Chapter 26 "Welcome"
(Song suggestion- "Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper")
Middle of March 1984
Peter
Thunder abruptly cracked in the inky sky while rain pelted the individuals and the scenery outside the old Fire House on a bland Thursday morning. I drank my cup of coffee while peering out at the rain, feeling a little melancholy from the weather. For now, I watched people run around trying to avoid it, like ants running away from a human who kicked their hill over.
When Janegon arrived, they both looked like they hadn't slept soundly and held white styrofoam coffee cups in their respective hands. Egon's face was unshaven, and Janine wore minimal makeup. . Additionally, her eyes were red and swollen. The couple shuffled their feet as they walked, almost like zombies in a b- rated horror movie from the seventies.
"Peter, Janine tossed and turned all night and woke up in the middle of the night screaming three different times. She was so disconcerted after the busts yesterday," Egon derisively said, in a gruff voice indicating that he blamed me for his girlfriend's lack of sleep.
"What happened," I earnestly questioned.
"I didn't think that Janine was that frightened," I thought to myself as Egon angrily glared at me. Next, he stretched his arms above his head and yawned lazily.
"I wish you would listen to me, Peter. I know Janine, you should not push her. When I tell you that it isn't good for her to go on busts, I am not jesting, " Spengs curtly reprimanded me, pushing his glasses up from his nose with his index finger.
" Now go talk to her, Mr.Psychiatrist."
With that, my oldest friend sauntered into the lab, and I went downstairs to talk to Janine.
"I heard you didn't sleep much last night," I admitted, pulling a chair next to her desk. She didn't look up from her paperwork but nodded.
"Affirmative, Dr. Venkman. I dreamt about the spectral supervisor yelling at me after turning into the Devil and then causing Egon to be injured," Janine meekly revealed, finally making eye contact. Her pretty blue eyes were watery, and I felt a pain shoot through my heart.
"That wasn't real, Brooklyn; it didn't happen that way," I softly countered, feeling guilty that I coerced her into going on the bust now.
"Next, I had a dream that the giant Zebra stepped on the three of you and crushed you all like bugs, and no one could capture it," Janine added, her lower lip quivering as she spoke, then she burst into tears. She removed her glasses off then threw them down on her desk. Rapidly, our secretary covered her face with her hands, and she commenced weeping.
"It is OK, Brooklyn. None of that occurred," I countered, reassuringly patting her arm.
"Every time I close my eyes. I still see those things; how do I get rid of that," Janine cried, removing her hands from her tear-stained face.
I felt tremendously reprehensible for my role in provoking Janine's attendance on the busts. Although I didn't outwardly show this to Egon or Janine, it tore a burning pain the size of a golf ball in my heart, and I felt at a loss for the answer to correct it.
During my date with Cynthia last night, I discovered a solution- Janine believed in lucky coins and objects, so I decided to buy her one. She was a fan of Garfield cartoons, so I purchased a stuffed animal from FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue.
"Ms. Melnitz, I have something for you," I grandly announced ten minutes later when she lowered her thin body into a chair with a cup of coffee in her small hand.
"Yes, Dr. Venkman?" the Brooklynite irritably replied, twisting to the right to view me.
Hiding a stuffed Garfield underneath the table, I tried to conceal my giddiness at my idea as I was quite impressed with it. As the second oldest out of five children, one learned to be creative. Egon stood behind Janine, giving me a suspicious glance with his eyebrows furrowed, but I gave him a reassuring smile.
"Did you have to work at the computer lab last night," I questioned, with an arched eyebrow, and she nodded.
"Yes, What did you need, Dr. V," Janine said blandly, covering a long yawn with a well-manicured hand.
"Oh, I found something to help you with your problem," I suggested, grinning. Then, I slowly moved Garfield to where he peaked at Janine from under the table then quickly hid again, and I noticed that she gave me a curious look. It was kind of like playing peek-a-boo with a small child.
"Come on out, Garfield, I have a friend I want you to meet," I coaxed soothingly, and he looked at me, then waited for more encouragement to be visible.
"Janine is one of my good friends, but she needs your help."
Garfield turned questioningly to me and then back at her.
