As a child I was always deemed weird by all the people who knew me. I was always told I did things that spooked them out. To me I just rolled with what I saw and I saw some weird ass shit growing up. I mean I literally know what goes bump in the night and to be honest its no so scary because I have been dealing with it all my life.
So when I turned 13 I knew I wanted a job but babysitting or a paper route was not for me. One day when I was walking home from my Grandparents home I saw a sign at the Funeral Home/ Graveyard. I took a chance and walked in. The owner thought I was joking when I walked in and said I was looking for a job. He explained that because of child labor laws he could only let me work 4 days a week at 3 hours a day and my job would be walking among the graves and cleaning up old flowers and mementos that were left by family members. I said is that all and he laughed. I worked every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and when I became a older teen he increased my hours. I guess I did a great job because the day I turned 18 he gave me full time and I loved working among the dead. Was I still labeled as weird? Most definitely. Did I care? Nope, because hell I make good money and I see spirits and ghosts all the time.
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I woke up to my alarm the day after my nineteenth birthday to the smell of burgers being cooked in the kitchen. I stretched out and was contemplating sleeping in a little longer when my brother Matt opened the door.
"Hey freak mom and dad said move your ass they have dinner ready." He dodged out of the way as I threw a pillow at his head.
Now you might think i slept all day but my job requires me to now work over nights. I mean its peaceful, productive and I don't have to deal with anyone but the ghosts and Marty the night time mortician. I sat up and dragged myself down to the kitchen.
My mom handed me a cup of coffee and turned me towards my chair. My parents never questioned me when i started this job and there are some nights one of them will stop by with a snack or to just say hi. I am a very lucky girl that they are so accepting of what I chose to do. I sat down and noticed my plate was full of fries and a breakfast burger. My favorite burger!
"OMG Dad this is so awesome thank you! I am starving!"
My Dad chucked and followed with, "Well then its a good thing I made you a second Burger and packed it for your dinner already! I added chips in it as the fries would have been soggy."
"Dad, You didn't have to do that! But thank you I will be starving tonight as I am pressure cleaning the infants headstones."
My mom looked up, "So basically the kids get to swim while you work?"
Let me just stop this here and let you know my whole family has the ability to see spirits. Matt blocks it out and my parents ignore it out in public. As for me I run with the weirdness and interact with them as long as they are nice. It makes my work day go fast and keeps the peace amongst the residents of Heavenly Acres Graveyard!
i laughed, "Pretty much. They been restless lately and this gave them a added boost to keep them from becoming terrors. I am guessing some of the teenage ghosts will be on hand as well for some fun."
My mom gave a chuckle and continued to eat.
My dad cleared his throat and i stopped him right there-
"I will not forget to interact with the living dad."
"Well then we have it all covered."
My parents do worry that I do not go out enough with people my own age and that are breathing but they understand that this is what makes me happy and that I love what I do. As for friends they know i have a small handful that accept me and those friends even stop by my work to make sure that I am still kicking and make plans.
"Speaking of breathing friends," I started. "I promised Callie I would meet up with her in the morning for breakfast."
Mom smiled, "Well tell Callie we said hi and give her our best."
I ate the rest of my dinner in peace and headed to my room to get ready for my work day. I hurried through my shower and pulled my hair back. I also grabbed an extra set of clothes because I will be working with water. I looked at the clock on the wall and grabbed my bag. I popped back into the kitchen to grab my food and headed out for the day.
As I headed out the door I looked at the beautiful sunset laid out in front of me. All the residents of Heavenly Acres Graveyard would be awakening soon. Walking to my car I heard my name being whispered. I looked up at the tree next to the house and saw Max hanging from the branch.
"Hey, Max. What are you up to?" I said.
He nodded at the sunset, "Watching the sunset and just hanging around."
"Bad pun Max," I laughed as I opened the car.
"What can I say kiddo, I work with what I got." He points to his noose.
I shook my head laughing and I started my car, "Okay Max I will see you later I am off to work."
