“Salutations, Younglings!” I quipped.

That’s when my most current nemesis ran to me. I didn’t need that image in my head. If he was the opening shot to Baywatch. It would have died as a pilot show. 

Despite his age and size, pickleball did Chester a favor. He was not out of breath one bit. “You again,” said Chester, “Why are you still here? I thought I told you to git while the gitting’s good.”

Was he pleading with me? “I would have told you earlier, I am here to investigate the occurrence of a spirit in these halls.”

“Bah! There ain’t no spirits here. I wouldn’t tell you if I did.”

Well, I took the hint and started to walk away.

Hold on there, Detective. I did hear some things.”

I was curious so I lent him my ear. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“You ain’t long for this earth!”

I fell for his little joke and the whole pickle court must have been in on it because the laughter was deafening. But Chester–he wasn’t laughing. I made a hasty retreat. They must have all had an appointment because they all left too. The hallways were filling up with the elderly fast. All of them heading to the center foyer. Riding the glass elevator or hiking up the stairs.

The Pool Room was next. I pushed through the stream of people like a salmon and entered. The humidity and smell of chlorine poked me right in the snozola. An oversized fan churned overhead. Each blade is painted like the eye of a peacock feather. Five beautiful eyes. Circling. Slowly. Watching me. 

I looked around the area and found no one to talk to. They were all in the pool doing exercise classes or swimming laps then suddenly stopped as I entered. They dried themselves off. Heading down the hallway.

I then came across another Oshun painting. As large if not larger than the one earlier. Behind a glass case to protect it from the humidity and chemicals. It looked just like the previous painting but the subjects were different. It had a gold plate attached with the inscription: Aphrodite Oshun: Second Ascension. I must have had it twisted. The older of the two was now African and the “niece” was not. Maybe South African? The previous artpiece must have been Oshun the younger and now here she is, the older of the two. I walked around and got the lay of the land. Nothing else stood out but that feeling of not being alone. I looked up at those swirling eyes and figured I had enough of being stared at.

I moved on to what we will call my favorite room. The Picnic Room. Not a room exactly, it was partially covered like a patio. It faced a grass lawn with a hedge bordering the perimeter. It was freshly cut. I could smell that grass scent. The hedges were tall and thick to keep people in and out. At the center of the lawn, a small area for miniature roses and surrounding that, table after table of the finest confections. I said to myself, “Don’t mind if I doos.”

It was a beautiful delight to all my senses. The grass, the roses, the sweet confections, the sun on my face and the faint buzzing of bees. No one else was there so I ate to my heart's content. It was delicious and a perk of the trade. No one was here, flesh or spirit. But I felt that not alone feeling again. But there was no giant fan to blame. I moved on. Not before I took a little plate of goodies with me.

The Garden Room was very much like the picnic area. A large open grass area bordered with high hedge walls around the perimeter. The patio was enclosed with screen windows, I heard the familiar hum of bees. No one was tending to them. No one was here, so I turned to leave. 

And there it was, yet another Oshun and her “niece” painting. But get this, the South African niece from before was the older and the younger new niece was not African or South African but Asian. This was either a mistake or just a family name. I was stumped. 

No people. No ghosts. No spirits. But I wouldn’t mind seeing some BooBees. I laughed so hard I started to choke. I had one more room to see.

The door to the multi purpose room was large, wooden and hand carved with imagery of wine and wine making. There was also imagery of fans, bees, confections and oranges. It was gorgeous. I pulled on the door and didn’t move. I pushed and it didn't budge. It was locked. I heard movement inside and gave it a knock. 

No answer.

I knocked harder. Waited.

No answer.

I peeked though the small crack between doors and I saw movement. I could not make out exactly what was going on. People hustled about and were dressed in white. 

My eye then caught the wooden easel holding a sign. It read the time of the event. I now know where everyone disappeared to. They are all getting ready for the ascension. And you would never guess whose ascension.

A click of heels snapped behind me. “Ms. Aphrodite Oshun would like to meet you, Mr. Prolongo,” said Ms. Bridi da Costa.

I jumped out of my shoes, “Please lead the way.”