My son Alex and I were walking in our neighborhood listening to the metallic ping as acorns dropped from the trees and bounced off of cars. “Remember how many acorns there were last year?”

Alex nodded his head. “The sidewalks were covered.”

“People had leaf piles at the curb along with acorn piles! It was unbelievable!” I kicked an acorn ahead of us to see if I could keep it on the sidewalk so I could kick it again but it veered off into someone’s yard. “I wonder why last year had so many more than this year?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea.”

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “Well, I know one way to find out.” I began typing while we were walking but I had to stop because typing while walking with acorns covering the sidewalk was a little like trying to get across a room covered in marbles. You definitely need to be watching where you step.

“Okay here it is.” I held up my phone. “Last year was a mast year.”

Alex looked confused. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “No clue.” I looked back at the phone to read some more. “It says it takes a lot of energy for the oaks to produce acorns so the trees have to be healthy to be able to do that.” I nodded as I looked around at all the oak trees in our neighborhood and all the acorns on the ground already. “Clearly we have very healthy oaks around here.”

Alex stepped on a few of the empty caps nearby and we listened to the familiar crunch that let us know they’d been off the tree for a while. “Seems pretty healthy to me.”

We could hear a wood grinder off in the distance as we began walking again crunching our way along the sidewalk. “Oh man, I hope they aren’t taking down an oak tree.”

“Why?” Alex asked.

We rounded a corner and there were several trucks parked at the curb. The wood grinder was being feed limbs from a tree.

“Yup, they’re chopping up a oak tree.” I stated as my nose began to fill.

Alex looked over at me a look of concern on his face. “You’re eyes are really watering.”

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “I know.” I began to sniffle. “It wasn’t until we moved to this neighborhood that I found out I’m allergic to oak trees.”

We turned around and began walking in the opposite direction from the tree trimmers. “I just have to get away from them and I’ll be okay.”

We walked a few blocks and I felt like I could breath again. I wiped my eyes one last time and took a shaky deep breath. “It’s crazy how quick it comes on and how quickly it goes away.” I shook my head and took another deep breath. “Okay I think I’m better now.”

Alex looked over at me shaking his head. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine now.”

“That is the weirdest reaction I’ve ever seen.”

“I know!” I began to laugh, before I heard another tree grinder up ahead. I looked behind us then once again ahead before I looked over at Alex. “I’m beginning to think this walk idea today was a bad idea.”

I walked into the kitchen, scooped up the tea kettle from the stove and was walking to the sink when my son Alex looked at me, then at the clock. “Aren’t you late for school?”

“Nope, I’m virtual today.” I began filling the kettle.

“Oh, no.” he stepped away from me. “Did someone get sick at school?”

“Nope, everybody’s fine.” I put the kettle back on the stove and lit the fire underneath it. While I waited for the water to come to a boil I went over to the dining room table to set up my work-from-home office for the day.

“So why are you remote on a Thursday?” Alex as he began setting up the coffee pot.

I stopped what I was doing and looked over at him. “You know…” I sighed. “I really have no idea anymore.”

Alex started to laugh.

“I’m serious!” I had to laugh myself. “I didn’t even know it was Thursday until you just said it!” I pulled my daily planner out of my school bag and placed it next to my Chromebook. “I swear I have to take this with me wherever I go now just to make sure I know what day it is.” I opened my Chromebook and began to sign in.

I went to the kitchen to fix my cup of tea then went back to the screen.

Alex was pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Aren’t you planning on getting dressed before you go online?”

I looked down at my clothes then back at Alex. “ What do you mean? I am dressed.”

“Aren’t those your pajamas?”

I looked back down again. “No one’s going to know this tee shirt is actually my pajama top.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Besides I’m wearing a sweatshirt over it so it doesn’t really matter.”

Alex just shook his head as he went into the refrigertor to get the milk. “But you’ll know.”

“Oh come on!” I cried. “That’s one of the perks of virtual learning!”

“If you say so.” he poured a splash of milk into his cup and put the milk back in the refrigertor.

I sighed as I look back down at my tee shirt. “I’m really just doing observations and writing reports. I probably won’t even turn the camara on.” I opened my weekly planner to see what I needed to get done.

