Ghosts

"I'm scared
I saw a dead man
and I don't know who he is"
Teya exclaimed on the stairs
after lunch.

She has seen dead people before.

I weigh out her dramatic spirit
with how scary it would be
to really see a dead person.

This was hardly a private conversation
so by the time we were writing
in the afternoon,
it felt like were on the verge of sleepover squeals.

Kids were asking to go to the bathroom
then refusing because they were too scared.
Everyone was seeing movement in the hall.
Occasionally there was a spontaneous scream.

Two days later everyone was recovered
except Teya, who still held to her story.
Tia suggested she might need a psychologist.

"This is a new one," I commiserated
with the math teacher over lunch
as we brainstormed ways to not play
into her drama while acknowledging
her visions.

And so she's started a Sixth Sense journal.
"Not everyone understands, " I said
"so it might be best not to tell other kids."

I'm adding another skill to my resume--
ghostbusting.