Page 37 of Ghost

Mason sat down with a glass of ice and a can of Coke. He reached for one of the potato skins covered in bacon, cheese and sour cream with a sprinkle of chives on top. He bit off half of it. “Oh my god, this is too good.” He chewed, swallowed and then took a gulp of soda. “I needed that.”

Francis sat next to him, his expression blank.

Mason knew what Francis wanted and he was having a hard time figuring out how to explain everything. He took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, took a sip of his drink and hung his head.

“Francis, I am miserable but like I said, not in the way that you think.” Mason looked up at Francis.

“Today, I was really upset after our argument and so I went for a walk. I saw a barber shop and decided to get a haircut, which by the way is called a military style crew-cut. I was assured that it was really stylish.” Mason ran his hand over his head.

” I’m still not sure I like it, but if I don’t, it’ll grow out. ”

“I am sure. I do not like it.” Francis frowned. “I miss your curls.”

Mason smiled. “I’ve always hated my curly hair.”

“But why?” Francis looked surprised. “It is like you have a golden halo around your head.” He smiled. “I would like to think that is how angels would appear.”

“Aw, that is so sweet. Thank you.” Mason wanted to take his hand right then but couldn’t. “I think I will let it grow back out. Not sure this suits me, anyway.”

“I think that is a wise choice.” Francis scowled for a moment. “It is my opinion that it makes you look much older.”

“Anyway, as I was saying, I went into the barber shop. A nice-looking guy cut my hair, but he also hit on me.”

Francis jumped up. “He struck you? Did you call the authorities? Was he arrested?”

Mason busted up laughing. “No. He made a pass at me. Flirted.”

Francis’ frown deepened.

Mason took a deep breath. “The bad part, or worst, depending on how you look at it, is that I didn’t even realize it until after I’d left.” Mason looked down at his hands and then back at Francis. “And then I felt guilty because of you.”

Francis sat back down, close to Mason. “I must admit that makes me very happy.”

“Then I went to see Ellen because... well, because I didn’t know how to cope with all that. That’s when she started giving me bourbon and talking about your funeral.”

The frown was back on Francis’ face. “I see.”

“No, I’m not sure that you do because I sure didn’t.”

“Please, explain.” Francis stood again.

“What I realized on my walk to Ellen’s is.

.. well, it felt good to have someone touching me.

” He looked up at Francis. “This is really hard for me, Francis. I want to have that. I want to be able to hold hands with you. Go to the movies, out to dinner, or hell, even go out dancing, and we can’t do those things. ”

Francis turned away slightly, the hurt showing on his face before he tried to hide it.

“I want to feel your hands on me. I need to have human contact.” Mason stood and walked to stand in front of Francis.

“If you were to stay here, I’m afraid I’d never leave the house again, and then I’m afraid that I would start to hate you because I would never be able to have those things with you. ”

The look on Francis’ face went blank. “I will go.” He started to fade away.

“No! Please don’t go! Not now.”

Francis stopped fading but didn’t come back to his full appearance.

“I want to spend as much time with you as I can before you have to go. Please, Francis, don’t go. I love you.”

“And I love you as I have no other,” Francis said, slowly reappearing, looking more solid.

“This is so hard.” Mason covered his face with his hands, then rubbed his eyes, afraid he might start crying. “I don’t want you to go, but—”

“I must.” Francis sighed. “It is I who is being selfish and only thinking of myself. I should have realized that you needed those things.”

“Can’t we just be together until... well, we can’t?” Mason walked back to the sofa and sat down. “We can watch the Olympics just like we’d planned and then tomorrow I’ll fill you in on... everything?”

Francis sat next to Mason. “Of course, my love.” He smiled gently. “You should eat while it is still warm.”

They sat like that the entire evening, watching the spectacle of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

When it finished, which was late into the night, Francis stood and began to applaud, yelling, “Bravo!”

“I have to agree with you,” Mason said, also standing, picking up the box of empty food containers. “That was quite the show. Atlanta can be proud.”

“That was stupendous. It would have been very exciting to have been there and to experience such a spectacle.” Francis sighed. “What an exciting time this is.”

“Yeah, it was great.” Mason left to take the box and other trash to the kitchen, Francis followed.

“It is very late, and you should get some rest,” Francis said.

Mason yawned. “Yeah, I need sleep.”

He went through his normal routine, getting ready for bed. When he was all settled in, Francis lying beside him, he yawned again.

