Page 85 of Ghost

“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 youpleasestop 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.”

* * * * *

Mason woke up justafter 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.