Nearly Departed, Max Schlienger [the gingerbread man read aloud txt] 📗

“All that about introducing us,” Bobo said. “What happens if we don’t get introduced?” The obvious nervousness in his voice sent a sympathetic tingle of fear through Dennis’ chest, but he quelled it with a deep breath.

“Nothing happens,” he explained. “Evy has memory issues. She doesn’t retain anything from day to day.”

“Oh,” Bobo said. The anxiety in his words had been replaced by mild disappointment. “Well, that’s not very exciting.” He scuffed his shoe on the ground and looked around the hallway. “So, what do we do now?”

“Now,” said Dennis, grasping the doorknob, “the interview begins.”

Chapter Eight

As far as dramatic entrances went, Dennis thought, this one left something to be desired. After taking a deep breath and nodding to Bobo, he had moved to open the way into Evy’s room and found it locked. Unfortunately, he had been leaning into the motion, and had slammed rather awkwardly against the solid wooden door. The setback, minor though it was, had thrown Bobo into a fit of giggles that seemed out of character for a man his size. Dennis stood in silence for several seconds while Bobo continued to laugh, and irritably wondered if bringing the bigger man along had been the best decision.

“Are you done?” Dennis asked. Bobo continued to snort and chuckle as he wiped a tear from his eyes.

“Oh, god, that was funny,” he wheezed. “Really, you should have seen it from where I’m standing.”

Dennis rolled his eyes and grumbled. “Wait here,” he said. “I’ll go ask Elspeth for the key.” He stalked back down the hallway, fully aware of Bobo’s continued laughter behind him. After a couple of wrong turns, he managed to find Elspeth still in the kitchen, loading the dishes from the morning meal into a giant stainless steel dishwasher.

“Something wrong, Dennis?” She didn’t turn from her task.

“No, not really,” replied Dennis. “I just remembered that I need the key, is all.”

“Ah, yes,” Elspeth said. “I was wondering what that thump was.”

Dennis could feel himself blushing as Elspeth opened a drawer and withdrew a nondescript key. He mumbled his thanks and hurried back to where he had left Bobo, who was still chortling quietly.

“Knock it off,” muttered Dennis. “You want to make a good impression, don’t you?”

“Seems to me that I’ll be doing that more than once,” Bobo replied. “I mean, with her memory and all.”

Dennis sighed and fumbled with the key until finally the door swung open. The room appeared exactly as it had before, with the brown armchair standing resolutely at its center. Bobo leaned through the doorframe and stared.

“Doesn’t look like much, does it?”

“Wait until she shows up,” replied Dennis. He searched the room until he found the wooden stool, which he positioned in front of the armchair. Then, without further ceremony, he sat down and took a deep breath.

“Hello Evy,” he said carefully. “My name is Doc… My name is Dennis. I’d like to talk to you.”

For a few minutes, nothing happened, and the only sound was Bobo shifting his weight. “Quite dramatic, this is.”

Dennis was uncertain as to whether Bobo was joking or not, but he didn’t offer a response. Instead, he kept his gaze focused on the worn upholstery, looking for a hint of the ghost’s appearance.

“Evy,” he said again, leaning forward, “can you hear me?” He was growing tense. Had he done something wrong? Or maybe – he had to consider it as an option – this was the punch line to an incredibly elaborate practical joke.

“Whoa!” Bobo suddenly exclaimed. “Now that’s something you don’t see every day!”

Dennis glanced back at Bobo with a confused expression. His eyes had gone wide, and were locked on the chair. Dennis turned back to it, hoping to see something new, but came up empty.

“What?” he asked finally. “I don’t see anything.”

“That’s a bloody big spider there!” Bobo responded, jabbing a finger forward. Dennis looked to where the man was pointing and saw a large, eight-legged shape taking a slow walk down the side of the chair. He shivered involuntarily, and scooted back slightly. His motions did not go unnoticed by Bobo, who grinned with amusement.

“Oh, come on, now,” he said, chuckling. “Don’t tell me Doctor September is afraid of a little bug.”

“It’s not a bug,” Dennis replied, feeling queasy.

“It’s a creepy-crawly bugger,” Bobo replied. “I don’t care if it’s an insect.” He stepped forward and slapped the interloper with a broad palm. “There,” he said, brushing his hand against his leg. “All dead.”

Thank you, said a voice in Dennis’ head. He jumped and looked back at the chair, which was suddenly occupied by the young girl he had seen during his last visit. There was no subtle fading-into-existence this time, either. One moment, the chair had been a dull piece of furniture, and the next it was providing a seat to a spectral teenager. She was still clad in the v-necked day dress, and nothing else about her had changed, at least not that Dennis could see.

“Whoa!” Bobo exclaimed again. This time, it was his turn to jump, and his voice tightened. “September, look! Look at that!”

“Please excuse him,” Dennis said to the ghost, not bothering to hide his triumphant smile. “He’s not the most diplomatic person on the planet.” He was secretly pleased by Bobo’s reaction, as it made him feel much less cowardly. Even so, he was dimly aware of his heart pounding in his chest.

“I can see as much,” Evy replied. Her transparent form shifted on the chair as she adjusted to what was presumably a more comfortable position. Then again, Dennis mused, the chair probably didn’t offer much in the way of cushioning to a person who was weightless. Evy rocked her head from side to side, and her brows knit in concentration. “I’m sorry, sir,” she said finally, “but I’m afraid you have me at a loss.”

“It’s alright, Evy,” Dennis replied. “My name is Dennis, and I’m here to talk to you about…” He paused. Come to think of it, what exactly was