained seated.

  "Let walk down to where they were seated," Jack said. "I thought I saw one of them drop something."

  "That was the most inspiring speech the president has ever made. Do you think he will succeed in uniting the nations to fight global warming?" Rita asked.

  "I think we witnessed a great moment in history," said Jack.

  "What makes you say that?" Rita asked.

  Jack handed Rita a ticket he had retrieved from one of the seats. Rita examined it. It was strangely transparent. She read the writing. "Admit one. History's Greatest Moments Tour". "Look at the date," said Jack. "Humanity is going to be around for a long time to come."

  "Excuse me. I believe you have something that belongs to me," said someone with a metallic sounding voice. Jack turned and saw one of the sprites. He was holding a device to his throat to help him speak.

  Jack reached over and placed the ticket into the pocket of the sprite's jacket. The sprite removed it from his pocket. "I wish I could keep this as a souvenir, but it's simply not allowed," he said as he gave Jack's business card back to him. "The guys back home are never going to believe that I met the great Jack Weston. Now if you'll give me the real ticket, I'll be going," he said.

  "Can't you stay a moment? I have a million questions," Jack said.

  "There's no time. Hmm. I made a joke," he said as he vanished.

  "Did you hear that? I'm going to be famous," Jack said to Rita. "Do you think it has something to do with the

  medals we just got."

  "I got a medal, and he didn't mention me," said Rita. "It's probably something you haven't even done yet."

  "It's nice to think that my better days lie ahead," said Jack.

  "We'd better leave while your head can still fit through the door," Rita said.

  "Rita. Those are double doors," Jack said.

  "Okay ... so we've got a little time," Rita replied.

  THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

  Jack and Rita were having dinner and discussing their latest adventure when Rita's phone rang. "Hello, this is Rita .... Yes, I know Martha .... She recommended me? .... I see. Give me your address and we'll be right over," said Rita.

  "Where are we going, and who's Martha?" Jack asked.

  "I helped Martha with a ghost problem a few years ago. She recommended me to a friend whose little girl claims there's a ghost in her room," Rita replied.

  "You realize that this sort of thing is almost always a case of overactive imagination. Kids who actually see ghosts are almost as rare as adults," Jack said.

  "Well, it shouldn't take long to check it out. You'll be back in time to watch Ghost Hunters," Rita assured Jack. "Besides, you owe me."

  "Always happy to help out a friend of a friend of my friend," said Jack. "Where are we going?"

  "It's only a few miles from here. It's in an older established neighborhood. The ghost may have lived in this house before," Rita said. "From what the mother said, it might be a poltergeist. It has the little girl terrified."

  "You know I hate poltergeists. What are you getting us into?" Jack asked.

  "After all the things you've gotten me into. You've got a lot of room to talk," Rita replied. "You always come out on top, that's why I want you with me."

  "So, you're nervous too. It's hard to tell since you quit smoking," Jack said.

  "Well, here we are. Let's go in and get this over with," Rita said.

  "Hello. You must be Rita. Come on in. And this is...?"

  "Jack Weston, at your service, ma'am," Jack replied.

  "Could we talk to your daughter before we go to her room?" asked Rita.

  "Cindy. Turn off the TV and come in here and meet our guests," the mom said. "She doesn't usually see things and she's not easily frightened."

  "Hi. Are you going to capture the ghost?" Cindy asked.

  "Yes, Cindy. We'll have you back in your room in no time," said Rita. "What did the ghost do to frighten you?"

  "It grabbed my arm and pulled me down. It had a frightened look on its face," Cindy said.

  "You mean a frightening look, don't you, Cindy," asked Jack.

  "No. It was frightened. That's what frightened me the most," replied Cindy. "If there was something there that frightens ghosts, I'm not going back in there."

  "I don't blame you dear. You're a very smart little girl," said Rita. "Is your daddy here?"

  "No. He works nights. Why do you need him?" the mom asked.

  "What does he do? We want to make sure the ghost didn't follow him home," Rita said.

  "He's an emergency room doctor at St. Helen's Hospital," she answered.

  "I see. Well, you two stay here. Where is Cindy's room?" Rita asked.

