I Dodged a bullet there with my parents. At least I hoped so. As I lay wide awake in my bed and waited for my little ghost friend to return, I can't help but let this sinking feeling get to me. Like how much my parents and now even members of the community who hated my guts until recently are now worried sick about me. To make matters worse, I can't lie my way out of it and play it off like nothing's wrong.

Just like it seemed that my anxiety was about to get the better of me, at long last, a little ghost colt popped through my wall right in front of me all of a sudden. Normally, I would have been startled and probably peed myself again but by now, I'd gotten used to him popping in and out like that. Until earlier, he had been staying right by my side to make sure I wasn't going to hurt myself but whatever he had to attend to must have been really important. I was about to find out.

"Dude! What happened!?" I gasped. "Is everything alright? I can't convince my parents that I'm not crazy for the freaking life of me!"

"Uhh, yeah, about that." Clutzy sighed as he floated in front of me and tapped his hooves together. "I'd just remembered that it was my little sister's bedtime and she has a hard time sleeping. So, every night, I fly back home to sing her to sleep."

"Oh...that's...the most beautiful thing I've ever heard..."

I couldn't help but well up after hearing that. His poor little sister who now has to grow up without him...but, in a way kinda...doesn't? I mean, it is reassuring to know that he's still with her just not in the physical sense. At the same time, it left that all too familiar sting brought by the fact that I'm the reason they can't actually see or talk to each other.

"Hey, cheer up." Clutzy said as he gently laid a hoof on my shoulder. "So listen, I have this crazy idea that could really help you get your life back on track and get you up and out of the house."

"Oh? What's that?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Well...you never got your veterinary license right?"

"Right, because I could never go back to Rockchester College to get my diploma."

"And as a valedictorian, if you go get your diploma, you can..."

"Apply for my...I like the way you think, kid."

He really was onto something. It's true, according to Upstate Manehattan law, a well accomplished student is guaranteed their license to practice upon graduation and receiving their diploma. Graduation was weeks away when I was put away, so they still have my diploma, they're not going to void that because I got in trouble. It's still my diploma, I just have to go and get it. I mean, in the back of my mind, I knew that, but I guess I just sort of gave up on that dream when I was released from prison. Before I met Clutzy's spirit, I just never had the motivation to do it and when I was thinking of ending my life, of course I didn't care about anything else.

Only problem is Rockchester is a good three hour drive away from here and of course my license was yanked and I won't be allowed to get it back for a very long time, if ever. After all they've already done for me, I refuse to ask my parents to take that much time out of their day to drive me all the way down there so after a very quiet chat with Clutzy, we decided we would book a bus.

Unfortunately, it would be a couple of weeks before I could actually go, as I couldn't afford a ticket for a ride right away. The shorter of a notice you give, the more an UltraBus ticket costs and I have no job and very little left of my savings. Not only that, but you have to actually schedule an appointment to go to the college and pick it up, so I don't have a choice either way. My parents and ponies around town are still keeping an eye on me and my talking to somepony who isn't there so in the meantime, Clutzy and I need to come up with some kind of system where we can communicate without everypony thinking I'm crazy.

I ended up booking a cheap bus ride to Rockchester for the week after next, so we have plenty of time to get some things figured out. It wasn't long before we came up with a clever idea. The next day, we went out and I bought a newspaper and from then, we would practice our new method. I trotted down the sidewalk with the paper in my teeth and as per our signal we discussed, I looked to my left where Clutzy was hovering next to me and let out a small sniffle. It was the perfect signal to let Clutzy know that I had something to say as the pollen in the air was thick this time of year. As far as anypony was concerned, I was just simply dealing with allergies like everypony else.

After giving the subtle signal, Clutzy floated right in front of me as I held the newspaper close to my face as to appear as if I were reading it while he stuck his face through it so we could talk. Just for good measure, I'd trot along down the street with the paper in one hoof and Clutzy floating backwards as we chatted amongst ourselves. Occasionally, I take a peek out from the paper both to be able to see where I was going and to see the reactions of ponies I trotted past, or hopefully, their lack thereof.