“Wait a minute!” I cried as I scanned this weeks page. “I’m not virtual today!” I looked at the clock. “Oh my gosh, I’m going to be late!” I jumped up, unzipping my sweatshirt as I raced towards my bedroom. “I have to jump in the shower and get dressed!”

Alex went over to the dining room table to look at my daily planner. “Wait a minute!” he called.

“I really don’t have time!”

Alex turned the page of the planner. “You were on the wrong week.”

I stopped in my tracks. I could feel my heart racing. “What?”

He pointed to the planner. “You’d turned to the wrong week.”

I came back to see. When I actually saw I was indeed virtual I began to laugh. “See, I told you I never know what day it is!”

Alex shook his head and started to laugh. “Actually you’re not ever sure what week it is.”

I was scooping out a cup of sugar and pouring it into a sauce pan when my son Alex came into the kitchen. “What are you making?” he asked.

I took the pan and went over to the sink pouring four cups of water into it. “I’m making hummingbird nectar.” I went over to the stove and turned on the burner placing the sauce pan on top. “I just have to bring this to a boil and once it’s cooled I’ll refill the hummingbird feeders.”

Alex looked confused. “It’s October. Aren’t the hummingbirds gone for the year?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “They could be. But the days are still pretty warm.”

“Yeah, but the nights are getting colder.” he reminded me.

“I know, but I don’t want to take the chance that a few stragglers are still around.” I reached in the drawer and pulled out a spoon. “I’d feel awful bringing in their feeders too soon.”

Alex looked out the back door. “Well, right now about a half a dozen wasps are drinking from it.”

I looked out the back door and sighed. “I’m out there every day cleaning them.” I went back to stirring the sugar water. “I’ll get this up to a boil and then go out and clean them off again.”

My husband Steven walked into the kitchen and came over to the stove to look over my shoulder. “What are you making?” He asked as he looked over at Alex, a hopeful look on his face. “Anything good?”

“Yeah, if you”re a hummingbird.” Alex laughed.

“Oh,” Steven sounded disappointed. “I was hoping you were starting dinner. I’m starving!”

I pulled the now boiling nectar off the heat and moved it to a back burner. “Now that this is done I’ll start dinner.”

“Yes!” both of them called out together.

Once dinner was done and I’d finished cleaning up I went over to the pan and tested the temperature of the nectar. “Perfect.” I said as I headed to the back door.

It was dusk, one of my favorite times of the day. The sky was a beautiful shade of pink. I reached over to grab the hummingbird feeders and shooed a lone wasp that had been getting a drink. I brought them back inside and began cleaning and refilling them.

“All set!” I said as I held them up for Alex to see.

Alex followed me out to the deck. “I haven’t seen a hummingbird in weeks.”

“Me either.” I began hanging them back on their hooks. “But like I said, better safe then sorry.” I turned around and looked at Alex when I heard the familiar hum of the hummingbirds wings. A ruby-throated hummingbird darted past my head and landed on the feeder.

I looked over at Alex pressing my finger to my lips. “Shh.”

We watched as the little guy took a long drink. While he was still drinking I looked over at Alex. “He must have really been thirsty.” I whispered.

Alex nodded his head.

A short while later he flew off the feeder and hovered in front of Alex and I. “You’re welcome.” I said to him.

He quickly darted past my head and over my shoulder. A second later I heard the tinny ding as he hit the metal gutter.

I looked down on the ground to see if he’d fallen. When he wasn’t there I looked back over at Alex. “Did he just crash into the gutter?”

Alex looked surprised. “It sure sounded like he did.”

“I never thought they crash into anything. They look so coordinated.”

Alex looked back at the feeder. “Did you put more than sugar water in there?”

I was in the hallway pulling down the attic stairs when the metal screech from the hinges had my son Alex come out of his room.

“Don’t do it!” he laughed.

“I’m sorry but it’s time.” I unfolded the stairs and began climbing up.

“It’s too early!” he called up to me.

“Fall officially began last Tuesday. It’s definitely time.” I grabbed the white plastic garbage bag that had my apple basket centerpiece for the dining room table in it.

Alex just shook his head as I handed it down to him. He went and put it on a chair in the living room while I grabbed the fall wreath that we hung outside. I climbed back down and handed Alex the wreath while I folding up the stairs and closed the attic hatch.

“I’m sorry but you can’t keep saying I’m rushing the season when our neighbors already have their Halloween decorations up!” I shook my head sadly. So I’m pretty sure I’m not rushing fall by putting these up anymore.” I went outside to hang the wreath.

