Page 30 of Ghost

“F rancis, I’m home,” Mason called out. He’d managed to catch Nick alone at his store and told him the bad news.

“Oh, I’m not telling her,” He said quickly. “Don’t get me wrong, Mason, I understand the delay, but Patty... she’s been looking forward to having that done.”

“Sorry, Nick.” As much as Mason didn’t want to face Patty with the news, he knew that it was unfair to put that on Nick. “I’ll call and tell her.”

After she yelled at him for a full minute, she calmed down and figured out that it would have to happen this way, but also, in the long run, it would get done much quicker with the three of them working on it instead of just Mason. Once she was okay with that, all was good.

“I cannot believe that you can fly to the moon!” Francis appeared in a flash in front of him, making Mason jump back.

“Would you please stop doing that!” Mason blinked hard a few times.

Francis looked chagrined. “I am sorry, Mason.” He then smiled sheepishly. “I was so excited I did not think.”

Mason couldn’t help but smile. “It’s okay. But if I drop dead from a heart attack, you’ll be the one to blame.”

“Hmm.” Francis tilted his head slightly. “Join me in the afterlife?”

“If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to hold off on that. At least for a little while longer.”

Francis laughed. “I do hope you realize that I was only joking, correct?” He then looked serious. “I wish you a long and healthy life, Mason. I truly do.”

“I know you do, Francis. I didn’t take offense.” Mason turned towards the refrigerator and got himself a beer. “What else did you learn today?”

“I think that you need to consider getting a home computer.” Francis again looked serious. “Also, a telephone that you can take with you. It will only make sense for your business.”

“Wow.” Mason took a long drink of the cold beer. “I don’t know the first thing about computers.”

“You will learn.” Francis leaned forward slightly. “You are a very intelligent man, and it is my opinion that you would learn quickly.”

“You think that, do you?” Mason chuckled.

“Yes, I do. It is the wave of the future, Mason. I learned at a young age that it is necessary to be prepared to embrace new things, even if they make us uncomfortable.”

Mason moved towards the living room. “I think those computers are expensive. Too expensive for me at the moment.”

“What about the new telephone that can fit in your pocket?” Francis shook his head.

“It is amazing to me that you have such things. It is a magnificent device. To think that you can speak to someone miles and miles away. It used to take days to send a message to the plantation and then get a response. Now...” Francis flicked his hand in the air, “as if by some magic, you can speak with that person and never take a pen to paper.”

“This is true.” Mason looked at Francis a moment. “I’d never thought about it like that. Maybe I should look into it. Being able to call a customer or a supplier would make things go much faster.”

Francis nodded. “That was my reasoning in suggesting it. So much time can be saved.”

Mason nodded again. “I think you’re right. I’ll look into it day after tomorrow.

“Not tomorrow?” Francis asked as Mason sat on the sofa.

“That’s something I wanted to tell you.” Mason leaned back. “I spoke with Ellen this morning. I just happened to see her as I was going towards Alfred’s old house. She asked if tomorrow would be a good day to go and see Hobonny? I said it was.”

Francis looked sad suddenly. “I only wish that I could go with you. It would do my heart good to see my home once again.”

“I’m sorry, Francis. I wish you could go, too. I will tell you all about it though.”

“I will anxiously await your findings.” Francis gave a brief, but sad smile.

Mason had an idea. He would pick up a disposable camera and take as many pictures as he could. He might even pick up two. It shouldn’t cost that much. He knew that would make Francis happy.

“I’ll tell you everything.”

* * * * *

M ason woke up just after midnight. The few beers and the glass of water before bed made his need for a bathroom visit necessary. He could see the glow of the TV on when he was returning to bed and decided to check in on Francis.

“What’cha up to in here?” he asked.

Francis was studiously watching a late-night news program on ABC. Without looking up he responded, “Politicians today are a mystery to me.” He then looked at Mason. “Why do the people continue to put these men in office if they are obvious criminals?”

Mason couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Hell, if I know.”

Francis shook his head in disgust. “In my day and time, we did have the occasional crooked lawmaker, but he was also held accountable for his actions.” He waved his hand towards the television. “But... it appears not to be the same now.” He frowned. “It is not right.”

Mason sighed. “I’d have to agree with you there. Meanwhile, I’m going to go back to bed and see if I can’t get some more sleep.”

Francis stood and approached Mason. “If you like, I can lay with you for a bit.”

“I’d like that.” Mason smiled warmly. “Come on. I’ll let you tuck me in.”

Francis laughed. “If only I could.”

Mason crawled under the sheet and turned onto his side so he could face Francis as he lay down.

“I have a question for you: would you mind if I used your old bed?” Mason wasn’t sure what reaction Francis would have.

“I beg your pardon?” Francis’ eyebrows were raised so high that in the dark, they almost blended into his hairline. “You have my old bed? I have not seen it here.”

“Seems like your mother sold it to Ellen.”

Francis scowled. “My mother must have run out of money to have done that.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that was the case.” Mason fluffed his pillow so he could see Francis better. “Matter of fact, Ellen bought a lot of stuff from your mother.”

Francis frowned. “I feel somewhat ashamed that Ellen felt it necessary to do that. My mother had no right to ask that of my dear cousin.”

“Personally, I think it is a good thing.”

Francis sat up a bit. “How do you mean?”

Mason smiled at the handsome man. “Ellen has offered it to me to put back into the house. Anything I’d like. It means that all of your things can be returned to where they belong.”

Francis sighed slightly. “You make a valid point.”

“So... would you mind?”

“No, I do not mind at all.” Francis smiled. “I would very much like to get you into my bed.”

Mason couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh boy, what a line.”

Francis smiled. “It is only the truth I speak.”

“I think I’d like that.”

“Now, I do believe that it is time that you try and sleep, Mason.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Mason leaned forward slightly. “I do have a pretty big day tomorrow.”

Francis also leaned in, their lips almost touching. “Yes, indeed you do.”

“Goodnight, Francis.” Mason yawned.

“Rest easy, Mason.”