"First, Garfield, will you let her pet you? She loves cats, but she is not feeling well right now. I bet if you let her pet you, she would feel better," I wondered, and the stuffed animal nodded his head up and down enthusiastically.
Moving Garfield slowly to our secretary, I observed Janine's amused expression. She played along by stroking its fur gently.
"Purrrr, purr," I responded, and she simpered slightly.
"See, he likes you," I said, handing it over to Janine.
"Garfield is your defender against ghosts, and nightmares, and he will protect you if you go to sleep with him every night."
Janine grinned happily at me and hugged her stuffed animal.
"He wanted to be a Ghostbuster, so I made sure and trained him before I gave him to you," I replied, "now you will always be protected, and nothing can harm you."
"Thanks, Peter, you are such a dear," she cooed, "I love my Garfield."
Later, Egon shook my hand and thanked me for what I had done.
"That's what friends do, Iggy," I replied, slapping the back of his shoulder.
"I have to agree with my parents. I am lucky to have you as one of them," he sheepishly admitted in his deep voice, "I haven't always been so certain."
"Yeah, I tend to grow on people," I wryly replied, grinning, " that's what I do."
Egon (the day before)
After Janine's class, I met her in her apartment around eight fifty the night. I beat her home, so I spent some time chatting with Wendy before the two roommates watched one of their favorite TV shows, Cheers. Even though I felt ambivalent about the show, I enjoyed spending time with Janine, so I never complained.
"Janine had a rough day," I warned her roommate, watching the TV with her.
"What happened? Is she OK?" Wendy inquired, halting her movement in the kitchen.
"Yes...physically, she is fine. But emotionally, I don't know if she seemed horrified earlier. Today, Venkman had Janine videotape two cases, and the ghosts frightened her severely. I mean, upset her to the point where I could barely comfort her," I guiltily elucidated, fiddling with a loose stray thread on my black t-shirt.
"Did Janine want to do this, or was it one of those things she had to do because Peter said so," she wondered, tossing her wet blonde hair over her shoulder.
"Since November, Venkman has been trying to persuade me to allow Janine to train to go on busts with us; since then, I have objected adamantly. It is too risky," I commented, meeting Wendy's quizzical eyes.
"But you know, Janine, she is intractable. If someone says she can't do something, then she will prove them wrong," she admitted, with a shrug, " she is very bullheaded."
"Yes, it is not that Janine can't do it, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to her."
Wendy saw that I was becoming emotional and gave me a small half-smile, "I know that is true, Egon. It is evident by the way you dote on her. Maybe these incidents will discourage Janine from going on anymore. I mean, especially after everything the two of you have gone through to be together."
"I hope so. I had Peter counsel her a little, but I am afraid that she will have nightmares," I revealed as Wendy went to the kitchen to make popcorn for all of us as was their tradition.
The sound of a key turning in the door's lock made me anxious to see my lovely girlfriend. Janine greeted us both, put her backpack down, and sat on my lap. I put my long arms around her waist and held her close until my precious girlfriend twisted so I could kiss her.
"Hello, my beautiful Angel," I greeted.
"Hey! . I am glad you are here to watch Cheers with us," she admitted with a thin lipped smile on her cute face.
"I love you more, Janine. How was class," I earnestly questioned.
"Alright, I made an A on my first exam," she jubilantly answered, "but I am tired. How much of Cheers did I miss?"
"None, it is about to start in three minutes," Wendy replied and started the popcorn maker.
After the show, which was one of the better episodes, I drew a hot bath with lots of bubbles for Janine. She was grateful for the kindness and shyly requested me to stay with her while she was in the tub.
"Is that a good idea," I inquired, " When I see your dazzling body naked, I go berserk with longing."
"I am not in the mood, Egon, tonight," Janine answered blandly, " is that OK?"
"Absolutely, my Goddess. May I interest you in a shoulder massage, Ms. Melnitz? You must relax, beautiful," I urged after swiftly kissing her.
"Egon, if I don't have to, I don't think I want to go on another bust," she conceded after she disrobed. I turned away from viewing Janine to check the bath water's temperature with my hand, and found that it was ideal so I sat down on the purple bath rug on the floor next to the tub. Meanwhile, she sat down in the tub and then submerged her shoulders under the toasty bathwater.
