"Magic express transportation!"Chet interrupted.
"And real beer!"Beau chimed in."Actual, tasteable beer!"
"You could taste things?"Prudence raised a grey eyebrow, fascinated.
The concept seemed impossible to most spirits, who had accepted the loss of physical sensation as an inevitable part of death.The idea that such experiences might be recoverable was revolutionary.
"Oh yes," Finn nodded enthusiastically."And we did some decorating for fall...rearranged the whole town, really..."
"Made it look like a yard sale," Chet giggled.
"With toilet paper streamers," Beau added proudly.
"But how did you do all of that?”Prudence pressed.
"Draught vapor!"all three said at once, then dissolved into drunken laughter.
"From the icehouse—" Finn started.
"Where Murphy keeps his special potions—" Chet continued.
"And we just breathed it in and POOF!"Beau finished with jazz hands.
Their increasingly animated conversation was drawing attention from other nearby spirits, including one particularly well-dressed ghost who had been chatting with a small group about books.The elegant figure excused himself from his literary discussion and glided over with obvious interest.
"Gentlemen!What a fascinating story you're telling.Did I hear something about transportation and taste?”Cornelius flashed a wide smile.
"Oh yes!"Finn said, clearly delighted to have such an elegant audience."Circle of light, whoosh, right into town!"
"And then back again when we needed to get home," Chet added.
"Like a magical taxi service," Beau declared.
Cornelius's expression grew even more interested."How remarkable!And this...transportation...it's reliable?"
"Seemed to work twice," Finn shrugged.
"Convenient timing too," Chet observed."Appeared just when we needed it."
"Gentlemen," Cornelius said, a slight laughter in his words, "you are clearly spirits of adventure and imagination!I declare you my new best friends!What wonderful material this would make for a story..."
The trio beamed at this unexpected approval from such a distinguished fellow.Recognition from the celebrity author felt like validation of their evening's accomplishments.
"Though I must say," Cornelius continued thoughtfully, "it's such an extraordinary tale that I'd have to see it to believe it.Magical circles of light that transport ghosts between locations?Temporary solid form?It sounds almost too amazing to be true."
"Oh, it's true!"Finn insisted."We can show you!"
"Can you indeed?"Cornelius's interest sharpened."When might such a demonstration be possible?"
"Well," Finn said, puffing up with importance, "it's not just anyone who can make the circles appear, you understand."
"Oh no," Chet agreed, nodding sagely."Takes a special touch.We've got the knack for it."
"The what?"Beau looked confused for a moment, then caught on."Oh yes!The knack!Very rare ability."
"We're what you might call...circle whisperers," Finn declared with drunken authority."Been doing it for years."
"Years?"Prudence asked skeptically.
