Boogers from Beyond #3 by M. D. Payne Page B

kittens and puppies at the animal shelter?”
    â€œI don’t think we need to worry about that for the moment,” said Director Z. “They barely had any exposure to the monster juice here, and there’s no monster juice present at the shelter—at least none that I know of—so they should remain weak. We must first focus on the issue at hand.”
    â€œWhat if we just . . . ,” Gordon said, and motioned cutting his throat with his thumb.
    â€œGordon!” Shane gasped.
    â€œI thought about that,” said Director Z, “but again, they might not die if killed. They might grow stronger. No. We need to gather them all into one room. And, Shane, you have to stop seeing them as cute little cuddly-wuddlies and realize that they are the new threat to monsterdom!”
    â€œMan, this is just so sad,” said Shane.
    â€œWe need to work quickly!” said Director Z. “Luckily, we aren’t filled with monster juice to drain, but we can get sick, and if we have severe allergic reactions, we could all die. The Nurses and I have already been exposed too much. I need you gentlemen and lady to set things in motion while my staff and I walk the grounds and try to air out our sinuses. First things first. Talk with the ghosts.”

Covered in Boogers
    â€œHa-ha-haaaa!” Lt. Commander Stratford’s chuckle filled the North Wing hallway. “You want us to help YOU! I’m having too much fun watching those old monsters suffer. I haven’t been this happy since my dear sister was still with me.”
    The old Lt. Commander stood atop a small spiral staircase that led to a number of small rooms on the second floor, as well as the balcony that surrounded the wing.
    â€œYou nasty old fart!” Gordon yelled up the staircase. “No wonder your sister ran away. Where are the nice ghosts? I want to talk with the nice ghosts!”
    â€œShe didn’t
leave
me,” he said. “She was a ghost like me, but her energies were drained and I lost her. I’d do anything to get her back. And I’d do anything to get rid of those old monsters.”
    Quincy, Leila, and their parents slowly materialized next to Lt. Commander Stratford.
    â€œTeeheehee,” said Quincy. “Great-Grandfather, you just got called an old fart!”
    â€œI disagree, Grandfather,” said Richard. “I’d do anything to get rid of those nasty animals. We must help these children.
    â€œAnd, in return”—Richard pointed a ghostly finger directly at my head—“you WILL get the old monsters to behave. And they will stay away from the North Wing. And we will stay away from them. Agreed?”
    â€œAgreed,” we all said.
    â€œPoppycock!” yelled the old ghost as he raised his sword. “My family might have an agreement with you, but I, most certainly, do NOT. CHAAAARGE!”
    He floated swiftly down the stairway, sword pointed at our heads.
    â€œI really wish he’d stop doing this,” said Gordon.
    â€œI think it feels pretty cool,” said Shane.
    WHOOOOSH!
    With a roar, the old ghost shot through our bodies and into a supply closet at the bottom of the stairs.
    â€œDreadfully sorry about that,” said Richard. “He always has to make a point.”
    The closet door shot open and a dozen puppies and kittens tumbled out with the old ghost, who was coughing and hacking and moving much slower now.
    â€œCan’t. BREATHE,” he wheezed. “Get. Them. Away!”
    â€œGhosts breathe?” asked Nabila.
    George slowly floated up the staircase.
    â€œWell, don’t bring them up here!” said Lady Stratford.
    But, before the ghosts could float away, they began coughing and sneezing as the animals, and all of their dander, came floating up the stairs with the old Lt. Commander.
    â€œGreat. Grand. Father,” coughed Quincy. “Are. You. Okay?”
    The puppies and kittens jumped around inside