"What is it? How can I help you?" she asked. "Another ghost problem?"
"I'm not sure. I saw something this morning while I was jogging and I can't explain it. I think it was a ghost, but it was different from any ghost I've ever seen," Jack replied.
"Different ... how was it different?" Rita asked.
"For one thing it could move objects. It was swinging on a swing in a school yard. When I approached it, it ran away, and I mean ran away, not floated away," Jack said.
"That doesn't sound like a typical ghost, maybe a poltergeist, but they can't walk or run," Rita said. "Was there anything else that was strange?"
"Oh, you're not going to believe this but it still had color. You know how ghosts are just shades of gray. Well this one looked alive except that it was transparent," Jack said.
"Are you just trying to find an excuse to talk to me? You'll have to come up with a better one than this to get in my door again," Rita said.
"Don't flatter yourself. I'm telling you the truth. I'd hoped you would have some answers," Jack said as he turned to walk away.
"Wait ... Jack ... I'm sorry. You're really taking this ghost thing serious. I was afraid that after seeing your dead wife, you would go back to your life as a hermit," Rita said, opening the door further.
"The thought had crossed my mind, but I can't just leave you to handle things all by yourself," Jack said. "You need me as much as I need you."
"Come on in and we'll see what we can figure out about your ghost, or whatever it is," Rita said. "Could you recognize a photo of the ghost if you saw one?"
"Maybe. I didn't get a really good look," Jack said.
"I have a database on my computer of all the school pictures taken over the last 20 years. What was the name of the school?" Rita asked. " He was probably a student there at one time."
"Obama High School, the one on the east side of town," Jack said.
"Okay. Sit down and look at the photos and see if you can recognize him. It was male, wasn't it?" Rita asked. "I was just going to cook something when you came to the door. Would you join me?"
"You can cook too? I'd be delighted," Jack said.
"I think I've found him," Jack said as Rita placed the last dish on the table. "Ken Wentworth. But he's still enrolled at that school."
"This is getting more confusing all the time. Are you sure he was transparent?" Rita asked.
"Yes, I'm sure. I know what I saw," Jack replied. "But I don't think he could go through solid objects. He went out of his way to go through a gate as he was running away, and I could hear him running."
"Did they list a phone number for him? I have an idea," Rita said. "But let's eat before it gets cold. Would you like some wine?"
"If you don't mind. It's not often I get real home cooking except for my own and it's not really cooking. It's more like thawing," Jack said.
"Well, don't get use to it. It probably won't happen again," Rita said.
"What did you expect me to do, take advantage of you while you were in that condition?" Jack asked.
"It just bothers me that you didn't want to," Rita said. "I thought you cared about me."
"I never wanted anything more. But I care too much." Jack said.
"Can we just forget it ever happened. I'll try if you will," Rita said.
"Okay. We'll start over," Jack said. "By the way, what is your idea?"
Rita reached for the phone and dialed a number. "Hello. We're the people that took the school pictures and we believe your son may have left something here. If I could just talk to him to see if he can identify it," Rita said.
"I'm sorry. My son is hospitalized. He's in a coma," the lady answered.
"I'm so sorry. What hospital is he in? We'd like to send some flowers," Rita said.
"Grand Memorial. Emergency ward," she answered.
"He's in a coma, at Grand Memorial. We need to find him right away," said Rita. "Let's drive over to the school and see if he's around."
"Okay," said Jack. "Your car or my truck?"
"We can take mine. I've seen you drive," said Rita.
On the way to the school, as they drove past the park, Jack spotted something out of the corner of his eye. "Stop. There he is. By the lake," Jack said.
Rita stopped the car and turned off the engine. "How do we handle this so he doesn't run away?" Rita asked.
"You walk over as though you don't see him. I've never seen a teenage boy yet that would run from a beautiful woman," Jack said. "When you get close enough, call him by name and tell him you mean him no harm. Signal me when he's okay with me coming over."
Jack watched as Rita walked around the edge of the lake. The ghost was sitting under a tree on the other side of the lake. He seemed to be watching as she approached. In a moment they were talking, or at least Rita was talking. In another minute or so, Rita signaled for Jack to come over.
"What did he tell you? Did you find out how he ended up in a coma?" Jack asked.
"He tried to overdose. Someone must have found him before it was too late," Rita said.
"Ken. Do you know you're still alive?" Jack asked. "Just nod. I don't read lips."
Ken nodded yes.