I backed out of the driveway and headed to work. As I drove along the Heavenly Acres Graveyard I noticed some of the residents were starting to wake up. Our Graveyard is one of the most haunted graveyards in America. We have headstones and residents that were interred here in 1756. The older graves are a mile walk from our main office but the property is over 3 miles from end to end. We also have crypts and ashes interred and yes your spirit can still pop in if you were cremated. I pulled into my parking spot as Marty pulled into his. Marty knows the place has residents but he cannot see them. Most of the time Marty sits in his office waiting for a call and working on his next mystery or western he writes. Since Marty started working here he has written and published 52 books.
"Good Evening Ginnie," Marty greeted me as I got out of my car. "Just a heads up I might have a few pickups tonight there was a ten-car accident on the freeway and as much as I hope everyone is okay, however, the reports are not good."
"We can only hope it's a peaceful night," I said.
I started to hear giggles and my name being carried in the wind....Miss Ginnie come play with us....
I shook my head and headed into the main funeral home to put my bag up and get ready for the evening. By the time I got everything put away, it seems like every ghost child was waiting in the infant area to play in the water. I grabbed one hose for myself then pulled out a circular sprinkler so the kids could play with that as well. I started cleaning the infant headstones and heard the kids behind me. If one was intuitive enough they would be able to see slight reflections of children in the water.
After about three hours later we finished the headstone cleaning and all the kids have run off to do what ghost children do. I headed back to the main funeral home after I cleaned up the pressure cleaner and hoses. When I was almost to the funeral home I heard Magnus a night security guard call my name.
"Miss Ginnie," He called.
"Magnus you are a bit early to be on this side of the cemetery is everything ok?" I asked walking toward him.
"Miss Ginny I know you have the gift to see spirits. But I just saw something and it was not human and I think it was following me this way." Magnus said, "It looked like a massive shadow."
I looked out on the grounds and noticed that a lot of our normal spirits who are around have seemed to disappear. Getting into the cart I said to Magnus, "Why don't we take a ride?"
We started heading towards the road that goes towards the older sections of the graveyard. As we came around the corner, Macky one of the war veterans was standing in the road and motioned for us to stop. Magnus whistled and said, "Why can I see him, Miss Ginny?"
"Because Magnus he wants you to," I said. Then I turned to Macky and said, "Soldier why are you stopping us?"
"Miss Ginny it's not safe right now. A Shadow monster from the underworld has escaped." He said, "There is a representative from the underworld tracking it now and we were advised to have all living creatures and some of the newer spirits stay clear of the area for a while."
"Macky we have gates at the end and we have to get them closed if you don't want anyone to come in," I said.
"Well then I suggest you lock that gate please Miss as you and your guard need to get to safty," Said a voice from behind us.
I turned and said, "I take it your the rep from the underworld?"
He nodded and said, "I take it you are the lady who sees and communicates with the dead?"
Looking at him I said bluntly, "I have worked here for years what in the name of the gods is going on here? There has never been any issues in my time here at Heavenly Acres."
He looked at me and said, "There should have been no issue but something we normally have secure here in the underworld got out. We are working on getting it captured now."
Then there was a scream of woman and saw bunch of women running from the gardens. I started to head that way when the rep from the underworld grabbed my arm. I swung around, "Who do you think you are?"
"My name is Deion and you need to stay back it will rip you to shreds," He said.
I pulled my arm back and said, "Well Deion I am not like most mortals. Now what is it that got out?"
Deion looked like he was going to argue with me when we heard a growl followed by more ghost yelling and screaming. I looked up to see another bunch of ghosts running and Mr. Milton a resident from the 1620 hobbling away when a massive black shadow creature approach him. He went to reach for Mr. Milton and I bolted towards the beast yelling and throwing my silver dagger. My Dagger landed in the creature and it turned towards me giving Mr. Milton a chance to run and hide. I stood still and yelled, "Not on my land boyo."
It started to stalk towards me as Deion caught up to me and asked, "Are you crazy?"
"He was going to harm Mr. Milton," I said. "These are my people and I will not let them be harmed. Now how do we stop him and what does he do to the ghost?"
Deion looked at me and said, "He consumes them."
"Oh, hell no," I said. "How do we stop him?"
He drew out a sword and said, "I will handle him."
In a blur he was fighting the shadow creature and as he ran the creature through, he turned back and said, "Miss Ginnie, I will see you again."
With that Deion disappeared into a puff of smoke. Magnus looked at me and said, "Miss Ginnie I can see the ghosts. Like all the ghosts is there something wrong with me?"
