Page 34 of Ghost

M ason woke up the next morning with a smile on his face. He stretched and yawned before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He could hear the television, but only slightly. Again, he smiled, remembering turning it on for Francis just before falling into bed exhausted.

He went into the bathroom to relieve his bladder, brushed his teeth and headed out to make some coffee. With that done, he made his way to the living room. Mason stopped and leaned against the doorway, taking in Francis, reclining on the small sofa, nude.

The night had been spent with Francis making love to him in a way that he could never have imagined. It was unlike any type of sex he’d ever had or even realized could happen. For the fist time he felt he truly understood what making love really was.

Mason wasn’t sure how Francis had managed it but was oh so grateful that he had.

He let his eyes roam down Francis’ body.

He took in the well-developed chest, covered with a smattering of dark hair.

The perky nipples that begged to be played with.

His tight tummy also lightly covered in fur.

His long uncircumcised penis and fuzzy balls. He sighed contentedly.

“Are you planning on standing there staring at me all morning?” Francis asked, his own eyes never leaving the TV.

“Maybe.” Mason answered, not moving.

Francis finally smiled and looked up. “That is a perfectly acceptable answer.”

“You should never wear clothes again.”

“What if Ellen, or even more concerning, Gerald, were to pay a call?”

“Hmph. What makes you think I’d even answer the door?”

“That would be very impolite of you,” Francis replied as he stood up.

Mason watched the play of muscles in his legs. “Maybe you should come back to bed.”

“Was last night not enough for you?” Francis slowly walked towards Mason, a slight grin on his face.

“To be honest, no.” Mason could feel the goofy smile on his own face. “I don’t know if there’d ever be enough.”

“I’m very glad that you enjoyed yourself.” Francis stopped just in front of Mason.

“Oh, I did.” Mason wagged his eyebrows.

“Really?” Francis had a devilish look on his face.

“Yep. Really.”

Francis stepped into Mason and stopped. Mason shuddered, gasped for breath and then ejaculated all over the floor.

“Look. You made a mess on the floor,” Francis said laughing after having stepped back.

Mason was gripping the door frame, his breathing labored. “I don’t know how you do that, but I’m glad you can.”

Francis grinned and swiveled his hips causing his own erection to swing from side to side.

“You are a big ol’ cock tease.” Mason watched the big phallus swinging.

“I am not,” Francis stated emphatically.

“You –”

Before Mason could finish the sentence, Francis stepped into him again, with the same result, only it taking a little longer.

“Whoa. Not so close together.” Mason reached for his testicles, holding them. “Damn, they’re a little sore from so much use.”

Francis tilted his head back and laughed. A moment later he said, “I can remember that feeling once when I overly abused myself.”

“Abused?”

“That is how it was referred to in my time.” Francis looked at the floor again. “Quite the mess you have made, Mason.”

“Well, hell’s bells. Today we just call it jerking off.” Mason scrunched up his face. “I’ll get a towel and clean it up. Last thing I need is to step in it and track it all over the house.”

“Good idea. What was it that you called it last night? Jizz?” Francis chuckled, following Mason into the kitchen.

“Yeah,” he answered.

“Strange word.”

Mason dampened a dishtowel. “I have no idea where that one came from.”

After Mason was done cleaning up the floor, he sat down with a cup of coffee. The morning news was on, and of course, most of it was about the Olympics that would be starting the following evening with the opening ceremonies.

“I am most looking forward to seeing this event,” Francis said.

“Yeah, I am too. I heard that the opening was something really special.”

“Mason, there is someone at the door.”

“You heard a knock?” Mason asked getting up.

“I heard footsteps.”

There was a pounding on the door. “Who on earth could that be?” Mason asked as he went to get some pants on, seeing as he was still naked. “Be right there,” he yelled.

As quickly as he could, he stumbled towards the stairs, pulling on a pair of jean shorts. “I’m coming.”

Mason got to the door and opened it to see Sharon, Ellen’s housekeeper/cook. “Hi, Sharon. What can I do for you?”

“May I come in for a moment and speak to you two?”

“What? You can see ghosts?” Mason was completely surprised.

“No, but I can feel them and sometimes I can hear them sort of.”

Mason stood aside so she could enter the foyer.

“I’m sorry for coming so early but it was the only time I could sneak out of the house without Ellen or Gerald noticing.”

“Okay. So, what’s up?” Mason glanced at Francis who was standing off to the side.

“Ellen and Gerald both are really upset at how things played out. Actually, Gerald is the one I’m most concerned about and his pacing is driving me nuts.”

“I think that Gerald should have thought of that before telling me I needed to leave in no uncertain terms.” Francis was beginning to get angry again.

Sharon turned towards Francis. “He regrets how he said that. He realizes now how it must have sounded to you, and he’s very, very sorry.”

“You can hear Francis?” Mason asked.

“Yes, but it’s a bit like he’s at the end of a very long tunnel. Only reason I can hear him I think is because he’s so close.” She turned her attention back to Mason. “And Ellen is so distraught she hasn’t even gotten out of bed yet, which is making Gerald even more agitated.”