“Goodnight, Francis. They will probably do a rerun of the opening ceremonies again, so you can see it twice.”

“That would be wonderful. I would happily sit and watch it again.” He leaned forward a bit and Mason could feel what felt like a butterfly brush his lips. “Until the morrow.”

* * * * *

Mason woke up the next morning feeling a little drained. His hangover was gone, but he could definitely tell he’d had too much to drink the day before. He thanked all the saints for Patty and Nick bringing food. He knew for sure that he’d feel a lot worse had he not had something to eat.

He got out of bed, went to the bathroom and then started the coffee. While it was making, he went to see what Francis was up to, as if he didn’t know. He found him, as he knew he would, in front of the television. The news was on, and it was focused on the Olympics of course.

“Good morning, Mason.” Francis stood. “I trust you slept well.”

“Yeah, I did, thanks.”

Francis chuckled. “You snore very loudly after you have been drinking.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do.”

“Oh well, I’m glad I don’t have to hear it then.” Mason smiled. “I’m getting my coffee, then I’ll come sit for a bit.”

Francis nodded and then sat back down, his attention going back to the morning news broadcast.

Mason got his coffee and decided he wanted some cereal, so he made that and returned to the living room and sat next to Francis.

“I was able to see the entire show again, as you said,” Francis said smiling. “I think it might have been better the second time. I was able to see more things, I do believe.”

Mason munched on his cereal. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t mind seeing it again myself.”

“They announced,” Francis said, his hand waving towards the TV, “that they will be broadcasting it again this weekend. Sunday, I think they said.”

“Cool. I’ll try and catch it.”

Francis shook his head. “Such strange phrasing in this day and age.” He smiled.

Mason went back to the kitchen after finishing his breakfast and to get more coffee when the phone rang. He nearly jumped out of his skin. It so rarely rang that he didn’t even remember having a phone most of the time.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Mason, I hope you are well.”

“’Morning, Ellen. Yeah, a little off center maybe, but I slept like a baby yesterday and last night.” Mason laughed. “How about you?”

Ellen giggled. “I’ve not had that much to drink in a long time. I’m afraid that I made Gerald angry, but that’s life, or in his case, death.” She laughed heartily at her own joke.

“He and Francis got into it again yesterday.”

Ellen sighed heavily. “Yes, he was out of sorts all night last night. I tried to watch the Olympic opening ceremonies, but finally gave up and went to bed. He was being such an ass.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Mason poured another cup of coffee.

“He yelled at poor Sharon and made her break yet another dish. I told him that if he didn’t go away and leave me in peace for at least twenty-four hours, I’d have the house exorcised and have him gone for good.”

“Oh boy. I bet that didn’t go over very well.”

Ellen laughed again. “He was so angry with me, he bellowed like an old cow and disappeared. I’ve not seen him since.”

“Holy crap!”

“Don’t worry. He’ll be back.” Ellen chuckled. “The purpose of my call is I was wondering if you could be ready to go to the funeral home by ten this morning. Afterwards, we could have an early lunch.”

“Yeah, I can be ready.”

“Very good. Also, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to come over after our luncheon and visit with Francis for a while. I would like to have a little time with him before... everything.”

“Sure. I can even make myself scarce for a bit if you’d like. I can always run a few errands.”

“Mason, you truly are a gem.” Ellen sighed. “It feels as if I just regained my cousin and now, I have to say goodbye.”

Mason’s mouth went dry. “Yeah. I get it.”

“Oh, Mason, how insensitive of me. Of course, you would understand.”

“If I’m to be ready by ten, I should get this day started.” Mason suddenly wanted to get off the phone and see Francis. “Would you like me to drive?”

“Heavens no. I doubt I could get into your truck. I’ve ordered a car. I will see you shortly.”

“Okay. Bye, Ellen.”

“Goodbye, Mason.”

Mason took his coffee back to the living room and sat next to Francis. At that moment, he wanted nothing else but to be held by the man, or ghost as the case may be.

“What is wrong, Mason?” Francis turned to face him.

“Nothing.”

“Mason? I do believe that I know you well enough to know when there is something troubling you.”

“Okay. You’re right.” He sat forward and cupped his coffee in both hands. “That was Ellen on the phone. I’m to meet her at ten to go and pick out your coffin.”

Francis turned forward. “I see. Our time is indeed limited.”