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Living History Illinois Flockify DM, Monday 8:44 AM @AlCaponesGhost25
SingerQueen: So if you could haunt anyone in the world—who would you choose and why?
C anine King officially opened its doors today, and since Happy Paws is closed on Mondays, I’ve spent all day distracting myself with sewing. Piles of tutus, capes, and dog-sized vests on the table behind me bear witness to my productiveness, but now my fingers ache, and my neck is almost certainly growing a hump.
It’s past 6:30 p.m., so Micki and Jaz should be home soon. I’ve started boiling water for our pasta, but while I wait, I check for the third time today to see if “Al” has responded to my question from this morning. And finally, he has.
AlCaponesGhost25: Hmm tricky. Surely there’s a whole slew of war criminals who could do with a bit of poltergeisting.
SingerQueen: A diplomatic response. Snooze…
AlCaponesGhost25: Alright fine. I recently started a new job and there’s this person—a real grouch—who really has it in for me for no reason. They’re messing up my work and making things up about me. It’s extremely frustrating.
SingerQueen: Let’s send some chain rattling their way then! What a dick.
AlCaponesGhost25: Done. You?
SingerQueen: Must be something in the air. Also someone at work.
AlCaponesGhost25: Another designer?
Oh yeah, I forgot about that little lie…
SingerQueen: He’s so full of himself. Thinks my clients will like his sketches better than mine, and he’s always prancing around showing off.
AlCaponesGhost25: Can’t stand people like that. How about I slam some of his cabinet doors around at night. Maybe make a dresser float across the room?
SingerQueen: Perfect.
The door to the apartment opens, and Micki and Jaz crowd in, kicking off shoes and hanging up jackets.
“God, I’m beat,” Jaz says, pulling off her red wig.
I close my laptop. “Do I want to know?”
“No.”
“Tell me anyway.” I move to the stove and empty a box of spaghetti into the bubbling water.
“Let’s see…”
“Tell her about the weird stuff first,” Micki says from the couch. She’s put her feet up on the table and is wiggling her toes back and forth.
“There was weird stuff?”
“Well first, I spent the morning chasing this meowing noise that was driving Tilly nuts. Leo said it was there all weekend, but he couldn’t find the source. It was like meow, meow, meow , and then it would be quiet for a long time. I found it right away, of course. Ears like a bat. Turns out it was someone’s watch. They must have dropped it during the launch on Friday.”
Micki gives me a pointed look that I ignore, turning my back to them.
“Sounds annoying,” I say, fully aware I’m going to have to make this up to Jaz.
“It was. And then lots of people kept asking when we’re planning on starting the dance class. At first I thought they had the store mixed up with the studio down the street, but no—dance for dogs. Is that even a thing?”
I cover a snort with my hand as my spiteful revision of Leo’s A-frame prompt comes back to me. I’d assumed Leo would catch and erase it right away, but maybe he was too busy tracking the meowing.
“And how did Leo handle that?” I ask as I stir the pot.
“What are you not telling us?” Micki asks. “I can hear you smiling from over here.”
“Fine.” I explain my impromptu sabotage and add to Jaz, “Sorry if it made for a frustrating day.”
Jaz looks at me with admiration in her eyes. “Not at all. I found the watch right away, and I’d much rather talk to people about interpretive dance than dog biscuits. I met an eighty-year-old lady who used to be a Rockette! She had some stories .”
“And Leo?”
“Doubt he’s been a Rockette.”
“Ha, ha.”
“No, he was extremely confused. But God that guy is a good salesman. Almost everyone who came in asking about the dance still left having made a purchase.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry.”
“No, that’s fine.” The timer for the food goes off, giving me a reason to disengage. It’s not like I didn’t know he’d have a good first day.
When I’ve cleared off my sewing stuff and we’re seated at the table with bowlfuls of noodles and pesto from a jar, Micki points to me with her fork. “You should think of some other pranks you can pull on him.”
“I should?”
“I think it will make you feel better. Small acts of resistance, you know.”
I chew slowly. Maybe she’s right.
“Does he ever mention his family?” I ask Jaz after a while.
“No, why?”
“If he does, will you let me know? I have questions.”
“Any you care to share?” Micki slurps up a wayward noodle.
I think again about the fact that Leo’s parents weren’t at the launch and that his store isn’t listed on their website. But maybe I’m making something out of nothing. “Not yet,” I say.
“I can fish around,” Jaz offers. “This is exciting stuff.”
“You’re writing about it, aren’t you?” Micki asks.
Jaz looks offended. “Loosely inspired by. Which reminds me—Cora can I borrow your laptop tonight? I got the blue screen of death on mine, but everything’s in the cloud.”
“Sure.” A brief twinge of regret follows my answer. I had hoped to chat more with “Al” before bed. My idiocy becomes clear as I’m brushing my teeth. There’s an app. I’ve only ever accessed the server on the computer because I was so rarely on it, but now having access on my phone will be much more convenient.
I crawl under the covers and log in.
AlCaponesGhost25: Ok my turn to ask a question
AlCaponesGhost25: Hello?
A smile stretches across my lips as I scoot into a more comfortable position, propped against my headboard.
SingerQueen: Sorry, got busy. Go ahead.
AlCaponesGhost25: If I’m going to let you in on my haunting business, I feel like we need to know each other better.
He does, does he? Interesting.
SingerQueen: Before this goes any further you should know my policy is NOT to end up as a case on Unsolved Mysteries.
AlCaponesGhost25: Meaning?
SingerQueen: I won’t tell you my name or anything in the event you’re a psychopath
AlCaponesGhost25: Jeez that’s dark. But agreed.
SingerQueen: Ok then I’m game. What did you have in mind?
AlCaponesGhost25: Rapid choice questions. We take turns. Ready?
SingerQueen: Ready.
AlCaponesGhost25: Spring or fall?
SingerQueen: Fall. Coffee or tea?
AlCaponesGhost25: Coffee. Cats or dogs?
SingerQueen: Dogs all the way. Night owl or morning person?
AlCaponesGhost25: Both? I don’t like to sleep.
SingerQueen: What??? Who doesn’t like to sleep? Psychopath meter just gave a reading…
AlCaponesGhost25: See also: love for coffee. *winky face emoji*
SingerQueen: Ok fine. Your turn.
AlCaponesGhost25: Sushi or burger?
SingerQueen: Burger. City or suburb?
AlCaponesGhost25: City. Thinker or doer?
SingerQueen: Thinker. Trying to be more of a doer.
AlCaponesGhost25: How so?
SingerQueen: Thinking only gets you so far. Love or friendship?
This time it takes a while before he responds. I almost think he’s left the chat.
AlCaponesGhost25: You stumped me with that one. I was going to say love because everyone wants that, right? But with this new job and stuff, I guess I do need to figure out how to make some friends, too.
SingerQueen: It’s definitely harder as an adult.
AlCaponesGhost25: Yeah how do people do it?
SingerQueen: Maybe they connect online?
AlCaponesGhost25: *grinning face emoji*
I smile at the screen, warmth spreading through my chest. This seems like a good place to end our conversation for tonight. Any further and I’m not sure where it will take us.
I sign off and then wrap myself tightly in the blankets and shut my eyes. Doesn’t like sleeping , I think. But it feels so good. Hopefully, I get a solid night’s shut-eye to get me ready for tomorrow. I’ve got clothes to sew, a store to keep afloat, and a foe to foil.