You better keep your mouth shut. You’ve failed every assignment. The last one was easy and you blew that, too: breaking dishes, materializing, scaring the guests. You screw up again, it’s a free fall into icy darkness. Nothing to do. Nothing to hear. Not even the sound of your own voice, which I’m guessing you’d miss terribly.  

            This is your last chance. A green tag. That means no floating objects, no funny noises or unlocking of doors. Just monitor the house with no activity, unless the Remaining One is in danger. Yeah, I know. You’re not a guardian angel. You made that pretty clear when you were down there. Well, here’s some breaking news. We take requests for atonement seriously. This isn’t a sidestep out of trouble. Or, a tap dance. You got me? Back to the case: She’s forty-five years old, widowed too soon, won’t get out of bed, all the usual stuff. The Departed needs a break. He can’t stand to see her that way, but doesn’t want to scare her, either. So, you’re up.                  

            No, you can’t shoot pool. This isn’t one of your comedies. You can’t materialize. And you can’t sing or play piano because you want to ‘change things up.’ You’re standing-in for a deceased man who moved a picture frame slightly and almost gave his wife a heart attack. It’s a green tag, remember? She’s skittish. Stop saying, ‘Well, at least they’ll be together, again.’  You’re not directing this. And, I don’t care if you’re Method.

            I like these two. I like this case. That means, when you watch the house, I’ll be watching you. If I see one jump scare, you’re through. If I see any flickering lights or a clown suit, you’re gone. If anything crawls across the ceiling, crouches under a bed, or shows up in the bathroom mirror, you’re through. Done. Headed for the ice. No callback, no Second Team, no chance at redemption. You’re finished. Just like your old career. You got me? Good. Now, go hit your mark.

Darlene Eliot was born in Canada and grew up in Southern California. When not writing short fiction, she enjoys time with her sweetheart, watching Marx Brothers movies, walking the Bay Area coast, and watching the weather change hourly.