  "Upstairs. Second door on your left," she said.

  "Are you ready, Jack?" Rita asked.

  "I have some more questions," Jack replied.

  "Come on, Jack. Quit stalling," Rita said.

  "Okay...okay. I'm coming," said Jack " Remember... fools rush in..."

  As they entered the room they could feel a slight chill. There was no ghost in sight. Rita opened the closet and there it was, crouched in the corner. "Come on out. We can see you. We just want to talk to you," Rita said. The ghost came out of the closet and tried to speak. "Wait a minute. We can't hear you. We can only see you. We'll find a way to communicate in a moment."

  "Jack, look in the playroom we passed in the hallway and see if there are any alphabet blocks or a speak and spell. Wait, we'll go with you," Rita said.

  They found a speak and spell and instructed the ghost to point to the letters to communicate. "Why did you frighten Cindy?" Rita asked.

  "I actually frightened her twice. The first time was by accident when she first saw me. I had no idea she could see me, or I would have been more careful," the ghost said.

  "How long ago was that?" Rita asked.

  "I'm not sure. I lost all track of time," the ghost said. "When the parents came running I was frightened and ran into the closet. I actually ran through a mirror leaning against the wall of the closet. It was as though I entered another dimension. I got lost and don't know how long it took for me to find my way back."

  "And the second time?" Rita asked.

  "I saw Cindy stick her arm into the mirror. I guess I overreacted. I pulled her back and caused her to fall down," the ghost said. "I was only trying to protect her."

  "Cindy's missing! I can't find her anywhere. I sent her to her room to get her hairbrush and she never came back," the mom yelled. "I thought you guys were in there."

  "The mirror," Jack said. "Let's go."

  They rushed into Cindy's room. The closet door was open. Jack could see the mirror that the ghost had spoken of. "Do you have a flashlight," Jack asked, "and some string?"

  In a moment Cindy's mom returned and handed a flashlight and a ball of yarn to Jack. Jack tied one end of the yarn to his belt and handed the ball to Rita. "I'm going in," he said. "If I'm not out in five minutes, call 911."

  "And tell them what?" Rita said. "You'll be back. I have faith in you, Jack."

  In a moment Jack was back. "The flashlight
doesn't work. Do you have any batteries?" Jack asked.

  "But I tried it before I gave it to you. The batteries are almost new."

  Jack flipped on the switch and the beam illuminated the entire closet. "It didn't work in there," Jack said.

  "What did you see?" Rita asked. "Did you see Cindy?"

  "It was really strange. I saw what you see when you look into the mirror. But it was like a narrowing hallway. I tried to call Cindy, but I couldn't make a sound. When I stepped outside that hallway, it became completely dark and I couldn't even see the hallway," Jack said.

  "But there was air in there?" Rita asked.

  "I'm not sure. I don't remember breathing. I don't even know how long I was in there," Jack said.

  "We've got to come up with a way to find Cindy. We don't know how long she can last. You were only in there for second, and it doesn't matter how long the ghost was there. He doesn't have to breathe," said Rita.

  "I've got an idea. I'll be right back." Jack walked over to the dresser beside Cindy's bed. The hairbrush was still lying there. "I'm ready," Jack said, "but I need you to go with me. Will you hold the ball of yarn?" Jack asked as he handed the yarn to the mom.

  "I'm right behind you, Jack," Rita said.

  "Hang on to the yarn. Don't let go under any condition," Jack said.

  Jack and Rita walked into the mirror. Rita followed Jack about ten feet down what appeared to be a hallway. Jack knelt down and pulled Cindy's hand mirror from his pocket. Using the mirror like a flashlight, he scanned the darkness. "There she is," he tried to say. Instead he pointed and made sure Rita could see her. He handed the mirror to Rita to indicate that he wanted her to hold the mirror steady as he went to get Cindy. In a moment they were safely back in the bedroom. "You're safe now, Cindy," Jack said.

  "We've got to go back in. Can you hold the yarn a little longer?" he said to the mom.

  "What are we looking for?" asked Rita.

  "I'll know it when I see it," said Jack.

  Using the mirror again, Jack scanned the darkness. "There it is," Jack said. "I've got it, now let's get out of here. You first."

