Page 87 of Ghost

Chapter Thirty-One

Mason was up brightand early the next morning.He awoke to the muted sounds of the TV in the living room, where he was sure he’d find Francis staring intently at the television.It didn’t take Francis long to become addicted to the device, especially when it came to the news.

As he stood and stretched, he grinned.I can only imagine what would happen if I had cable and Francis could sit and watch the news on CNN all day long.Right then, he wanted a cup of coffee to clear away the cobwebs.

He pondered the day as he used the toilet.Mason caught sight of himself in the mirror and thought he should probably look into finding a barber soon.He was looking rather shaggy.He turned his head one way and then another.If he was going to be out meeting potential new customers, he didn’t need to be looking like some homeless guy.

Mason put a pot of coffee on and then went to check on Francis.“Morning.”He flopped down next to his friendly ghost.“How’re things in the world today?”

Francis motioned towards the TV.“This Olympics that is in the news.It appears to be a wonderous thing.To think, so many nations of the world coming together for sport.”

“Personally, I’m a little tired of hearing about it.”Mason stood, yawned and stretched.“I’ll be happy for it to finally start and not just being talked about.”

“It would be a wonderful thing to see,” Francis said, with marvel in his voice.

“We’ll be able to watch most of it on TV.I heard that the opening ceremonies are going to be spectacular.”

“Excellent!”Francis stood, a big smile on his face.“I will look forward to seeing such an event.”

“I’m gonna grab another cup of coffee.I’ll be back in a sec.”

When Mason returned, Francis was once again absorbed in the news.The reporter was standing in the new Olympic Park talking about the fountain and how it would be a feature that would last long past the 1996 Olympics.

Mason sat back down next to Francis.“The traffic around that place must be a nightmare.”He blew on his coffee before taking a sip.“I’m glad that I got out of there when I did.”

Francis glanced at Mason.“I was only able to go to Atlanta one time with my father.I remember it being a highly populated place.Of course, they were still doing reconstruction after the war.”

Mason looked at Francis intently.“Wow.It’s like I’m sitting next to a history book or something.I sometimes forget that you got to witness a lot of things that I’ve only read about or heard about.Makes me think about how far things have come, I guess.”

Francis nodded.“It is true; things have improved a great deal, but I also wonder at some of the things that have been lost.”

“What do you mean?”Mason asked before taking a large drink of his coffee.

“There seems to be a lack of gallantry.”Francis looked off into the distance.“There was a gentleness that seems to have vanished.”He motioned towards the television.“There is a...crudeness that I find disturbing.”

Mason nodded.“Yeah, I guess I can see what you mean.”

“It is my opinion that it is more than simple good manners.”He turned to look at Mason.“I think it is the way people treat one another now.There are things that are said that would never have been mentioned in my time.It is like a hardness, and I am not sure I like it.”He then motioned between Mason and himself.“Relations between men would never have been considered acceptable, much less openly spoken about.”

Mason sat and thought for a moment.“You know, I think I can appreciate how genteel things were back in your day, but I am glad that I can love another man openly.It...I don’t know if I could live the way that you had to.In that way, you know?Being in the closet and all.”