Ghosting

[the_eternal_overthinker]

 

“What would it be like dating a ghost?” Joyce blurted out. The clicking of needles stopped simultaneously and everyone looked up at Joyce for explanation. Joyce’s cheeks turned beetroot; she picked up her phone and showed it across to her friends.

 

“BRB” Silvy echoed. “What does that mean?” joined in Sarah peering over from her glasses.

 

“Be right back” hollered Grace before going back to her shawl making process. Joyce nodded in affirmation. Grace was the youngest of the group, the rest of the ladies were nearing their half century with gusto. They all met for their knitting cum gossip sessions at the local parish hall every month.

 

Joyce had hidden her secret for so long, that she was bubbling to spill it over and discuss this weird happening in her life with her friends.  “Who is Phantasm?” inquired Sarah reading the chat's heading and trying to check out the display picture from a distance.


“A guy I met over scrabbles online.” Joyce meekly ventured. The oohh’s and aahh’s followed, before everyone hushed up for Joyce to continue. Joyce smiled brightly “He was amazing, you know, we clicked instantly and what a charmer! Perfect vocabulary and all! Sometimes I wondered how he won every single time.We started catching up everyday at noon and in no time we were chatting like long lost buddies.”

 

“Aww..I am so happy for you Joyce, It been such a long time since you spoke like that about a guy” Silvy chimed.

 

“Wait a minute, why haven’t you told us about this until now? When did all this start?” the inquisitive Sarah quipped.

 

“Well..er…I am so sorry gals, but I wasn’t really sure about my feelings either and I didn’t want to jinx what had started. And to be frank, it was just harmless flirting now and then. And coded messages like ROFL, TTYL, SMH, NVM, which I couldn't decipher.We haven’t even met,or exchanged I love you's, I swear.” Joyce placated them.

 

Grace who was visibly uncomfortable, gently placed her hand on Joyce’s and spoke, “What made you share it now, Joyce?”

 

Joyce on sensing her concern, smiled warmly in reply “Oh! Nothing really dear, BRB was his last message to me and I waited for a week before I asked my daughter about what it meant. And you all know Diana, she needs to know everything before she will oblige me with an answer.”

 

“What’s wrong in that?” Sarah countered. Joyce rolled her eyes and continued, “So, off she went and read all my chats with Phantasm.”

 

“How disgusting! She should have refrained from doing so for privacy sake.” Silvy looked appalled.

 

“Come on guys! She is her daughter, and Diana and Joyce have been like friends for as long as I can remember.” Grace countered.

 

“Anyways, what happened after that?” Sarah impatiently asked.

“Nothing.” Joyce replied looking at Grace, “Be Right Back, is what it means she told me.”

 

“Then?” Grace coaxed.

Joyce was contemplative, “She went on blabbering about how I should forget all about it. And that he had ghosted me and was never coming back and blah blah… I mean…come on …you give a guy more than a week before declaring him dead right? I know it’s been two weeks now…that’s why I thought of sharing it with you gals…what if? Is he really dead, eh? How long should I wait before I inform the authorities? What if he was a ghost all along? You know with that kind of name – Phantasm. And winning all the time. Spooky right? ”

 

Grace chuckled and everyone looked at her with annoyance. “Let me explain what Diana couldn’t”, she smiled.

&&&

(Looking for Concrits on this one. Thanks for reading :) )

Comments

[tatdatcm]

A cute story with the older women and their misunderstanding of what was going on.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Thanks :) I liked the idea but was struggling with ways to expand it. I am glad it worked for you. Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[favoritebean_writes]

I like how your dialogue. I still have to Google the shorthand texts from time to time. I love how your story reminds me of when I encountered things like NVM and SMH for the first time.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

"I still have to Google the shorthand texts from time to time." Oh! Me too. Actually the prompt made me think about things teenagers do...and the idea of dating a ghost stuck and here we are. I am happy to know the dialogues worked. I still struggle in that department. Thanks a ton for stopping by <3 Happy to see you :)

