When Clarisse ventured outside early Saturday morning she was pleasantly surprised, shocked really, to find Gilbert at her doorstep. She hadn’t seen her best friend for 5 years and here he was looking the same, wearing the same clothes to boot!
“Where have you been, Gil?” she asked excitedly hugging him.
“Just here and there” he replied.
“But why didn’t you call? I’ve tried reaching you and couldn’t get through, seemed like you disappeared into thin air!” said Clarisse.
Instead of wasting time with petty exchanges they caught up with each other on the latest developments and gossip at the local eatery nearby. She brought him up to speed on everything and anything that he had missed while he was away. Noticing that he wasn’t eating or drinking anything she pounced in and gobbled everything on the plate. Seemed like old times!
Excusing herself she went to the washroom and on her way back noticed him having a heated discussion with someone but he stopped talking once he saw her. This was something that he always indulged in way back talking to fictitious characters and she always ribbed him about it.
“Who was that Gil?” she asked teasingly.
“No one” he replied smiling strangely.
“Ah, so it’s your mysterious friend from before, huh?” she teased him mercilessly.
But the prodding was getting her nowhere. She then noticed Maggie (his old sweetheart) come in with a group of colleagues and called her over.
“Hi, Maggie! Been ages since we’ve met. Come on over and join us”, welcomed Clarisse. “Gil’s back after ages and we’ve been catching up.Haven’t seen him for years and he’s suddenly at my doorstep! Can you believe it?” she said excitedly.
Maggie looked at her friend strangely - what was Clarisse rambling about. Gil had died in a road accident 5 years ago to the date. Perhaps her friend was still grieving she thought, but joined her nevertheless. It was getting bizarre however when Clarisse kept including Gil in the conversation. Wanting to help her friend deal with his death and let go, Maggie decided to shake Clarisse out of this weird behavior. But before she could open her mouth and say anything, she came face-to-face with Gilbert looking at her rather menacingly.
Knowing that Maggie could see him now, Gilbert ordered her to keep mum. He was brought back in mortal form, back from the dead, to handle a job that was assigned to him; nothing and no one was getting in his way.
His Task : The souls of Clarisse and Maggie
His reward : Life
He had pleaded but his keeper did not relent. These were his words “their souls for your life!” So he made a choice and here he was.
“Come on girls drink up and let’s get out of here” he ordered.
The change in Gil’s attitude and behavior sent a strange chill down her spine. What happened to her happy and loving friend just a couple of minutes ago, how could he change so suddenly, wondered Clarisse? Did he have a split personality or something?
A sudden fear came over her and looking at Maggie realized she felt it too. Shaking, they picked up their mugs trying to gulp down the liquid. To their astonishment there was no coffee - the cups were empty!
“Guess we must have gulped the drink whilst we were catching up, huh Mags! What say, we pay the bill and get out of here, Gil?” requested Clarisse.
But Gil was nowhere. He seemed to have disappeared once again! It finally dawned on Clarisse that their friend Gil was no longer with them. He had passed away 5 years ago and … but… but… he was here! Was she hallucinating she wondered or was that…??
Maggie realized that the power of God had kept both her and Clarisse safe. The waiter assigned to their table was their Guardian Angel. He saw Gil lacing their drinks with poison and threw out the coffee replacing their mugs with empty ones.
God has His plan and nothing and no one can mess it up. Believe in Him and you will be saved.
Comments
next agatha christie?