They were hiding in the long grass in the hollow, watching the world go by. They could see out but no one could see in. Not even the dogs.
“Hana told Mum that Oya went to the ruins and Anna was there reading a book and there was a ghost there watching her and Anna wasn’t even scared at all,” Ethel said.
“There is no such thing as ghosts,” Claire said.
“There is,” Ethel insisted.
“There isn’t,” Claire said.
“What about Lucas?” Ethel said.
“He’s not a ghost,” Claire said. “He’s a reflection.”
“From the past!”
“He’s still not a ghost.”
“What about Lucy?” Tina asked.
“She’s not a ghost either,” Claire said. “She’s a memory.”
“But that’s what a ghost is!” Tina said. “A memory of yourself that never fades away.”
“But Lucy’s not her memory. She’s ours,” Claire said. “We’re not allowed to forget her.”
“She still sounds like a ghost to me,” Tina said.
“She’s not a ghost at all!”
“What about David?” Daniel asked, pointing to lonely figure moving glacially along the horizon line. His beard followed along behind him like a trail of smoke.
“He’s not a ghost. He’s a ghoul.”
__________
Notes:
1. Written between the 1st and 3rd of May, 2021
__________