Ray and Denise walked through the decorated town. There were game booths and ticket booths set up around town for the parade. Denise smiled as she looked around. The town was so cute. It was a small farm town with a small population.

"Feels so good to be back", Ray said as he took a deep breathe of the fresh air.

"I can see why you like this place", Denise said. "No tall buildings, no heavy traffic, fresh non-polluted air. This place is great."

The mayor stood on a stage set up in the middle of the town. He waved to them, inviting them up on the stage.

"How's your stomach?" Ray asked Denise. Are you feeling alright enough to join me?"

"Of course", she answered.

He took her hand and walked to the stage where the mayor made a welcome announcement.

"Fellow citizens, today's party…"

The mayor noticed nobody was listening. Everyone stood chatting, not paying any attention to what he had to say.

"I say today's party—quiet! Today's party and tomorrow's parade is Morrisville's way of saying we will never forget the name…Roy Stantz."

Everyone cheered, not knowing or caring that they got Ray's name wrong.

"That's Ray", he whispered to the mayor. "Ray!"

"What's that?" the mayor asked.

"Ray? Ray, over here!"

Everyone looked to see a young woman pushing her way to the front of the crowd. She wore a low cut shirt and a short blue skirt. Ray smiled as he looked at her excited.

"Elaine?" he said with a big smile with his eyes wide.

"You know her?" Denise asked.

"This is so exciting, Ray", Elaine said as she joined them on the stage. I followed all your adventures on the news."

"Elaine!" Ray said ignoring what she said. "Elaine Furmon!"

"You used to have a crush on her, didn't you, boy?" the mayor's aid asked.

Denise crossed her arms feeling a twinge of jealousy. Ray was completely oblivious as he blushed while looking at Elaine. She smiled as she looked at Denise.

"Who are you?" she asked. "A friend of his?"

"I'm his wife", Denise said. "Denise Stantz, pleasure to meet you."

"Hey, Ray!" a man yelled as he ran to the stage. "Ray, old buddy! Remember me? Alan Bobbish?"

He slapped Ray hard over the back laughing. Denise looked at him not knowing what to think. He was tall with curly red hair and a long face.

"Everyone always said you'd turn out to be a bum and I'd make it big! Now I own a two-bit shoe store and you're a hero."

"Shoes have their place too, Al", Ray shrugged.

"Yeah, on the feet!" Alan laughed.

"So is this another friend of yours, honey?" Denise asked. "You sure do have some strange friends."

"Hey, remember the old Powell mansion that used to scare the pants off us as kids?" Alan asked. "Well, Elaine's inherited it!"

"I can't sell it or rent it", Elaine shrugged. "Folks say it's haunted."

"You just said the magic word!" Ray excitedly said. "Time to give you folks a demonstration. On the house!"

He opened his suitcase and pulled up his proton pack while Elaine cheered. Denise glared at her feeling jealous.

"You're showing off for her, aren't you?" she asked Ray.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "She's just a childhood friend of mine in need of some help."