THE GHOST OF 623 LAMPLIGHTER SQUARE by Alex S. French
“Good morning,” she says, coffee buzzing in her grip.“How’s it going,” Mike states, doesn’t ask.“Living the dream,” Dave quips. Sarcastic? Who can tell.“Do anything interesting over the weekend?” she tries.Mike staggers to the bathroom. Door thud her only reply. Dave surveys the break room awkwardly: ceiling panes, Nestea packets, trashcan—anything but her eyes. She sighs and walks away.
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Meeting Agenda:- First item: The jokes.
- Second item: CEO Carl walks in late. Begins meeting with a greedy clap.
- Third item: Argument.
- Final notes: No solution reached. Circle back on it next week.
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Taylor from accounting saunters into the cubi-pod. “What-what, you turds—bonuses have arrived! Who’s ready for a li’l Shots Roulette? Bonus picked out of the hat pays the bill! Mike, Dave, Stan, Greg, Andrew, Jerry, Jason, Chester, Mark, Reggie: I know you bronanas are in!”High fives are exchanged. Coats are grabbed. The digital clock strikes four and the room empties. She is alone. Her bonus envelope lies abandoned on the floor. But when she picks it up, she finds another underneath. Clean of footprints. Uncrumpled. Her coworker Barry’s name printed on the front. He didn’t make it in today. He doesn’t make it in on a lot of Mondays.It isn’t right; she slices open the bonus letters.She knows it isn’t right; she looks at her check amount, sees an extra digit in his.She’s always known; she was right.She doesn’t even bother resealing the envelopes. Her face falls Zen. A smile flickers at her lips. And sparks alight in the irises of her eyes.#
There were lots of stories as to how 623 Lamplighter Square burned down. Electrical fire. That coffee pot was always sketch. Insurance arson. Apparently the business wasn’t doing well; they’d fallen behind the market’s current premiums and rates. Teenagers. Because.But no one blamed the ghost. How could they blame someone whom they refused to notice?She’s moved on to a better place now. Some think it’s Canada. Some think it’s the future. She calls it a place her own. Either way, she lives in limbo no more.