2. What happens now?

Robin sat at the small table next to the window as he waited for Alison to help him with the crossword. He liked working out the puzzles and knew none of his fellow ghosts expected him to be able to read never mind know the answers to the cryptic clues. He sighed, it was Hallowe'en, the one day of the year when he knew all the others would be exited about the veil between the worlds thinning. He didn't care. Dead came and went, living came and went. It didn't matter what day it was. He looked up to see Kitty standing in front of him.

"Alison said she will help you as soon as she has finished getting ready for the day." She smiled as he nodded.

"Ok."

"Robin."

"What?" He looked up. Kitty was joined by Mary who looked as exited as she was.

"Hallowe'en."

"October 31st. I know." He returned his attention to the newspaper.

"The Veil thins."

"No it doesn't. Its another day."

"How can you say that?" Thomas sighed as Robin gave up all hope of getting any peace.

"Because when I was alive we did not have time. We had no time, no dates. Days was days, nights was nights. No religion, no superstition. No stupid things."

"No Hallowe'en? No Samhain? No Bank Holidays?" Pat was shocked. "Really?"

"Time mean nothing then. Now people have not enough." He sighed. "Four letters, another word for big?"

"Tall." Pat sighed, sitting down. "We used to have Pumpkin carvings in the Scouts. Bobbing apples, costumes. It was brilliant. The kids loved it."

"Costumes?" Kitty swirled her skirt as she turned to him. "Really?"

"Yes, little girls would dress up as witches."

"Oh! That be dangerous. OH NO! They be cursed!" Mary blinked back tears, her hand over her mouth. "No. That should not be."

"No, when I was alive, witches were seen as fun, not burned at the stake." Pat answered sympathetically.

"Well, what did boys dress as?" Kitty asked.

"Lots of things, monsters, skeletons, all sorts." Pat smiled at the memory. He turned as he heard Alison walk into the room. She looked at them all, clearly building up to something.

"What's wrong?" Pat asked as Alison smiled slightly.

"Look, I know today is Hallowe'en but please can we just have a normal day? No scary ghost stuff. No scaring Mike. He doesn't like Hallowe'en."

"Tall." Robin pointed to the paper. Alison frowned.

"Oh." She picked up the pen next to him and filled in the squares. "So, please." She put her hands together as a loud crash could be heard from the back room. Alison froze before turning to run after the noise. Thomas sighed as the rest of the ghosts followed her.

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Mike opened his eyes slowly as he realised he was still alive. Everything seemed to be aching as he heard Alison scream.

"I'm ok."

"Mike." She looked around him as he tried to sit up. "Stay still. You fell through the ceiling?"

"Yeah." He rubbed his head. "I am. Dizzy." He decided as Alison knelt next to him. Mary began giving very dubious advice as Mike moved to a sitting position. She fell silent as he seemed to look directly at her.

"Mike? Mike?" Alison rested her hand on his arm.

"Is?" He nodded towards Mary and Fanny who was looking on aghast. "Is? That them?"

"Wha? What? You can see Mary and Fanny? You?"

"I." He shook his head as the room began to spin. "I need to go to hospital."

"Yes, he does." Fanny nodded as Mike flopped back down on the floor.

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