Young Matt Carlton rushed to his bedroom after dinner and his adoptive parents shrugged at each other.
They had nothing to complain about Matt – he was studious, obedient. They only wished they knew why their twelve-year old son always hurried to his room every night.
He couldn’t say why he does though, or else they’ll go away. “They” however, were not Mr. and Mrs. Carlton.
Matt locked himself away from his adoptive parents and scanned his room of baseball and science books, everything scattered on the floor. This won’t do, he thought.
He opened his windows wide before picking his books and placing them all on his shelf. All but one, that is. He gently, almost reverently, placed Night Spirits on his night table and on top of it he put a yellow flower he didn’t know what to call.
He lit a candle and said his prayers, sank on his bed and counted to ten.
A quiet wind blew his curtains, the little flame on his candle danced wildly until it died. Matt smiled under his covers.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” said a voice, sweet and soothing and warm like the first summer breeze.
“I’m still awake, Mum,” replied Matt who pulled away from his covers to see his mom’s ghost sitting at the foot of his bed.
“I know. Thank you for the little flower, sweetheart.” The spirit smiled and kissed Matt’s cheek.
“Get up, my boy! We’re off to an adventure!” The voice of another spirit boomed in his room, opening Night Spirits to Chapter 9, The Spirits and the Living.
“Where are we going tonight, Dad?”
“We'll have a tour of the city. Hurry up now. We’ll be back before the Carltons realize you were gone.”
Matt got up and held his parent translucent hands and it felt like nothing but comfort. They asked him to close his eyes. When they asked him to open them, he was flying above his city where everyone was asleep after a difficult day; only the bright city lights were alive.
For a moment he wanted to let go of his parents’ hands and see if he could fly alone. If he didn’t, he’ll be able to fly with them anywhere soon enough anyway. He struggled to break free from his parents’ strong, ghostly grip.
“No darling. Not yet,” said his mother. Matt’s face fell.
The three of them watched the city in its slumber, visiting a few strangers' homes to invade their dreams. After the seventh house, his ghost parents took him home.
“It's time to let go now,” the ghost mother whispered and Matt let go of her hand.
“Will I see you again?”
“Soon, my boy. Real soon,” the ghost father replied. Soon was good enough for Matt.
“Be good now, alright? All our love, my darling…” Slowly, the spirits of his parents disappeared and Matt was left alone.
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