It seemed to be working. The only reactions I got from ponies passing by where a few nice little "hello"s and some friendly waves. I really hope they aren't starting to show me kindness because they think I'm sick or something, otherwise, the damage has already been done. Who knows? Maybe my newspaper idea will totally backfire. When's the last time you saw a twenty-something reading a newspaper?

Aside from such an oddity, things seemed to be working just fine until we began trotting past the park where foals were running and playing together. It was Sunday, so there was no school and the youngsters were out enjoying it. Clutzy shifted his attention away from me and to the foals running about. Poor kid, probably friends of his who he misses so badly. I paused for a moment and as he floated a few feet from the ground, his expression of mild anxiousness turned into what looked like borderline weeping as his ears drooped and he bit his lower lip.

I stood by his side as to see exactly what or who it was that was making him look so upset and once I traced his longing gaze to a filly about eleven years old holding hooves with a colt about the same age as they trotted side by side. It took me a moment to figure it out, but based on he told me about a girlfriend he had when he was alive, it hit me.

"She's moved on now..." Clutzy sighed as he hung his head.

"Buddy, I...I'm so sorry..." I say as I place a comforting hoof on his shoulder. Remember, I'm actually able to touch him without going through him.

"No it's...it's okay, I didn't want her to be hung up on me for the rest of her life. I'm glad she's happy."

When he's not raiding my panty drawer, he's actually very mature for his age. I have so much respect for this kid, you have no idea. After a moment of gazing over at who was once a filly he loved, he let out a sigh and continued to very slowly float back onto the path he and I were taking. After a few yards in silence, he would soon change his tune.

"You know what this means?" Clutzy asked me.

"What's that, bud?" I asked.

"This means I can go out and stare at other girls! Bwahahahahah!"

"Jeez, I should have known, you little playboy. Heheh, so what now?"

"First off, get your newspaper back up to your face. Ponies are starting to stare again."

"Oh...right."

It was true, I had once again lost track of the fact that I was very openly talking with somepony only I can see and was drawing attention I didn't need. As my eyes darted around nervously, I brought the paper back up to my face to discuss other plans with my ghostly companion.

"So, what should we do today then?" I asked quietly.

"Got yourself a swimsuit?"

"Uhh, yeah. Why?"

"To the beach!"

I'm really glad Clutzy convinced me to go out to the shores of Lake Onterrible as it really is a gorgeous day. The sky is totally cloudless which meant the sun could shine through, unimpeded. The stallions all wearing shorts and the mares in their two piece swimsuits all seemed to be having a great time be it by soaking up Celestia's rays or by cooling off in the lake, everypony seemed to be having a great time. Speaking of swimsuits, judging by the excited look on Clutzy's face as he rubbed his hooves together and ogled all the pretty mares trotting by, it seemed he had his own standards of gorgeous.

"Oh, sweet Celestia in Canterlot..." Clutzy wheezed under his breath. "Look at all these girls!!"

I Couldn't help but chuckle at that, both because of how funny it is to see a little ghost colt ogle over all the mares in swimsuits trotting by, but also the fact that ponies normally go about their day with nothing on at all. Like, we slap on a two piece swimsuit or the stallions put on some swim trunks and we're suddenly more attractive. I never understood that.

Well, it's just about the beginning of summer and the hot sun is actually doing wonders for my mood. I'm kind of torn between what I should be doing right now. Should I lay on the beach chair I brought and soak up some rays, or should I find a spot in the water that isn't completely clogged with blobs of algae or clumps of invasive zebra mussels to cut my hooves on and go for a swim? It was hot enough for me to brave the hazards and take the plunge. Hey, at least it's cleaner than Equestria's most polluted lake, Ondamonia lake in the city of Saltzacuse which is about a forty-five minute drive South on the nearby Interstate Sixty-one.

