Ghost Busting ©2024 by David Lee
Chapter 1
Terry Voss had been born prematurely and had never been as big or boisterous as most of the boys in his age group. He'd grown up being a sensitive child. However, in his original small hometown, these factors hadn't led to his being bullied by his peers for the most part. In fact, many of them were protective of him and would have taken care of anyone who tried. Sadly, for a vulnerable kid the possibility was always there.
Despite his not being picked on, Terry's parents enrolled him in martial arts classes so that he could take care of himself if a situation ever demanded it. His training came in handy when a student who transferred into their school in 9th grade tried to mess with him when no one else was around. The kid left him alone after getting his comeuppance. He never admitted being bested by a smaller boy, but he didn't bother Terry again after that.
Shortly after finishing his freshman year of high school, Terry found that the comfortable world he'd grown up in was about to change. His father had accepted a teaching position at the University of Iowa, which was a great advancement in prestige as well as salary compared with the small college where he'd taught in the western part of the state. However, there was one drawback; Terry would have to leave all his boyhood friends and start over. The very thought of it made him anxious.
Iowa City wasn't a big metropolis, but it was far larger and more sophisticated than the rural community he'd grown up in. There would certainly be a more diversified group of kids. That might be a good thing in some ways. However, he wasn't sure how he'd fit in. He hoped that he wouldn't have to get into a fight to stay safe.
Terry was lucky. Not only were his parents aware of his anxiety, but they also had the means and connections to find him help. Dr. Grim had been highly recommended by several people on the university staff, so Terry had become his patient even before the fall semester began. From his first appointment with the counselor, he sensed that the man was someone he could confide in.
"So, what do you feel is your main problem?" Parker asked the boy.
"I'm worried about fitting in when school starts. I've always lived in a small community where I knew everyone, and everyone knew me.
"On top of that, I'm full of fears and doubts. It's like every time I try to go to sleep, I think of things I should have done or things I shouldn't have done. I feel guilty. It's like there's a bunch of wraiths haunting me. I can't let go of the past like I know I should. I guess that sounds pretty stupid."
"It's not stupid. I struggled with guilt for years. As a young adult, I finally figured out that the lie I'd told as a five-year-old didn't make me a bad person. My concerns seemed to intensify when I reached puberty. I think that happens to a lot of people. We often experience guilt as our bodies develop and we begin to have desires of a sexual nature. It's true of many of my clients. You're not alone.
"I'm not trying to push you into religion, but may I ask if you have a spiritual belief?"
"Yeah, I've been confirmed in the Methodist church."
"Okay, I'm Episcopalian. Both denominations evolved out of the Church of England, so I don't think we are very far apart in our doctrinal beliefs. I'm going to assume that you believe in the forgiveness of sins."
"Sure. We recite the Apostle's Creed often."
"Then, you believe that God has absolved you from mistakes that you've made whether accidentally or on purpose."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Okay. Now, I'd like you to work on forgiving yourself. You are a good person. You're not perfect. None of us is. We're all human. We are works in progress. We live and grow and change because of that. That makes us far stronger than those phantoms who want to mess with your mind."
Terry smiled. Here was a man who didn't laugh at his analogy and who took him seriously.
"So, what should I do? Do I blast them with a proton pack or say, `Abracadabra, spirits be gone?'"
"You could do that, or ignore them, or command them in the name of God, or a saint - whatever works for you."
"Cool! I'm gonna try that."
In the middle of August, Terry Voss was again sitting in the comfortable reclining chair in Dr. J. Parker Grim's office. After several weeks of meeting with his new counselor, he was beginning to feel a lot better. The doctor's advice seemed to be paying off.
"So, are you happy? Do you feel satisfied with how your life is going now?" Parker asked.
"Definitely! I feel more comfortable since I've taken your suggestion. I'm sleeping better, and I've met a few more kids. You've given me a new outlook on life. I've changed a lot since coming to you. You're my hero!"
"I've been privileged to accompany you on your journey, but you're the one responsible for your progress. You've tapped into the kind, generous person that you've always been."
"Maybe, but I wouldn't have discovered that in myself without your help. You've become like a member of my family."
"That's cool! I'd love to be your big brother. I hope you'll keep in touch with me long after our professional connection ends. I have a similar relationship with my therapist back in the Chicago suburbs. Smitty and I will always be friends."
"I can't believe you ever needed a shrink. You're so, um, normal. I mean you've got your life together."
"I do, but it took some work to get there. From the outside, hardly anyone knew. So, you and I are alike in some ways."
The first day Terry entered the cafeteria at West High, he didn't feel as confident as he had in Dr. Grim's office the week before. He was almost overwhelmed by the size of the crowd. Despite his sessions with Dr. Grim, he was on the verge of a panic attack when he spotted a table in the back corner of the room where only one person was sitting. The kid was bigger than Terry, but he didn't look menacing, more like a big teddy bear.
"Hi, is this seat reserved?"
"Nope. No one wants to sit with me, I guess."
"I'd like to if I may. My name is Terry and I'm new here."
"I'm Jackson. I moved here this summer. It wasn't my choice."
"Nice to meet you, Jackson. It wasn't my decision either. My dad's job brought us here."
