The Ghost and the McGee Twins

The Bad Boy Bobby Daniels

On one of our most recent visits to the senior center, Molly and I listened to another one of Patty's stories from her past. Sometimes, during these stories, I would end up falling asleep, but Molly always gave her full attention. "My best friend Linda and I founded the Brighton Skybirds." Patty explained. "We mastered the beautiful, yet deadly art of capoeira. And briefly became a semi-famous storm chaser. And that was just 1962." "Wow! I guess I just assumed Patty was always old." Scratch commented. "Your life was so full of adventure!" Molly exclaimed. "Diems carped! Horns grabbed! Yo's, lo'ed?" "Please stop." I nodded in disagreement. "Yeah, none of those work." Scratch added. "That's because I live by a simple motto, no regerts." Patty said, pointing to an embroidered sign that she made. "I know I misspelled "regrets," but I wasn't about to unpick all that thread. Though between you and I and the cross-stitch, I do have one regert. Goes by the name Bobby Daniels." "Hold up! Are we about to get some juicy lore about a past love?" I asked. "Sign me up!" "Bobby and I were gonna travel the world." Patty recalled. "But he left without me and I never found out why." "Big mistake, Patty Cake. This Bobby guy sounds amazing!" Scratch said. "Shake a tail feather, Patty." Her friend, Linda said. "We're gonna be late for seniors hip hop." "Oh, my goodness, Linda. I completely forgot." Patty said as she got up and danced away. "Thanks for coming by, girls."

Back at the house, Molly, Scratch, and I headed up to the attic to chill out, but all Molly could think about was Patty and Bobby. And if I'm being honest, so was I. "I hate that Patty regerts not taking a chance on love." Molly said. "She was so sad thinking about Bobby Daniels." "Yeah, I'd be sad, too." Scratch agreed. "He was probably the last cool person to live in this town!" "Wait a minute. That's it!" Molly gasped. "What if we brought Bobby back to Brighton?" "I'm listening." Scratch said. "And reunited him and Patty, give them the happy ending they deserve?" I questioned. "Maybe Bobby would let me ride his motorcycle." Scratch wondered. "And I could get my own leather jacket, quaff my ectoplasm. Next thing you know, we're blood brothers in a ride or die biker crew!" "The problem is that Bobby could be anywhere." I said. "Found him online!" Molly shouted. "He's just one town over in Mewline! Come on!" "Oh, not Mewline!" Scratch complained as Molly headed downstairs. "What's wrong with Mewline?" I asked, following Molly downstairs. "What isn't wrong with Mewline? It's the toilet cake capital of the world." Scratch explained.

Molly asked Dad to take us to Mewline in hopes that we would find Bobby. He stopped to park at the Mewline Public Library based on what Molly has found online about Bobby. "Okay, according to his profile, Bobby checks in at the library a lot." Molly explained. "Makes sense." I commented. "Older people do tend to prefer the quiet." "Oh, the Mewline Library!" Dad exclaimed. "They have a legendary zoning regulation section! I'm gonna go over there right now. Am I cool because I have a library card or what?" "I'm not gonna dignify that with an answer." Scratch replied. "Let's just move on."

Heading inside the library, Molly, Scratch, and I went up to the front desk to ask the librarian about Bobby. "Excuse me, do you happen to know Bobby Daniels?" Molly asked. "You could say I do." He responded. "Great! Where is he?" I wondered. "Right in front of you! I'm Bobby Daniels!" He introduced himself. Molly and I were shocked, but not nearly as shocked as Scratch was. "I'm sorry?" Molly questioned. "Wait a minute! This can't be him. This guy is— this guy is made of cardigan! He's wearing bulk shoes. Where's the leather jacket? The cool hog? The flagrant disregard for authority?" Scratch gasped. "He is authority!" Molly and I looked back and forth between the picture and Bobby himself. "This is you, The Bad Boy of Brighton?" Molly asked, showing Bobby the picture on her phone. "I looked good in leather, didn't I?" Bobby smiled. "But nah, that's all in the past now, filed in the Young Adult section of my life." "Woof. This is why you should never meet your heroes." Scratch sighed with disappointment. "So what can I do for ya, ladies?" Bobby asked. "Well, sir, you can tell us why you never came back for Patty, the love of your life!" I shouted, climbing onto his desk. "Patty? Oh, it's been a long time since I've heard that name." Bobby swooned. "Does she still smell like cinnamon and gasoline?" "She's only gotten better with age!" Molly replied. "Are you into floppy skin?" Scratch asked, despite knowing that Bobby couldn't see or hear him. "Come on, let's get you two lovebirds back together!" Molly exclaimed, pulling on Bobby's cardigan. "Nah. Patty loved the bad boy." Bobby declined. "We all did, pal." Scratch grunted. "I couldn't bear her disappointment." Bobby continued. "Well, she doesn't have to be disappointed, 'cause we're gonna bring the bad boy back!" Molly replied.