"That's a good idea, Janine. Only if that's what you want," I sighed, breathing a little easier with her realization. Suspiring, my girlfriend shut her eyes and put her head on the end of the tub where I put a pillow. Gradually, I saw her stressed facial expression alter to a slightly more relaxed one.
"I am the luckiest man alive to be dating you. I love you dearly," I admitted in a whisper then leaned over to kiss her right cheek.
"I love you, Dr. Spengler," she whispered back, and I began to knead her right arm and shoulder blade gently. Janine moaned and groaned as I worked the kinks out.
Playfully, I took a clump of bubbles and blew them into her face. We, consequently, had a bubble fight until there weren't any more. My plan to loosen the tension in my precious girlfriend succeeded, and we laughed at the stress of the day away.
"Uh oh, we are out of bubbles," my Angel exclaimed and turned the water on to increase the temperature. I retrieved the Mr. Bubble bottle underneath her sink, and gradually, I poured a little more in under the faucet.
I reminded her how much I loved her.
"Right back at you, Dr. Spengler. I couldn't have made it through today without your love and tenderness during the busts, thank you," the lovely red head admitted.
That statement made me realize all the day's trouble was worth it, and I felt a strong pull on my heart that could only be described as love.
A four hours earlier
As luck would have it, Janine exuded more confidence than in the first case; however, I was very fretful about her reaction to the giant Zebra. I adamantly insisted that my girlfriend stay in the director's office as we busted the spectral animal. She seemed more horror-stricken than from the first bust, and I was livid with anger at Peter.
"Speak to Janine about her fears," I commanded Peter, pointing my finger at him after the cases. My girlfriend was in a state of tears out of fright when we returned to the firehouse in the late afternoon before we ate lunch. Janine was weeping softly, and although I tried to console her, it only assisted a little. While we waited for our food to be delivered to the Firehouse, Pete calmly spoke to her, and she appeared better.
Two hours earlier
After we sat down, I reached for Janine's hand to hold as Stantz turned on Ecto One, but the car-choked and sputtered for a moment, then died.
"Uh oh," Ray warned and waited for a moment, then attempted to turn the ignition key again, but the vehicle did not start.
"Oh shit," Venkman swore and slapped his balding head, " everyone find a comfortable spot. Janegon, keep your hands out where we can see them again."
" Ha, ha," I retorted to Peter's comment. I squeezed my girlfriends' hand as Ray continued to start the vehicle's engine and sweet talk it into starting.
"Come on, baby," Ray reassured the car and patted the dashboard," start for me."
Bewildered, Peter turned around to give us a comical look. He raised his eyebrows and crossed his eyes, producing an immediate laugh from Janine. Then he stated, "Should we leave you two alone, Stantz?"
"Zing," Janine remarked with a small half smile, "Melnitz and Spengler-3 apiece, Venkman-3."
"Ecto needs a little tlc some times," Ray interjected, and we laughed as he persisted in sweet talking the former Hearst.
Five minutes later, Ray had Ecto- One running, and we were off.
"Where's the next case, Janine," Pete questioned, lighting up another smoke, and I checked my watch. We still had over an hour before our subsequent bust, but I was preoccupied with her reaction to the next one as Janine dug through her notes.
"The Bronx," she responded with her nasal intonation showing because she wanted to conceal her nervousness.
"It will take about forty five minutes to arrive there," Ray answered.
"Sounds like a category six- a giant eight-foot Zebra prowling around the zoo. Gladys took the call this morning, and that's all she wrote in the notes," Janine reported, wrinkling her nose.
" An eight foot zebra?" Janine incredulously repeated.
" I hate the zoo," Venkman replied, wrinkling his nose up, " it stinks. Plus, the Bronx zoo is huge; it will take forever."
"Doubt it," I sarcastically replied, looking at the PKE meter and taking notes from the previous bust, "how many eight feet zebras are walking around?"
"Another zing- Melnitz-3, Spengler-4, Venkman-3, come on J, you need to keep it up," I encouraged.
