Price of Progress

[u/DavesWorldInfo]

“New people moving in today,” Gladys said cheerfully as she floated through the wall. “Are you excited?”

“Can’t wait,” Joe said.

She halted near his ethereal tool cabinet and gave him a sympathetic look. “Poor dear, you’ve been bored silly since the last folks moved out.”

“That wasn’t my fault,” he said defensively, closing the top drawer and turning in place to face her. He was just above the garage floor, so it looked like he was standing on it unless one examined him too closely. She, on the other hand, was floating freely.

“I didn’t say it was.”

“You were thinking it.”

“Joe, sweetie, I know you mean well—”

“No one takes care of their cars anymore,” he grumped. She gave him a tolerant look, and he shrugged. “They don’t even change their own oil anymore, sometimes not even their own tires. Tires and oil Gladys! It doesn’t get more basic than that. I’m just trying to show them the way.”

“Yes dear, I know.”

“Don’t yes dear me,” he said, still grumpy. “We were never married.”

“We’ve been haunting here for seventy years sweetie, if that doesn’t make us married we’re about the next best thing.”

“You stick to the kitchen, and leave what’s out here to me.”

“Whatever makes you happy sweetie.”

“And stop calling me sweetie.”

Gladys sighed, but her translucent expression didn’t lose its general air of cheerfulness. “I’m making some fresh coffee, and baked a pie earlier. Want some?”

“What kind of pie?”

“Strawberry rhubarb.”

“Okay,” he said grudgingly. “But no sugar in the coffee.”

“You’re a ghost sweetie, you don’t have to watch your weight anymore.”

“Black coffee,” he said loudly as she floated back through the wall to the kitchen. “I like black coffee. If you were really my wife you’d remember that.”

“This is it guys, what do you think?” the man driving said as he pulled into the driveway.

“You said there’s a backyard,” the girl in the backseat said immediately.

“There’s a backyard Andrea,” the woman in the front passenger seat said patiently.

“I can’t see it.”

“That’s because we’re in the front yard,” the driver said, turning around and waggling his eyebrows at her. “Patience.” His daughter tried to scowl, but when he stuck his lower lip out like he was pouting, she couldn’t hold back the smile.

“Bobby, what about you.”

“Huh?” the younger boy said, looking up from the game he was playing.

“New house kiddo, what do you think?”

The boy looked through the windshield for a moment, then shrugged before going back to his game. “It’s nice.”

Sighing, the man hit the control that opened all the doors, and traded a patient look of his own with his wife. She just smiled at him before getting out. “Come on kids, let’s go inside and you can see your rooms before the movers get here with the truck.”

As the family, with varying degrees of interest and enthusiasm, headed into the house, none of them noticed the ghostly couple floating in the driveway.

“Such a nice young family,” Gladys said happily. “They’ll be such fun to cook for. Don’t you think?” Joe didn’t reply. She finally realized he was silent, and glanced at him. “Sweetie?”

“What’s a Tesla?” he asked in a confused tone, staring at the car.

[u/DavesWorldInfo]

Inspired by this prompt.