When I came back in the white bag was missing from the chair. “Hey! Not funny!” I cried.

Alex came out of his room. “Is everything okay?” he asked looking concerned.

I pointed to the empty chair. “Where’s my apple basket?”

Alex looked confused. “I thought you had it.”

“Alex…”

Alex shrugged his shoulders and started to laugh. “Hey, it was worth a shot.” He pushed open his bedroom door and pointed to his couch.

I grabbed the bag and began pulling the basket out of it while I walked to the dining room. “What is it about this basket that we have to go through this every year?” I asked.

“I just don’t like what it stands for.”

Now it was my turn to act confused. “You don’t like apples?”

Alex laughed and shook his head. “You know I don’t like rushing into fall.”

“But fall officially started last Tuesday.”

“Who cares what the calendar says.” he pointed out the front window. “The trees are still green. Can’t you at least wait until they start changing colors?”

I walked into the dining room and looked out the window facing our back yard. “Okay. I see three red leaves on that tree. I placed the basket in the middle of the table. “So I say fall has officially started!”

Alex looked out the window and sighed. “Okay, fine. You win.”

“Yes!” I clapped my hands together. “Would you like some hot chocolate?”

Alex shook his head. “It’s 70 degrees out!”

“I know. I was just kidding.” I moved the basket a few inches to the left making sure it was centered. “Want to go out on the back deck and watch the leaves change colors?”

I’d just walked into the kitchen when something caught my eye through the glass on my back door. It was a praying mantis that was roughly six inches long clinging to the window.

“Hey, little man. What are you up to?” I asked as I got closer and bent down to see him.

“Who are you talking to?” my son Alex asked as he came into the kitchen.

I pointed to the praying mantis that was about knee height on the window. Alex inched closer and we both leaned down to get a closer view. When my face was just inches from the insect I watched as it slowly turned his triangle shaped head and looked at me.

“Eww.” I stood back up. “Did you see his little alien head turned and looked right at me!” I cried as I now watched the praying mantis slowly turn his head to look at Alex.

“Yup.” Alex stood back up. “Definately creepy.” He pointed to the insect. “Did you notice he’s only on the glass?”

Not wanting to get closer I scrunched my eyes thinking that might help me see. “How’s he on the glass and not slipping down?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Beats me. Maybe he has little suction cups on his legs?”

We watched as the praying mantis began climbing up the door and was soon eye level to us. He stopped and began slowly swaying side to side. “Okay, now he’s dancing,” I looked over at Alex. “He’s dancing and turning his creepy little alien head back and forth looking at us.”

I picked up my phone to ask Google why he was dancing. Once I found the site I began reading it out loud to Alex. “Okay, it says they like to sway while they walk because it helps them blend in.” I looked at Alex and pointed to our climbing swaying insect. “Which one of us is going to be the one to break it to him that he’s not blending in very well right now?”

Alex laugh. “Not me.”

I reached for the door knob.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked.

“I was going to sit on the porch.”

“What if he falls off the glass and into the house?”

“I’d be more worried that he jumps off the window and onto me!” I was slowly opening the door. My little insect friend watching my every move. He stayed on the window as I stepped out onto the porch and I slowly closed the door. His body was facing the house but his head was completely turned around looking at me.

“Holy smokes! I’m flashing back to the Exorcist!” I cried as I slowly backed away from him.

Alex waved to me through the window. “Coming back in anytime soon?” he called.

I shook my head no. “I think I live out here now.” I turned my rocking chair around so it was facing the house. Not wanting to have my back to him.

“I’ll come back to check on you in a little while to see if you want me to let you in the front door.” Alex called. He picked up his phone and began typing away. A few moments later I could hear Tubular Bells, the theme music from the Exorcist playing on his phone.

“Very funny!” I called. Alex waved to me before he walked out of the kitchen.

Which left me alone with my alien head spinning buddy to enjoy a beautiful fall morning. I took a deep breath and began humming Tubular Bells to myself.

I was standing in the kitchen talking to my husband Steven when he noticed me rubbing my foot against the ankle of my other leg.

“What happened to your leg?” he asked as he pointed to a quarter size red lump on my calf.