"Hopefully, only one," Peter sardonically quipped. Ray laughed, and he persisted in maneuvering Ecto One to the Bronx.
Egon ( 45 minutes earlier)
"Are you ok, Janine," I muttered in her ear as she gripped me securely outside of the building, shivering noticeably.
"I'm scared," she whined in a small child-like voice, "that ghost was spooky, and I can't seem to get him out of my mind. But, you were... so valiant...Uhm.. I froze…couldn't move."
Sighing, I squeezed her body with my long arms firmly and kissed her forehead.
"We captured the ghost, Angel. So there isn't any more danger involved," I soothingly responded.
"Did you see his face transformed into a devil when he yelled at us to get back to work?"
"Yes, but we caught him," I answered honestly," he's in the trap and can't harm us anymore."
My girlfriend looked horrified by the experience.
Peter
Several minutes later, Mr. Jennings, a stout red-faced jittery man, and the plant owner met us when we re-entered the building. He led us through the corridor to the next edifice and the last one, full of men and women operating various machinery. There was a sort of low, dull humming sound. The employees were oblivious to us walking around until I reminded Mr.Jennings that he needed to evacuate the area so we could examine it. As we waited for the employees to disperse the site, I found a lovely brunette with big jugs that enchanted me. Quickly, I shamelessly flirted with her. I managed to charm Cherie enough to obtain her phone number swiftly within a few minutes before declaring victory in front of the team.
"Are you serious," Janine hissed, disgusted," I thought you told me to be professional, and here you are picking up dates?"
"Don't be jealous," I remarked, smiling like the cat who ate the canary, and she gave me an agitated look with her blue eyes flashing anger.
"Trust me," the slim Brooklynite cynically snapped, " I am not."
"OK, let's spread out," Ray commanded, clearing his throat, "Janine, why don't you record us for a few minutes as we hunt."
"Yes, Dr. Stantz," Janine remarked sweetly and recovered the video recorder from the case again. We commenced scrutinizing the area.
Egon found a dusty locked door in the right-hand corner of the room and indicated that the readings were off the charts by saying, "This is hot, Ray"
As a result, the chubby Ghostbuster swiftly retrieved Mr. Jennings to open the door.
"That room only contains old equipment from the 1960s, like a storage room. So why do you want to go in there," the manager begrudgingly huffed later when he returned with Ray and removed his keys from his pocket to open it.
"Ok, sir, go ahead and let us take care of everything," I politely suggested, and Mr.Jennings complied, walking away immediately.
" Melnitz, let's record. I am going to tag it and give me a countdown in 30 seconds."
"This is preposterous," Spengler muttered, entering the room with his eyes fixed on his PKE meter with Ray in tow. Meanwhile, I tagged the video before she and I followed the other two into the room.
"Why do I hear machinery," I wondered as we entered the threshold where Spengler and Stantz stood with their mouths agape staring.
Gasping noisily, Janine answered my question. There stood, or maybe floated, about twenty-five feet ahead of us was a male ghost in gray slacks and a long-sleeved gray shirt. The spirit worked on an outdated piece of machinery as if he was operating on his shift. Regrettably, our secretary's sigh alerted him to our presence, causing the specter to glance up for a second and put his fingers to his lips, then shushed us.
"What is the deal with Ghosts shushing us," I complained, vexed, and I noticed that Janine was trembling as she stood next to me. No one responded to my query.
"Is she scared," I wondered to myself, surprised.
"Get back in there and get to work before I dock your pay," the ghost shouted, his face turning into a horrifying expression of a Devil. Immediately, we split except Janine, who seemed frozen in fear. It was evident that her muscles tensed up until Egon grabbed her arm and pulled her into the other room.
"Yes, Janine is terrified," I confirmed to myself.
"Wha- what- is that," the petite woman questioned, her eyebrows raised and her voice shaking with fear. Egon gave me a dirty look because she was petrified. He moved to embrace Janine after I took a camera from her quivering hands. As Ray and I discussed options to catch the ghost, our brainiac comforted his girlfriend through hugging and words of reassurance of her safety.
