Page 12 of Ghost
“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 mytruefriends 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 AtlantaJournal.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she was fairly close.Close enough to see that she was wearing a yellow, one-piece bathing suit, that seemed a little outdated.But what did he know about women’s fashion.She tilted her head back and twisted the water out of her long hair.Mason thought when dried it would be a dark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 heactuallyseen 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.
Chapter Six
“Here’s a check forthe electrical supply place,” Mason said.He’d already filled out the name and signed it.“Get what we need.You got the list?”