  "Did you lose this?" Jack said as he handed it to the ghost. "That's why the portal never closed. You left something inside. Now what can we do to help you? Looks like you were a patient at St. Helen's Hospital from the looks of that ID wristband you lost."

  BLUE ANGEL

  "Now that's something you don't see every day," said Jack.

  "What's that?" asked Rita.

  "A light blue polyester leisure suit right out of the 80's," said Jack.

  "I see it. Jack, that leisure suit and the guy wearing it just walked through a phone booth," Rita said.

  "So. Did he place a call?" Jack said.

  "No. I mean he walked right through it. He's a ghost or one of those sprites or whatever," Rita said. "Pull over. Let's check this out."

  Jack parked about half a block ahead of the guy and waited for him to walk by. "You're right. He's transparent. Should we follow him?" Jack asked.

  "We've got nothing pressing, and this could turn out to be interesting," Rita replied. "Since we don't know how far he's going, we should follow him in the car. Don't follow too close. We don't want to scare him off."

  The ghost stopped and looked to be having a conversation with someone. Jack looked at Rita. "I don't see anything. Who is he talking to?" Rita asked.

  "Don't ask me. You don't suppose this guy is nuts, do you?" Jack said.

  A moment later the guy walked straight over to Jack and Rita's car and got into the back seat. "My name's Harvey. You must be Jack and Rita. I was told that I could trust you," he said.

  "Who told you that, the person you were just talking to?" Jack asked.

  "You saw her. That's not possible. Mortals can't see ..."

  "See what? You expect us to believe you were actually talking to someone?" Jack asked.

  "It does know our names, Jack. Someone must have told him. We've definitely never met before," said Rita.

  "All right. Let's all settle down. Tell us how we can help you. You said that you could trust us, so spit it out," Jack said. "Hey, wait a minute, we can hear you."

  "Well, not exactly, you can read my thoughts if I direct them at you," Harvey said. "I need you to help me find someone."

  "If you're looking for a date, I'd recommend a new outfit. You're just a little behind the times," Jack said.

  "Let him finish, Jack. Can't you see he's serious or he wouldn't even be talking, I mean thinking, to us," Rita said.

  "I've lost her. I don't know if she just wandered off or if she's trying to avoid me," Harvey said. "I watched over her for twenty years until she passed away yesterday morning. I've simply got to find her."

  "Can you describe her?" Rita asked.

  "She's 75 years old, about 5'5" and 145 pounds with gray hair... gray everything now ... she's a ghost, you know," Harvey replied.

  "You said you watched over her. Were you a nurse or an employee?" Jack asked.

  "I'm from heaven and I'm here to serve as a gait," Harvey replied.

  "A gate...so the spirits have to pass through you to get to heaven?" Jack asked.

  "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Not gate... but GAIT ... Guardian Angel In Training," Harvey said.

  "Guardian angel?" Jack asked.

  "In training," Harvey replied.

  "And who told you that you could trust us?" Jack asked.

  "Your guardian angel," Harvey replied.

  "Is Rita's guardian angel here too?" Jack asked.

  "Well ... yes," he said.

  "Two guardian angels and we can't see either one?" Jack asked.

  "Well, not exactly," Harvey said. "There's only one guardian angel, but she watches over both of you."

  "We have the same guardian angel. How is that possible?" Rita asked.

  "Full fledged guardian angels may watch over 20 or 30 people. They get to pick the ones they watch over and can even trade with other guardian angels if it improves their efficiency. She chose the two of you because of your unique gift. Guardian angels specialize as they gain experience. I had my ward assigned to me. I was supposed to go back to heaven with her and get a new assignment, but she insists that she isn't ready to leave yet. I can't leave till she does, so I need to find her before she leaves without me."

  "You really are new at this. This sort of thing happens all the time and the ghost rarely completes their unfinished business without someone like Rita or me to help them. Do the guardian angels accompany all of them when they go?" Jack asked.

  "No. When I get my wings, I will be able to watch over many more at one time and won't have to go back for evaluation and new assignments. I'll be able to choose my own," Harvey replied.

  "Will you ask our guardian angel if she has other wards like us?" Jack asked.