"Jeez, kid, you really did take a long walk off a short pier."
My eyes were round as saucers as he floated me back to solid ground, never letting go of my wrist at any point in time. As we touched down, my knees gave out and I sank to the stone, breathing hard and letting my eyes go out of focus.
I head a squeal of joy among the cheers and greetings and I turned to see Briana making a beeline for Beetlejuice. I watched as she tackled him, hugging and glomping him royal as he laughed. Finally, I saw his entire head fall off his shoulders and he caught it before it fell to the ground.
"I'm glad to see you too, kiddo. But you shouldn't make me laugh my head off like that. I get such a headache!"
Everyone chuckled and went inside, and he finally noticed me again. Walking over while reattaching his cranium, he lifted me up and brushed me off.
"Well, you're a newbie, or you wouldn't have been falling like that. What'd you do to start pushing up daisies?"
"I-I…"
"Nah, I know you're still alive. I was just kidding around!" He morphed into a black-and-white striped goat and bleated at me.
I said noting; I just gaped at him.
"These are the jokes, babes! Trying to get you to laugh here!" the goat demanded of me.
I tried to humor him by smiling, but it came out as more of a grimace. "Y-you're…"
Transforming back, he finished for me, seeing as I was incapable of normal speech. "The name in Laughter from the Hereafter. The Ghost with the Most. The one and only Beetlejuice! Pleased to meet you!"
He took my hand in his and shook it vigorously. As he did, various bugs fell out of his sleeve and onto my palm.
"I must have ordered dinner to go, 'cause there it goes!"
He snatched them up and put on a contented face, tucking them away again.
Finally, I cracked a smile and laughed softly.
"There we go. That's what I was aiming for." He grinned, and I caught a glimpse of his putrid teeth.
"Where have you been, BJ?" Briana interrupted, perching on his forearm like a bird.
"Oh, it's a long, long story. One which we're gonna finish inside, you little mosquito. C'mon, I gotta go see Lydia. I'm gonna get it bad for not being here lately." He smirked and started in, carrying Briana on his shoulder.
Finally, turning back to me, he motioned towards the house.
"You coming?"
I took a deep breath and followed him in.
(a/n Well that's it! Story over! But be forewarned, there will be a sequel titled "Ashes to Ashes". Be ready for a new story line with old characters! == )