“Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye and sailed back over a year and in and out of weeks and through a day and into the night of his very own room where he found his supper waiting for him—and it was still hot,” Jakob said making sure Elli could see the last page before he closed the well-worn book.

“That’s my favorite,” Elli said with a yawn.

“I know, Sweetie. That’s my favorite, too.” He set the book down on the nightstand, then stood up and tucked her in and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, pumpkin.”

“Good night, daddy,” she said and nestled into her pillow, holding her stuffed alligator tightly.

“Hey, El? What do you say we turn off your nightlight?”

“No, daddy, you can’t,” She said, suddenly awake and wide-eyed.

“Elli, didn’t you just say the other day that you didn’t need the night light?”

“I know, daddy. I don’t. Really! It’s not for me.”

Jakob looked puzzled. “It’s not for you?”

“No, daddy. I’m not afraid of the dark. I’m a big girl,” pride evident in her voice.

“Okay…” Jakob thought she was just afraid to admit she really was afraid of the dark. “Is it Sherman? I know stuffed alligators sometimes don’t like the dark.”

“Daddy,” she said in a voice that sounded a lot older than six, “alligators live in dark swamps. And Sherman is a stuffed animal” she emphasized. “He doesn’t care whether it’s dark or not. Just as long as he’s under the covers and warm.”

“Sensible Alligator,” Jakob nodded. “Then why can’t we turn the night light off, sweetie?”

Elli gestured for her dad to come closer. He kneeled next to her bedside and she whispered to him, “It’s the ghost. He doesn’t like the dark.”

Jakob thought he was ready for any excuse, but he was caught aback by this one. “Honey, first there’s no such thing as ghosts. And second, ghosts are all about the dark.”

“Daddy, this ghost very much exists and he’s ascared of the dark. He told me.”

Jakob stood and crossed too the door. “Honey, if there were ghosts, they thrive in the dark. Let’s try it just this once.”

“Daddy, I don’t think this is a good idea…”

“I know, El. Let’s give it a try…”

She didn’t respond except to pull the covers up so just her worried eyes were visible.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” he said, switched off the nightlight, then switched off the overhead light. Backing into the hallway he closed the door most of the way.

“What was that about?” the voice in the hallway whispered.

Jakob startled and jumped a little. “Oh, sorry, Jeannette, I guess that ghost talk got me a little, uh, spooked,” he replied as they padded to their room down the hall.

“Where’d she get the notion about ghosts?” Jeannette asked.

“Beats me,” Jakob said. “Maybe something on YouTube?”

“I don’t think so,” she replied climbing into bed. “I check everything she watches, and I’d nix something like that.”

“Even something like Casper? I mean, maybe it’s something like that?”

Jeannette shook her head, “Not likely. I’ll go through the history again. Weird…”

“Well,” Jakob said switching off the bedside light.

Jakob had managed to quiet his thoughts and had nearly fallen asleep when the scream erupted from Elli’s room. Instantly he was on his feet and in the hallway, Jeannette just footsteps behind. He threw open Elli’s door with one hand, flipping the lights on with the other.

“Honey, what’s wrong?!”

“See, Daddy? I told you!” Elle said, scrunched up on one side of the bed against the wall. Closer to the edge of the bed under the covers, a mostly translucent figure huddled with terrified wide eyes mostly under the covers, a translucent teddy bear clutched close to its chest.

“I’m sorry I doubted you, Elli,” Jakob said.