Friends

Spiriting along, chilly wind in her face, Veronica paused in anticipation of the evening. Halloween, her favorite night of the year. She could "come out" and be seen, and not scare people.1

She laughed at the thought of all of the men she would dance with tonight. "If they only knew", she thought. Strange,2

they held her, just as if she were there. "Funny what alcohol and want will do to a human" she thought "but then, I'M human too! or at least, I used to be."3

Veronica sat on the fresh mound of sod, just placed over the latest grave.4

"Jessica Lansford Graves: Born Oct. 28th l998 Passed to the other side, Oct. 28th 2008. May she find friendship and peace5

when she gets there.6

"What a strange headstone" Veronica thought. "What kind of name is "Lansford" anyway?"7

"It's a family name."8

Veronica jumped and turned around. There stood a little girl.9

"It's my mother's family name...it's tradition."10

"So..." Veronica pointed to the headstone, then back to the little girl.11

She shook her head, "yes, I'm Jessie, or what used to be Jessie, or whatever....?" Her voice trailed off as a question.12

"Well," Veronica explained. "I think we, you and me are dead."13

The little girl laughed. “Oh I KNOW I’m dead. I can’t forget that one!!”14

“What do you mean?” Veronica asked.15

“Well,” Jessie replied, “ as you can see….I died on my birthday. Three days ago. They buried me today. Halloween. I was going to be a cheerleader…I had a mega phone and everything. Really cool pom-poms 16

and…my mom taught me some really cool cheers…” Jessie’s voice trailed off as she looked down at the ground remembering.17

“What happened?” Veronica asked, moving towards Jessie, and putting her arm around the little girl.18

“It was my fault” Jessie said. “I got one of those really cool scooters for my birthday. I always wanted one, but my dad said they were too dangerous. After Amy’s parents got her one, my dad decided I could have one too, so he got me one for my birthday. I was so surprised!! and excited, so excited, I went straight out and down the driveway. Usually our street is quiet, and everyone drives slow, because we always play there,19

we were in a cul-de-sac. Well, it just so happened that poor Mrs. Johnson was coming to my birthday party,20

which she had forgotten. She also forgot her glasses that day. I flew out of the driveway, just as she was 21

flying in. I feel so bad for her.” Jessie put her head in her hands and started crying. 22

“Don’t cry Jessie” Veronica said. 23

“But, I know how she feels. She was here today, at my funeral. She blames herself. It’s awful.”24

“Maybe we can do something.” Veronica said.25

“Like what?” Jessie said raising her head to look into Veronica’s eyes.26

“Well,” Veronica said “maybe we could go visit Mrs. Johnson tonight, and you can tell her. Tell her,27

it wasn’t all her fault, and you forgive her…..or or something like that.”28

“But how?” Jessie asked “we don’t exist.”29

“Sure we do. At least, tonight we do. You see,” Veronica continued “it’s Halloween, the one night of the year, where we can walk among the living.”30

“But …but…won’t she be scared? I mean…I’m dead!” Jessie said.31

“I thought about that” ‘Veronica said “we will dress up, and give her a message from a friend.”32

“huh?”33

“You’ll see” Veronica said.34

That evening after that last trick or treater had gone, Mrs. Johnson sat down on her old stuffed couch.35

“Oh Jessie, my darling” she thought “I am so sorry. But your little ghost friends are right. I have to go on, and it wasn’t entirely my fault. Your mommy and daddy forgave me. Your little friends said you have too.36

They said they heard from you.” The old woman laughed. “ I hope they’re right.”37