Ghouls, Goblins, and Ghosts
by Maggie Van Ostrand
On Halloween I usually conjure up run-of-the-mill ghosts, ghouls, and
goblins to scare little kids away so I don't have to share my candy
with them. This year, I've decided to actually contact a dead celebrity
instead, to find out how they're enjoying their afterlife life. I
figured G for Ghost, and double that for good luck.
I chose the ghost of Greta Garbo, elusive in life but, since being
deceased, I figured she'd be helpless to resist my invitation if I used
what I learned in the hallowed halls of Carnac's Conjuring Class.
Knowing Greta Garbo had never been interviewed by Diane Sawyer, Barbara
Walters or Charlie Rose, this would be the scoop of an afterlifetime. By
supersecret methods, I texted the Spirit World's Dead Celebs with
Double G Initials Dept. Due to a glitch in their system, instead of
Greta Garbo, something went wrong and I ended up with Pedro
Gonzales-Gonzales.
GG: I am the ghost of Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales, a guy so nice, they named me twice.
Me: How do you do?
GG: How do I do? I am dead. How do you think I do?
Me: No offense. It's just that hearing you is a surprise since I was aiming for Greta Garbo.
GG: Good luck with that. Nobody up here ever sees her. The only way we know she's around is the trail of cigarette smoke.
Me: Smoking is allowed there?
GG: Every vice is allowed here. That's why it's heaven.
Me: I hate to sound snobbish but I'm not sure you'll be a hit on Halloween. These days, a lot of people won't know who you are.
GG: Story of my life. I'm only a Ghost Second Class. Callers like
you always try to reach First Class, like Thomas Jefferson or Marilyn
Monroe, or Elvis. You think you're the first to try Garbo? She won't
even take a call from Oprah. You received me instead because you
probably used the same people who designed the Obamacare website. Cheer
up, I'm not totally unknown. I acted with the most famous of all
celebrities -- John Wayne. We did a bunch of movies together like Hondo,
Chisum, and Rio Bravo, and he kept me on his payroll until he died. My
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is right next to his. I'm so proud
it's my star they stand on when they take pictures of his star.
Before that, I was a little famous already for making Groucho laugh
when he asked me "If we got together as an act, what would it be
called?" I said "It would be Gonzales-Gonzales and Marx." Then Groucho
looked at the audience and said, "Do you believe that? Two men in the
act, and I get third billing!"
Me: Well, Wayne and Groucho are good cred and you do have the right initials. I only wish you were scarier.
GG: I never played anything scarier than bandits. If only I could land a part today on The Walking Dead,
I'd be on easy street. Talk about authenticity! But my agent's even
deader than I am. I will tell you a secret even TMZ doesn't have. My
real name is not Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales. My real name is Ramiro
Gonzales-Gonzales. There. I told the truth and I feel better now. Still
dead, but better.
Me: You've convinced me, so will you come to my Halloween Party as an apparition and voiceover?
GG: Sorry, I can't. Epcot has me under dead-or-alive contract at Disney World.
Me: Another body blow. No Garbo, not even a ghostly
Gonzalez-Gonzalez. Well, maybe we can get together another time. I think
I'll just go to the Halloween Party as Ted Cruz. It might not do much
for the kids, but it sure will scare the adults.
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