a good ghost story

I love a good 
ghost story as much as the next. 
The trick, they can't be tricked. 
Either they 
or you 
must open up. Soon,
or now - when the ghost shows up.
Would be a good time. Wave 
a hand
to some seat - let it pick, 
give it the choice. It might 
surprise you! Let it sit down if
or however it wants to, but
sit it must. We cannot begin
until
we are seated, and ghost
house rules is the ghost
sits first. Now, 

Meet its gaze 
unblinkingly, stay 
your eye (whichever) 
fixed upon just one 
of its milky or misty pupils, 
and do not flinch. The ghost 
will not begin until you 
do not flinch. The ghost 
will not begin, and while 
it is not beginning - do not 
interrupt it whatsoever! 
The ghost must be the one 
doing all the not beginning.
Simply 
hold
slow. DO NOT HOLD FAST -
a ghost can sense your resistant edge 
and it will split like the ghost 
of a dove from a dovecote 
discovered ages hence, 
since abandoned! Do not
hold fast. Slow, and breathe 
in even, soundless, easy calm.
The ghost 

will begin. 
To clarify, it may not be 
a good ghost story - I never 
guaranteed that. But it will be 
a ghost story. This was what 
you wanted. The real thing,
warts, chains, a parodic
translucency of flesh 
and those insanely 
fixed, intent eyes! 

They aren't always pretty,
ghost stories. Not always
neat. Not always good
- some are evil. Quite
a few are evil. Even more
though are simply dull 
or senseless, meandering 
like a spirit lost its way 
in the telling - and probably 
did! Many of these ghost 
storytellers are literally 
making it up on the spot! 
Trying to hone their craft, 
since they no longer remember 
enough of life to make stories from.
Counting on the whole sepulchral 
voice and ectoplasmic form 
to carry the show. 

It usually does. Good thing too.  

Ghosts wandering dissolute and bodiless,
long years stretching countlessly, may
have grown somewhat lossy and incoherent
when it comes to basic principles of narrative
construction. They're very good at foreshadowing!  
Practically everything they say feels like it, 
even if only a dark hint or two pay off. Everything 
else, though. Pacing, clarity, you may find it
lags, or sags, or at no point makes any sense,
or lacks punch or bite at the end. If so 

Do not laugh. Do not clap happily. 
Do not express compassion or 
empathy. When the story is finished,
if you can tell (do not jump the 
gun), take it very seriously
and nod gravely, approvingly 
as if this was a most important 
story they have passed on. Convey 
this with face and manner. Perhaps
- it might be best if you don't
say a damn word. Dare greatly
if you like, but don't say you
weren't cautioned!  

I love a good ghost story, but 
being alive and vibrant and human 
still, you'll probably settle for 
a ghost story? You can always 
embellish it later. Maybe get
a good ghost story out of it.

Later.