[bleodswean]

OH, gosh!!! I love how entangled this story is with longings and joy and misunderstandings! Great work on keeping a simple story complicated! Or vice versa!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Phew! I am glad all that came across, I wondered whether I needed to expand it more or if sticking to dialogues is a good choice. Happy to know this worked. Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[bsgsix]

I love the conversations in this piece, and the misunderstandings as well. And as much as this makes me sound old and boring... I so rarely understand text acronyms. I just realized that the abbreviation "TIL" stood for "Today I Learned," and had NO idea that was a thing! Haha! So this is great, and that end... I can see that smile on Grace's face. Well done!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

I am bad with text acronyms too. Thanks for adding 'TIL' to my list :) Glad to know this worked. Happy to see you here. Thank you :)

[dmousey]

This is so easy and lighthearted. (Especially in comparison to my piece 😁) It reminded me a little bit of Golden girls! Thanks for inking and sharing this with us! 🎃✌~~~d

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Ah! I just googled 'Golden Girls' and checked out an episode...that's a good reference.. Thanks for sharing :) I wanted it to be lighthearted and funny (funny needs work, I know) The idea of dating a ghost just wouldn't leave me. Glad you liked it.
Happy to see you here. Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[halfshellvenus]

I liked the group dynamic of these women, and it was fun hanging out with them.

Poor Joyce, worrying about whether Phantasm had really died and what to do about it. He didn't deserve her anyway!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Yay! Thanks. I wanted it to be real and a group you wouldn't mind hanging out with (like my girl gang) The idea of dating a ghost kept coming back and then the question "why would someone ghost someone? Unless they are dead or a thing that's common for teenagers nowadays" lead to this. I totally agree that sweet Joyce doesn't deserve an asshat like Phantasm.

Thanks a ton for stopping by <3 Happy to see you here :)

[murielle]

LOL! Love it! Really, it explains so much.

:-)

Great take on the prompt!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Hehe... Thanks :) I am happy to know you liked it... Wasn't very confident when I posted it. Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[tonithegreat]

I’m glad you went with a lighthearted take on what has been a heavy topic for a lot of writers. I, too, got a Golden Girls vibe from this, which is a good thing, I think! A very enjoyable read!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Thank you for your kind comment :) I wasn't really confident about representing the story via dialogues but the idea wouldn't leave me. I am glad it worked for you.Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[bellatrixe]

This was seriously a delightful read :D I loved the dynamics of these characters!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Thank you kindly :) I am happy to know it worked for you. Thanks for stopping by to read <3

[moretta]

Ah, just a bit of lovely. I like that the women all know each other well through the knitting circle. I don't think I have any crit!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Yeah, This has bits of me in it or something I yearn for in future ( like knitting and having a girl gang) Glad that it worked well.. Though I wasn't very confident while post this. Thanks a ton for stopping and giving a positive comment <3

[kehlen.livejournal.com]

*chuckle*

Internet chats can be confusing for anyone.

You conveyed the not quite understanding what is going on very well :)

[the_eternal_overthinker]

:D I am happy to know that it came across. Chats really can be confusion because the 'tone' of the conversation is missing. Good to see you stop by <3 Thanks a ton!

[nayanawrites]

I loved this. I imagine myself in such a company a few years down the lane ... Golden Girls in 50's and so confused and going bonkers with the pace of the world.

Loved this and your dialogues. Gave me a much needed laugh.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

*Hugs* I know you'd make a great companion in the gang :) I sometimes still feel I am behind by a few years in this ever evolving techno savvy world. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[bewize]

That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works! LOL.

Cute.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Haha...I know right ;D Thanks a ton for stopping by <3

[reidharriscooper]

GTFOH, YDS, BOOL, DKJS, WTWLONWC, GWVF...SYNT!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

LMAO... That's the best comment anyone could give for this write up :D Now let me go and Google if these actually have full forms. Before that thanks a ton for stopping by <3