All Good Things: Part One
As the kids came in, LHPS was already set up int eh Sloan Room. I work for the Ross Library in Lock Haven, PA, and I run a group for teens there. We're Teen Paranormal, and we learn how to investigate the unexplained. I'm also a member of the Lock Haven Paranormal Seekers, a professional ghost-hunting team. Tonight, the kids were getting a visit from the adults---Theresa, Millie, Charlie, and Kara were all there when the kids came in. Emma, Holly, Mikey, Skylar, Olivia, and Brionna all grabbed their seats.
"I'd like to start by congratulating Holly," I said. "Now that she's eighteen, she's going to be promoted to LHPS as a new member. And she's invited to join us on our field trip in June, when we go to the Austin Dam ruins up in Potter County."
"Congratulations," Mikey said to Holly.
"Glad you guys could all be here," I said. "Guys, we have a couple of new kids this year, so feel free to get as basic as you want. And kids, you ask as many questions as you like. It's not school; feel free to chat."
"These EMF detectors," Mille said,"Are for measuring electricity. We use them to see if there's any electrical fields we can;t explain."
I took one of them, and held it against the light switch. It went off. I said,"Sometimes, that happens with no explanation. Then we maybe have something paranormal."
We heard someone---A small, loud, little-boy voice coming down the hall, and then my son Paull Matthew burst into the room.
"Da-ee! Da-ee!"
Theresa turned to my wife. "We can hear Lou coming from a distance, too."
"Aww," said Holly. "He's so cute!"
"Hi," Paul said to her. "Hi."
I picked Paul up and hugged him. "Hi, little guy. Did you play over in Children's?"
"Down," he said, pushing against me.
I set him down, and he immediately climbed up onto a chair and smiled at the girls. My wife asked,"You ready to go?"
"Go! Bye!" said Paul, and shot back off down the hall.
I turned back to the kids. "What we're always looking for is scientific, measurable results. I hate when the psychics come in, and pretend to know something without proof."
Theresa asked,"Have you guys gotten the psychic lesson yet?"
"Yeah," said Emma.
"Twice," said Mikey.
"Yeah, he's not very objective."
"I always say to prove it," I said. "We don't take things on faith. If I say someone died in a building, I can show you a document to prove it."
"I have a few EVPs," Theresa said. "Let me play them for you."
We spent the next few minutes playing back EVP recordings from our various investigations, and talked about the time a bat had chased me out of a stairwell. Then Theresa said,"I have a recording from an investigation in Renovo...."
Holly grinned at me. "Was that the one you....?"
"No, different one," I said. "But, Theresa, these guys are like little kids listening to their favorite bedtime story. Tell them about the crackhead in Renovo."
Theresa grinned. "We got this guy from Renovo, I think he came to Lou first...."
I nodded. "The courthouse sent him to me."
"He said he had a ghost in his house. We went up for the intake interview with him, his mother, and his teenaged daughter, who was about the most rational person in the house," Theresa said. "He claimed to have found bones in his basement, and smashed the basement wall with a hammer because his Ipod told him to. First thing, he led us down in the basement. Lou went first, and I followed him, thinking, This is how I die."
The kids laughed. Emma looked particularly amused. I said,"Out of time, guys. Next month, archaeology. Oh, and Emma---You live up around Jersey Shore, right?"
Emma nodded. "Sure. Why?"
"Got a bulletin today---Bigfoot was sighted near Pine Creek."
She grinned. "Cool."
"We're going canoeing there this weekend!" Mikey said.
I smiled.
"Take a camera."