When you're all alone pick up the phone

Sorry to be late; unexpectedly went without Internet access for an expected day and then an unexpected night. Story to follow.

[ Setting: An old castle, obviously haunted. Characters: ANDREW and BELLA, living; GHOST, ghost. The genders of characters are irrelevant and may be swapped to match available performers; recommend ANNIE, BOB as alternate names. ANDREW and BELLA speak in English; Ghost, in German. Recommended staging: actors speak English with mildly exaggerated accents to match the language the characters speak, as seen in Allo, Allo, at least the first couple years when anyone could stand that show. Action begins as ANDREW and BELLA enter. ]

Andrew: ``Always pop across streets'', you say.

( Yes, it's an actual comedy sketch from me, maybe not as well-formed as I want, but you'll like hearing how it was inspired, later.  )

Ghost: Tourists.

Trivia: In 1802 a 40-foot high tower was constructed in Richmond, Virgia, by Benjamin Henfrey, with a thermolamp on top to illuminate the town. Briefly. Source: Disenchanted Night: The Industrialization of Light in the 19th Century, Wolfgang Schivelbusch.

Currently Reading: Coronation Commentary, Geoffrey Dennis. Got this at a used-book store; it was written to chat about the recent history of the monarchy in the run-up to the crowning of his new and much-beloved majesty, King Edward VIII. There's also an amusing Publisher's Note about some amendments needed and a couple chapters put on the end based on just how exactly this all worked out, you understand.