Ever watched as Vets R Us passed by on his left. No wonder the road felt familiar. Death took Ever further and further out until they came to a bridge, stopping right in the middle. Either side, Ever could see cars with their headlights on driving on the highway out of the city.

  *Mentor? Are we here?*

  Ding! Death said with mock cheerfulness. Going down…

  Ever sunk through the bridge, settling right on the highway. He looked around.

  *Mentor?* Death said nothing. In the distance a freight truck was coming.

  Have you ever heard of a game called Chicken? Death asked.

  The truck was coming closer, its large headlights gleaming.

  *Mentor…*

  You win if you jump just before the truck hits you.

  *Mentor, how about the reaping?*

  Let the truck hit you and I’ll take you to it.

  Ever dropped his shoulders. Why must his mentor be like this? He floated and waited. The truck was 50 feet away, then 20, then -

  WHOOOSH!

  Ever could not help but squeeze his eyes shut as tons and tons of steel drove right through him.

  Hehehehe, Death cackled. OK, you win. See that tent on the side of the road? Isaiah's over there.

  Ever floated over to where he could see a ghost who was turned away from him. He appeared to be trying his hardest to dig through large, black garbage bags in a pile, his hands gliding straight through.

  “No, no, no…” he moaned. “Bozo…”

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  “Did you just say ‘Bozo’?” Ever asked. The man spun around. Even as a ghost, Ever could see that he had seen better days. His face was unshaven the day that he died, and somehow, his feet still looked dirty.

  “What do you know about Bozo?” Isaiah demanded. “Have you seen my dog?” The man saw the scythe and rushed at Ever. “Did you kill him?”

  Ever dodged sideways deftly. “No, I saw Bozo’s soul at Vets R Us.”

  Isaiah stared at Ever. Moments later, tears started falling from his eyes. “I killed my dog.”

  “What?” Ever said. “Why?” He floated back closer to him.

  “Because I was dying.” Isaiah was sobbing. “Found blood in the toilet one day, went to ER, doctor ran some tests. I had Stage 4 colon cancer.” Ever stayed quiet, as the ghost wept. “I lived here,” he gestured towards the makeshift tent under the bridge. “Bozo was all I had, man. I didn’t want him to miss me, but…” he covered his face, sinking to the ground.

  Ever floated across to the bags. He quickly turned human, moving the bags around. With the only light coming from street lamps far away, it was hard to see anything. There was something fuzzy underneath everything.

  “What are you doing?” Isaiah had rushed at Ever again. “Wait, why are you now human?”

  “I’m Death’s apprentice.” Ever changed back into reaper form. "I help souls pass to the Underworld."

  “Why were you at the vet?”

  “I…” He smiled as he realized what he was about to say. “I’ve got a dog too. I was taking her for a check up. Isaiah, what were you looking for?”

  The derelict soul hesitated. “A sweater. I wore it all the time and I would hug Bozo to sleep. I miss him so much, especially his smell.” The scythe glowed, the blade gleaming. Ever regarded the mystical tool, its menu materializing:

  SENSES

  Hearing

  Smell

  Touch

  Sight

  —--

  Ever paused. Would this work? “How would you like to put this sweater on one more time?”

  “Really?” The ghost half-whispered. “You can do that?”

  “I can try.”

  The apprentice reaper chose ‘Smell’ and ‘Touch’ from the list. The scythe bobbled slightly before accepting Ever’s choices. Two beams shot out and filled up Isaiah with light. He zipped over to the depths of the garbage bags. Eyes closed, he rubbed his face in the old sweater. Moments later, he pulled it over his head. He lay on top of the garbage bags, utterly at bliss.

  “Bozo…” Isaiah whispered, hugging himself tight. He pulled the collar up and breathed deeply.

  “He loved you to the very end,” Ever said.

  The ghost was disappearing in front of Ever. “I know... he was the best friend anyone could have.”