"Am I wrong, or all we have to do is to lure this guy into the next room, have a trap waiting, hold him using the particle thrower and then open the trap," I quizzed the good-natured Ghostbuster.
Ray agreed and pointed worriedly at Janine. Then, taking a deep breath, she composed herself and inquired about the plan.
Meanwhile, Egon stormed towards me with his back towards Janine, with smoke coming out of his ears. He again indicated his disgust and dissatisfaction about requiring her to accompany us today. Disregarding his concerns, I didn't say anything.
"We will stay here," Ray advised, "Venkie can capture the attention of our ghost after we get in position. Janine, please stand by the door furthest and start the video when I point at you. Egon, take the other corner, and I'll hold him when he flies by through the door."
"Why am I the guinea pig," I wondered, giving Stantz a puzzled stare.
"Venkman, you are the most obnoxious of the group, so it will be easier for you," Ray insisted with a wide grin on his face, and Egon snickered. For once, Janine was silent and didn't add insult to the injury because she was still scared.
Our plan worked out perfectly and without a problem. Fortunately, we didn't break any machinery or damage any part of the building, and Mr. Jennings couldn't be more delighted. He wrote the five thousand dollar check without protest and handed it to me.
"Great job, everyone," I congratulated while Ray and I put the proton packs back into the vehicle. Then I observed that Egon was holding Janine tightly about ten feet away from us.
Her face was less pale than before, but she seemed tremendously frightened by the ghost. She was shielding her face by burying it into Egon's uniform as he rubbed her back softly with his eyes closed, speaking into her ear.
Ray patted my shoulder and pointed to Ecto One while Egon consoled her, and we sat in the car and smoked a cigarette.
"Maybe we shouldn't train Janine," Stantz commented in a whisper with his brown brows furrowed downward, "this wasn't a daunting bust, but she was petrified."
"Let's see how the next one goes. I can always give Brooklyn some free therapy," I reminded.
"Venkman, I'm not sure that's a good idea," he responded, uncertain with a scowl on his face.
Ray
As I drove to Staten Island for our first case, we shared our worst experiences during our internships with Janine. We laughed quite a bit on the way. I always enjoyed our time with our little but fierce Brooklynite, and I felt excited to include her on a bust. Even though Iggy worried for her safety, I thought we would protect Janine effectively enough if things went off the rails, so to speak. I, however, did respect his concerns and opinion, whereas Venkman disregarded them as foolish or stupid.
We arrived at Port Ivory on Richmond Terrace, where Proctor and Gamble manufactured Ivory and Coast brand soaps and other products such as Tide detergent since 1907. A distinct foul smell hit us across the face when we left Ecto One, and it was so potent. The plant consisted of one extensive administration red brick building in the middle and three other buildings on each side. Port Ivory was a small community where P and G employed most people. A blue sign stood proudly in front of the administration building. Peter suggested that J record us there as an introduction.
After much prodding, Egon and I followed our leader, directing us to stand next to him against the red brick building.
"Brooklyn, here we go," Pete instructed and pointed to the sign. Our secretary opened the camera case and retrieved it.
"Dr. Venkman, will you tell me when to record," Janine politely questioned, turning on the video camera and watching us through the viewing window.
"Yes, how do we look?" After Janine watched us through the camera lens for a long beat, Pete demanded.
"Well, Dr. V., Drs. Spengler and Stantz look fine, but there is one problem," Janine admitted with a shy smile, removing her face from the lens.
"What is it?"
"You are in the picture and messing it all up," our secretary sassed our leader with a wry half-smile, causing Spengs and I to chuckle.
"That tickled my funny bone," I thought as I persisted in laughing, thus irritating Pete.
"Good one, J,- Melnitz- 2, Spengler-1, Venkman-1," I finally blurted out after slapping my knee.
"OK, OK, very funny, Juliet. You got your sass in. Are you ready to record us now," Venkman remarked, annoyed that we were laughing at his expense.
Janine was giggling, too, but took a deep breath to calm down first, then said, " Honestly, you three look marvelous against the background of the building. You have a good eye, Peter."
Proudly, he puffed his chest out at her compliment and requested her to get ready to record again.
