Chapter Two:

I materialized in Susannah's room later, when I was sure she was asleep. I sat

on the window seat, which was where I had been sitting ever since it had been

put there. Before that, I had just paced around the room. I occasionally visited

other parts of Carmel, but really, what was the point? I visited the Mission

once or twice, but only after their school had finished. I liked looking at it

when it was deserted and peaceful. If anyone was near, I would simply

dematerialize.

I saw no point staying around the living. They didn't know I existed. But for

some reason I could never move on. I thought it was because I had been murdered,

but after he died, and I didn't move on, I began to wonder. But back to the

mission. It had been standing when I was alive, and reminded me of when I had

came there when I was alive. Susannah's mother and step-father had mentioned

the place once or twice. I wondered if Susannah would be attending the school

there. Susannah. What a beautiful name. It reminded me of a song I had heard, back when

I was alive. Back when I was alive. Back when people talked to me, back when my

family was still alive. Oh, it had been agony watching them grow old and die,

when I was staying unnaturally young. It was worse that I could not comfort them

in their grief after I died. My youngest sister especially found it hard. She

never was really the same person. And all because of me, my death and ...No. I

would not even think of, of him. Or of her, my own cousin no less. I had learned

to get over my death. I couldn't change it, no matter what I thought. Painful

memories. That's all they will ever be, I reminded myself. Memories.

I half unconsciously started singing the song.

"Oh Susannah don't you cry for me," I looked at her sleeping figure. She looked

much more peaceful now then she had earlier. She had wanted me out, so I had

gone. But I had returned. It wasn't my place to do so, but it had been 150 years

since I have had a conversation. 150 years. That was a long time of sitting

around, staring out at the ocean. A long time to remember.

"I came from Alabama with this banjo on my knee," I knew the song would annoy

her, if she could hear it. So I sang softly. Yet she must have heard me, because

she stirred ever so slightly in her sleep. I hastily dematerialized. It would

not do for her to wake up with me there. She certainly had a quick temper.

I didn't return for a while, knowing that really, I shouldn't return at all. But

there were so many reasons for me to do so. She could hear me, see me for

starters. And from what I had overheard her mother saying, she was constantly

getting into trouble. Maybe...Maybe I should keep an eye on her. So I decided

to return.