A Preference For Cherry

her sister had
just moved into
a converted factory
when she called her late at night.

"i think i have a ghost,"
she whispered.
"a little irish boy named danny.
he seems lonely."

"well, maybe you should read him
some children's books,"
her sister suggested.
"ooo, and do it with accents.
kids always like that."

"you know what else he likes?"
her sister said mysteriously.
"cherry lollipops. he won't touch
the other flavors i leave out for him."

and she burst out in giggles
imagining her sister
furtively leaving cherry lollipops
behind for a little lonely ghost
only she could see.