“At first I thought it was sergeant coming to check on us,” my student said.

Military personnel were on duty around clock to supervise boys.

“Then what happened?” I asked.

“S-sss-some,” he stammered.

“Something pulled blanket off his bed,” his roommate finished.

By now, all of boys looked frightened.

“I don’t want to stay here anymore,” said one young man.

“Me, either.”

“I’m calling my mom to tell her to come and get me.”

“Me, too.”

“All right everybody,” I said. “Take a deep breath.”

I waited for them to take a deep breath.

“Now let it out slowly.”

They all did.

“What else happened?”

Other boys described pranks of a similar nature — waking up in middle of night freezing cold, only to discover that their window was wide open when it had been shut and locked hours earlier; math books that had been sitting on their desks when they went to sleep were in bottom of garbage can when they woke up; uniforms were switched so that when they started to get dressed in morning, they discovered they didn’t have their own clothes.

“Hmmm,” I said. “Who do you think would play tricks like that?”

My students considered question for a few moments.

“Well, it kind of sounds like something we would do,” said one young man.

“Hey…it DOES sound like something we would do!”

“You mean you think it’s a real person…?”

“Or is it a ghost, one of those guys that’s buried here…?”

“I think it’s one of us.”

“But even if it’s a ghost, it’s still one of us — a cadet.”

“Yeah, it WOULD be a cadet, wouldn’t it…”

I smiled to myself as they continued their discussion. At least they didn’t seem so frightened anymore.

For rest of fall incidents continued. Then they stopped as abruptly as they had started. Either culprit was afraid he was going to get caught, or else. . .

Wait a minute. You don’t suppose there really WAS a ghost?

Naaa. . .couldn’t be.

********************

Never go out with someone who will only give you a pager or work phone number. (There is a very good chance of a spouse in house.)

When someone gives his or her phone number, find a reason to call unexpectedly. This may help you to find out if she is married or he is living with someone.

Find out where person works and if you can call him or her at work

First Date Know-How

Be careful when agreeing to meet anyone in person. Set conditions for your date and do not let other person change them. Remember, you really do not know someone until you spend time with them in person. Represent yourself accurately. Exaggerating or deceiving is easy online. Areas to be particularly cautious about are marital status and physical appearance. Begin with a request for a picture and send them a recent one of you. If someone is unwilling to send a recent photo, this is warning sign. If he or she continuously comes up with an excuse, it is because that person has something to hide. Having a scanned photo is available at Kinko's for less than ten dollars, so there is no valid excuse for not doing it. After you have exchanged photos, continue to fill in gaps, so that other person does not create you in their image. Keep it honest.

Always tell someone where you are going with your date and when you will return. Leave your date's full name and telephone numbers with that person and write it down. For a small fee, you can leave information regarding where you are going and all pertinent details with a service called SmartDate at If your date wants you to keep it secret, this is a very big red flag. Protect yourself.

Always meet in a public place that you are familiar with on your first date. Stay near other people in a lighted area. Getting together for coffee is a pleasant, casual way to get to know someone.

Never allow yourself to be picked up from your house. Giving your address out to a stranger is not safe. Arrange your own transportation so that you can leave if there is any sign of trouble.

Pay attention to everything that this person has told you about him or herself. If you find out that your date has lied about anything, this is another red flag. Do not bring your date back to your house after first meeting. You do not know this person. Use same kind of common sense and rules that you would use in any type of dating relationship.

Be smart and be safe. Take control of your future. Know what you are getting into before you invest your heart, money, or your life. Information is key.