Ghosts Aren’t Real

The plastic saxophone covered with Sesame Street characters... Real

The small switch set on "off" while the saxophone came to life whenever it felt like... Not Real

The light fixture in my bedroom... Real

The attached ceiling fan... Real

The first night the fan didn't switch on with the light...Not Real

When the fan whirred to life with impeccable timing as the sax began playing its happy tune... Not Real

When my 3 year old son would happily babble from the bathtub to "The Lady"... Not Real

When he giggled in the kitchen at The Lady's scary face...Not Real

When he told me that she stood "behind you, Momma!" ...Not Real

The chill I got when he spoke to her... Not Real

The small vial labeled "Holy Water," $8.99 at the Christian bookstore... Not Real, probably tap water.

The online article about casting ghosts away... Not Real.  Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true.

Sadie,  a sweet friend who agreed to "drive away the ghost" with me, though she was just indulging me... Real

Holding hands, anointing the first entrypoint with holy water, while my son held uncharacteristically still on the couch... Real

My voice, beginning the 23 Psalm, "The Lord is My Shepherd..."  Real

My child's voice, deeper than usual... Real

My child's voice, interrupting the prayer, "The Lady says GRRRRRR!"...  Not Real

The fear in Sadie's eyes as she urged me to "Pray faster!"...Real

My son never mentioned the Lady again...Real