Did you heard that?
What
The sound in the aislewine
aisle of bottles shakingbumping
clattering against each other?
I cant Not over your voice Cay
Then listen.
I cant hear over you Cay Ill be happy to listen if youll be quiet
I can do that.
Then do it
as he listened he watched her face
she watched his
her eyes bulged
he heard what she was
hearing Yes it sounds like bottles bumping each
other
It
doesdoesn’t it.
But there’s no one there. There's no one in the store except us.
But there’s no one there. There's no one in the store except us.
No Theres no one there Its the ghostyou know we have a ghost inhabiting
the store Cay
I've heard. It’s creeping me out.
Im sorry its creeping you
out I imagine me being here is of no
value or comfort
Nonono! I’d be utterly freaked out if you weren’t here in the store with
me. But you’re so nonchalant about it.
I have three ghosts at home You also know that
But they’re at your house.
Certainly a ghost when you come to work is different.
How
It’s not your ghosts.
I think Shakespearemebbe Marlowe
said it first an Shakespeare finessed him
a ghost is a ghost is a ghost How
you react to an animal an it senses ityour fear lets say is how a ghost reacts
to you
You really believe that?
Cay thats been my experience
the bottles clinked again
Cays eyes grew large
he yelled towards the wine aisle
Yawanna keep it down Please
there were a few more desultory
lessenthusiastic clinkclanks
then it stopped
he turned back towards Cay Understand itll happen again Dont let the noise get your panties in a bunch
Easy for you to say.
Hes not a threat
He? It’s a he?
I told you Maxwell saw him on the
security camera walking beside he an aisle over
Ive seen him be then not be Maxwell tell you when we left the store two holiday
decorations side by side swayed side to side in unison while not six feet from
either other papered decorations hung unperturbed I waved goodbye through the closed door and
yelled HAPPY NEW YEAR How could I be
remiss Wasnt thinkingwasnt being mindful My bad
You’re giving me the willies.
Willie A great name
Hes your Willie Accept him like Gawd
an youll be saved your discomfort
It’s not that easy.
It couldnt be easier Embrace the mysterythe wonder admittedly an unusual unexpected fortune Not everyone has a ghost to commune with . .
. . Or is willing to admit it without worrying what someone else might
think.
Why would you care what someone
else thinks
I do.
I dont And frankly thats more than half the
battle They cant influence you Unable to influence you they have to find
someone else Otherwise theyre not
influential an seemingly everyone wants that that an notoriety Id rather be nobodyUlysseus nobody Nobody who tormented Polyphemus the cyclops When the other cyclops heard from Polyphemus
own mouth that Nobody hurt him they didnt interfere they counseled prayer
Yawanna be part of their herd
I don’t.
Then dont Dont care what someone else thinks you ought
to do or be They ought to have their
hands full just managing themselves trying
to find their asses with both hands
Try not to be frightened by BOO
He hasnt tried that with me
Cay sighed I can’t believe I’m working in a
haunted liquor store.
Sunday
afternoon, 31 12. 17
1520, Twosday,
two 1. 18
