When we arrived home, everything was chaos. Everyone was running around pell-mell and you couldn't go anywhere in the house without bumping into somebody.

Finally, Daddy got a hold on me. "Chrissy, go around and get everyone. Tell them to go to the ballroom and I'll take it from there."

I nodded. Then, I grabbed Lettie and we both went. We had no trouble finding people, and when they saw us, this sort of calm descended over everyone.

"Okay all of you, Daddy says go to the ballroom and he will tell you what to do." Every time Lettie or I said that sentence, a sigh of relief went through everyone in the room we were in. In no time at all, the ballroom was packed and everyone was waiting for Daddy's orders. Finally, he stood on the stairs and began to speak.

"I apologize for the chaos that has occurred. I would like everyone to return to their normal jobs. I assume everyone still knows what they're doing?"

There were nods and murmurs among the spirits as the crowd began to dissipate, but almost immediately, two voices rose against the rest. One was Emily's.

"George, what should I do?"

The other was Ricky's: "Sir, I don't have a job either." The second both of them finished speaking, they looked at one another and something passed between them. Ricky crossed the room to Emily and together, they approached Daddy.

He looked at them thoughtfully. "Just a minute."

He left and looked around the mansion, then came back in a flash.

"I have the perfect job for both of you. The attic is empty, and before all this unpleasantness occurred, there was a figure in there of a bride. When the figure was first up,she was dark and mysterious with a veil coveringher face and two glowing eyes, as well as the glowing, beating heart. Then, later, it was remodeled into a repulsive green blimp. Now the figure is gone. Emily, since you're already appropriately dressed, would you mind taking over?"

She smiled. "Of course."

Then he turned to Ricky. "And I have something interesting in mind for you, young man. The role you will be playing is something of a legend among fans of this attraction. When it first opened, the men who dreamed up this ride thought that the bride should have a groom. And for a little while, she did. He was called the Hatbox Ghost and he was very ominous-looking. With every beat of the bride's heart, his head would disappear into the hatbox or reappear onto his body."

"What happened to him?"

"Well, since there was no ghost among us fit enough for him, they had to make a representation with lots of special effects, but unfortunately, the Hatbox effect took too long to stage and the lighting wasn't dark enough. But now that you're here, you can do it, right?"

Ricky nodded enthusiastically and Daddy smiled. "Off to the attic with both of you."

They went and Emily motioned for me to come with them. When we arrived, the attic was blissfully silent. I looked in all the nooks and crannies and saw that the pop-up figures were only in dormant state. The second I touched one, they came back to life, but this time they screamed "I do" with every resurface.

Emily and Ricky had retreated to a far-off corner of the attic and were staring at each other but not saying anything. I'd fix that.

I stepped behind Ricky. "Do the two of you want to introduce yourselves to each other or what?"

And with that, they finally spoke. Ricky went first.

"I'm Victor Eric Malrooney, but everyone calls me Ricky." He kissed Emily's hand and she giggled.

"I'm Emily, and I think the name Victor suits you just fine."

"How'd you get here," Ricky asked. "I mean, how did you die? If it's not too personal."

Emily shook her head. "No, it's all right. I was suffocated by being locked in that sea trunk over there." She pointed. "Christine found my body. What about you?"

He smiled. "Car accident. Dark night, slide on some ice, car erupted into flames. But it was mainly because of somebody freaking the stuff out of me with her picture-of-Dorian-Gray routine." He smiled at me mischievously, and I grinned back. Then they both looked at me and said at the same time, "thanks Chrissy."

I nodded. "You're welcome. Before I go, we need to get the two of you ready. Emily, put your veil over your face." She did so and it was completely shielded. I turned off the attic lights and suddenly her eyes were glowing. And then I heard it. The slow, steady thumping of a heart. I looked at Emily and saw the red glow in her chest. asI tried to walk toward her, she screamed and moaned. It was brilliant. I turned the lights back on.

"Wow, that was quick. Maybe the room gave you the powers of the Bride."