I leaned over and began scratching the spot he was talking about. “Oh, man! I got eaten alive by mosquitoes last night when the three of us were sitting out on the deck watching the sunset!”

Our son Alex walked into the kitchen and saw me scratching. “What happened?” he asked.

“I was just telling your Dad how bad the mosquitoes were last night.”

“Really?” Alex looked over at Steven. “I didn’t get any bites. Did you?”

Steven shook his head no. “Not a one.”

I stood back up and looked at both of them. “Are you kidding me?” I looked down at my bitten feet. “I must have at least a dozen bites!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders as he opened the cabinet and took out a glass. “I wonder why they went after you and not us?” he asked as he went over to the refrigerator and filled his glass with water.

“Let’s ask Google.” I picked up my phone from the counter and began typing “why does one person get mosquito bites and others don’t.”

I clicked on the first link and scrolled down. “It says the female mosquito is attracted to people who give off more heat and sweat.” I looked at Steven and Alex who both had raised eyebrows but didn’t say a word. “I’m not a heavy sweater!” I cried.

Steven shook his head. “Nope.”

“So that’s completely wrong.” I scrolled down further. “Next it says if you’re a larger person you give off more carbon dioxide and mosquitoes love that.” I looked back at Steven and Alex who were both shaking their heads no. “Nope.” they said in unison.

“Good answer.” I grumbled.

I took a deep breath and looked at the next bullet point, “Okay now it says that it could be perfume or lotions I might be wearing.” I started to laugh. “They say if you want to be serious about not getting bit you should switch to unscented.” I laughed even harder. “That makes complete sense. I’ll switch to an unscented perfume.”

Steven nodded his head. “Lucky for me I’m wearing an unscented perfume right now.”

Alex started to laugh. “Me too.”

I was still scrolling. “Okay, here’s one I can live with.” I turned the phone around so they could both see. “It also say that it could just be my blood type.”

“See, you just have the wrong blood type.” Alex patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t you feel better now?”

I reached down to scratch another bite. “Not yet.”

“You’ve got to stop scratching!” Steven said. “It’s only going to make it worse.”

“I can’t help it!” I tried rubbing the spot instead. “It’s driving me crazy!”

Steven came over to give me a kiss on the cheek. “Maybe tonight when Alex and I go out on the porch you could watch the sunset with us from the kitchen window.”

“That doesn’t sound like much fun.” I sighed.

Alex reached over the sink and opened the window then pointed to their chairs. “See, you’d only be two feet from us.”

“Sure. I’ll just sit on the counter top with my feet in the sink and it’ll feel like I’m right there with you.” I complained.

“Hey,” Steven shrugged his shoulder. “You could always fill the sink with water and soak your bug bitten feet while you talk to us.”

Alex started to laugh as he looked at the grin on my face. “Yup! She’s in!”

My son Alex and I were walking in our neighborhood when I happened to notice a tree in someone’s front yard. I stopped and pointed to one of the berries hanging from the tree. “Is it just me or is everything starting to look like the corona virus?”

Alex started to laugh. “Nope. That certainly looks a lot like the pictures they keep showing us when they’re talking about it.”

“I’ve never seen this berry before.” I took out my phone and snapped a picture of it. “Or maybe I just never noticed it before.” I checked the screen to see if I liked the shot. “That’s a keeper.” I slipped my phone back in my pocket as we continued our walk.

“Why did you take a picture of it?”

“Because I want to post it to a nature group I belong to on Facebook. They’re really good at identifying different plants and trees.”

Alex laughed. “You could just Google it yourself.”

“Nah.” I shook my head. “It’s more fun posting it. The people in the nature group have so much information and they love to share!” I reached in my pocket and took out my phone again. “You know what?” I began scrolling through Facebook until I reached the group I was looking for. “I’m just going to post it now.” I attached the picture with the note, ‘Does anyone know what this is?” hit post and looked over at Alex as I put my phone away. “I bet I have an answer before we even get home from our walk.”

It was a beautiful day out, full sun with a nice breeze. While we were about half way through our walk I decided to check my phone.

“Do you really think you’re going to have an answer this soon?” Alex sounded doubtful as it had only been a few minutes.

Looking at my notifications I could see I had indeed gotten a reply.

“Yup! I got an answer.” I held up my phone out for Alex to see. “It’s a Kousa dogwood.” I went to Google and typed it in. Clicking on the first link I showed the picture of the flowering tree to Alex. “Now I remember them. They were the ones we really liked this Spring with all the white flowers on them.”

