“So, you just told them you’re taking a day off?” Mary said around sips of her bottomless mimosa.

“Yep.”

“And they’re just okay with that?”

“I mean, there was some pushback,” she said, sipping her bloody mary. “But it’s been such a crazy month! And did I tell you about that mummy?”

“The one with all the dust?”

“Yes!” Allison said, jabbing the pickled bean from her drink for emphasis. “Ugh, so much dust…”

The waiter set their food down, asked if Mary was ready for another mimosa (she was), and headed off.

“Oh my god, this smells so good! I’m famished!” Mary said and both women dug into their breakfasts and were quiet for some time.

The lull in their conversation allowed Allison to overhear the conversation at the table next to them. She snuck a glance back and then snickered.

“What’s so funny?” Mary asked after a bite of her crab benedict.

Allison leaned in and said quietly, “That table behind me?”

Mary looked over Allison’s shoulder. “The one with the blonde woman and the dark-haired woman?”

Allison nodded and then said, “The blonde woman said she feels like her grandfather is watching over her.”

“Aww, that’s sweet!” Mary said.

“It is, sure, but he’s literally standing right next to her complaining about all her decisions – he just said her omelet looked burned and she should send it back like she sent her husband back.”

“Ouch!”

“I’m right, too!” the voice in her ear startled Allison and her fork clattered onto her plate.

“Oh, I see, you startle pretty easily for someone who can see ghosts!” the grandfather ghost said. Allison closed her eyes in frustration.

Mary studied here friend while she sipped her mimosa and then said seriously, “He’s here now, isn’t he?”

“Your friend’s pretty sharp!” the ghost said sarcastically. “Real Einstein there!”

Allison gave Mary a tight nod and just said, “Mmm hmm.”

“What’s wrong? Cat’s got your tongue, lady?”

“Pardon me,” Allison said to Mary. Then, turning to the ghost directly she said quietly but sternly, “Look here, gramps. You may get some afterlife kick complaining about everything your granddaughter does that you don’t like, but I’m having a day off from ghosts, so just step off.”

“The nerve!” the old man said aghast. “When I was your age,” he started but was cut off by a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a tall, skinny man standing behind him. “Who the hell are you?”

“The name is Jameson. I’m a friend of Allison’s. I believe you heard her say she’s having a day off. I suggest you respect her wishes to be left alone.”

The old man stiffened and stuck his chin up, “Or what?”

“Or else,” Jameson said, and gestured behind him where a cloud of black smoke coalesced into an enormous hulking figure with menacing red eyes. “Carl.”

The old man’s eyes became cartoon-huge and he stammered, “Umm, hey, I was just trying to have a conversation…” he started staggering backwards. “I was, err, I was just, leaving…” and he disappeared.

“Jameson? Carl?” Allison asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Carl is the tall guy and Jameson is the big scary ghost that’s actually really nice?” Mary asked, going back to her benedict.

“Other way around – Jameson is tall and skinny, and Carl is the big scary softie.”

Carl opened his mouth and screeched.

“I meant ‘softie’ in the most respectful way,” she added.

Carl squeaked his approval.

“Seriously, guys, what are you doing here?”

“Well, right after you left I was feeling rather hurt and thought I, too, would take day off…”

“How do you take the day off, you’re a ghost?”

Carl squeaked something.

“Yeah, sorry I asked.”

“Anyway, we thought you taking a day off wasn’t a terrible thing…” Carl made a grinding noise. “Okay, Carl convinced me you taking a day off wasn’t a terrible thing. But we thought you might need, I don’t know, protection in case other ghosts weren’t so accommodating of your day off. And it looks like we got here just in time.”

Allison smiled. “Thank you guys,” she said, then looked more stern. “But I am taking a day off…”

“Oh yes, of course,” Jameson said, and turned and walked through Carl who expanded back into smoke. Allison went back to her Denver omelet.

“Recap?” Mary asked.

“Oh, sorry,” Allison said between bites. “That grampa ghost was being obnoxious and Jameson and Carl told him to buzz off.”

“So, they’re not letting you have a day off?”

“No, they’re just being protective. They disappeared.”

“You know, Allison, being your friend has some fascinating moments.”

Allison just smiled.

– – –

Allison was doing her best to enjoy her massage at the spa, but through the new age music and incense she couldn’t not hear the masseuse’s old boss telling the young man all the things he’s doing wrong.

“Is everything okay?” the masseuse asked.

“Yes…” she started. “Could you, umm, get me another towel for my head?”

“Certainly,” he said and hurried into the next room.

Allison said quickly and quietly, “Hey, guy! I’m trying to enjoy my day off! Can you please leave Antony alone for at least the duration of my massage?”

“You can see me?” the ghost said surprised.

“Yes, and hear you! I’m trying to relax here!”

Antony came back into the room and carefully placed a rolled towel under her neck. “Is that better?”

Allison saw the ghost step back and disappear. “Yes, much better!

– – –

On her way home she walked past the cemetery a block from her house. She could hear quiet voices calling out to her, imploring her to come in and visit them.

“Not today, gang,” she said. “I’m taking a day off!” and kept walking.

A moment later Jameson and Carl passed by, too. Jameson said to the voices, “You heard her! A day off!”

– – –

Allison closed the front door behind her and dropped her keys into the bowl on the table just inside. “I’m home,” she said.

Jameson and Carl appeared. “Does this mean your day off is over?” Jameson asked.

“Not quite,” Allison said. “I’m going to go take a bath,” she said. “By myself.”

“Of course,” Jameson said as she went up the stairs.

