Page 18 of Ghost
“Paul, did you hear that?”Mason could hear Mitch’s voice clearly.He must be standing at the very top of the stairs.“I think he just insulted us.”
“Sounds like it,” Paul said, though Mason couldn’t hear him as clearly.“We’re about done up here for the day.”
“It’s O’beer-thirty!”Mitch exclaimed loudly.“You know what that means, don’t ya?”
Mason shook his head.“Yeah, it means that if you want beer, you’re gonna have to run down and get some.”
“What?I have to go and get it myself?”Mason could hear Mitch coming down the stairs.“What the hell, man?”
“Uh, yeah, you do.”Mason turned to look at his friend.“You were grimy earlier and now I am,” Mason indicated by pointing to his own body.“Here,” he reached for his wallet.“The little store just a few doors down said they’d give us a case discount.”Mason handed Mitch some cash.“It’ll be good and cold too.”
Mitch smiled.“Okay, now that I can handle.A whole case, huh?”
“Sure, why not?”Mason shoveled up some of the old plaster into a large trash can.“I think we deserve it.We got a helluva lot done today.”
“We have.”Mitch looked around the small kitchen.“You’ve about got this knocked out.Looks good.”
“Thanks.I wanted to talk to you guys about this.”Mason put the shovel down and went to where the old electrical panel had been.“This kitchen is really small.What do you think about moving this panel downstairs?If I can get it out of the way from here,” he said, pointing to the wall, “I can maybe plan on expanding this kitchen out.”
Paul walked in just as Mason finished.“Yeah, that should be no problem.Might actually make it easier, too.Much easier for when you go to finish off this kitchen too.”
Mitch looked around.“Yeah, that’s a great idea.”He looked at Paul.“I know we still have this main floor to get wired, but if we jump to getting this panel box set, we can go ahead and start wiring in what we’ve already done.”
Paul nodded.“Sounds like a plan to me.”
“Just so long as we don’t get attacked by some grizzly ghost,” Mitch snickered, poking Paul in the stomach with his elbow.
Mason just rolled his eyes.“I thought you wanted some beer?”
“Righto.”Mitch stepped over the small pile of plaster just in front of the back door.“Back in a flash.”
“Oh, see if there might be something good for dinner while you’re down there,” Mason called out as Mitch hopped off the last step that led down to the courtyard.“If you need more cash, just come on back and I’ll go get the food.I should be finished up by then.”
Mitch saluted his acknowledgement and was gone.
Mason shoveled up that last remaining bit of plaster off the floor.
“It’s been a long day,” Paul sighed, leaning against the door frame to the kitchen.“But we sure did get a lot done.We should have no problem with getting the power company to come and install a meter and get the inspections done next week.”
“Yeah, it’s been a good day.”Mason pushed the trash can out onto the small back deck.“Think I can give them a call tomorrow and set it all up?”
“I don’t see why not.Either me or Mitch can sign off on all the paperwork.Our licenses are good down here.”
“I’ll do it first thing in the morning then.”Mason stretched his arms over his head, then let his arms drop.“I’m ready for a beer.”
Paul was silent, looking rather intent.“Were you serious about seeing a ghost?”
Mason paused a moment, wondering if he should say anything.He looked at Paul.“Yeah, I’m dead serious.And if I’m to be totally honest, I’ve seen others now, too.”
Paul’s eyes got big.“For real?”
“Yeah.For real.”
“Where?”Paul asked, as he looked over his shoulder.
Mason couldn’t help but laugh.“Well, at the beach yesterday.I didn’t know it at the time, but there, and then just a few feet behind you.”Mason pointed.
Paul spun around as if he were expecting to see something, and then turned to look over his shoulder at Mason.“Aren’t you freaked out or...something?”