Alex took a closer look. “Oh yeah. I remember them.”

Feeling very satisfied I tucked the phone back in my pocket. “See I told you I can always depend on that Facebook group.”

Alex nodded his head and laughed. “I guess I shouldn’t have doubted them.”

We were almost back home when I pulled out my phone again.

“What are you doing now?” Alex asked. “Didn’t they already answer your question?”

“They did. But sometimes they add extra information I wouldn’t have thought about.” I scrolled through my notifications again. “Yup! I was right! More people answered!” I began reading them when I couldn’t help but grimace. “Yuck!”

“What’s wrong?” Alex asked.

I held up the post. “It says the fruit is edible.” I gave a quick shudder and shook my head. “Nope! Not eating one!”

I scrolled down further. “Here’s someone else saying he heard you could make jelly out of them.” I looked at Alex who was shaking his head no.

I quickly went to Google and typed it in. “It’s a thing!” I showed Alex the link to Dogwood jelly.

Alex looked at me with a questioning look on his face.

“Don’t worry. I’m right there with you on that one. No corona tree jelly for us!” I could sense Alex’s relief as I tucked the phone back in my pocket and we headed back to the house.

I was in the middle of washing dishes when I looked out the window and saw a beautiful orange tabby walking down the path we had in our woods.

Quickly shutting off the faucet and grabbing a towel I called out to my son. “Alex! Come here quick!”

Alex came into the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I pointed to the cat that was in our yard. “Doesn’t he remind you of Curly?”

When my sons were little we’d adopted three orange kittens from the same litter and named them after the Three Stooges, Larry Moe and Curly. We lived at a house where the kittens could be outdoors, but in bad weather were able to have access to a heated room off our porch. It had been the perfect setup for them and us.

“I miss having cats.” I sadly said as I watched the tabby walking through our yard.

“Me, too.” Alex patted me on the shoulder. “But we’re all allergic to cats, remember?”

“I know.” I sighed. “I just liked when we’d sit out on the porch and they’d come around for some head scratches.” I smiled as I thought back. “Those three brothers were so crazy.”

Alex laughed. “When I’d come home from school they’d all be waiting for me at the end of the porch.”

We watched as the tabby wandered around our yard.

Alex looked over at me. “You know, it’s not the first time I’ve seen that cat in our yard.”

“Really?” I was surprised.

Alex started to laugh. “You know you could just start feeding him and maybe he’d come around more often.”

I looked over at Alex. “Oh my gosh!” I clapped my hands together. “That’s a great idea!”

Alex looked confused. “I wasn’t being serious.”

“But I am!” I looked back at the cat. “It’s a perfect solution! No cat box, not cat hair on the furniture and I’ll still be able to enjoy a cat!”

“You’re going to starting leaving food out for him?” Alex didn’t look convinced.

“No, I’m going to get some cat treats.” I was getting more and more excited. “This way we’ll be the house that gives out the special treats and he’ll stop by all the time!”

Alex shook his head. “You do realize he belongs to someone else?”

I pointed to the tabby as it rolled around in the grass. “He’s someone’s outdoor cat. I’m sure they know he roams the neighborhood, so you’d think they’d be happy he was making friends.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Complete sense.” I looked back at the tabby and began tapping my finger against my chin. “So

what do you think we should call him?”

Just then my husband Steven came into the kitchen and saw the two of us looking out the window. “What’s happening out back?” he asked.

Alex looked over at him. “Mom’s planning on sharing the neighbors cat by giving it treats so it’ll come around more often, and now she’s trying to think of a name for him.”

Steven looked out the window. “What about Shemp?”

“Ah, the fourth little known Stooge.” I looked over at Steven. “I like it!”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched one of our chipmunks scurry across the yard, leaping from stone to stone, hiding in our fire pit only to reappear and make a quick dash to go under our grill.

“I wonder if he lives under there?” I asked my son Alex as we sat on the porch and watched.

“I think he lives by the garbage cans.” Alex said as we waited for the chipmunk to come out from under the grill.

“Yuck! The garbage cans certainly wouldn’t be my first pick for a choice spot of real estate.” I leaned back in my rocking chair so I could get a better view of our grill.

