The house remained like a stuffy tomb until midday. I remained motionless at the center of the filthy tiles, toppled over on my side. The contents of Champaign was near the point of explosion. Needless to say, my entire being felt as if it would burst right along with the sparkling wine.

The silence was interrupted by movement, human movement. Determined footsteps crossed the front room as a cheerful whistle penetrated the silence. Evan swung his hand along the wall clicking on the lights to the basement as he headed down the stairs.

Within a few moments, the rhythmic motion of a straw broom penetrated through the floor. Again, more cheerful whistling as an hour or so passed. I determined this by how the sunlight had shifted along the floor’s grid.

"Hello! Ev are you in here?" Gail said with sincere excitement to her tone.

"Ev?" She sang again, swinging into the totally destroyed kitchen.

"EVAN!" She wailed, stepping further inside the room and turning about with total disbelief.

Evan’ footsteps were heavy up the stairway, skidding to a stop as he entered the room. His eyes reflected shock at the total devastation within their surroundings. Both the refrigerator and stove were toppled onto their sides. Doors were missing, grates were smashed, the thin metal crushed. A mixture of claw marks and crater like dents mangled the new appliances.

"HOW could you do this?" Gail shouted in a fit.

"Me? You think I did this?" Evan responded with outrage reflecting in his tense facial expression.

"You just couldn’t stand the gifts Mom and Dad brought over! This is going too far Ev, even for you!" Evan stood there shaking his head in disbelief as if someone were tearing out his heart inch by inch.

"I didn’t do this Gail." He retorted, emotionally overwrought.

"That temper of yours Evan, you promised! You promised you would never do anything like this again! How could you? How am I going to explain this to my parents?"

Evan shrugged his shoulders. "I might throw a wrench or two out of frustration, but I would never do anything like this, you know me better than that Gail."

"What about the car door?" Gail recalled, her face reflecting temper.

"I explained what happened with that." Evan snapped.

"It wouldn’t latch so you slammed it, followed by a swift kick several times. It only cost five hundred dollars to have it fixed." Gail responded.

"This wasn’t me. I wouldn’t do this." Evan attempted yet again.

"Oh no? Then tell me Evan, who did?" Gail asked standing her ground.

Evan gazed about the sludge covered room. The only thing apparent was the lack of footprints tracking through the mess. Unfortunately, neither observed this key fact.

"I don’t know, but it wasn’t me."

"Sure, tell that one to the jury!" Gail said, pivoting around and sprinting off.

Evan stood there a moment taking it all in. After a sigh of frustration, he followed along the same path, slamming the front door behind.

Voices penetrated the walls from the back yard. It was surprising the volume and fever of their squabble. A moment later, Evan returned to the room. He squatted down and lifted me from the floor. He placed the bottle on the cabinet and gazed once again at the mess. "I don’t understand this!" He screamed to the vacant home.

A single tear fell down his sunburned cheek. His frustration was apparent as he punched the wall, then hurried away. A loud car engine sounded and I caught a glimpse of his construction pick-up driving off.

My insides were cowering in fright. I was alone again. Alone and waiting for the next installment of pain from Eerie and Baritone. The sun began its descent along the tree line. In only a few short hours they would return, the ghosts would be searching for me with malice in heart.

"If only I could take a vacation." I said half joking. "A vacation, of course!" I said shifting my mind to surf, sun and beach. Before I realized what was happening, I suddenly reappeared at Club Getaway, After-world.

The beach was crowded, full of wish givers. Young and old were relaxing and enjoying the time off.

I removed my dressy shoes and felt the fine grains of sand massage the souls of my feet. I took a leisurely stroll. Waves lifted and crashed along the shoreline, spits of water brushed my legs. In that moment, I didn’t care if I ever returned to the Genie business. This current assignment was far worse than anything I could have ever anticipated.

When I reached a long pier, I perched myself, dangling naked toes into the icy ocean. I was there maybe ten minutes when I got the distinct impression that I was being watched. I gazed about only to notice Granny floating on an inner-tube just a few yards away. She was still wearing her house dress and the submerged material spread in a fan shape around her.

"Looks to me like you’re enjoying yourself Elizabeth!"

"As a matter of fact..." I replied, feeling uneasy about the way she was staring at me.

"Too bad ya can’t stay."

"I have a few days coming!" I protested.

"Perhaps, but you’re right smack dab in the middle of an assignment. You can’t take a vacation when there’s work to be done!"
"Says who?" I said, suddenly feeling a bit cross.

"Says the rules for as long as we’ve been doing this." Granny managed with a serious tone.

