The Mulrooney's - Part Eight - The End

Jay and Sarah stumbled up the attic stairs and fell, laughing all the way.

”Careful with that wine,” said Sarah. ”It‘s an integral part of the seance.”

“You mean we have to be drunk to do this?” said Jay.

“There’s no other way," said Sarah. “I’ll unroll one of those quilts we have in the storage bin. You light the candles and incense, then turn off the light.”

“Have you ever hosted a seance before?” said Jay.

“No,” said Sarah. “But I’ve seen enough of them in movies to fake it. How hard can it be? You set the mood, then call out to the dead to come forward. If they do come out. You run like hell.”

“Very funny,” said Jay. “Now what?”

“Now we sit on the quilt in the lotus position,” said Sarah.

“And?” said Jay.

“Put the candles and incense down between us,” said Sarah. “Now lean forward and close your eyes.”

When Jay closed his eyes, Sarah leaned in and placed a warm, wet kiss on his lower lip.”

”Sweet," said Jay. “Is that part of the seance?”

“Yeah,” said Sarah. “It’s the ghost of that last wine bottle talking.”

“Nothing scary about that,” said Jay. “Let’s kill another one.”

“You just looked so cute sitting there,” said Sarah. “Doing everything you’re told. I like that in my men.”

“How about we forget the seance,” said Jay. “And work on creating that family we’ve been talking about?”

“Not right now, sweet man,” said Sarah. “I feel like we’re being watched. That’s a good sign. Time to start the seance.”

“Look at those candles,” said Sarah. “They’re flickering like mad. And I haven’t even started the seance yet.”

“Let’s get this thing over with,” said Jay. “This is starting to creep me out.”

“Okay,” said Sarah. “Oh, spirits of the house! I say unto you!Come out, Come out. Wherever you are!”

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to say at the end of hide-and-go-seek?” said Jay.

“Yeah, you’re right," said Sarah. “But you have to cut me some slack on this, Jay. It’s my first seance. Besides, when you think about it, it is a bit like hide-and-go-seek, isn’t it? And we do want this game to be over, don’t we?”

“We do,” said Jay. ”And when we‘re finished playing hide-and-go-seek we can play spin the bottle. ‘Cause we‘re about to kill another one.”

“I’m in, Mr. Horndog,” said Sarah. “After the seance. The incense and candles are romantic, aren’t they? Takes me back to our college days.”

“Sneaking into your dorm room for a romp,” said Jay. “Then eating all your roommates goody packages from home."

“Yeah," said Sarah. ”Her mom made the best chocolate cupcakes.”

“Speaking of goody packages," said Jay.

“Seance first, Casanova,” said Sarah.

Jay poured them each another glass of wine and started reminiscing about their youth and what they would have in store for the future.

“We’ll have it all,” said Sarah. ”After we get rid of the ghosts.”

“You can count on it,” said Jay.

It was the last thing either of them would remember before blacking out.

It would be the sunlight streaming through the attic window that would eventually nudge them awake.

“Oh, my gosh,” said Sarah. “How long have we been out? It’s broad daylight.”

“Too much wine, I guess,” said Jay. “I feel like I’ve been out forever.”

“I don’t know about you,” said Jay, “but I’m starving.”

“Me, too,” said Sarah. “Let’s hit the kitchen.”
The Mulrooney’s, who had taken Gloria back into the fold after her tearful apologies for having poisoned their soup, where preparing to embark on an unknown journey.

“It appears we’re to follow the light,” said Regina Mulrooney.

“Look at us!” said Mr. Mulrooney. “We’re nothing but whisps of smoke and light!”

“I’ve never felt so free,” said Megan.

“I’m floating,” said Dickie.

“This is quite lovely,” said Gloria. “I’m in heaven. Funny. I never thought I'd actually say that and mean it."

The Mulrooney’s and Gloria faded into a nothingness that has never been documented. We wish them well.

Jay and Sarah Nostrum, on the other hand, were feeling weighed down and hung over.

“I’m never touching another drop,” said Sarah.

“Ha,” said Jay. “You owe a dollar.”

“Dollar?” said Sarah.

“Yes,” said Jay. “Into the I-owe-a-dollar-for-every-time-I-say-I’ll-never-touch-another-drop jar. Remeber?”

“Yes,” said Gloria. “We should have quite a nice sum come Christmas time.”

“Speaking of the jar,” said Sarah. “Where is it?”

“Never mind the jar,” said Jay. “Where’s all the furniture?”

“Oh, my gosh!” said Sarah. “We’ve been robbed!”

They had been robbed. Not a stick of their furniture remained.

Jay and Sarah stepped into their living room and noticed the Self-Move rental truck pull up in front of the house.

Jonathan and Ramona Moore stepped out of the truck and stood side by side admiring the four bedroom colonial.

“All ours, sweetie,” said Jonathan. “Now all we have to do is fill it with kids.”

“I can’t wait,” said Ramona.

Jonathan never did tell Ramona about the couple who used to live there. The one’s who were found dead in the attic. Victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. It wouldn't have went over well.

Jay and Sarah stepped outside to have a word with the two young intruders. But no one noticed. It would be quite some time before they would accept the fact that they were dead, and move on. In the meantime they would try to hold on to what was once theirs. Such is life. And the hereafter.