Page 115 of Ghost

“Hey, Mark.I’m fine.How are you?”Mason opened the can of Coke he’d gotten out of the fridge when he got Ellen her lemonade.

“I’m well, thank you.”He cleared his throat.“Listen, I have a new shipment of some things that I think you’d be very interested in.Could you come by in the next day or so?”

“Sure, Mark.”Mason looked at his watch.“I’ll stop by this afternoon if that’s good for you?”

“That would be good.I wanted to give you first go at some of these things.There are some light fixtures that I think you’d be especially interested in.”

“Sounds good.”Mason looked towards the living room.“I’ll see you shortly.Thanks for the heads-up, Mark.”

“Need to keep one of my best customers happy.I’ll see you in a bit then.Bye, Mason.”

“Bye.”

Mason hung up the phone and took a deep breath.I hope that Ellen will handle Francis.I don’t know that I could.

Mason walked towards the living room.He could hear Ellen, but not what she was saying.As he got to the doorway he said, “I need to run over to the salvage yard and check out a few things.Looks like I might have a line on some light fixtures for the house.Will you two be okay on your own for a little bit?”

Francis looked at Mason, his face blank.

“Of course.”Ellen said, still looking at her cousin.“I’ll stay here and keep Francis company until you return.”She glanced at Mason.“As long as it’s not too long, that is.”

“I shouldn’t be gone for more than an hour.Two at the most.”

“That will suit me fine,” Ellen said, her focus back on Francis.

“See you later then.”

Mason took his keys from the basket on the kitchen counter and went out the back door.It looks as if Ellen is going to go over all the details for Francis’ funeral.I’m glad I don’t have to do it.

* * * * *

Mason was humming along to the radio.“Little Bitty” by Alan Jackson was playing.It was an upbeat song, which helped with his mood.What also helped were the antique light fixtures in the back of his truck.He was hoping that they were like what had been in the house when Francis had lived there, or at least close.Of course, there wasn’t electrical lighting back then, but he was hopeful that they were a match.

I know I should have waited on these, but I wanted to be able to show Francis.There isn’t much time left.

After thinking that, he reached over and turned off the radio.“Shit.Shit.Shit.”Mason hammered the steering wheel, his good mood taking a nosedive.

When he entered the basement apartment of his home, he called out to Francis.

“We’re in the living room,” Ellen called out.

When Mason entered the room, his mood didn’t improve.Ellen looked as if she’d been crying, and Francis looked like he wanted to.

“What’s going on?”Mason asked, his voice low.

Francis looked at Mason and then away.“I think I will take my leave for a bit, if you do not mind?”He slowly faded away.

Ellen looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap.“It’s all arranged.The funeral home will pick up Francis’ remains this afternoon.They will then take him to the funeral parlor and place him in his coffin.”She continued to look at her hands in her lap.“Tomorrow, late afternoon, they will bring Francis home."She looked up at Mason.“I used your telephone.I hope you don’t mind.”

“Here?Here in the house?”

“Yes,” Ellen said softly, dabbing at her eyes with a lace trimmed handkerchief.She looked up.“We need to make sure that Francis can reconnect his spirit with his body so that he can go into the light and leave this world once and for all and have peace.”

“No, of course not.”Mason sat next to her on the small couch, taking her small hand in his.“On using the phone.I mean.I’m a bit...surprised at him, or his body, or bones being here though.”

“It’s how it was done long ago.”She looked as if she was going to cry.

“Couldn’t he...just go into the light here, as he is now?”