Laughing I said, "Magnus there is nothing wrong with you. Thing about ghost is once they let you see them you always will. At least here at work. Get to know them they are all amazing and the stories the war vets and old timers tell are top-notch."
I saw him look at the children's graveyard and he said quietly, "Miss Ginnie there are children here."
Reaching out and squeezing his hand i said, "I know Magnus. Its hard for some to cross over. Remember to offer kindness and a hello they are great kids."
Magnus said, "Man Christmas is gonna be so much fun this year."
Laughing Magnus drove me back to the main office and said, "Thank You Miss Ginnie."
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That morning I met Callie at a local diner and sat down. As soon as I did she looked at me and said, "Okay something happened spill it."
I told her the story of what happened the night before and she whistled. "Girl thats weird even for you. I am kinda jealous as many times as I have been there I have never seen one of the residents."
Laughing I said, "Callie that monster was no good and I think thats the only reason Magnus was able to see the residents is because it was pure chaos."
"Maybe you should talk to your parents, I mean they have the same same abilities they just don't use them right," She asked.
"Thats true," I said. "I wish I could talk to my Gramps about it. But maybe they can give me some answers. So what is new in your life Callie what wild and fund thing are you working on now."
It was her turn to start laughing as she ate, "Girl I work in a book store. The most exciting thing lately was when someone tried returning books from the library for store credit."
"Seriously people try that?" I asked.
"OMG you have no idea! When we point out the stamp inside the book they are like uhh no. Then they take the books and run. Or they leave them there and I drop them in the over night drop box."She said, "People are weird what can I say."
We sat catching up and chatting until I started yawning and Callie ordered me to go home and get some sleep. When I pulled in to the driveway and walked in Mom and Dad were waiting for me. I walked in and said, "Okay you two I know you pretend not to see them but I am guessing you heard through the grapevine what happened at work today?"
Mom looked at me and said,"Ginnie, we had a visit from a young man called Deion."
I think my face dropped a bit as I said, "Your telling me a hunter from the underworld showed up here and spoke with you?"
Dad got serious and said, "Well we didn't know he was from the underworld but yes. He said he was concerned as you went to rush a creature from the underworld."
"Yes I did. It was going to attack a few residents so I distracted it and then Deion stepped in and took it away," I said.
Dad groaned and said, "Ginnie do you understand how dangerous that was."
"Yes I do," I said. "But you always taught me to stand up for what I believe and to protect those who I can. I would not be me if I didn't step in and it doesn't matter if they were dead of alive. I would not be me if I didn't. But I will be more careful."
Mom sighed and Dad said, "Thats all we can ask. Deion left a box in your room he asked we not look at it but leave it there for you. He said its a get you out of trouble box."
I went to walk away and said, "I know you don't like the gift we have but you have to understand I am not going to stop being me."
Dad turned and said, "You wouldn't be you if you didn't talk to the dead Ginnie, Just do mom and I a favor and please be careful thats all we ask."
I yawned and waved as I said, "See you at Breakdinner."
Dad laughed and mom said, "Night sweetie."
When I got to my room there was a box on it and a note. I opened the note and it said,
Ginnie,
Bring this with you tonight to work and I will explain what everything does.
Do not get yourself killed please
Deion
I laughed and thought that this was a weird gift but by this time I was so tired I moved the bag to the floor and after a quick shower I went to bed. For the first time in a long time I had a dreamless sleep. I woke that night to the smell of BBQ coming from the kitchen. After I showered and got ready I grabbed my bag and the bag Deion left me and headed to the kitchen.
When I got to the kitchen Dad was wrapping sandwiches for me and said, "I made pulled pork for dinner. I made you two sandwiches already for work so you may want to sit and eat or your going to be late."
Grabbing a cup of coffee I said, "Dad do you not miss work. I mean your retired and you cook all the time."
He came over and placed a plate in front of me saying, "Are you kidding me I love the garden and cooking. Besides you know I still freelance with my job still. I am far from bored."
Heavenly Acres Graveyard- work
Ginnie- Main Character
rep from the underworld Deion
Max- Hanged man
Marty Night mortician
Magnus- Night security guard
Callie- Bestie
Matt- Brother
