Mortimer the Coroner

A Ghost

              Absinthe had actually run off into her room, but Rita thought the worst of the situation. She's a spirit who wants to kill me? Or maybe is stuck here...Rita was frightened to the core. I have to tell Uncle Mortimer! She quickly rushed out of her room and down to the study. He wasn't there.

            "Ms..Birdie? Where's Uncle Mortimer?" She said, almost knocking the old woman over.

           "Oh you scared me. He should be in the morgue. He has a client.

          "Thank you," Rita said, rushing down the corridor. She finally got to the room. She softly knocked on the large closed door.

           "Come in." She opened the door and peeked in. She saw Mortimer sitting at a desk and across from him was a sniffling woman. The woman sat there blowing her big, red nose in a handkerchief.

          "Don't worry Mrs. Stein, I will make sure your husband looks perfect for the funeral."Her husband is dead, Rita thought. The woman nodded. She got up and walked past Rita.

          "Now Rita, what do you need. Are you having trouble finding something?" Mortimer looked at her, his eyebrow raised.

          "Actually, um, I saw... have you ever had a client who lost a little girl?" Rita turned pale thinking about it.

         "Um, well yes, I've had every age of clients. Unfortunately, children as well."

        "I saw a ghost!" Rita spat out so loud Ms. Birdie woke up from her nap. Mortimer laughed.

        "A ghost?"

       "Yes! It was a small child, a girl. I was unpacking and.." Rita was cutoff.

       "Oh you mean Absinthe?' Mortimer laughed again at the fact Rita thought she was a ghost.

      "So you know the ghost?" Rita felt relieved that she wasn't going insane.

      "Why yes, that "ghost" is my daughter, Absinthe." Rita was wide eyed. Mortimer had a child?

      "Your daughter?" Rita stared at Mortimer blankly. She felt embarrassed that she thought the girl was a ghost.

      "Why yes. You'll meet her at dinner. She's in the room next to yours." Rita awkwardly smiled and walked away. How could I be so foolish, she thought. She finished unpacking her things and by the time she was done it was time for dinner. She was running a little late so she quickly walked to the dining room. There she saw a delicious plate of roasted ham and potatoes.

      "Rita, there you are. Have a seat." Mortimer called from the head of the table. She sat across from Mortimer. Then she saw the girl again. Absinthe was munching away on a piece of bread.

    "Absinthe, what did I say you can't just have rolls for dinner," Ms.Birdie said, coming in with another basket of them. Absinthe rolled her eyes. Rita quietly chuckled.

   "Abbi say hello to Rita," Mortimer said. Absinthe looked at Rita.

   "H-Hello," Absinthe said quietly. Rita smiled. Absinthe did feel a bit more comfortable with Rita. After dinner Ms. Birdie came to grab plates and put absinthe to bed. Absinthe ran to her father and sat on his lap.

     " Goodnight, little one." Mortimer kissed the girl. She gave him a big hug. After that she grabbed Ms. Birdie's hand and went up to bed. Ms. Birdie helped Absinthe get her nightgown on. Her nightgown was pink with little hand stitched flowers. Ms. Birdie lifted the small girl into her comfy bed. She grabbed the quilts at the end of the bed and tucked the little girl. She kissed her forehead and blew out the candles.

     "Goodnight dear, sweet dreams." Ms.Birdie smiled and cracked the bedroom door.

    "Oh! Rita," Ms.birdie exclaimed, startled.

     "Oh I'm sorry Ms.Birdie . Did I scare you?"

     "Oh no, I'm alright. Goodnight," Ms.Birdie wanted to end the conversation. She was too busy with dishes and laundry and of course naps. Rita went into her room and prepared for bed. She brushed her hair and put on her nightgown. She got into her bed and read for a while. At about 11 she turned her oil lamp off and tried to go to sleep. She was still thinking there were ghosts in the house. Then she heard her door creak open. Little footsteps came around to the edge of her bed. Rita was ready to kick but then she saw Absinthe climb up onto her bed. Absinthe was tiny enough to walk across the bed without hitting the canopy above. The little girl came up to Rita, kissed her forehead and left the room. She must have thought I was asleep Rita thought. Rita woke up early the next morning. She only heard Ms.Birdie humming and cooking breakfast. She got up out of bed and stretched. She went over to the window and looked out. She saw the empty, cobblestone streets, other than the little goat eating some patches of grass. Rita decided to get ready for her first day of training. She decided she would take a bath. Rita was very excited to get started.