Mason sighed. “What do you want from me then?”

“Could you please come over? See if you can’t work this out?” Sharon was pleading and it was plain to see that she was under duress from everything going on around her.

“I don’t know, Sharon.” Mason drew in a long breath.

“Please. She thinks so highly of you, and that in itself is unusual, but to do so, so quickly, is practically unheard of. She doesn’t trust easily.”

Francis paced for a moment while Mason watched.

“Well? What do you think?” Mason asked.

“I feel terrible to cause my dear, sweet cousin such anguish.” Francis stepped closer to Sharon.

“If Gerald will pay me a visit and let us discuss matters, perhaps I can forgive him.” He turned to face Mason.

“You must go to Ellen. She is old and frail and does not need to have such a heavy burden upon her. Please, Mason, do this for me. Do this for us. In the end, we both know the outcome, even though neither of us is happy with the end result.”

Mason could feel the tears welling up again.

The night before, after showing Francis all the photos of Francis’ family home, they had had a long talk and it was decided that when the time came Francis would go into the light and leave this world for the next.

Neither of them was happy about it, but they knew that in the long run it would be for the best.

“Okay. I’ll come over. I need a shower and something to eat first,” Mason said to Sharon. “I’m not exactly happy about it, but I’ll come.”

“Oh, thank you, Mason.” Sharon turned a bit. “And thank you, Francis. I’m also sorry about your mother. I could hear her sometimes as I walked by that house and she sounded just awful.”

Francis had a sour look on his face. “Thank you, kind lady. As in all things, the universe will eventually find its own balance.”

* * * * *

S haron opened to door to the Trudeau home, allowing Mason to enter. “Thank you, Mason.” Sharon leaned forward and kissed him on the check.

“What in blue blazes are you doing here,” Gerald hissed, appearing right behind Sharon.

“Gerald, please.” Sharon tilted her head slightly. “He is here to make amends, so please calm down.”

“I suppose now is the time for me to go and grovel to Francis.” Mason noticed that Gerald was indeed sorry for what he’d said to Francis but didn’t seem to relish the apologizing part of it.

“Yes, it is,” Sharon stated emphatically. “If you want to see Ellen happy again, I’d say that would be the smart thing to do.”

Gerald grumbled under his breath before disappearing.

Mason took a deep breath and shook his head. “It’s very hard to get used to them popping in and out. It’s like a light switch being flipped.”

“There are times I’m so glad I can’t see them.

Hearing them is sometimes more than I can handle.

” Sharon shook her head as she walked towards the stairs.

“Gerald used to think it was funny to show up behind me and then yell in my ear. Only after I dropped a very expensive crystal vase did Ellen get onto him about it. Not sure what she said, but he did stop, thank goodness.”

Mason had to chuckle. “I have a feeling that Ellen gets her way in most things.”

“She does have a way about her,” Sharon agreed, chuckling. In a more subdued voice, she said, “She’s still in bed. She’s going to give me tea-total hell for allowing you into her bedroom, but, well....” Her voice faded off.

They got to the top of the stairs and Sharon knocked softly on the door. “Ellen, Mason is here to see you.”

“What?” Ellen’s voice, although faint through the door, also sounded old.

Sharon opened the door, and let Mason go through.

“Good morning, Ellen...” Mason started.

Ellen was propped up in bed with a tray across her lap. On it sat a small silver coffee pot and a plate on which Mason assumed had been toast. A newspaper was off to her right side.

“Mason. What are you doing here?” Ellen seemed flustered as she attempted to pat her hair into place. “Sharon knows better than to let anyone into my bedroom.”

“Now, don’t go getting your feathers all in a fluster.” Mason had to chuckle. “It’s my fault, so blame me.” He took a deep breath. “I just didn’t want to leave things after yesterday.”

A single tear escaped Ellen’s eye, which she quickly wiped away. “I’m so sorry, Mason. I truly am.”

Mason shrugged. “It is what it is, I guess.” Mason sat on the foot of the bed.

“Will you ever forgive me?”

Mason smirked at her. “Eventually.”

Ellen rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to let me live this down, are you?”

“Nope,” Mason said smiling, but with his eyes narrowed. “I have a feeling that having something over your head will prove to be very beneficial.”

“Oh, heaven help me now!” She laughed, the twinkle back in her eyes.

Mason looked around the room for a moment. “Francis and I had a long talk after you and Gerald left yesterday.” He looked back at Ellen. “As much as I don’t like it, we have both decided that perhaps you were right.”

Ellen looked down at her hands. “I’m sorry, Mason.

I know what it’s like to have a broken heart and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but it is for the best.” She looked up, her eyes moist. “I’ve lived with it for many years, and it is so very hard.

You deserve to have a real live love in your life.

A ghost can’t do what a real person can. ”

“Oh, I don’t know about all that, now.” Mason smiled broadly.

Ellen’s mouth fell open and then snapped shut, her lips all but disappearing. “There are some things that others do not need to know, Mason Montgomery!”