““How do you go to the bathroom?” asked Denny. Kathy Townsend blushed. “Denny, what a question!” Mr. Jones laughed. “That’s okay,” he said. “Shows she’s thinking.” Then he winked at Denny and whispered, “Ghosts don’t go to the bathroom.” Denny felt a tiny prickle run up her back; then she saw that her mother was laughing. “I’m serious,” she said. “How?” “See for yourself,” said Mr. Jones. He directed her into the forecabin and pointed toward a narrow door with a half-moon on it. Denny opened it. Inside, on the floor, was a little Porta Potti like the ones campers use. When Denny came back out, Mr. Jones was still talking to her mother. “I’ll need a new head, of course, before I put the boat in the water,” he was saying, “but this one will do for now.” Denny stared at him and gulped. “A new head?” she repeated. Mr. Jones laughed. “Don’t look at me like you’ve just seen a ghost,” he said. “A head is what you call a toilet on board ship.” “Oh,” said Denny, laughing at herself.””
