My name is Todd Thomas, and I see dead people. And no, none of them look like Patrick Swayze, and absolutely none of them have ever helped me make pottery. Although there was that one that kinda looked like Whoopi Goldberg....
Um, anyway, yeah, ghosts. Pale, floaty, the whole nine yards. And, of course, ghost dick, and an insatiable libido. Confused? Go read some of the earlier chapters. I hear the guy that wrote them is super cool.
This next bit of story happens only a week or two after the second chapter. My black eye had long healed, and people had stopped making Fight Club references around me.
"Oh I know that movie" you say to yourself, "I can really connect with this guy!"
Ha, thanks reader! That makes me feel all tingly inside. You know, like chicken soup in the winter, or bronchitis.
So yeah, I suck at introductions. Let's just jump right in.
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I was at the water cooler, shmoozing with one of my coworkers when "it" happened. We were just going over the finer points on whether Batman could totally kill Superman, when an angry voice filled the office.
"WHERE THE HELL IS TODD?" Emma raged, stomping through the cubicle aisles like a T. Rex in a butcher shop. She looked around madly, a large vein on her forehead standing out prominently. Her eyes locked on to me, standing by the water cooler alone, since my coworker had apparently been taking ninja classes on the side, and was probably hanging from the ceiling or something.
Emma stalked over to me, zeroing in with all the ruthless action of a predator looking for food. I felt my heart beating madly, trying to jump out of my chest, as she backed me up against the wall, her glare so hot I could feel steam rising around my head.
"Uh, hi Emma?" I tried, deciding to get the first words in. "You look lovely today. Did you do something with your hair?" It took all my willpower to stop my voice from cracking.
"Where the hell is that financial report, Todd?" She spat out viciously. "You were supposed to have it in my office yesterday!"
Shit. I had completely forgotten about that damn report. Ghostbusters was on and I had fallen asleep afterwards. I ran my hand through my hair, and tried to think up an excuse on the spot. "Well, you see..." I started, my eyes darting around, looking everywhere, anywhere, besides her face.
"No, YOU see!" Emma fumed, "If I don't get that report in by tomorrow, you can just pack your stuff and get out!" She stomped off to her office, ultimatum delivered. The entire office let out a collective breath.
"Wow, tough break Todd," my coworker said, appearing by my side. I didn't look, but I assumed he was busy putting away his smoke bombs and a grappling hook. "She's been acting real bitch for the past week, huh?" He gave me a cheeky grin, and ambled off to his cubicle.
I flipped him the finger behind his back, but his last comment stuck with me. Emma had been acting more stressed out than usual, pushing us to work harder and whatnot. She had gone from cool and efficient, to tense and critical. I decided to pay Emma a visit.
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"What is it, Mr. Thomas?" Emma said, looking up from the sheets of papers spread all over her desk. Her previous rancor had dissipated, leaved her looking tired and weary. Her hair, which was usually carefully arranged, was disheveled and hung limply. Though she had used makeup, I could see dark rings around her eyes. Whatever was making Emma worked up was really taking its toll her.
"I'm just here to give you that report you asked for," I said, holding my hands up in a pacifying gesture, one hand clutching a manila folder. "Sorry it took so long to put together". I put the file on her desk, and look at her with concern.
"Are you okay?" I inquired, genuinely worried about her. Emma may have been strict sometimes, but she was still a damn good boss. Plus, all that sex I got from her really improved my job satisfaction.