After Life

CHAPTER SIX-FAMILY REUNITED

     "All right chaps!" Jonathan says, saluting the two grown men. Richard and Cornelius start talking over the top of each other. About the war, what has happened in the afterlife, and just about anything they can think of. Edith came from the kitchen to the living room, scaring the two boys. "Did it work?" Edith asks, looking around the room. "Jesus, you've nearly got the full cast of Saving Private Ryan in here!" the old lady says, looking at Richard and Cornelius. "Who's that and who's Ryan?" Cornelius asks, alarmed, looking at Maisie.
"That's Edith. She's another spirit trapped inside this house." Cornelius looks away from Maise and back to Jonathan. "You're a ghost, Johnny lad? How long have you been here?" The two questions were waiting for an answer. "Well, I survived past 1945," Jonathan explains, putting his left hand in his tux pocket. "Our lady survived the war!" Cornelius joked loudly, putting his hand up and cheering. Jonathan continues, "and then I kicked the bucket in 1946." "Ah, I spoke too soon," Cornelius adds, scratching the back of his neck.
"So, Maisie, how the dickens have you come into all of this?" Richard asks, looking at the girl. "I think it's from my connection with you being my past life, but I came over here to study. I specialize in world war two." "THAT'S MY GIRL," Richard says, proudly. "I also have an immense fear of heights..." Maisie says, looking at the ground, embarrassed. Richard looks at the ground as well, his face turning pink. "Ah yes, that's what a crash landing will do to you."
"And what about Jack?" Cornelius asks. Maisie looks up at the man and smiles. "Jack joined the army!" "THAT'S MY BOY!" Cornelius says proudly. "And he's a heavy smoker." "Ah, I see where he's gotten that from..." Cornelius adds, feeling guilty. Maisie looks up at Jonathan, a bit sad about the words she's about to say. "And now I'm trying to help Jonathan find his... find his wife, so he can pass on to the afterlife." Both Maisie and Jonathan look away from each other, thinking about the thought of leaving each other. Richard notices and gives both of them a questioning side-eye.
"You haven't seen her in the afterlife, have you, chaps?" Jonathan asks the boys. "No, I haven't seen her. If I had seen her, I'd tell her to go straight to the-" Cornelius says, until interrupted by Richard. "To come and get you!" Richard kicks Cornelius's foot, making Jonathan confused. "But I'm sure we don't need her. We'll get you through to the afterlife." Richard says, pulling up his sleeves. "Really? Like right now?" Maisie asks, looking at Jonathan upset.
"Well, this is where we came from. We should be able to go through," Cornelius says, putting his hand through the portal. "Wait, you mean right at this moment?" Jonathan says, concerned, not wanting to leave Maisie right just this moment. "Let's go, Jonathan!" Richard , putting out a hand for his friend to take. "Chaps, do we have to go right this-" Jonathan asks until interrupted by Edith. "Step aside losers. I've been in this horrible limbo for five years too long. No offense, Jonathan. I do love you both, YOU BIG GEEKS! Afterlife, here comes Edith!" She runs to the portal only to hit the wall and fall to the ground, unconscious.

***

"Did I make it into the afterlife?" Edith says still on the floor. Jonathan comes to help Edith up, "Are you all right?" he says looking at her scared. "Oh, bloody hell it's you." The old woman says in response; she continues, "No offense Jonathan. You can't blame me for being fed up with being stuck in limbo for five years!" Jonathan rolls his eyes, "Try seventy-six years..."
Edith looks around at all of the ghosts and the alive girl and says "It's really like a flipping episode of dad's army in here." Cornelius plays with his mustache, "Whose army?"
"Your mothers!" Jonathan says, making Maisie laugh. "I BEG YOUR PARDON!" Cornelius says sitting up and giving Jonathan a hard stare. Jonathan smiles and looks at Maisie, "Did I do it right?" Maisie is still laughing as he asks the question to her. She tries to compose herself before saying, "You know how you guys taught me war slang, well I've been teaching Jonathan a bit of modern-day slang. Jonathan, it's just 'your mom.'" Jonathan snaps his  head back to Cornelius, "Your mom." Maisie smacks her head onto her forehead, "The moments are gone."
"So it seems like we do need to find Jonathan's wife for him to pass on to the afterlife," Richard says, changing the subject. "Not if I can help it," Cornelius says, grabbing Jonathan by the hand and trying to push him into the portal. "Though you go laddy, just think happy thoughts!" The man continues pushing every strength in his dead body. "Cornelius, is this something about my wife!" Jonathan says, which makes Cornelius stop trying to push him through the portal. "What was that about!" Jonathan says fixing his tux.
"Your mother! Two can play that game!" Cornelius says changing the subject to Johnny lad's wife. "I was hoping you might stay for a while. I'd love to hear more about your time during the war. It would kind of be like studying." Maisie says, interrupting the ghost conversation. "Maisie if you want me to be your tutor all you have to do is ask!" Cornelius says.
Jonathan walks up to Maisie and whispers in a jealous tone, "Maisie I thought I was your tutor..." Richard looks at both of the men, "If anyone's going to be her tutor it would be me, I am her past life!" The three ghosts start yelling at each other, fighting about who should be Maisie's tutor. "Can you guys stop shouting, I thought we all could study together!" Maisie screams.
"Your mother!" Richard points
"Your mother!" Jonathan screams
"Your mother!" Cornelius says looking at both men.
Richard looks at Maisie and explains, "Maisie it only makes sense if we study together, if you think really hard you might be able to get some of your past life... well my memories are back!" Jonathan looks both at Richard and Maisie, "Wouldn't that technically be cheating? I say we play by the books and-" Jonathan couldn't finish his statement before Maisie passes out and falls onto the ground making all the boys kneel around her.
"Good god, what happened?" Cornelius asked. "Maisie!" Jonathan says worried about the girl.  "Is she all right!" Richard says, looking at Jonathan. "This is your fault!" Cornelius says, looking at Richard. "It's not anyone's fault!" Richard explains.
"It's your mothers' fault..." He replies.
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