I had known it would be a hard week, for both Murray and me. Dagmar was in Africa with her son and Ted, her muse, cut off from computer access. Checking my email each morning was a depressing affair, with no lively correspondence to brighten our mornings. I found it harder than usual to get my day started without my morning email.

And Murray was going nuts.

Oh, the ideas he was spewing! Each one darker and more depressing. Death and despair were the order of the day-even more so than usual.

"Murray, I can't do that to Billy. It is too unrealistic, even for me. And no one would believe he could ever recover from it anyway. Now, don't look at me like that! The central idea is great, but we have to tone it down a bit. Okay, a lot. But, still, we could work on it after we finish 'Inescapable Destiny'. Okay?"

"Whatever," he muttered, waiving a languid arm. "It doesn't matter."

"Why don't you go play with Hogan for a while. See what sort of mischief you two can get into?"

"Nah."

"Want to watch the Nature Channel?" I was getting desperate.

"Nah."

Uh-oh. Murray not wanting to watch the Nature Channel? The channel Ted had nicknamed the 'Playfrog Channel'? This was serious. I picked up the small, limp body and gently placed him on my left forearm, his favorite nesting place.

"What's up buddy? Missing Ted?"

"I guess." Even in the throes of depression the stubborn little amphibian would not admit to his fondness for his fellow muse and main partner in crime.

"Something I can do to make you feel better?"

A disinterested shrug was my answer.

"We will get to take our vacation in a couple of months. Won't that be fun?"

A sigh answered that.

I considered my usually energetic muse. Perhaps it didn't help that he rarely left the desktop. Though I spent time there each day, he was still alone (except for Hogan) pretty much all day. And Hogan, while sweet, was probably not real stimulating company.

"Hey, I have it! Want to come to work with me for a couple of days? See some new sights, meet some new people? Sound good?"

He perked up a bit. "Really? I can go to the mystical land of 'Office'? See the 'Boss'? Unbalance a balance sheet or something? Fight for truth, justice, and the American Tax Dollar? Really?"

Gee, I had no idea my job was so interesting. "Sure. Why not?"

"Because you already have a 'work muse'," he reminded me.

"Well, Touché can come home for a couple of days and keep Hogan company. He could probably use the break."

"Will he help you on our story?"

"I guess so. He is a muse, after all. It's his job." Hopefully I didn't sound as doubtful as I felt.

Touché was actually my first muse. He showed up at my workplace a couple of years ago to help me write letters to various taxing authorities on behalf of our clients. Though not as convoluted in speech as a lawyer, perhaps, he was still extremely formal. His primary function was helping find a suitable way to tell the government that they had made a mistake, and to please correct said mistake. He was quite good at his job.

"Tushy is a stuffed shirt," was Murray's observation.

"That's Touché. Touché Turttle. Pronounced 'tur-tell'. And he's just very formal. That is what he has to be. That is what you will have to be. So, sounds like a plan?"

"Okay. I guess so. But you keep Touchy away from Hogan. I don't want my buddy talking like Billy."

I rolled my eyes and prepared to make a muse switch. Monday on my lunch break I brought Touché home and took Murray back to the office with me.

Once at the office, Murray took up his usual position on top of the monitor. People walked by without comment, causing him some concern.

"Am I invisible?" he asked at last.

"Sort of. People can only see muses if they are looking for them. This is an accounting office, so muses are not expected. No one is looking for you, so they can't see you. Well, except me, of course. I know you are here."

"Hmm. This is weird. So, what are you working on?"

"I am doing some billing. No creativity allowed here, sorry. Just sit there quietly and let me work. I'll let you know when you are needed. Okay?"

"What is there to do around here?"

"Not much, Murray. Just sit there quietly. I have to get this done."

The afternoon wore on much the same way. At last I had something Murray could help me with.

"Here you go, buddy. I need to tell this agency that our client received a corrected Form 1099, and that was the amount entered in his tax return. They are trying to use the amount form the original form, which was incorrect. We want to point that out to them politely, and request they issue the refund as soon as possible."

"Okay. So first we tell them to take a good look at their information, that even Skull could see the amount they should use is from the corrected form. Really, what do they think 'corrected' means, anyway? Then, if they don't send the refund immediately, tell 'em we will send Goldar and Scorpina along to collect it. That'll get their attention!"

"Uh, Murray, this is reality here. Okay? No Scorpina or Goldar. And we have to be tactful. Very, very tactful. Want to try again?"

"What was wrong with my first idea?"

I groaned. "Never mind. It was fine. I'll just, um, refine it a bit."

