It took Thomas a couple of days to realize he was a spirit. As he left the office after a day with no bitching from his boss, Charlie felt odd. It occurred to him in the elevator to the garage that he’d gotten no complaint from Old Man Chambers. Still, as the elevator door opened, Thomas expected to see the old man waiting.

No one there! Thomas slipped out of the elevator and looked around. It would be just like Chambers to hide behind a pillar or the dumpster. The rats in the dumpster wouldn’t notice Chambers. Just another rat. No movement.

Thomas got in the car, after checking the backseat. He turned on the engine and looked at the garage door. Go for it! Thomas was hitting 60 when he got to the gate. He didn’t stop. The bars flew away. Yes, some damage to the car but it was worth it. This was a first!

The next day, Old Man Chambers was polite to Thomas. No criticism; no remarks; nothing. Thomas again sneaked out and rammed through the new gate. He wasn’t taking any chances. Two days in a row!

The third day, Chambers asked Thomas to look at a proposal and give his opinion of it. Thomas was waiting for the joke but it never came. Thomas left that night both confident and worried. Something was wrong.

On the way home it hit him. He was dead! He was a restless spirit, roaming around his old haunts. He felt alive and real but he knew he really wasn’t. He drove home without waiting on traffic lights. He didn’t watch his speed and didn’t touch his brake petal.

He greeted his wife as if she was actually there. She seemed to feel as if she was there but Thomas didn’t think so. He popped a beer before supper. It tasted great. It was the best beer he’d ever had. More evidence he was a spirit. Even the supper tasted great. Thomas thought this being a spirit was pretty good. He’d decide later, after the lovin’, as the song goes.

WOW! Thomas wished he’d died years earlier. WOW!

Thomas decided to go to the office in the morning. He didn’t want to but felt drawn to it. He guessed that was what spirits did. Everyone greeted him as they usually did. Thomas guessed he was still visible. Wonder when that changed? He went to his office and sat in his chair. He wasn’t going to do anything, just sit there.

Old Man Chambers came into the office. Thomas smiled at him. Heck, maybe he hadn’t been so bad.

“Well, well, well. So, you all over being sick? If your wife hadn’t called I’d of thought you were faking it. GET TO WORK!!!”