Joe thought it was only a dream, or a nightmare if you were his friend Jack. Jack had been unpleasantly rude in the last month after taking Joe’s girlfriend, Frannie. Of course it was partly Joe’s fault since he had been inattentive in the last months, and Jack took advantage. As the night went on, Joe couldn’t sleep and sat up quickly as three specters seemed to grow nearer until Joe could actually feel their presence in his bedroom.
“You seem to be having a problem”…the first one said, “an unpleasant disagreement”…the middle one added, “we have a solution…the last one murmured. Joe’s eyes were as wide as they could be and he started shivering, as the specters were icy cold and came nearer. “Your friend seems to have absconded with your lover…we can fix that…in fact it’s our very reason to exist”. Joe was scared, but foolishly interested.
The three phantoms were evil, but Joe realized none of that, he just wanted Frannie back. “What will I have to do, what will you do?”
“Just sign here”…the first one said, and whipped out a wrinkled paper from behind him. Joe wanted the paper but couldn’t reach it. “It must be signed in blood”the second specter added, and the third one murmured, “of course”. Joe scooted back on the bed, more frightened than ever. The specters started to fade. “Of course it is your choice…” the three stated in unison.
Joe thought this was just a dream, and didn’t stop them, at first. Then he thought of Frannie, and how he had neglected her, and missed her. “Okay, okay, don’t go!”
Suddenly a small dagger appeared in his hand. He used it to cut his hand and signed the paper. Just as they came, appearing from nowhere, the ghostlike presence disappeared. Joe fell back to sleep and woke the next morning, remembering nothing of the three who came the night before. He noticed a cut in his hand but it was almost healed, but he couldn’t remember cutting it.
Having coffee and relaxing on this day, Joe felt inordinately happy, not knowing why. He opened his phone to the local headlines to see his friend Jack had been murdered. Joe was shocked! How could this happen? Jack was such a great guy and good friend. Further on in the report it was stated it was a burglary gone wrong. Three men broke in…suddenly Joe was aware of last night’s happenings. He felt so guilty he could not face Fannie. However Fannie was now seeking Joe to comfort him. The relationship she had with Jack never existed in her mind. Joe loved Fannie, but eventually his guilt took over and he left her.
***
The Bag Lady 
Oh dear. He lost his friend and his girlfriend.
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Ooh spooky!
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