I'm in an area that is a couple miles outside of Trottski so I don't know everypony here. Ponies come from towns all over the county to swim or sunbathe here, so there's a mixture of ponies I do and don't know. In the past, I would have loved to have found myself in a place where I could see familiar smiling faces and shoot the breeze with my neighbors but those days are dead and gone. Well, I came here to get my mind off of that sore subject, and damn it, I'm gonna do it!

After taking a dip in the water and cooling off for about a half hour, the wind shifted a bit and started to make waves, bringing a giant cloud of that iconic Lake Onterrible algae in closer to the shore and ultimately forcing everypony out of the water for the time being. It's not like the stuff is dangerous or bad for one's health or anything, it's just gross and unpleasant to get on you; and don't even get me started on its smell. See, the invasive zebra clam population has exploded over the past few decades and they filter feed so much that it makes the water too clear. The sun shines all the way down through the overly clear water and causes the algae to bloom out of control. That's been a big problem around here for years.

Now that I'm out of the water, only thing I can do is get as much of this slop off of myself as I can and shake the rest of it off as it dries in the sun. I could really go for an ice cream cone right about now and there's the same stand with the same mare running it in the same spot it's always been in every summer for as long as I can remember. I haven't been here since before college and she deals with probably dozens, if not hundreds of ponies a day so it's understandable that she didn't recognize me.

I didn't feel like sitting still for long so I just trot around the beach past ponies making sand castles, playing volleyball and the like as I work on this ice cream cone I just bought. Just the classic strawberry on a waffle cone. Simple and always a go to favorite for me. As I trot onward, I get the urge to mingle with other ponies like I always have whenever there are others around but then again, it may be too soon. Not only did that stunt I pulled shake the town I called home but just about all of Oswaggo County and most of Upstate Manehattan felt it. I'd be hard pressed to run into somepony who hasn't seen my miserable mugshot on the news. Yes, Manehattan is a state, not just a city.

Gahh, I gotta stop thinking about this! I came here to relax with a friend and destress and I'm ruining it by beating myself up again! Okay, just focus on the beach...the scenery...the big smokestacks at the nuclear plant off in the distance over in Oswaggo. Yeah, there's a power plant right by the lake in the county's seat city, also named Oswaggo and you can see them from here about fifteen miles away. Heh, as a little filly, I thought it was a giant ship that just never moved from that spot. I think I was about ten when I found out that it was actually a facility.

Fond memories seem to help me relax. This is the first time since the accident that I've been able to do so and the fact that I have to force myself to calm down is actually quite alarming as I must be more damaged than I thought. Just think happy thoughts, Creampuff, happy thoughts. Huh, this spot looks familiar. Yeah, during the late summer and early fall when the salmon start running into the rivers, my dad used to take me fishing right here. The only thing we caught was a big, smelly carp. No, for real, that fish released the most foul odor when my dad pulled it out of the water, we couldn't throw it back fast enough.

After a little more distance away from the actual part of the beach where ponies are permitted to swim, I come across fewer and fewer others. This spot is sort of secluded, so teens often come here to indulge in their booze they acquired in secret, among other things. I eventually reach a point where I can't trot any further due to the creek that runs into the lake so I just mosey about while I make my way back to the beach. Luckily for me, I managed to finish my ice cream cone before it melted and ended up all over me.

Back on the beach now, I notice a small group of cute guys around my age staring over at me. This felt very different, I haven't had that happen in a while. I never really considered myself to be a gorgeous mare but after a moment of thought on that, I really don't look half bad in a swimsuit. Oh, sorry, please don't think I'm full of myself, I don't mean to come off as narcissistic. Im anything but.

I haven't dated or even flirted with a guy for almost two years and though it was nice to get a modicum of positive attention, I've simply lost any and all interest in the subject since the accident last year. Well, now that I'm dry, I may as well head to the showers, find Clutzy and head home as it's getting kind of late. Yeah, the lake is so nasty, they have little bath houses on the beach to wash the lake residue off after you've already been in the water. It would soon turn out that I wouldn't have to look very far to find my little spectre friend.

