Page 94 of Ghost

“Come now, I didn’t say anything of the sort!”Gerald roared.

Francis flashed between Ellen to right in front of the older-looking ghost.

“By God, that isexactlywhat you said!”Francis yelled.

Mason knew without a doubt that if either man were alive...and or solid, they would have come to blows.With that thought in mind he started to giggle and then outright laugh.The two men and Ellen turned and stared at Mason, surprise clearly written on their faces.

“Just what do you find so amusing, Mason?”Francis asked, scowling at him.

Mason doubled over, holding his stomach.“Water...I need water,” he managed to bark out between bouts of laughter.

Ellen rushed from the room to fetch him some water.When she returned, Mason’s laughter had subsided somewhat, but now he had the hiccups, which made him laugh again.

“Oh...my...god....”Mason took the water Ellen held and drained most of the glass.“May I have some more please?”

Ellen took the glass and went for more water.

Gerald stood there facing Mason, his hands gripping the front of his morning coat.Francis had a look on his face that was a mixture of bewilderment, anger and amusement.

Ellen returned with the water, and again, Mason drank most of it.He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.“I was just thinking, if the two of you were alive, you’d have had a fist fight right here.Then I had to wonder if ghosts can fight each other and if so, would you end up breaking anything.”

Mason started to laugh again, and then Ellen began to chuckle, and then laugh herself.

Ellen was the first one to pull herself together.“The two of you looked like two cocks about to fight it out.”

That just made Mason lose it, and he started laughing all over again, gasping for air.“I think I’m dyin’.Can...anyone die...from laughing too much?Two cocks!”Mason sat on the floor, holding his stomach, tears rolling down his face.“Oh, I swear I’m dyin’.”

Ellen was also laughing again.Francis was the next one to start with a low chortle, followed by outright laughter.

“I do believe all of you are crazy,” Gerald grumbled.“I should take my leave of all of you and hope that you come to your senses before the authorities arrive to take you all off to the looney bin.”

“Oh, Gerald, do shut up.”Ellen opened her purse and pulled out a lace edged handkerchief.“Surely you can see the humor in all this?”

“I certainly do not.”Gerald straightened his jacket.“Woman, pull yourself together.”

“Don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy, Gerald,” Ellen replied, and then blew her nose.“Excuse me.”

Gerald glared at his wife.

Mason managed to pull himself up.“Excuse me, but I need to go blow my nose.”

He went into the bathroom and got a few tissues and blew his nose and wiped his eyes.When he turned Francis was standing there, a look of concern on his face.

“Are you all right, Mason?”

Mason nodded and then shook his head.“No.Not really.”He looked at Francis.“I’d really like to hug you right now.”

“I feel the same.”Francis looked distressed suddenly.

“We are going to have to have a long talk.Just you and I,” Mason whispered.“But later.”

Francis only nodded.

“I guess we should go back in there.”Mason tried to smile.“Besides, I have something special to show you.”

Francis nodded again and then stood aside so that Mason could walk past him.

When they had returned, Ellen looked at Mason.“Mason, dear, do you think you could go and get some of that lovely lemonade from Mr.Davies’ store, please.I feel particularly parched at the moment.”