Chapter 32: Chapter 32: So, You’re New in Town?

He took a deep breath. “I feel weird.”

The fact that he was a ghost and he was taking a deep breath was weird. “Describe weird.”

“Like I’m kinda floating.”

“That’s funny. A floating spirit.”

He gave me a look. “Har har.”

I couldn’t help it. “You walked right into that one.”

He closed his eyes for a few long moments and I started to worry, then he reached out a hand as if he could see something in front of him and when his eyes sprang open, we both gasped at the same time.

“Johnny?”

He looked at me. “I remembered some stuff.”

“That’s great! What did you remember?”

“My mother. I saw her face.”

My mouth fell open. “Wow. That’s good. That’s progress. What does she look like?”

“She’s beautiful. Long black hair and greenish-blue eyes that seem to see right into your soul.”

That’s beautiful. “Can you remember anything else?”

“Yes. I have a father and a sister.”

This was good, but it made my heart ache. I wondered if his family knew he was dead. Were they missing him? Had they had a funeral yet?

I pushed those thoughts aside: Johnny was happy to have remembered them.

Maybe if he talked about them, some memories might come back. Now I was getting excited about it, but I needed to keep quiet.

He stared out at the view, but he was seeing something else.

“There was something I had to do. Something important, but I just can’t remember… And something to do with the letter D. I keep hearing or thinking about D.” He crossed his arms. “This is so frustrating.”

“Just relax. Don’t force it. Take some deep breaths.”

I thought he might get angry for telling him what to do, but he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. I took my own advice and tried to relax while I waited to see if he could somehow shake some more memories loose.

After a few minutes, he screwed up his face and opened his eyes. “It’s no good. I saw a large house with a nice garden, but that’s it.”

I could practically feel his pain. “Okay. Maybe leave it for now and try tomorrow. You did say using the phone wiped you out.”

He didn’t like it, but he agreed that it was a good idea.

“I guess I’ll leave you alone now,” he said. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

The minute he disappeared, I checked to see if he’d done any damage to my phone. Everything seemed to be running perfectly and I sighed in relief.

Now to try to sleep while I was pumped and full of questions about Johnny’s life.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The next morning at breakfast, I wasn’t surprised to see that Justina was avoiding me. Kellie was full of conversation and she spoke to Kaydan and I about what she was planning to wear for Halloween. She was going as a fairy. Another thing that didn’t surprise me. She looked like one. Well, I didn’t really know what a fairy looked like — or even the fae kind — so I had to go by what Hollywood and story books have told me.

Justina kind of huffed at that, but didn’t say anything more.

Laynee and Mitch didn’t join the conversation. He seemed uninterested, but she never really wanted to speak to anyone. I shrugged.

I wanted to find a job while I was stuck here so that I had my own money and so I wasn’t sitting around all day with nothing much to do while the others were at work. I thought that this would be a good time to ask the others about what kind of jobs were available in Angel Falls.

Kellie smiled. “Although this is a small town, you’d be surprised at how many jobs come up. I’ll ask Herbie if there’s any chance he’s looking for someone.”

I returned her smile. “Thanks. That would be great.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I could flip burgers and make sandwiches. Not the greatest job out there, but I wasn’t aiming high and I didn’t want anything long-term. I only needed to work until I could get out of here and go back home.

Kaydan turned to me. “I do some work for the local council and churches in the area doing their gardening and mowing their lawns. Is that something you’d want to do?”

“Not really. I’m not into gardening. I think I have a black thumb.”

He laughed. “Okay. I didn’t think so, but thought I’d ask.”

“Thanks.”

As we finished up and they went to get ready for work, Tracy turned from the kitchen sink. “I could take you into town today if you want to ask around the shops.”

My heart leapt at the thought of her offering to help me out. “Really? Thank you!”

“It’s okay. I have some things to do in town anyway, so I’ll just dump you in the main street.”

“Okay. I’ll get ready.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

After Tracy dropped me off in the main street, I set out determined to find a job today. I didn’t have a copy of my resume with me; I’d have to get it from Mum, but I didn’t want to let that stop me now. I was on a mission.

I looked at the list of businesses that Tracy had written out for me and chewed on my bottom lip. Where to start?

