Ghosts

Chapter 12

She wasn't scared, she was terrified, and she turned her head very slowly, and there, no more than three paces away, stood Harmony. 'Oh, Shit!' 'Mom...' But Mom ran straight through Harmony, out of the front door and didn't stop running until she reached the sanctuary of home and the bottle. 'Violet. What's wrong with Aunty?' 'Hey? Nothing. She just remembered she left something cooking in the oven.' Harmony glided over to one of the chairs and sat down. 'What are you doing?' 'Me? I'm just hanging around, waiting to see your mom and dad. I don't suppose you know where they are, do you?' Harmony shrugged. 'Dunno. Can I come and stay with you, Violet?' 'Harmony. We've already had this conversation. You have to stay with your mom and dad.' 'Have you seen my mom and dad?' 'Harmony. I just this minute said...' It was beginning to dawn on Violet that ghosts were very confused individuals. Being dead probably didn't help. 'No. When was the last time you saw them?' The girl shrugged, looking miserable and lonely. Violet yearned to give her cousin a reassuring hug, but after the way her mother had raced right through her, it probably wasn't practical. She needed to go gently with the girl. 'I haven't seen the three of you together for a while now.' She thought hard. The last time she had seen the three ghosts together had been on the first house viewing. Then, for subsequent viewings, it had just been her uncle and aunt. She had also seen Harmony, but on her own. Somehow, they had become separated, even though they lived in the same house. Lived? Existed? Haunted? But as sorry as she felt for Harmony, there was no way she was taking her home with her. She felt mean even thinking that, but that's just the way it was going to be. Another thought occurred to her. If the three of them couldn't appear together for some reason, as long as Harmony was in the room with her, her mom and dad would probably not appear. Right. But the little girl seemed so sad and lost, she hadn't the heart to tell her to go. She would stay with her and hope she'd have better luck tomorrow. 'Can we play games, Violet?'