"Bwaaaahahaaaahhh!!"

The sound of multiple mares, maybe half a dozen or so bellowed from the bath house I was trotting up to with intentions of cleaning myself off. No sooner, several frightened looking mares, some still wearing swimsuits, others not, came tumbling out the door and onto each other as they scrambled to exit the small, crowded building. As the group of seemingly confused and horrified ponies began returning to their hooves, none other than my own friendly neighborhood ghost colt blasting out through the wall of the building in a fit of hysterical laughter. It doesn't take a genius to tell that he probably had something to do with this.

"I'm telling you, something's in there and it slapped my ass!" One of the frantic mares screamed, lifeguards inevitably rushing over to see what the fuss was about.

"Mine too!" Squealed another. "I looked behind me and something was actually touching me and I couldn't see it!"

As the mares bickered amongst themselves and tried to explain to nearby beach staff what had just happened, I tried my absolute best to stifle my incoming laughter and trotted past the small crowd to wash myself off in the shower. Before shutting the door behind me, I turned around, gave my little spirit buddy a knowing smirk and pointed to my eyes and then right at him as to tell him that I'd be keeping an eye on him and he'd better not try anything on me. He responded by holding up his right hoof and crossing his heart with his left. Now that's true friendship when you don't even have to say a word to get your point across.

I completely lost track of time while I was scrubbing the algae and probably some carp shit off of myself in the shower house. I took my time drying off as well and to my surprise, I trotted out the door of the shower house to be greeted by Celestia's sun disappearing over the horizon to the West. From my position, the horizon happens to be over the lake and if there's one thing that toxic waste dump of a grand lake is known for, it's the beautiful sunsets. At least it's not as bad as Ondamonia Lake.

"Ready to go?" Clutzy asked me as he floated up to me out of nowhere. I've gotten used to this, so he just plain doesn't startle me anymore.

"Uh huh." I replied with a smile as there was nopony in sight to catch me talking to somepony who isn't there. We began trotting towards the nearest bus stop which was about half a mile away. "So what was that all about?"

"Ohh, you know...just got all excited when I found myself in the shower with all those hot ladies. " He then gave me a sly smirk. "It's not every day when you can sneak into a room full of them without getting caught."

"I thought you couldn't touch anypony and would just go right through them. Since when did that change?"

"Today apparently. You're right, I couldn't before. I mean, I was just in there and I couldn't help but put my hoof on this one girl's butt and found that it wasn't going through...so I gave 'em all a good spanking!"

He and I shared a good, hearty laugh. So much so that I had to shut my mouth and look around again to make sure the coast was clear. To my embarrassment, there was another mare from town trotting towards her car in the parking lot who gave me a perplexed stare at the crazy girl laughing hysterically for no reason. Once again, I had to make some excuse and by now, I'm used to it.

"I'm uhh...talking to somepony on my earpiece!" I called over as I pointed at my empty ear. It's not like she could tell from that distance, right?"

"O-okay." The mare weakly replied, apparently not convinced. I can't seem to go anywhere without being watched.

Shrugging it off, Clutzy and I continued down the paved trail of the park at which the beach was located and made our way towards the main road where we would find the bus stop to head home soon after. The path lead through a state forest so now I know for sure my buddy and I can continue our conversation in peace. After sharing another chuckle amongst ourselves, we trotted onward in silence for a minute or two, which was unusual for the normally talkative ghost colt. I stopped and turned around to face him to see that he was floating there with his back to me and his ears twitching in different direction, appearing to be listening to something very intently. What could have caught his attention.

"Clutzy?" I asked, slightly confused. "Is everything alri-"

"Keep your wits about you." Clutzy said suddenly, cutting me off. "We're being followed."

Author's Note

As a kid, from the shores of Lake Ontario near Pulaski, NY, (on which Trottski is based) I too thought that the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station was a giant ship with smoke stacks that just never moved from that spot. Weird huh? As you've probably guessed by now, a lot of locations are based off of real places in a place that can't decline because it was never that great...Upstate New York!