Finally the little guy peeked his head out from under the grill and slowly went over to the edge of our sidewalk only to instantly freeze looking over at us.

“Geez, I think we spooked him.” I leaned forward to give him a little privacy.

“There he goes!” Alex said pointing to the empty spot where the chipmunk once stood.

“Did he run to the garbage cans?” I leaned back to see.

“Nope. He went right under our sidewalk.” Alex looked over at me. “He must of made a tunnel under it.”

I got up to go check. As I got closer I could see he’d made a small hole. I looked back at Alex. “He’s so smart he dug it right next to our sprinkle head so you can barely see it.” I walked back to the porch. “I think I’ll give him a little house warming gift.” I went to our bird seed container and reached inside where I kept the bag of peanuts. Grabbing a handful I went back to his hole and placed the peanuts on the sidewalk next to his entrance. “Now he’ll get to feel the same thrill I do when FedEx drops a package at my door!”

I came back to the porch and Alex and I continued on with our conversation.

It wasn’t long before I was putting one finger up to my lips mouthing “Shh.” while I pointed another finger in the direction of the chipmunk. Alex turned to see the chipmunk sitting back on it’s hind legs while he quickly broke open the shells and stuffed the peanuts in his mouth. Once they were all in his mouth he darted back down his hole.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Treasure coming right to your doorstep! It can’t get any better than that for him! I know I love it when I get a present at the door!”

I went and got more peanuts only this time I shelled them for him. “Time to make it even easier for him!” I went back to his tunnel entrance and sprinkled them around.

Back up on the porch we sat and waited.

It wasn’t long before the chipmunk scampered across the lawn and right over to the peanuts. I looked over at Alex. “He must have come from another one of his entrances.” I said as we watched him stuffing his mouth with the nuts.

Just as he was almost finished another chipmunk came out of the hole where the peanuts were placed and began chasing the peanut stuffed chipmunk around the yard. We could hear his squeaks of protest.

I looked over at Alex and shrugged my shoulders. “I guess even chipmunks have to worry about porch pirates stealing their packages from their doorsteps just like we do.”

I was sitting on the couch with a book laid open across my lap, my bare feet tucked under a warm cozy blanket, when my son Alex came into the room.

“What are you up to?” he asked.

“Trying to make it through this book.” I sighed.

Alex sat down next to me. “What’s it about?”

“It about mental illness and ghosts.”

Alex laughed. “Sounds fun!”

I laughed with him. “It is interesting. It’s just that it takes place at a university and I swear the author gets so involved in explaining certain classes that I feel like I’m auditing the courses!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “So why don’t you stop reading it?”

“What?” I shook my head in disbelief. “I couldn’t do that!”

Alex looked confused. “Why not?”

“Because I have to find out how it ends!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders again. “Hey, if it’s not interesting…”

I cut him off. “I didn’t say it wasn’t interesting. I’m just saying the course load this character is taking is pretty intense.”

Alex laughed again. “If I don’t like a book I just stop reading.” He put his feet up on the coffee table. “I remember one time I was on the second to last page of a book and just said nope can’t do it and put it down.”

“Are you kidding me?” I was dumbfounded. “You got that far and you couldn’t push through a few more pages to see how it ended?”

Alex shook his head no. “At that point I didn’t care how it ended.”

“Wow!” I was truly surprised. “I could never do that. I mean, I might skim through some pages hoping for it to get interesting again, but I could never not find out how it ended.”

Alex reached for a pillow and put it behind his head. “The Laundry News by Andrew Clements.”

“What?”

“That was the name of the book.”

I picked up my phone and Googled the book. When it popped up I showed him my phone. “It’s a kid’s book.”

“I know.” he looked over at my phone. “Yup, that was it. I think I was in fourth grade when we had to read it.”

I put my phone down and just looked at him.

After a moment Alex noticed I was staring at him. “What?” he asked.

“I can’t believe you not only remember the name of the book but who the author was from when you were ten years old!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders again and smiled as he got up from the couch. “What can I say. I’ve got a good memory.”

“I’ll say.” I reached down and picked up my book and let out a short sigh. “Well, I guess it’s time for me to get back to class.” I scanned the page to see where I’d left off.

“Have fun!” Alex called over his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen. “Maybe class will be over soon and you can get back to the ghosts.”

I sighed again. “I can only hope.”