"That sounds like me. My dad needed a change of scenery, and he got a better-paying job at University Hospital to boot. I didn't have many friends back in Illinois, but at least things were familiar. I guess I'll have to adjust."
"Me too."
Although it wasn't an immediate friendship, the two 10th-graders found themselves bonding and sharing more than they'd intended to do with a stranger. It was great to find someone who actually listened to what you were saying and had empathy. They didn't share all their woes and insecurities in the beginning, but eventually, they knew one another more intimately than anyone else in the school.
Jackson Dodge had faced a rough patch in his life which wasn't his fault nor that of his family. When he was in the early stages of puberty, his mother had come down with a rare neurological disease. It had taken a while to be diagnosed, and Jackson had to help with her care because they didn't have good enough insurance coverage to hire a nurse to come into their home to do it. In the midst of dealing with the emotions which accompanied the hormonal changes in his body, he had more responsibilities than a kid his age should ever have to undertake. He missed some school days because of having to act as her caretaker. That caused him to become more of a loner because he couldn't participate in activities with his peers. Through it all, he didn't complain or whine about his lot. He just did what had to be done.
Of course, it took an emotional toll on his father, Jack, as well. He worked hard to keep his family above the poverty line while paying medical bills while watching his beloved wife wither away. The neighborhood in which they lived wasn't as supportive as some would have been. No one set up a fund to help. Neighbors didn't offer to bring food.
After Susan succumbed to the disease, Jack buried her in Iowa next to her parents and moved there in hopes of finding more lucrative employment and a kinder community.
The bright spot for father and son was that he did find a much better job. Although neighbors were pleasant, the newcomers still didn't feel like part of the community. That would take time.
Jack was making some new friends at work, but Jackson didn't seem to be able to find his tribe at school. Although Jack was concerned about his son, he didn't feel he had the extra money to send him for counseling. Maybe he could find help through the university.
Soon after meeting Jackson, Terry mentioned him while talking about school with his therapist.
"There's this kid at West High who's new too, and he's a big guy but it's like people ignore him. By "big" I don't mean he's overweight. He has muscles and he seems older than he is. He's struggling in our LA class, and I guess the others think he's dumb. I know he isn't because I talk with him at lunch every day. I'm trying to think of a way to help him."
"That's kind of you. Are you good in that subject?"
"Yeah, I don't like to brag, but I usually get straight A's in there."
"Do you think you could tutor him. I mean, not formally, like charging money, but maybe studying together. It could be a good project for you, a way to boost your self-confidence. He'd be learning, and you would feel good about helping him. It might be beneficial for both of you."
"Wow! That's a good idea. We could both use a friend, I guess."
At lunch the following day, Terry asked Jackson if he'd like to come to his house after school and do their homework together. Jackson smiled at the invitation. It was the first time Terry had seen him do that. It turned his ordinary face into a cute, pleasant one.
The walk to Terry's house wasn't a terribly long distance, and they decided to walk rather than take the bus because it gave them a bit more time to chat. Both liked the exercise, and the weather was nice.
"Thanks for doing this," Jackson began. "You're so smart and cool. I'm not sure why you even noticed me."
"I do okay in school, but I'm certainly not cool."
"Yeah, you are. You always know the answers in class. You have the right haircut and wear the right clothes. And I can tell that Anna Purdy likes you."
"She's nice to me; but she's nice to everyone."
"She doesn't talk to me much. Everyone thinks I'm not very smart. Maybe it's because I'm big. Oafs and ogres and all are stupid."
"Dude! I wish I were as muscular as you are. Nobody's gonna try to bully you."
"Maybe not physically, but they know how to get to me in other ways."
Terry's parents weren't home to meet his new friend. However, they approved of having him come to their house because they trusted their son's judgment. Terry's mom, Angela, had prepared snacks for them before she left for school in the morning to make sure Jackson felt welcome.
The boys tackled their homework while snacking on cheese and crackers and fruit to keep their energy up. They had flavored water to drink which didn't contain sugar because Angela was careful about carbs.
Terry chose to do their LA assignment first. He wanted to give Jackson help without making it look obvious. In doing so, he discovered that there were some holes in Jackson's earlier education. Probably he'd missed some of the grammar rules while taking care of his mom. Terry sought to fill those gaps, and it helped.
As the weeks went by, their study times continued. Jackson's grades began to rise in the process. Along with his grade-point average, his self-esteem improved. He began to participate in class discussions more, and his peers, as well as his teachers, started to realize that he wasn't the underachiever they'd assumed him to be.
One of the students who saw him in a new light was Anna Purdy. She began to join the boys at lunch, much to the consternation of Terry who felt she was horning in on his territory. He began to obsess over it. Then, he figured out that he was jealous and had no right to be. He had come to care for Jackson a lot. However, he didn't own him. He would have to sit back and accept that Jackson might like to ask her out. That was his right. She was a nice person. Perhaps she was a match for his friend.
"Dr. Grim, I've dispelled most of the bad spirits, but I have one which isn't easy to get rid of. Can you help me."
"I will, Mr. Voss, as soon as you call me by something other than my last name."