"Well, you won't be for long. They're about to pull the plug and that will be the end for you. Since you tried to commit suicide, you'll not be walking into any bright lights, and they won't let you hang around here. Why don't you go back to the hospital while you still have a chance. When the grim reaper starts dragging you off, kicking and screaming, I won't be able to help you. I know you must have had a tough time to make you choose suicide, but trust me, it wasn't as bad as it's going to get," Jack said.
"Which hospital? Grand Memorial. You'd better hurry before they pull that plug," Jack said.
As the ghost ran off in the direction of the hospital, Rita turned to Jack and said, "You're such a liar, Jack. I don't know if I will ever be able to trust you."
"I hope lying isn't a mortal sin because I'd do it again if it would save a kid's life," Jack said.
"It's so beautiful here. Let's go for a walk," Rita said.
Jack took her hand. "Is this a date?" he asked.
"As close to one as you're likely to get," she replied.
ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING
Jack had just sat down to breakfast and the headline caught his eye. Drunk sees Elvis at Graceland. Amos Peabody claims to have seen Elvis's ghost lying in his bed during a tour of Graceland. "But I wasn't drunk when I saw him," says Amos. "After all, they let me on the tour."
"I've got to tell Rita about this. You don't suppose there's anything to this. His ghost couldn't last this long," Jack thought. "Still ... stranger things have happened and they all seem to happen to me. Imagine, meeting Elvis Presley."
Jack finished his breakfast, grabbed the paper, and headed over to Rita's apartment. "I probably should have called first," Jack thought. "She might have even answered. The last time I saw her didn't go too badly. If I'm going to Memphis, I've got to be sure she can handle things while I'm away."
"Elvis! You're kidding. You think Elvis's ghost could still be around after all of these years," Rita laughed, "and with only a drunk's word that he saw him, a drunk that you've never even met."
"I've just got to check it out. This is Elvis Presley we're talking about, not just any ghost. Can you handle things while I'm away?"
"No. There's no way you're going to Memphis and leaving me here. I'm going too. I love Elvis. My mother was his biggest fan."
"My dad was an Elvis impersonator. Not a very good one, but none the less, I grew up hearing all about Elvis," said Jack. "I've seen all of his movies and know the words to every song he ever sang."
"When do we leave?" asked Rita.
"As soon as you can pack. You don't mind if we drive. I hate flying," said Jack. "Meet me at my place when you're ready."
......................
"We'd better stop and try to get some rest," said Rita. "It's getting dark and I don't like driving in the dar
k."
"There. That one looks okay," Jack said. Rita slowed down and turned toward the motel. They got adjoining rooms and put their luggage in their rooms. "We should get something to eat," Rita said, "before the motel restaurant closes."
"What are we waiting for. I'm starving," said Jack.
Later, back in their rooms, Jack was just starting to nod off when the door, between his room and Rita's room, opened. Rita stood in the doorway, the light from behind her shining through her nightgown. Like an X-ray, Jack could see every curve of her beautiful body. "There's no heat in my room. I'm freezing," Rita said.
"Do you want me to go get the manager?" Jack asked.
"No. You're already in bed. Just get me warm," Rita pleaded.
"Come on over here and get under the covers. You'll be warm in no time," Jack replied.
A few minutes later... "You were right. It is warm. I don't think I'll need this nightgown," Rita said.
Rita removed the gown and tossed it across the room onto a chair. Jack reached over and pulled Rita's body against his. "Jack," Rita said.
"Yes, Rita."
"I need you to drive. I'm getting sleepy."
"What ???"
"Wake up, Jack. It's time for you to drive."
As Rita closed her eyes, Jack said "Pleasant dreams."
The following afternoon they arrived in Memphis and found a motel near Graceland. After checking in, Jack grabbed a brochure of the Graceland tour. "Looks like we can catch the last tour today," Jack said, "but we'll have to hurry."
Finally the tour entered the bedroom. There on the bed, in light blue pajamas, lay what seemed to be the ghost of Elvis. His dark black hair and sideburns were unmistakeable. "He's just like Ken," said Rita, "the ghost of that kid that was in a coma."
"You're right. But that would mean that Elvis is in a coma. But look at him, he doesn't look any different than the day he died. Even in a coma, Elvis would have aged and so would the ghost," Jack said.
"Then what's going on. Is this the ghost of an Elvis impersonator that's in a coma?" Rita asked.
"Oh, no. That's Elvis. I'm sure of it. I don't know how, but that's Elvis," Jack said.
