"Did your grandma teach you about seeing ghosts?" asked Jack.
"Jack, you keep interrupting," said Rita.
"Sorry again. It's just that I'm so curious," Jack replied.
"Grandma and I talked a lot about ghosts. She didn't believe Rick was dead because she hadn't seen his ghost. I wanted so much to believe that. I guess that was why I began to take her seriously," Rita said.
"Was she like us? Did she help ghosts?" asked Jack.
"Ever since she was a young girl. She told me about the pleasure it gave her. It was what made her life worthwhile, especially after Grandpa died. I wanted that feeling. I tried so hard to see ghosts, but it was no use," said Rita.
"But you finally learned," said Jack.
"Who's telling this story, Jack?" said Rita. "Be patient. I'll get to it when the time comes."
"How long did you stay with her?" Jack asked.
"A couple of years, until she died," said Rita.
"Was she ill long?" asked Jack.
"She was never ill. Oh, there was the typical cold, but never anything to put her in the hospital," said Rita.
"So how did she die?" asked Jack.
Rita began to cry. "I don't know if I can tell you the rest of the story. I'd forgotten how much this troubles me," Rita said.
"It's okay, darling. I'm ready to listen whenever you're ready to discuss it," Jack said. "Stop crying. I hate to see you cry, especially if I can't do anything to help."
"I want to tell you, but it hurts so much," said Rita.
"Tell me more about her while she was alive. I believe I would have liked her," said Jack.
"You would have loved her, and she would have loved you too," said Rita.
"Did you learn more about ghosts from talking with her or from your own experiences?" asked Jack.
"A little of both. You see, even though I wanted to believe everything she told me, it wasn't until after she died that I knew it was all true," Rita said. "I'm afraid a lot of it went in one ear and out the other."
"Did she know that you didn't believe it all?" Jack asked.
"You couldn't put anything over on Grandma. She could always see right through me," Rita replied. "And she helped ghosts right up till the end."
"What did Grandpa think about all this when they were together. He didn't see ghosts, did he?" asked Jack.
"I don't remember him ever mentioning it. I never asked Grandma if he knew. Surely she couldn't have kept it from him all those years. He did work full time as a traveling salesman so I suppose it was possible," Rita said.
"She never married again after he died?" Jack asked.
"No, she said she didn't have time for that sort of thing. But I think she had a thing for the mailman," Rita said. "She was always baking cookies for him, and he always had time for a chat and a cup of coffee."
"Did she know Rick?" asked Jack.
"Rick was her favorite. Of all my boyfriends through high school and college, she liked him best," said Rita. "She said he reminded her of Grandpa in his younger days."
"Just how many boyfriends were there?" Jack asked.
"That's not important. We can talk about that some other time," said Rita trying to change the subject.
"Your eyes seem to light up when you talk about her. Were you with her when she died?" asked Jack.
"Well ... yes and no. You see, we were in a car accident, and I was unconscious until later in the hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival," Rita said as the tears began again.
"Were you badly injured?" asked Jack.
"My eyes were damaged, and I was totally blind. I didn't see my injuries until later when they had mostly healed. I was in terrible pain when I wasn't drugged," said Rita.
"How long before you regained your sight?" asked Jack.
"About a week after the operation. I was so nervous when they removed the bandages. Guess who I saw first?" Rita asked.
"Your grandma's ghost?" asked Jack. "What sort of operation could have left you with the ability to see ghosts?"
"A transplant," said Rita. "Grandma was the donor."
"You really do have your grandma's eyes, and they're so beautiful when you're not crying," said Jack.
"Grandma wanted me to have some heirlooms that ghosts had given her. She had quite a collection and had never sold a single one," said Rita. "She only took them because the ghosts insisted. Thanks to those heirlooms, I was able to devote full time to helping ghosts just like Grandma had done."
"And helping ghosts is how we met. I can never thank her enough," said Jack. "Now about those boyfriends, how many did you say there were?"
THE GHOSTLY CHRONICLES Page 13
