Most people believe that babies can see angels but few know that they can also see ghosts. I was delighted to find that my grandson could not only see me, but that I didn’t frighten him in the least and after I’d given it some thought, it made perfect sense. Young Patrick John had just come here from the spirit world and couldn’t even see humans yet, but just feel the love of those around him. On the other hand, his memories of the spirit world were still quite strong. He was of course, delighted to see me and asked if I planned to stay around for awhile. I told him about my various adventures and said that I’d stay as long as I felt my family needed me. He smiled and replied that he would teach me a few things about the spirit world, (ghosts are spirits you know) but we’d have to start almost immediately before he was taught that I didn’t exist and couldn’t see me anymore. I asked about his grandmother and my parents, and he confirmed for me that they were quite happy in heaven, at least for the time being. I was a bit shocked to discover that they could see me at all times, and that I would soon be able to see and converse with them if I was a good student. He also confided that he knew I would be staying around for some time, (although time didn’t exist in the spirit world) because I was to save him from drowning at age 12 – that is if I studied hard and got my certification – otherwise, he really would drown.

I was fortunate, as I later discovered, to have my own private tutor, and especially one who had so recently crossed over. If they plan on hanging around for long, all ghosts must get their credentials and this for many, means attending public ghost schools which confidentially, have very poor reputations. Dropouts suffer a worst fate and usually end up haunting some old and dilapidated house or (heaven forbid) one of those cold and gloomy castles. Some are even homeless living on the streets and getting into all kinds of mischief. These are the non- living who give us ghosts a bad name. Eventually they must all learn even if it’s though experience alone, though it may take hundreds of years of earth time. A ghost with five hundred years of non -living can usually qualify to write equivalency exams, but if they fail it may mean another hundred or more years before they get a second chance. Luckily for me Patrick John can teach as well asleep as he can awake. Classes begin sharp at seven.