"What if I refuse to go back there?" I said feeling empowered.

"Then you’ll be disciplined, possibly terminated." Granny explained.

"Purgatory right now looks like heaven to me."

"What, because of a couple of two-bit, looser ghosts?"

"Looser ghosts? They're horrible. They scared the heck out of me. You can’t make me go back there! I won’t do it." I said firmly, as Granny chuckled.

"Ghosts are supposed to scare you! That’s how they get their power, that’s how they get their energy. If you remain calm and relaxed, they dissolve. Besides, your powers are by far, superior. Just touch into some of that intuition you have and you’ll be okay."

"I’m not certain I’m cut out for this kind of work Granny. Maybe we should just consider our losses here and forget the whole thing."

"Non-sense. Just between you and me..." Granny lowered her voice and gazed about nervously. "You’re tied with Adam!"

Granny seemed elated by this announcement. "It was amazing that Irene and Stan ended up together. You’re either very clever or extremely lucky. That particular assignment rendered you some incredible eternity points! Not only did you fix the situation that you messed up, you touched the lives of everyone for the better. I’ve been in this business a long time and I’ve never seen anything quite like that one. Then you go and save that kid on the bike, a quick slam dunk victory. Absolutely wonderful!"

"Please don’t make me go back to that haunted house." I said, as Granny shook her head with disappointment.

"Listen Elizabeth, we all must face things we don’t particularly enjoy. Those ghosts are horrible spirits, they weren’t much better when they were alive either, but there are a couple of people that need you down there."

"Gail and Evan?" I asked.

"Yes. They have too much riding on this. Evan's been through a lot. He’s rough around the edges, but one thing is fact, he truly loves his wife."
"It seems to me he has some serious problems with anger." I responded.

"Perhaps so, but you and I both know he didn’t destroy that kitchen."

I shrugged my shoulders, not certain if he was worth the risk of tolerating the abuse from Eerie and Baritone.

"He’s been in therapy for two years now. Evan has his outbursts under wraps, he really does." Granny, said as she flipped papers that mysteriously appeared within her grasp.

"Therapy?" I questioned, not knowing what that term meant exactly.

"Yes. A doctor that helps with personal problems." Granny explained.

"I wonder if they have any experience with lunatic ghosts?"

"Very funny Elizabeth! You need to get back to work now." Granny said in a very professional tone.

Before I could protest, I found myself hurling through the air, a long stream of light trailing behind. It reminded me of a party streamer unrolling across the sky.

It was moving day when I returned. The bottle of Champaign was now positioned on top of a new white ice chest. The kitchen had been cleaned, the walls repaired and obviously the appliances replaced.

The house was full of activity. George, Rebecca, Glenn and Gail appeared in a line, lugging boxes. Footsteps were audible from every direction. It was evening and bugs were dive bombing the florescent circle lights overhead.

Evan surfaced, hauling in a large box that was marked, kitchen. As George, Rebecca and Glen headed outdoors for more things to haul, Gail swung into the room.

A moment later she turned her gaze to the front door making certain her family was out of ear’s shot. "Thanks for cleaning up this mess. It was really smart of you to buy the same appliances to replace those you messed up."

"Honest to God Gail, I didn’t do that!" Evan managed.

Gail placed her hand up in the air to shield his attempts. "I don’t want to hear it!" She whispered with an edge to her tone. "If something like this ever happens again, I will not stick around for the next episode. You promised me when you went into therapy that it was all behind you, I won’t live like this Ev! You hear me?"

Evan nodded, his expression pensive.

"So your parent’s don’t know that we’ve been living separate this past week?" He asked.

"They know, but I explained you needed to have things livable before we moved in."

"Thanks for not telling them. I’m afraid they’d be overflowing with joy to learn we were treading through some rough waters."

Gail eyed him with contempt. "I didn’t do it for you, I did it for us."

Evan nodded, moving his hand to touch Gail’s fingertips. She swung away not allowing the connection.

A moment later, Glenn entered the room. Slight whiskers were apparent on his chin, a sly grin shifted his face as he asked, "When are you going to order that pizza you promised, sis?"

Gail began to laugh as she gazed at her brother. Evan shook his head, then hurried off to sulk.

The house fell silent around ten o’clock. Gail fixed a place for Evan to sleep on the sitting room sofa, while she took the bedroom upstairs. Although they were having some marital difficulties, I couldn’t help but feel relief that he was in the next room. Perhaps Eerie and Baritone would be kept at bay. After all, Evan was a muscular man of intimidation. I would think twice before messing with him, dead or alive.

