an april ghost story

please don't let me be misunderstood

movie still depicting Dorothy Gish with a doll

No matter what they say—no ghost respects a haunted doll. Every ghost knows it. Sure, sure, “every ghost is special in its own way,” that’s the kind of thing you hear. But ask a ghost to list hauntings it really admires, though, the kind of hauntings that might raise the bar for its own hopes and dreams—ask them those questions and pay attention. Or just say, who do you think is doing something interesting right now. You’ll never hear them mention a doll. It doesn’t happen.

Green ectoplasm billowing down the walls? That requires manifesting matter. Or take a simple, classic trick, like rearranging water droplets on a mirror to write out a message while your victim was showering. So many little details to attend to there (gender, military experience, ventilation of the room) that you might really only have a minute or two to get your words up, and then, naturally, you had to maintain it, keeping your letters strictly clear of droplets. That…