(Song: Dagger Woods-The Stanfields)

"Hey Yorkie," Nova leaned his head back against the wall, his eyes sliding to the right where the American state was cradling his third beer in his lap. Nova himself was on his fifth but he didn't like to brag.
"Yeah Scottie?" New York slurred.
"Do ya wanna hear a ghost story?" Nova giggled.
"Ghost Story? Sure, I'm game."
"Ya sure? I've got some of the scariest ones in the world."
"Bring it."
Nova chuckled at Yorkie's determination. He decided to go with one of his most famous ones.
"In eighteen seventy eight there was a eighteen year old girl who lived in Amherst named Esther Cox." Nova grinned at the way New York braced himself.
Yes, when Nova told a ghost story, everybody stopped to listen.
"She lived with her sisters Olive and Jane as well as Olive's Husband, children, and brother in law."
"This ain't scary." New York slurred. Nova smiled evilly. "One sec." He got up and turned the lights out so that only the receding afternoon light filled the room.
"One September night, Jane awoke to the sound of Esther whispering about mice under her bed. Jane thought her sister was hearing things...until she heard the scratching too." Nova Scotia, feeling especially demonic, allowed his fingernails to scrape subtly against the wall behind him.
New York set his beer down and pulled his legs up to his chest.
"The two girls jumped out of bed and pulled a cardboard box filled with quilt patches out from under Esther's." Nova continued. "But as soon as it was out, it shot into the air and tipped into its side."
"Spooky." New York muttered. "And then what happened?"
"As the girls were screaming, Olive's husband, Daniel, stormed it. He told them that they were dreaming and to go back to sleep."
"Did they?"
"Of course they did." Nova Scotia's smirk took on a somehow darker tone. "But the next night everybody came running to the sound of Jane's frightened screams."
Nova paused.
"Esther was writhing and crying in pain on her bed while her body swelled up like a balloon. The air was filled with taps." Nova Scotia rapped his fingers on the hardwood floor. "And snaps." He snapped his fingers once or twice.
New York rubbed his arms nervously.
"SUDDENLY," Nova said this without warning. The state jumped slightly. "There was a loud BANG!" New York winced at the last word. Nova had forgotten about how he was with sudden and loud noises. He pledged to be quieter next time.
"Esther's body deflated and she fell into a slumber."
"Whoa. You're a creepy little guy, aren't ya, Freckles?"
"Freckles?"
"Yeah. You've got freckles all over your nose."
Nova turned his head away. "I didn't ask for them, okay?"
"Don't take offence. They're actually pretty cute."
Nova's green eyes widened and his face went the colour of a cooked lobster.
"So, is that all? What happened to Esther next?"
"Oh..." He had almost forgotten about the story. But he was still able to pick up where he left off. "When it happened again four nights later, Esther's family called a doctor. He told them that it was just nerves."
"Typical." New York snorted.
"But right after the doctor said that, her pillow started moving back and forth and blankets flew across the room as if the poltergeist was taunting him."
"So it was a poltergeist then..."
Nova nodded. "And then the scratching noises started." They were coming from above the bed.
"Shit."
"There, right above the headboard, words began to form, written by some mysterious force."
"What did they say?"
"Esther Cox, you are mine to kill."
"Holy mother fucking shit."
This made Nova Scotia chuckle.
"After that the family experienced many terrifying events. Something hammered on the roof and 1)threw potatoes around the basement, and then the knocking sounds began to take a pattern, like the spirit was trying to communicate."
New York shuddered and looked around nervously.
"A few times, somebody would ask how many people were in the room, and the spirit would reply with the correct amount of knocks." Nova knocked on the floor twice.
"In December of eighteen seventy eight Esther came down with a case of diphtheria. The family experienced no goings on during the two weeks she was ill."
Yorkie looked Snow White at this point.
"The family sent her off to my good friend New Brunswick to stay for a few weeks when she was healthy enough to travel."
"Did the ghost disappear?"
"Well...it did for a little while...but as soon as Esther got back, the hauntings a got worse."
"God, I think I'm gonna kill you over this."
Nova Scotia laughed. "Maybe you would have done better with 'The Tale of Headless Harvey.' "
"Just keep going, Freckles."
"Lit matches would appear from thin air, just below the ceiling. She kept hearing a voice telling her that the house was going to burn down and her family feared for their lives. The banging would even follow her to church, leaving her humiliated. She was hired by farmers who lived nearby, but they couldn't handle the disappearing tools."
Nova took a deep breath.
"A few consultants concluded that more than one spirit was haunting her."
"Yeah, I mean, one ghost couldn't do all that."
"Esther managed to find a farmer by the name of Arthur Davison who didn't mind the flying objects or the noises. However, the unexplained fires were a deal breaker. Esther was charged with arson. She was supposed to stay in jail for four months but the townspeople, feeling sorry for her, convinced authorities to let her free after only one."
"That was sweet of 'em." New York chuckled nervously.
"Aaaaaaaand...that's kinda it. The spirits just stopped suddenly in eighteen seventy nine."
"Really? That's all?"
"Yep, she got married, has a kid, was widowed, got married again, moved to Massachusetts, had another kid, then died."
"That's a shit ending."
"Yeah...it is pretty shit....but it's one of the most famous stories in the world."
"But the ghosts just sorta disappeared. No exorcism, no lingering mystery."
"Yeah...I really shoulda gone with Headless Harvey." Nova took a long drink of his beer.
"Oh shit. I totally forgot. I'm sorry, man."
"Forgot what?"
"2)You're the Christmas tree guy. Jeeze I'm so sorry."
"Yeah. I'm the Christmas tree guy. Thanks for the help with the...boom boom boat thingy."
"The wha?"
Nova Scotia burst into laughter. "I fergot da name."
"You idiot." New York joined in. The two leaned backward again, drinking in sync.
"You know what?" New York hiccuped.
"What?"
"I didn't want to come to this dumb party."
"No?"
"Naw." Yorkie leaned to the side, his head falling into Nova's shoulder and making him blush. "But I'm glad I did."
Nova chuckles nervously. "And why's that?"
His question was met with a tiny snore.
New York had fallen asleep.

1159 words. Holy schiße. My thumbs hurt. But it's done.

Next time on WHHT:
New Jersey apparently isn't a morning person and is Canada making pancakes or not? Come on Mattie. We know yours are the best. Get the hell outa bed and make some.
Stay tuned.

1) are you sure it wasn't just Princey playing a trick? Lol jk. In PEI they love potatoes. Did I say that already? Potatoes!!!
2) every year on December sixth NS sends NY a Christmas tree to thank them for explosion aid. The tree is displayed in a park or something idk much about NY apparently.