[ WP ] You are driving down the road when you see a Woman in White ghost hitchhiking . And even though you know she is a ghost , you pick her up anyway ...

She is definitely not of this world. 
 
 I am sure of that. She looks like something straight out of a B-grade slasher flick. Long hair, a dingy tattered dress, the works. 
 But I could n't ignore her either. I could see her sitting cross-legged by the side of the road, giving me a cheery smile with a thumbs up. 
 
 I make up my mind. 
 
 
 I roll down the window and call out, `` Hi, I'm John. Want a lift?'' 
 `` Oh *thank you! *'', she gushes. `` I have been waiting over here for *ages. *'' She opens the door and gets into the car. 
 
 
 My poor, over-worked car groans. I'm mildly surprised. Whatever she is, incorporeal is n't one of them. 
 
 
 `` Hey, do you happen to have a comb and a rubber band or something on you?'' she asks. I rummage for a bit in the glove box and toss an old comb to her. `` You should find some rubber bands back there.'' 
 
 
 `` Thanks! ``, she says brightly. She holds up a lurid pink rubber band. `` Seems like luck is on my side today.'' Surreptitiously looking in the rear view mirror, I see her tie up her hair into a pony tail in one smooth fluid motion. If it were n't for the unearthly paleness of her skin, you would think that she's an ordinary hitchhiker. Albeit with a very questionable taste in fashion. 
 
 
 She catches my eye. `` I know right?'' she grins. `` *This-*'', she gestures to her dress, `` -just simply will not do. I mean to have a word with them once I manage to reach the afterlife.'' 
 
 
 I bite off all the questions I want to ask. It is none of my business. Plus, I do not want to make a probably thousand year old undead demon mad. 
 
 
 She looks at me shrewdly. `` Oh, do go on. I know you want to. I promise I wo n't eat you or anything.'' She laughs seeing my startled expression. `` Perhaps, you do not believe me. All right, then.'' 
 
 
 She straightens up and places her hand n her chest. `` I, Carla Lancester, solemnly swear, to not harm John `` she breaks off and whispers. `` John what, may I ask?'' `` Smith.'' I reply. `` Oh alright.'' 
 She continues, `` John Smith which also includes,'' she gives me a wink, `` consuming his flesh. This I swear upon my honour as a lady. Satisfied?'' 
 I laugh. She grins at me conspirationally. `` And would you believe, Mr. John Smith, that I had been a vegetarian in life?'' 
 
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 `` I guess I'll answer all your obvious questions right off the bat.'' You must be *dying* of curiosity, I'm sure.'' She gives me a wink. 
 
 I resolutely look straight ahead at the long empty highway. `` Never one for waiting, were you?'' 
 
 `` My mum always told me I was as about as patient as a squirrel in summer.'' I look at her quizzically. `` My mother was a strange and interesting woman, John.'' 
 I look at her carefully folding my parking tickets into miniature paper rabbits. `` Now that, I can believe.'' 
 
 `` So, let's go back to the topic, shall we? My name is Cara Lancester. I lived in Florida for all of my life. I was an accountant. I lived with my parents, and had no relationships to speak of. I died about two days ago at the age of 26 in a car crash.'' She pauses for a moment and sighs. `` And that's about it.'' 
 
 I stare at her in disbelief. She gives me a weak smile. `` Believe it or not, Mr. John Smith, all of us, `` she hesitates. `` *Women in White, * I believe is the Hollywood term? Well then, all of us Women in White are not abused wives, or violently murdered girlfriends seeking revenge.'' 
 
 `` Most of us...'' she adds, looking at her knees. `` Most of us are ordinary people, with ordinary lives who die due to ordinary, everyday accidents.'' 
 
 She sighs. 
 
 `` Now, do n't get me wrong. I lived a happy life, a good life by anyone's standards. It's just that-'' 
 
 `` You wanted something more?'' 
 
 `` I wanted to travel.'' Her eyes light up. `` I want to see what is there outside the small town where I was born and where I died.'' 
 
 `` And that is why you're going to Arizona.'' She slowly nods. `` How much sadder it is to die, knowing that you have never lived.'' she quotes sadly. 
 
 She catches my eye. `` Be that as it may, `` she says pompously, with a defiant shake of her head, `` I shall not let this opportunity go to waste!'' 
 
 She gives me a grin. `` Can you think of the number of people who would *die* to be in my position right now?'' She gestures wildly. `` No tickets! No lines! No cheap hotels!'' 
 
 `` So, I take that you would not be able to rest until you go wherever you have wanted to go, then?'' 
 
 `` Yes. After that'' her eyes unfocus, `` I am not exactly sure what would happen.'' She snaps back to herself. `` All the more reason for me to- dare I say it- *live* while I can.'' 
 
 `` And I'm sure you shall.'' Her smile falters for a bit. `` That is... Very kind of you, John.'' She gives me a shrug. `` Second time's the charm, eh?'' 
 
 The car rolls to a stop in front of a cheap hotel. `` I'm afraid this is as far as I go tonight.'' I say apologetically as I step out of the car and open the door. 
 
 `` Oh my!'' She looks at me in mock disappointment. `` And here I was thinking that I would get to ask you about your life and discover the secret behind that absurdly common name of yours!'' She shakes her head. `` Ah,'t is a pity, it is.'' I look at her skeptically. 
 
 She gives me a wink. `` What? I have a reputation to keep, do n't you think?'' 
 
 `` Of course. As to the former, I'm afraid it will remain an unsolved mystery.'' I mock sigh. 
 
 She laughs, a clear peal of happiness. `` It was nice meeting you, John Smith.'' 
 
 `` It was my pleasure, Carla Lancester.'' I bow and give her a small smile. 
 
 She grins. `` It is nice that you showed some respect, John Smith, else I would have been forced to consume your flesh as punishment for your impudence.'' 
 
 I grin back. `` I agree. I would have been highly disappointed if the great acclaimed spirit Carla Lancester had not stayed true to her word.'' 
 
 I wave. `` Good bye Carla.'' 
 
 `` Fare thee well, John.'' 
 
 As I make my way across the parking lot, I could see a lithe petite woman giving me a cheery wave from the back of my eye. 
 
 EDIT: Formatting. 
 
 EDIT 2: More formatting. 
 

