This story, titled Paperwork, is an enjoyable blend of humor and light horror, effectively delivering an unexpected twist that adds intrigue and an amusing moral. Here’s an overall review:

Strengths:
Atmosphere and Tone:
The opening sets a vivid mood with stormy weather, creating an eerie and suspenseful tone that draws the reader in. The description of thunder, lightning, and pouring rain is well-executed and helps establish the story's mood.

Humor:
The humor tied to unfinished paperwork and its ghostly consequences is creative and makes the story stand out. The punchline at the end ties the narrative together and leaves readers smiling.

Pacing:
The buildup of suspense, from the initial scream to the investigation of the clerical room, is well-paced. It keeps the reader engaged as the tension escalates.

Surprise Twist:
The fake prank followed by the unexpected final scream is an effective twist. Just when readers think the mystery is resolved, the story leaves them with a chilling (and humorous) ending.

Areas for Improvement:
Character Development:
The story could benefit from giving a bit more personality to the characters. For example, fleshing out Bridgett’s role beyond her single line would make her more relatable.

Dialogue Flow:
Some of the dialogue, while functional, could feel more natural. For instance, “Stop! Don’t come any closer!” and “How could you do this to us?” could be rephrased to sound less formal and more conversational.

Clarity in the Ending:
The ending is deliberately ambiguous, which works for the mystery, but it might help to hint more strongly at whether the final scream was supernatural or part of the prank. This would ensure readers are left intrigued rather than confused.

Moral Integration:
While the moral is funny, its delivery could feel more integrated into the story. Mentioning the importance of completing paperwork earlier in the narrative might help tie the moral to the plot more cohesively.

Final Thoughts:
Paperwork is a fun, quirky tale with a clever concept and a memorable punchline. Strengthening the characters and polishing the dialogue would make it even more impactful, but as it stands, it’s an entertaining and lighthearted read with just the right amount of creepiness.

WriterRick (WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group)

My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .