Page 5 of Ghost

A ll three men were packed into Mason’s truck, the air conditioning turned off and the windows open. Mitch had both of his arms resting along the back of the bench seat so that they didn’t all feel so squished together.

“I can smell the ocean,” Mitch said, his head thrown back, inhaling deeply. “I love that smell.”

“So do I,” Paul added. “It’s been a while since I’ve been down here.”

“I’m glad we’re doing this today. There shouldn’t be too many people in the middle of the week.” Mason slowed to make the hairpin turn that would take them along the strand, the ocean now visible between the scattered buildings, mostly motels.

“Do you know where we’re going?” Paul asked. “Some spot you like?”

“Yeah,” Mason answered just before turning left down a small street between two rather shabby looking motels. “I always come to this spot because people can’t really see how to get to it, as you can tell.”

The street wasn’t even a block long, but at the end there was a small parking area that would only fit six vehicles and they were the only ones there.

“Cool!” Paul exclaimed, clapping his hands together. “I can’t wait to get in the water.”

“Keep an eye out for sharks,” Mason said brightly.

“Oh man, you sure do know how to be a killjoy,” Paul grumbled. “Now I’m going to be paranoid all day.”

Mitch started humming the Jaws movie theme song, until Paul elbowed him in the stomach. “Ow!”

Mason pushed the door open. “Come on, ladies, let’s do this!”

Paul and Mitch grabbed the cooler, the most important thing they both claimed, their towels tossed over their shoulders, while Mason got the three beach chairs, blanket and umbrella.

They didn’t even set up anything, just dropped what they were carrying and made a mad dash to the shoreline, stripping off their shirts, laughing like kids.

It was the perfect spot. There wasn’t anyone on this stretch of beach. The closest people were quite a distance away, and only then, a lone couple. There were other people farther up the beach, but for the most part, they were pretty much alone. For how long, who knew?

Mason couldn’t stop himself from splashing Mitch, hitting him right in the face. Before Mitch could retaliate, he dove into an oncoming wave. Paul stood back and laughed until Mitch barreled him over, dunking him good and proper.

Once they’d had some fun and tired themselves out a bit, they went about getting their chairs and towels set up. They’d leave the umbrella till later when it started to get really hot. Mitch reached into the cooler and grabbed a beer, popping the top.

“It’s only ten in the morning,” Mason said shaking his head. “I’m beginning to think you’re an alcoholic.”

Mitch smiled and shook his head. “Naw, I’m just on vacation at the beach with two good buds having a good time. It’s allowed.”

Paul pulled out a grape Nehi soda. “Yeah, even I think it’s a bit early to be drinking. You want something, Mason?”

“Yeah, I’ll have one of those orange Nehis, thanks.”

Paul fished around in the ice cooler and found one, opening it up before handing it to Mason. “That house you got is a real fixer-upper. You’re a braver man than me for taking on such a big project, especially all on your own. I gotta hand it to you, Mas, you got balls.”

“Thanks, Paul.” Mason stretched his legs out in front of him. “I gotta keep focused on one thing at a time or it would just overwhelm me. Starting on that lower part was a good idea by the way. I think that’s the way to go.”

“Yeah, but Mason, you’re gonna have one hell of a place when you are done. Of course, you’ll prob’ly be ready for retirement by the time it’s finished,” Mitch laughed.

Mason sighed. “One step at a time. One day at a time.” He looked over at his friend. “That’s what Uncle Bud used to always say. It’s always worked for me.”

“I miss the ol’ coot,” Mitch said, turning to look at Mason. “He was one of the best. You were lucky to learn from him. He could do stuff with wood that amazed me.”

“I only met him that one time,” Paul interjected. “Everyone respected him, though.”

Mason could feel his chest constrict a bit. “Yeah, he was a good man. Don’t know where I’d be if he hadn’t been there for me.”

“He’d be damn proud of you, Mas.” Mitch reached over and lightly backhanded Mason on his chest. “I hope you know that. He always looked at you as if you were his own kid.”

“I know.” Mason was getting choked up, finding it hard to speak.

“Anyway,” Paul started, “I think if we really concentrate on getting that kitchen torn out so we can get all the electrical work done, pass inspection, we can have the power turned on no later than Monday.”

Mason sat forward a bit so he could look at Paul. “Think we can get that all done by then? That’s a lot of work.”

“Might as well use us while we’re here, man,” Mitch said. “I won’t feel right if I have to leave before we get all that done and neither of us can stay too much longer.”

“Mitch’s right. I wouldn’t feel right if we left you in the dark. Literally,” Paul laughed.

“Good one,” Mitch said, also laughing, punching Paul in the arm.

“But seriously, Mas, I think we can get that done,” Paul said. “It will take some long hours and we can’t be messing around, but it’s doable.”

