"Geez, the place is trashed," the ghost said.
Kate passed the mess and went straight into her room. She flopped down on the bed. Soon, she was asleep.
"So, uh, yeah, I guess I'll wait here."
Kate woke up and saw that it was already daylight outside. "Ugh! What time is it?"
"You got me. Don't you have a clock in this place?"
The teenager stirred and looked at her watch that lay on the little table beside her bed. Her eyes widened. "Shit! I missed the bus!"
"You got school today?"
"Yeah. Oh, fuck it. Who cares? I'm tired...and sore."
"That was some night, wasn't it?"
"Are you still here?"
"Yep. I told you, I can't leave. Don't you remember?"
"Barely."
"You were lying on the ground in the middle of a cornfield when I said it. It's a wonder you got home. Anyway, we got off on the wrong foot. How about we make formal introductions? I'm Joey Mallone."
"I'm Kate Johnson."
"Kate. Nice name. Well, Kate, why don't you get up and walk to school?"
Kate groaned. "It's too far, and I'm still tired and sore."
"Too far? In my day-"
"Let me guess; you walked 5 miles to school, even in the snow. God, that's so cliche."
"It is?"
"Yeah. How long have you been a ghost, anyway?"
"Since last night. I didn't even realize I was dead until...Look, do we have to talk about this?"
"Geez, sorry," Kate said, rolling over.
"Yeah, well..."
The teenager settled down in her bed again and said, "I'm going back to bed. Can you give me some privacy?"
"What? You don't like my company?"
"Not right now. I'd like to sleep in peace. why the hell were you whistling last night? I could barely sleep!"
"I got bored. It's not like I can do much."
"Maybe I can get you a book and leave the light on."
"And how am I supposed to turn the pages? Blow on them?"
"I'm just trying to help. Anything to get a night of peace."
"Kid, you're not gonna get much peace with me around."
Kate sighed and covered her head with the blanket. She drifted off to sleep again.