Carl made a grinding gear noise. “That wasn’t so bad. Maybe we should give Allison a day off more often.”

“I agree,” Jameson said.

From upstairs came Allison’s angry voice, “Jameson! Carl! Why is the mummy in my bathtub?!”

“You know,” Jameson said, “I think it’s time for our day off.” And they both vanished.

I split last night’s story with every intention of finishing tonight. But it’s late… So in lieu of finishing with part 2, I’ve giving you part 1½ – this is what happened once Allison left for brunch.

Jameson stared at the closed front door.

“She left. She really just left!” he said.

Behind him the black mist of Carl opened its mouth and made the grinding noise. But to Jameson, his words were clear: “She told us she was taking the day off.”

Jameson looked over his shoulder at Carl incredulously. “She’s a medium! She literally has a gift to speak to the dead. She doesn’t get to take a day off!”

Carl tilted its black misty head to the side in confusion. “Okay… but she’s left. Whether she gets to or not, she just did.”

Jameson turned on his heel and stalked past Carl. “Fine, then.”

Carl watched him go and asked, “Where are you going?”

“If she’s taking a day off,” he said as he walked, “then so am I!”

Carl turned and floated after him. “What are you taking a day off from? You’re a ghost.”

Jameson moved up the stairs and towards Allison’s bedroom.

“Jameson? Where are you going?”

Jameson didn’t respond. He stalked into Allison’s bedroom and lay down on the bed on his back, crossed his arms across his chest and closed his eyes.

Carl floated into the room after him and stared at Jameson lying on the bed. “I don’t understand,” it said.

“Ghosts are the active dead. I’m taking a day off, so I’m just going to be passively dead.”

Carl sighed heavily, the black mist of its being scattering with the movement. It started to float out of the room.

“I’m so relaxed already!” Jameson called after Carl. “Oh yes, so relaxed! So glad I’m taking the day off.” Carl kept floating down the hallway.

You would have to go back to the first year of 31 Ghosts to get this far into October without me splitting up a story! And, to be fair, I could probably hammer this one out, but I have laundry to fold and a bed calling my name. I’m not taking a day off like Allison here is, but maybe what passes for a day off in October! But let’s get this started…

The black mist flittered under the door into Allison’s bedroom. As she slept, the mist coalesced into an enormous dark form that began to move forward towards Allison’s sleeping figure. As it moved glowing red eyes developed and the form seemed to solidify into a hulking black form that leaned down towards her. The figure stooped, its eyes just inches from her face.

With a gasp, Allison opened her eyes, face to face with the being.

“Goddamnit, Carl!” she bellowed and shoved the figure away with both hands. “What did we talk about?” she demanded, sitting up in bed as Carl staggered back. “One, that’s just creepy – you can’t be getting in people’s faces like that!”

Carl opened its mouth, but Allison cut it off.

“Ah! No! No Exceptions.” Carl’s dark misty shoulders slumped. “And, Two,” she enumerated, “I told you and the rest of the spirits I’m taking the day off!”

This time Carl opened its mouth and produced a sound like rusty gears grinding.

“You thought I was kidding?” Allison drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Why,” she started carefully and deliberately, “would I kid about that?”

Carl said something in that metal grinding voice.

“It’s precisely because it is October that I’m taking a day off! With the veil getting thinner before Halloween you guys are driving me crazy! You’re inviting all your half-formed friends over to talk to your medium friend while they can!”

Carl grated out something.

“Yes, I know I said that was okay, and it usually is. But I reached a breaking point last night when that mummy crossed over and started getting dust everywhere–”

Carl cut her off with the grinding metal sound.

“Yes, ‘mummified person’ is the correct term for actual remains. Was your dust spewing friend actual remains?”

Carl squeaked.

“No. So, Mummy.” Allison looked at the clock. “It’s three in the morning! I need to get more sleep. You go tell the rest of the entities here that I’m taking a vacation day and not to be disturbed!”

Carl squeaked something.

“No, there’s no emergency. You’re all dead or summoned by who knows what. One day isn’t going to kill, err, re-kill any of you. Now go!” She pointed to the door. Carl turned and skulked begrudgingly towards the door. “Tell the others! Do not bother me for the rest of the day!”

At the foot of the bed, the glowing black cat that was curled up stretched and meowed loudly.

“No, accept you, Annie. You’re fine.” The cat let out a self-satisfied mew and curled back down. Carl squeaked something and then dissolved back into smoke and drifted back under the door. Allison let out a huff as she settled back down into her pillow, hoping she would be able to get back to sleep.

She needn’t have worried, as the next thing she knew, sunlight streamed in through the window. Allison stretched and looked at her clock, “Crap!”

The ghost cat mewed its displeasure at being awoken.

“Sorry, Annie, but I forgot to set my alarm and I have to meet Mary for brunch. We’re doing a spa day.”

A head poked in through the closed door. “Did someone say ‘spa day’?”

“Jameson, Carl was supposed to tell you all that I’m taking a day off!”

“Oh, he did. I just assumed that doesn’t apply to me!” he said in a haughty tone.

Allison sighed. “Jameson, is your head sticking through a solid door right now?”

“Well, yes…”

“And are you in fact a ghost?”

“Yes…”

“Then leave me alone today!” she yelled and he just barely pulled his head back through the door before the pillow Allison threw at him collided with the closed door.

“Sheesh!” She could hear him curse in the hallway.

“Oh, Annie, is it possible for me to take a day off without ghosts?”

The cat mewed loudly.

To be continued…