About a half hour after the sitting room clock chimed eleven, two pouches appeared sliding within the plaster of the sitting room walls. It reminded me of mirrored pregnant stomachs. As they slid towards the kitchen, the shape thinned out resembling long snakes slithering beneath bed sheets. Once they reached the corner of the wall, the apparitions catapulted forward and thudded against the ceiling just above me.

"Don’t be afraid." I whispered to myself. "Don’t give them the power." Over and over again I said those words. I closed off my vision, in a sense closing my spirit-like eyes.

"Look what we have here?" Baritone screeched.

"I thought you ran away, chicken!" Eerie responded.

"Think happy thoughts...." I whispered, refusing to look at them.

"Hey bottle woman, I’m talkin’ to ya!" Eerie hissed.

The bottle suddenly became air borne as I was hurled across the room. I slammed into the wall, turning, then rolling into the hallway.

A moment later I was flung through the air again. The ghosts were playing toss except taking great pleasure at missing every catch.

"Have ya had enough yet?" Baritone asked.

"She’s not answering! I think the cat got her tongue!" Eerie began to cackle and I made the mistake of opening my eyes. Eerie transformed herself into a warped feline. Eyes that glowed like the devil and teeth the size of cigars. From the shock of it, I screamed. I let loose with a frightening wail and both ghosts took great pleasure in my hysteria. They dropped me to the floor and hovered above singing in twisted voices. To the human ear it would sound like a grinding of sorts, to me it was like nails on a chalkboard.

Then the unexpected occurred. The lights clicked on and the ghosts immediately melted into the plaster. Evan sauntered in, his pajama’s a pair of tight fitting shorts. Every ripple was visible on his chest, the man was all muscle. I couldn’t help but stare. In my day men did not traipse around unclothed and Evan was truly a sight.

He reached down and lifted the bottle from the floor, placing it on the cabinet. Opening a box, he pulled a plastic cup and began running the tap water. To my shock, Baritone reached his hand down from the ceiling and brushed it along Evan’s hair. It was just enough force to shift the strands ever so slightly.

Evan turned about surprised. With his eyes squinted he gazed about the room. When he returned to the task of filling his cup, Eerie dropped to the floor and bit him in the toe.

"Ow!" Evan screamed hopping on one foot. "What the heck?" He asked searching the floor for a non-existent spider.

Both ghosts began to laugh again. In cahoots, they began swirling around Evan’s face. A unbridled energy fell across the room, ice wind was everywhere. I could sense a feeling of the supernatural. Goose bumps were apparent along Evan’s arms, so I realized he too could sense the oddity. The lights began to flicker and Evan began to scream.

The ghosts really enjoyed holding their power over him. Evan sprinted from the room and the ghosts trailed behind. Each took turns kicking him in the posterior. Over and over again with each step he was lifted by the impact. If it wasn’t so painful, it would have been humorous. He was flung headfirst into the sofa where he had been sleeping. From my angle, just a corner of view was possible and somehow Eerie lifted the sheet twisting it around Evan’s face.

Everything ceased when Gail clicked on the overhead lights.

"What’s going on down here?" She asked.

Footsteps, then she appeared in view, her face reflecting surprise as her husband sat upright, untwisting the obstruction from it’s wrap around his skull.

"Are you having nightmares again Ev?" She asked sitting down next to him.

"Not this time Gail." He said, his chest rising and falling from the adrenaline.

Gail reached to his cheek and brushed it tenderly. Evan pulled her into him kissing her on the forehead.

"I don’t know what to think Gail, it’s this place. There’s something weird going on here!"

Gail began to chuckle, her tone of disbelief. "Weird, how?"

"One minute I’m getting a glass of water from the kitchen, the next I’m being attacked. The only thing is, I couldn’t see what was after me. At first, I thought a bat flew in and was aiming for my hair. I’ve had that happen before you know, at old construction sites like this.....but then something bit me in the toe.....see?" He said, holding up his foot.

"I don’t see anything there except a corn from wearing your shoes too tight.."

"They were kicking me in the butt!" Evan announced.

"They, meaning who?" Gail asked her doubt apparent.

"I don’t know, them." Evan said, now uncertain of the events as they occurred.

"Do you know what I think happened? I think you had a bad dream is all. You used to get them a lot when we first got married, remember? I think this move, this new experience, has you rattled!"

"No Gail, you’ve got to listen!"

"Sure Evan....go to sleep. We both must go to work tomorrow."

"Gail?" He managed, as she sauntered away.

"Gail, maybe this can explain what happened to the kitchen last week."

"Goodnight Evan!" She said, not listening to his explanation as the lights clicked off.