With a curt motion of his hand, MarelyMonkey’s Ghost snarled “For Jerry’s sake, enough of the questions.'' ``It is required of every man spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! -- and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!''
Socrooge scratched his head and muttered to himself “that MarleyMonkey is out there, even in the afterlife; he was always picking his own mushrooms…”
Again the spectre of MarleyMonkey raised a cry, sucked its bong, and bubbled the fluid inside, and exclaimed bitterly “nothing but seeds in this weed”.
``You are dismayed,'' said Socrooge, trembling. ``Your bowl is filled with low grade herb, and the screen is dirty. You suffer mightily.
``I wear the chain I forged in life,'' replied the Ghost. ``I pay for the sins I committed in life, is this so strange to you? Not even a good shroom to cure my misery. And the only music I can hear from this wretched bong is disco.”
Socrooge blanched at the torture, ``Monkey'' he said, imploringly. ``MarleyMonkey, tell me more. Speak comfort to me.'' ``I have none to give,'' the Ghost replied. ``It comes from other regions, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of men. Nor can I tell you what I would. A very little more, is all permitted to me. I cannot rest, I cannot stay, and he started to sing “truckin’ got my chips cashed in…”
But then the Monkey stopped singing abruptly``Enough of this, I am here tonight to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Socrooge.'' ``You were always a good friend to me,'' said Socrooge. ``Thank'ee!'' MarleyMonkey waved his bong as if to stop Socrooge’s statement. ``You will be haunted,'' resumed the Ghost, ``by Three Dirty Bitches.''
``Without their visits,'' said the Ghost, ``you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls One.'' ``Couldn't I take 'em all at once, and have it over, Marley?'' hinted Socrooge. “Ha Ha Ha” MarleyMonkey grimly laughed “a 4 some? You’d be dead in a moment…or worse!”. The Ghost then went on ``Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate.
When it had said these words, the Spectre took one last toke from its bong, and vanished in a haze of smoke, popping seeds, and the strains from Saturday Night Fever.
Socrooge shook his head, still not believing in what transpired. He saw some burned seeds on the floor and tried to say ``Humbug!'' but stopped at the first syllable. And being, from the emotion he had undergone, or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose; went straight to his bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant.
***
End
