The Other Man

Breegan was startled awake by a disturbance in the house.


WTH! Erik. The oft missed, much lamented, overly sobbed over Erik! The one that got away. The one that Breegan knew his Aggie was thinking about when she would stare broodingly out into space. Bloody Erik for whom Aggie would not redecorate the nursery for Otis because it had been Erik’s project. This wanker who lurks around the house causing trouble.


Breegan cornered this intruder and demanded that he leave.


Erik fumed that he was here first, last, and always.


Breegan told him that he ought to go back to the hereafter because you snooze (apparently in a pool by the looks of him) you lose.


Erik took offense. Apparently Breegan just couldn’t handle the competition which Breegan thought was a stinky thing to say.


After all, what did a ghost have that he didn’t have.


Plenty, was Erik’s response, with which Agnes was completely satisfied.


Breegan found that to be a crazy ghost lie.


Erik told Breegan he wouldn’t know given that he wasn’t always there. Breegan told him he didn’t have to be there to know. Erik was merely mist and vapor. How could Agnes possibly be satisfied with something she can’t even feel.










Did you feel that? Erik asked.


Ghost or not, Breegan declared Erik a nemesis.


Morning was on the horizon, but Erik assured Breegan he would be back for another tussle.


Then he disappeared.


Breegan stormed up the stairs and woke Aggie.


He told her of the humiliation he suffered after being thrashed by a ghost.


She told him Erik was an easily offended hot-head in life. It was completely understandable that he would be that way in death. And instead of hugs and sympathy, she went to the bathroom to begin her day.


Breegan followed her in there to complain about Erik and his threats of coming back in the night to wreak more havoc. He wanted that transparent blob of tyranny gone from his sanctuary.


Aggie only gazed at him.


Breegan tried again: it was either him or the ghost. Aggie only gazed at him. Then she told him she had to go to the bathroom. Stunned, Breegan went back to bed to get the rest that had been interrupted the night before.


But it was interrupted again by Aggie and her soap operas.


Breegan went to turn off the television to which Aggie protested.


He told her she was being selfish by interrupting his lost sleep; sleep he lost fighting with Mist man.


If only he could flush him!


And Otis! What about Otis? Having to live in an incomplete room, with a misty blob and a mother who stares at soap operas all day! She tried to bring up his being connected to the telescope all day. That was different, he told her. That was WORK! She glared at him. She loved Erik too much to move his grave, she was thrilled that he came back to her.

If Breegan hated it here so much, she said, he could just leave…


Next: In Search of Sanctuary
Last: Watchdog