"I will count backward from 5, first," Janine informed us, and we agreed, " in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
Dr. Venkman laughed out of anxiety, and Egon glared at him with narrowed eyes perturbed, saying, "Can we complete the bust first?"
"Spengs, put the PKE in your pocket," Pete advised, " just hold on."
Egon did so without protest with a loud sigh.
"No, I'm ready. Count back again, Brooklyn. Record ten seconds afterward so we can splice it all together later," Peter advised, with a solemn facial expression, and Janine saluted him as her confirmation.
"5, 4,3, 2, 1, " she counted back and then pointed with her right hand at Peter after she made it to one.
"Good Morning New York! The Ghostbusters are on location on Staten Island at a Proctor and Gamble plant, about to catch our first ghost today, a free-floating full torso apparition."
When he ceased speaking, Janine waited for ten seconds and stopped the recording. Then, dutifully, she returned the video camera safely in the bag.
"That went well, Dr. Venkman," our red-headed secretary acknowledged as Egon and I began walking to the front door of the business.
"Did you bring the waivers for the business to sign for these documentaries," I questioned our secretary.
"Yes, sir," Janine answered with a grin. She patted the camera case that contained a folder of the necessary paperwork as she joined us at the business's front door.
"Let's go have the paperwork signed first," I suggested, and we strolled into the building quietly. Janine hesitated before going in initially. Upon our entrance, her blue eyes widened as far as they could go, and her mouth dropped agape. Her hands shook as she retrieved the paperwork from her bag.
Peter introduced everybody on the team to Mr. Jennings, the manager, and afterward, Janine warily had him sign the waivers. Meanwhile, Egon poked around the building with his PKE meter running, searching for valances. The plant employed two thousand employees, and there was a significant manufacturing area to explore. While our dynamic secretary recorded the exchange, I overheard Peter questioning Mr.Jennings about his plant and his illustrious response,
"We provide the Eastern seaboard with such Proctor and Gamble products such as Ivory and Coast bar soaps, and laundry detergents such as Tide and Bold."
"What are you supernaturally experiencing here," Peter inquired.
"A ghost of a man haunts my employees," Mr.Jennings replied, appearing himself a little terrified. Janine put the video recorder away after Peter pointed at her to stop recording and placed it in the bag.
"Ok, Iggy and I will check the three buildings on the left," I ordered, handing the other meter to Venkman," You and Janine can check the other two on the left with the other PKE. Be sure to take notes."
Pete appeared mystified by the meter's operation, so Janine, frustrated, snatched it out of his hands and quickly turned it to the "on" setting.
"That's Melnitz- 3, Spengler-2, Venkman-1," I updated, chuckling.
"And you didn't want her trained, Spengs? She is a natural," he joked to the oldest ghostbuster the same height as him.
Egon rolled his eyes and scornfully inquired of our leader, "Shouldn't you know how to work the PKE by now?"
"Melnitz-3, Spengler-3, Venkman-1," I announced eagerly.
Janine giggled at her lover's quip, as did I before Pete irritatedly interrupted our laughter by stating, "Come on, let's go. Let's meet back in an hour here to debrief."
Iggy and I investigated our assigned buildings for the next hour. Still, we didn't receive any readings until we reached the last building. Then, finally, the meter picked up a tiny amount of ectoplasmic material on some machinery in the northwestern corner. Resourcefully, I pulled a small notepad out of my left pocket with a green golf-sized pencil attached to write down notes.
"The PKE went crazy in the next building," Peter announced quickly with Janine. She still appeared cowed by the situation when we met in the main building again, and I disclosed the information that I had written down.
"That building is hot," Egon declared as he analyzed the meter, " Good work, Janine, using the PKE."
Smiling at him with a dark blush on her cheeks, his girlfriend was pleased with her boyfriend's compliment as he grinned back at her.
"OK, before Romeo and Juliet start shredding each other's clothes off and begin getting it on, let's take care of business," Peter jested, rolling his brown eyes.
" Who will win the battle of the sass today? The scoreboard reads Melnitz-3, Spengler-3, and Venkman-2," I questioned using my best sports announcer voice.