"Okay, Parker, will you give me some advice," Terry grinned.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"I feel like this girl from class is trying to come between Jackson and me and I don't like it."
"What's his reaction? Does he flirt with her? Has he asked her out?"
"No, but he'd probably like to."
"Has he indicated that to you? You appear to be his best friend. Doesn't he confide in you?"
"Well, yeah, he tells me about everything. I mean he's told me details about caring for his mother that he hasn't shared with anyone else."
"You might mention Anna's name sometime, when she's not around, and see what he says about her.
"May I ask you a very personal question without offending you? You have the right not to answer."
"I trust you. Ask away."
"Maybe jealousy isn't a ghost problem. Have you considered that you might have a crush on Jackson?"
"Yeah, I've thought about that possibility, Terry blushed. "But I can't be gay. How would I get married and have a family and all that?"
"You don't have to be gay to have affection for another male. I'm not saying that you are. I am, and my husband, Adam, and I are expecting our first child by surrogacy in the spring. He'll carry Adam's genes. In a couple of years, we hope to have a son or daughter who has mine."
"Oh wow! I've never known anyone who's gay. That's cool."
"I suspect you know several people who're gay, but are in the closet, or simply very private about their orientation."
"How do you think my parents would react if I were?"
"They know that Adam and I are, and they didn't bat an eye. I'd bet the farm that they'd be okay with it."
In the middle of the next week, Jackson and Terry were alone for lunch because Anna, and a couple of other kids who sometimes joined them, were on a field trip to observe a court case which took up most of the day.
"Hey Jackson, do you think Anna is interested in you – like maybe she'd like to go out on a date?"
"Jeez! I hope not. I don't need something else to stress over when I'm getting my life back together."
"She's pretty."
"I guess so. Maybe you should ask her out."
"Nope. She's not my type. I'm not looking to hook up with some chick either."
"Um, not to change the subject, but could you come to my house for a sleepover this weekend? Dad would like to meet you and thank you for helping me study. He's a good cook."
"I'm free this weekend."
Terry was excited about spending more time with his new friend. He hadn't been to an overnight in more than two years. Therefore, he fussed over what he would take to wear and to sleep in. After texting back and forth with Jackson, he decided to pack an extra shirt and pair of pants plus a couple of pairs of socks and underwear. He would take boxers and a T-shirt for sleeping. In addition, he would bring along his sleeping bag since they were planning to sleep on top of Jackson's queen-sized bed.
After school on Friday, Jackson walked home with Terry so they could pick up his stuff for the two-night stay. Both had their backpacks with homework. Terry left a note checking in with his parents and grabbed his duffle bag with his clothes. Jackson carried the sleeping bag for him.
They chatted along the way to the apartment where Jackson and his father currently resided.
"I hate living in a little furnished apartment," Jackson complained. "Dad says we might be able to find a house next year when our finances improve. He's hoping to get a settlement from the hospital he worked for in Illinois. They had promised to provide a good insurance policy but didn't. That's why we got hit with so many medical bills for Mom. He had to take a second mortgage on the house to pay for them and we didn't get to keep a lot out of the house when he sold it. He has a lawyer who is taking the case pro bono because he feels that we got screwed. I hope it works out. I'd like to have a real home, but it has to be in the same part of town so I can stay at West High. I'd hate to have to transfer to City High. Thanks to you, I'm making some friends. I really don't want us to get split up!"
Terry loved how Jackson phrased it. Maybe he was getting as attached to Terry as Terry was to him.
The boys spread their sleeping bags on Jackson's bed and then sat cross-legged on it while they did their homework. Neither wanted to have it hanging over their heads for the weekend. When they finished, they had a quick snack and then settled into the living room to play a couple of video games. Those weren't the latest on the market, but they were fun, and the boys didn't mind. Terry wasn't used to getting the newest ones either.
When Jack came home a little after 5:00 p.m., he quickly began to prepare their dinner. Having done part of it in advance, he managed to put it on the table by 6:15.
His meatloaf, covered with picante sauce, was delicious. Terry thought it tasted a lot better than it would have with gravy over it. He decided to tell his mother about it so she could do it the next time she made the dish.
Conversation revolved mostly around what the boys were doing in school. Jack was trying his best, as a single dad, to be attentive to his son's interests. He was bound to let him know that he was loved.
After dinner, the boys cleaned up the kitchen and then joined Jackson's father in a card game. Again, Jack was interacting with his kid as best he could.
Later, the boys adjourned to the bedroom. They'd both had showers after gym and didn't need another one. After brushing their teeth, they put on boxers and Ts to sleep in.
The room was fairly warm, so the boys lay with their bags open. Then, it cooled off a bit, but not so much that they needed to zip up their bags. Jackson got up and brought a queen-sized sheet from the linen closet. He suggested that they lay one sleeping bag out to sleep on and cover up with the sheet. They could pull the other bag over them if they got cold before morning. Soon, they drifted off.
Sometime in the night, Jackson cried out in his sleep. Evidently, he was having a bad dream. Instinctively, Terry snuggled against his back, laying an arm over his body. Both boys went back to sleep. Although they changed positions often during the night, they remained nestled together.