"So what do we do?" Rita asked. "We'll never be able to get in here alone with him. This place is better protected than Fort Knox."
"We'll need the help of someone who can get in here?" said Jack.
"Come along. The tour is moving on," said the security guard.
"Who do we know that can get in here," Rita asked.
"We don't know them yet, but we'll meet them on the tour," Jack said.
"We're going back on the Graceland tour?" asked Rita.
"No. We're going on the Memphis Ghost Tour," Jack said. "I saw a brochure in the lobby of the motel."
"Jack, this is a waste of time. When a place is suspected of being haunted, it's usually because someone heard or saw something they can't explain," Rita said. "You know as well as I that ghosts are neither seen nor heard by your everyday mortal unless they have our talent or the ghost is a poltergeist. A poltergeist will be of no use to us."
"What so special about a poltergeist?" Jack asked.
"A poltergeist is a ghost that in life suffered from a mental disorder. Without his medication or guidance from a loved one, he has trouble adjusting to the frustrations of being a ghost. While these frustrations turn to feelings of hopelessness in your typical ghost, it manifests itself as extreme anger in a poltergeist. This extreme emotion, at its peak, gives the poltergeists their unique abilities. They are able to move small objects, make muffled sounds, and even make themselves visible. This usually manifests itself as whatever the viewer was expecting to see. It's more a mental thing than a visual one. "
"Then you don't want to go on the tour?" Jack asked.
"Don't be silly. I can't wait. I loved haunted houses as a kid, before I started seeing ghosts for real," Rita said.
"When are you going to tell me about that? How did you start seeing ghosts?" Jack asked.
"I don't know. It's kind of personal. Someday," Rita said.
Rita had been right about the tour. It had been fun, but fruitless. Not even a poltergeist to write home about. As Jack and Rita talked on the bus after the last stop on the tour, Jack glanced over his shoulder toward the back of the bus. Sitting in the last seat was a ghost, a young girl that looked to be in her mid teens. Jack and Rita got up and moved to the back of the bus.
"Don't be afraid," Jack said. "We need your help. We can see you and we're not scared, and you shouldn't be afraid of us. We can't hear you so don't try to talk, just nod if you understand."
The ghost nodded. "We'll talk after we get off the bus," Jack said. The ghost nodded again.
When they got back to the motel, Jack used his usual method to communicate with the ghost. "How would you like to meet Elvis Presley?" he asked.
"Who?" the ghost asked.
"Elvis... You know... Blue Suede Shoes... Love me Tender... Viva Las Vegas," Jack replied.
"Doesn't ring a bell," said the ghost.
"Lisa Marie's dad," said Rita.
"I know her. She was married to Michael. You know, I believe my grandpa may have mentioned him. He must be really old now," said the ghost.
"Not as old as you might think," said Jack. "We need you to go inside Graceland and tell Elvis we need to talk with him. Tell him we can see ghosts. We may be able to help him. Have him meet us at the front gate."
"What's in it for me?" the ghost asked.
"You help us and we'll help you with your unfinished business so you can move on," Jack said.
"So all I have to do is go in and tell him you want to see him," the ghost said.
"It may not be that simple. Since ghosts don't sleep, I believe he was in some sort of trance. You'll have to make mental contact in order to wake him. I'll give you all the details," said Jack.
Jack and Rita waited in the car for what seemed like hours. Parked across the street, they had a clear view of the gate and the road leading toward the house. Sud-denly Rita screamed. "Sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to scare you but since you can see me, I guess you're the ones I'm looking for," Elvis wrote on a paper pad and handed it to Rita.
There he stood. Even in his blue pajamas there was an aura of majesty about him. The teenage ghost stood along side him, her eyes fixed on Elvis. She had a look of wonder and amazement.
"How did you get here? We were watching the gate. Why didn't we see you coming?" Rita asked. Jack had questions too, and he intended to ask them as soon as he could close his mouth.
Elvis motioned for them to follow him. Jack and Rita got out of the car and followed Elvis and the teenage ghost towards one of the buildings. After they entered the building Elvis locked the door behind them and led them to a bookshelf against one wall. Elvis pushed one of the books and the bookcase swung open like a door. After they entered, Elvis pulled a lever and the door or bookshelf closed. A golf cart blocked the path ahead. Elvis sat down in the driver's seat and the teenage ghost sat beside him. Jack and Rita took the remaining seats.
THE GHOSTLY CHRONICLES Page 3