That evening I wandered home to find Touché lounging happily on the monitor, snoozing. Hogan was crouched in the far corner of the desk, watching the sleeping turtle suspiciously.

"Evening Hogan, Touché. How're you doing, boys? Ready to help on the story, Touché?"

"Quite ready. How can I be of assistance?"

"Okay. I need to figure out how the alternate Kimberly will react to Jason's information. She's kind of a bitch in this story. So.."

"What are you talking about?" Touché interrupted me. "Who is Kimberly? Who is Jason?"

"Oh, you know, the Power Rangers? Well, Jason, he was the first team leader, he goes to an alternate dimension to assemble the original team to save that universe. He finds all the various team members, but they aren't like they are in his dimension. He has to convince them to help."

"I see. However, I do have a question. What's a Power Ranger?"

"You know, Touché, never mind. You just relax and enjoy yourself. I'll muddle through on my own," I sighed. Great, now I had no help either place. I gave up after a while, unable to resolve the problem with Kim. Shoot, this was a major pain. And no email letters. Might as well go to bed. So far this week sucked.

The next morning I got to work to discover Murray had decided to help with some paperwork in my absence. My desk looked like it had exploded during the night. Fortunately, I was the first one in the office.

"Murray! Just what do you think you were doing? Look at this mess you made! Now, help me clean it up. Ugh!"

"I was just trying to find something interesting to read! This place is boring." He was obviously sleepy and irritable. Well, that made two of us.

"There is nothing interesting to read here. What does it take to convince you that this is completely different than at home? Now, try not to cause any trouble today."

It was a vain hope. He tried to help with a couple more letters, but somehow I just didn't think the State Board of Equalization would respond well to being threatened with Rito's armpits. However, when I asked Murray if he wanted to go home, he said he'd rather stay.

When I got home, I found Touché reading something on the Internet.

"Hi guys. Whatcha reading?"

"I found a site with information on the Power Rangers. I must say, I am quite shocked."

"Shocked? By the Power Rangers? How so? What site are you on? Oh My God!" Touché had gotten into the "Back Room" at Jenga's and was reading the stories posted there. (Jeremy doesn't need to worry, Touché is well over 21 years old)

I switched off the computer hastily. "Um, Touché, those are not exactly the...uh...norm for Power Ranger stories. Those are...uh...oh...never mind. Let's just watch TV tonight, okay?"

"Well, okay, but you know I do have some ideas for your story now."

"That's okay, buddy. Maybe next time."

"Really, if Jason were to use some of the forms of persuasion I was just reading about...."

"No!" I took a deep breath. "Touché, those are not appropriate for the story I am working on. And, please, keep in mind they are not appropriate for the Internal Revenue Service, either. Now, let's go watch 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Movie', okay? That will show you what the Power Rangers are about."

Another night of no writing, then back to work again.

This time Murray had found my stash of candy that I kept hidden in my desk drawer. Hit with a massive sugar rush, he was bouncing around the office, knocking into the potted plants, messing up stacks of papers, and just generally wreaking havoc.

When I sat down at my desk with my cup of coffee he promptly sank his face into the vile brew and drank deeply, before tearing off again in a manic tour of the main office.

"Murray!! For Pete's sake, just settle down before someone comes in here and wonders what the heck happened. Stop it! Now!" I could not believe how he was behaving. Suddenly he stopped and collapsed on my keyboard.

"Murray? You okay? Huh?"

A snore was all the response I got. I just hung my head and sighed as I straightened up the mess before anyone else got there. Murray snored the entire morning away, waking up only when I set him on the truck seat.

"Where we goin'?" he asked groggily.

"WE are going home. You can't handle the workplace, and frankly, Touché can't handle the homeplace. You are both going back to where you belong. Never again am I going to try to interchange my muses. It is far too dangerous to my peace of mind."

So now I have Touché back at work, and Murray back at home, where he was greeted by the semi hysterical Hogan.

That afternoon I asked Touché to help me with another letter, and was relieved to receive ideas that were appropriate. Well, except for the suggestion that I tell the IRS to go fu...

"Touché!"

He gave me the darndest look when I yelled at him, which doesn't even begin to describe the look my coworker gave me.

At home Murray quit sulking, and even participated in getting a page or two on the current story finished.

"That was a big help, Murray. Thanks. Feeling better now? Not so depressed?" I wondered as I set him on my left forearm.

"Yeah, I suppose. When is Ted coming back?"

"Couple more days now. We will write to him tomorrow night, so he will have a message waiting for him. Sound good?"

"Yeah," he yawned, climbing up on the monitor and nodding off.

Darn, they look so innocent when they are asleep!