Ghost

Anastasia got this pretty scary witch decoration for her lab, but Troy immediately confiscated it. He had no fear of the dark, twisted, skeletal thing. Now, she’s his best friend. He calls her “Ghost.” He takes her everywhere with him. He plays games with her, shows her his books and puzzles, sings to her, and tells her about his day.

This morning, I caught the two of them eating breakfast together and watching cartoons. Troy had the witch sitting in the chair next to him while he was happily munching away on a chocolate croissant. Every once in a while, he’d turn to her and ask her if she saw something on the TV. She stared in silence with her unblinking button eyes. But Troy didn’t seem to mind. Maybe he just thought she was concentrating, stuck in the tractor beam like he usually is.