Just the Way You Are

The phone rang for the first time all day just as Ray was about to break for a late lunch. “Typical,” he muttered before answering on the third ring. “Ray’s Occult.”

“May I speak to Dr. Raymond Stantz please?”

“Speaking.”

“Ray? Is it really you?”

“Uh . . . yeah, it’s really me.” He was at a complete loss as to who this woman was, although her voice sounded vaguely familiar.

“Ray, it’s me. Alice.”

“Alice?”

“Alice. Don’t you remember me?”

“Uhh . . .” He didn’t.

“Gosh, Ray. I’d think a girl would be memorable to a guy when she helps him defeat Cthulhu.”

“Alice! Oh wow! Alice Derleth! Of course I remember you. How are you?”

Alice smiled warmly at the receiver. “I’m well. How are Egon, Winston and Peter?”

“They’re fine.”

“And Janine?”

“She’s fine too. Well, actually, she and Egon are dating now, so I guess she’s more than fine.”

“How delightful!”

“Yeah, we all thought Egon would never get off his ass and make things serious between them.”

“Hmm. Yes, I thought they were rather obvious,” she smirked at the thought. “Well, as much as I’d love to continue to catch up, I actually called because I need your help. I have a bit of a supernatural dilemma on my hands and I was wondering if you could lend me some assistance. You’re so brilliant, I thought maybe you could give me a hand.”

“Sure! Of course! Anything! What do you need?” Ray exclaimed, his face bright red with embarrassment from her praise. “Is it something dangerous?”

“Well, potentially, but not necessarily. You see there’s been some activity similar to what happened at the Witch-House, and that hasn’t happened since Rebecca Hannes disappeared in the 1920s.”

“Rebecca Hannes? Wasn’t she a descendant of that 17th century witch, Keziah Mason?”

“Yes, and she disappeared without a trace one night. Now there have been a few practicing witches and warlocks disappearing again in the last month or so.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It has the locals very frightened. Mind you, things always get weird around here at the time of All Hallows Eve, but this year, it’s weirder than usual.”

“Hmm. Let me read up on it for a bit and I’ll get back to you. I’ll bring Egon in on it too, I mean if that’s all right with you.”

“Oh sure.”

“Great.”

Alice stood and meandered over to her window. The sky was as red as blood, and it was just a little after noon. She furrowed her brow in worry. “Listen, Ray, would you be willing to come up here if things get out of hand?”

“Well, sure Alice. I’ll definitely come, and Egon probably would too.”

“Thank you, Ray.”

He suddenly thought better of having spoken so soon. They may not be allowed to help if they did go there. “Alice? I do wonder about something though. Do you think Massachusetts law would honor a ruling from a New York court regarding us?”

Alice smiled. “If you’re referring to your inability to bust ghosts in New York, I don’t see why they should. I am sorry to hear about that.”

“Yeah.”

“Speaking of which, I was wondering why you guys don’t just up and relocate. I mean, Massachusetts would be really happy to have you. I know MIT must surely miss you, Egon, and Peter now that you’re so famous.”

“Move? Right. With what money? Besides, this is our home, and we figure if things get hairy, they’ll be begging us to strap on the old jumpsuits again.”

Alice smiled wistfully at Ray’s indomitable optimism. “You’re probably right,” she replied as supportively as she could. She really would love for him to move closer to her. There was no end of occult scientists in Arkham, especially with nearby Miskatonic University, where Alice was a professor. But Ray was something special. She’d found him very appealing ever since he’d discovered the means for defeating Cthulhu, a demon she’d studied all her adult life and never found to have any weaknesses. In Alice’s , Ra, Ray could do anything, and she felt better already, just knowing that he was on the case. “Well, let me know what you discover Ray, and I’ll let you know if I need you.”

“Deal.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, Alice.”

“Oh, and Ray?”

“Yeah?”

“I always thought you looked really cute in your jumpsuit.”

Ray swallowed hard and flushed. “Uhh . . . thanks.”

“Good-bye, Ray.”

“Bye, Alice.” He hung up and stared at the phone. Then he grinned broadly and chuckled. He went to lunch feeling a hell of a lot better about his life.