Mitch looked between Mason and Paul. “Won’t be easy, but yeah, I think it can be done. Then you’ll have us for a few more days after that to help get the lower level as close to ready as we can.”

Paul looked out over the ocean. “I’d stay and help out more, Mason, if I could, but I gotta be back for that next big job. I got kids to feed.”

“Paul, you have no idea how grateful I am that you’re here at all,” Mason said. “I wish I could pay you what you’d be making on any other job.”

“It’s what buddies do.” Paul smiled. “And I know if the shoe were on the other foot, you’d do the same.”

“You know I would.” Mason nodded seriously. “And if there ever comes a time when you need my help, you can always count on me.”

“And me,” Mitch added.

“I think we all know that we’d help each other out whenever and however we can,” Mason said. “Well, I ain’t gonna bail your sorry ass out of jail,” he directed at Mitch. “If you get tossed in the clinker, your butt can just stay in there.”

Mitch slapped his hand to his chest. “I’m hurt. So hurt. You’d leave me in there with all those criminals who did god-only-knows what? I might even... hell, I might even lose my virginity!”

Mason snorted orange soda through his nose and Paul nearly fell out of his chair laughing.

“What?” Mitch asked and he looked first at Mason and then to the other side of him towards Paul. “I guess I know who my true friends are,” he said before draining the rest of his beer, belching loudly then crushing the can in one hand. “Hand me ‘nother, Paul.”

After they’d had a fantastic shrimp and oyster lunch that Mason had gone to get, they all chilled out.

Mitch had stretched out on the sand sunning his back while Paul read the sports section of the Atlanta Journal .

Mason was just enjoying the sea air, lounging under the big beach umbrella, Paul on the other side of Mitch.

He looked up the beach. Someone was flying a kite, its bright colors only a dot in the sky.

Closer to them a woman coming out of the ocean.

He’d not seen her before, and she was fairly close.

Close enough to see that she was wearing a yellow, one-piece bathing suit, that seemed a little outdated.

But what did he know about women’s fashion.

She tilted her head back and twisted the water out of her long hair.

Mason thought when dried it would be a dark auburn.

Smiling, he was about to point her out to Mitch, thinking she’d be right up his alley when, without warning, she seemed to fade away to nothing.

Just disappeared into... nothing. It was like she’d never been there. No footprints in the sand or anything.

Mason shook his head and looked again. Not seeing anything, he stood up and walked over to where he’d seen her, double-checking to make sure there actually weren’t any footsteps.

There was nothing. He looked up the beach to where there was a small crowd watching the kite flyer, but no one else was around. No towels, chairs, blanket...nothing.

It had to have been a reflection or something, Mason tried to reason.

Something wasn’t right, but he’d be damned if he could understand it.

Who was she and how did she just vanish?

Had he actually seen her? Was she even real?

Maybe the sun is getting to me. Can’t blame being drunk; I’ve not had anything alcoholic to drink in days.

He shook his head slightly and looked again.

Still nothing. He made his way back to his beach towel.

Paul looked at him questioningly, but not saying anything.

Mason only shrugged and then decided to stretch out next to Paul, letting the sun bake his back for a while.

For the rest of the day, the three men talked, played in the ocean, laughed, drank and ate more fresh seafood.

They were all red and almost sunburnt before they loaded up the truck late in the afternoon.

They were all feeling a bit tired, their energy zapped by the sun and lots of swimming and body surfing.

It had been a good day and they all had happy smiles on their faces.

Mason asked his friends what they’d like for dinner. They all agreed on fried chicken, lots of water and a night of watching baseball.

“I got some of that aloe gel stuff when I got suntan lotion,” Mason said, pulling behind his temporary home. “We’re all going to need it.”

“Right now, all I need is to take a long piss, eat me some of this here chicken and drink some water. Damn, what is it about the beach that makes a man so damn thirsty,” Mitch said getting out of the truck behind Paul.

“I’m in front of you,” Paul said, standing at the door, doing a little dance. “Damn, Mason, get the door open before I piss myself.”

“We’re gonna have to share,” Mitch said, standing behind Paul, doing the same piss-dance.

Mason laughed, opening the door. His friends made a mad dash for the bathroom. A second later, Mason could hear the dual streams, and big sighs of relief. I’ve got some good friends.

He turned on the TV. The Atlanta Braves were about to start the second inning, them at bat.

“It’s only just started, guys and this chicken is getting cold,” Mason called out, pouring himself a glass of water from the pitcher in the refrigerator.

He downed most of it and refilled it. He got out some paper plates, heaped some food on one and then sat on a cushion on the floor, leaving the small sofa for the other two.

Mason sighed, feeling like his life was finally heading in the right direction.