I decided not to go to Herbie’s Burgers; I’d let Kellie ask Herbie for me. I would also skip the bottle shop. Smelling alcohol all day long was not my idea of fun.

Angel’s Restaurant sounded like a nice place to work and it was only half a block away.

As I started walking, it felt good to be outside in the real world doing something I wanted to be doing. My eyes stung a little. I may not have been back at home, but I definitely had some freedom now.

I strode into Angel’s Restaurant feeling confident and optimistic and asked if there were any positions vacant.

“Sorry, Darlin’,” the waiter told me, “but this is a family business. We only employ family members.”

Next I tried the pet shop. By the time I left the shop, I was glad they’d said no. I didn’t think I could put up with the noise and the smell.

The next thing on my list was an old antique store and I thought that maybe I could deal with that. It might even be fun.

As soon as I walked in, a woman approached me with a smile. “Hello, dear. Can I help you?”

“No, thanks. I’m just looking,” I answered automatically.

I mentally scolded myself. I was supposed to be asking about a job.

The woman smiled. “That’s okay. Let me know if you need any help.”

It was then I realised that as she’d moved closer, I could feel the tingles I got when a ghost was near. She was a spirit. My chest tightened. I looked around, but no one was there to hear me talking to myself and I let out a long, slow breath. I needed to be more careful, but she’d thrown me. I wasn’t expecting a ghost to be serving me in a shop.

I wandered around and kept stealing glances at her from the corner of my eye. She knew her way around the place. She must have worked here when she was alive. As I admired an old Victrola gramophone, I wondered how she had died.

She made her way over to me. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

A quick glance around told me we were alone, but I kept my voice down anyway. “Yes. It always amazes me how they can get sound out of a needle on vinyl or Bakelite.”

“I’m not sure of the technical side of things, but it changed the world when people were able to listen to music in their own homes instead of having to go to the theatre.”

“Hello, there. Can I help you?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was the woman who actually worked here. The one that was still alive. “Oh, you scared me!”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

The ghost looked at her with disdain. “This is my customer, Sheryl. Go away!”

I had to force myself not to react. “It’s okay. I should have been paying attention. I was daydreaming while looking at the record player.”

She smiled. “Well, if there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know.”

“Actually, I was wondering if you had any jobs available at the moment.”

The woman and the ghost both shook their heads. “I’m afraid not, Honey. There’s barely enough money coming in to pay me,” Sheryl told me.

“And she doesn’t pay me at all!”

That’s because she doesn’t know you exist! “Oh, that’s not good,” I stammered. “Thanks anyway.” I turned toward the door. “I better get going. It was nice meeting you.”

“You too. Take care now.”

I tried to make eye contact with the ghost for a split second while I waved to let her know I was saying goodbye to her too, and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

What was I thinking? It would totally suck working there with a ghost who thinks she’s alive.

I took some deep breaths and looked around for another place to go and spotted the local bookshop. I loved reading, even though I didn’t read as often as I’d like. It could be interesting working in a shop full of books.

As I walked in and stared at the wall-to-wall bookshelves, I was greeted by a stout woman with a beehive hairstyle and glasses on a chain around her neck. As soon as I asked if there were any positions vacant, her smile brightened.

“Well, as a matter of fact, my assistant has just told me that she will have to go on maternity leave early, so if you could write down your name, address, and phone number and give me a copy of your resume, I’ll see if we can work something out.”

My smile grew wide. “Thank you! That would be great.”

She looked me in the eye. “Of course, you’ll still need to be interviewed.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

She gave me a pen and paper and I wrote down my details. I had to check my phone for my number. I was still getting used to having a phone again.

“I don’t have my resume with me right now as it’s still at my mum’s house, but I can get it to you in the next day or so, if that’s okay?”

“Yes. That’s fine.” She smiled again. “So, you’re new in town? I haven’t seen you around before.”

“Yes. I’ve only been here for about a week.”

“Did you move into the old farmhouse on Wattle Street?”

She knew which houses were being bought and sold in the town? Must be the town gossip. I bet she had four cats at home. “No. I’m out on Bluegum Road.”

I handed her the paper and pen and she gasped. “Oh. No. I’ve made a mistake. I can’t give you a job.”