Emily looked as stunned as me. "I guess so." Next, I turned my attention to Ricky. I went to Emily's trunk and opened it and instead of a body, I found the clothes of a groom. A black suit and cape, a top hat and a cane. And of course, his hatbox. The uniform made me a little nervous. It looked a lot like what Melanie's Phantom wore.

I shook off my nervousness and gave Ricky his clothes. He dressed quickly and when he came back, they fit him so well, they seemed made for him. I gave him his hatbox and told him to go stand by the attic's exit. He did so and I turned off the lights again. Then I promptly screamed.

The change that came over Ricky was amazing. His face was now a leering white skull with sunken eyes and a wide, evil grin. He was hunched over and as I watched, his head disappeared from his body and into the hatbox. It was a wonderfully creepy effect. I turned on the lights and applauded.

"Great job, you two, you'll scare everybody. Keep practicing and I'll go see to things elsewhere."

I headed down the attic steps and into the ballroom where Daddy, Antoine and Etienne were in conversation. Etienne was speaking.

"Sir, I just don't think we can do our jobs anymore. Heaven made us truly remember what good friends we are. That and Christine's counseling. And sir, friends just don't shoot at their friends."

Daddy turned around to look at me. I smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Daddy. I broke it, but I can fix it. Frank and Michael are still around here somewhere. All we need to do is get their pictures from Greeling Terrace and replace them in the ballroom."

Daddy nodded. "That seems like a good idea." I left the house and went into the backyard where, of course, Michael and Frank were still at it.

"Hey, could you two hold for a second?"

Michael's bullet went through Frank and then he put his gun down.

"Sure Peach, what's going on?"

"Well, Antoine and Etienne just quit their jobs and I was wondering if you and Frank could take over for them."

Michael nodded, but Frank spat on the ground. "Not a chance. I'm not going to be put on exhibit at some freak show."

I smiled at him. "Too bad Frank, you don't have any choice. Welcome to hell."

After that, the two of them left to get their pictures, which soon replaced Antoine's and Etienne's in the ballroom.

As I stood by the window watching for people, Daddy came up behind me.

"Chrissy, what about you?"

I looked at him curiously. "What about me what?"

Daddy smiled. "What job do you want?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

Just then, Lettie came in reading a book of ghost stories. She looked at Daddy, then at me.

"Are you still trying to think of a job for Christy?"

Daddy sighed and nodded.

Lettie turned to a page in her book and smiled. "I know, she can be a Hitchhiking Ghost. She does have the experience after all."

Daddy shook his head. "Ezra, Gus and Phineas do that, remember?"

Lettie snorted slightly and held the book out to Daddy.

"Don't you ever read?"

Daddy took hold of the book and began reading. I looked over his shoulder. The story was, of course, The Phantom Hitchhiker.

After he finished reading, he looked at Lettie again.

"See, Daddy, the ghost in those stories is always a girl. We need some tradition here."

Daddy looked horrified. "But we can't throw out the Hitchhiking Ghosts! They're institutions!"

Lettie rolled her eyes. "We wouldn't be throwing them out, we'd just be adding in Christy on certain days."

"Which days?" I asked her.

She thought a moment. "Your birthday, Halloween. Days like that."

And what will I do when I'm not hitchhiking?"

"Remember when I quit and Daddy was talking about Southern charm? Well, I was thinking that you could be with me. You know, lighten up that part of the ride."

I mock frowned. With what? 'y'all come back now, y'hear?'"

She laughed a little. "Yeah!"

I smiled. "I can do that."

Later, she and I were talking. I had some things to ask her.

"Who's taken over the medium job now?"

She smiled. "Aunt Leota. She didn't leave with the Everses."

"And where are your mother and Scott?"

All of a sudden, Lettie burst into laughter. "Come see."

She took my hand and led me out behind the mansion where a merchandise cart sat with two very familiar people in Mickey hats running it.

I laughed so hard I almost fell over. "You are so mean!"

"No, I'm not," she said reasonably. "I did give them their lives back, and somebody has to sell ride merchandise."