Page 36 of Ghost
Mason watched his friends.I’m really going to miss them when they leave.
* * * * *
The next morning Mitchand Mason began setting the upper cabinets while Paul dug around in the pile of old lumber and scraps they had, piecing together things that they could use for countertops and other odds and ends.
Mason had just finished screwing in a cabinet over the stove when Mitch commented about the brick wall that he claimed nearly killed him.“This stupid wall isn’t structural and it’s taking up about two feet of floor space all the way down to your living room.”
“Think we should try and see what’s behind it?”Mason asked, putting his electric drill down.
Mitch looked at it.“If you did, you could put in a built-in pantry and have more space in your dining room.”
“Yeah, but who knows what disaster is behind that wall.”Mason stepped closer to the wall.“The last thing I need is to open up a can of worms I can’t afford to fix.”
“No short cuts.Remember?”Mitch slapped Mason on the shoulder.
“I should have known my own words would come back to haunt me.”Mason shook his head.“All right, I’ll go and get the sledgehammer.”
It only took a few moments for Mason to come back with the heavy tool.He lifted it, ready to take aim.
“Whoa.Let me,” Mitch said as he reached for the hammer.“I owe this damn wall a good whack!”
“By all means,” Mason chuckled.
Mitch lifted the large hammer and swung.Just as a three-foot hole appeared close to the ceiling the old woman charged from the wall, going right through Mitch and towards Mason, screaming so loud and in such a high, piercing voice that Mason automatically covered his ears with both hands.She went through him and then began circling around him, shrieking.
“Get away from me, you ol’ crone!”Mason stumbled backwards, tripping over the extension cord for his drill.“Stop!”He recovered his balance and ran out the back door.That didn’t stop her from continuing to scream and shake her fists at him, although she couldn’t get to him.
“What the hell, Mas?”Mitch yelled.
Paul ran up.“What’s going on?”he asked with concern, reaching for Mason.“Are you alright, Mas?”
“It’s her,” Mason said pointing toward the doorway.“She won’t stop screaming.”
Mitch and Paul both looked towards the door.
“Uh, Mason, there’s no one there,” Mitch said, looking between the door and Mason.
“She’s there?”Paul asked in a low voice.
“Yes, she’s there and she’s screaming her fool head off and won’t stop.It’s killing my ears!”
Suddenly there was a loud boom from the main floor.The old woman stopped her screeching, looked up and then turned and flew back into the depths of the house.
“What the hell was that noise?”Mitch asked, running into the house behind the female ghost.
“Mason?”Paul still had his hand on Mason’s shoulder.“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay here?It felt...really cold for a few moments in there.”
Mason lowered his hands and shook his head.“Yeah, I’m sure.I’m not gonna let some ol’ shriveled up ghost run me out of my own house.”
Mitch opened the back door and stepped out onto the deck.“It was just a big tub of drywall mud falling over.Not sure how it happened, but it...at least it didn’t break open and make a mess.”
“Francis,” Mason muttered.
“He’s the other ghost?The one upstairs?”Paul looked concerned if not a little frightened.
“Yeah, he’s a good one.”Mason shook his head again and started back towards the house.“I think there is something to do with that wall that she doesn’t want me to see.”
Once inside, Mason dug around in one of the larger of his toolboxes until he found what he was looking for, a pair of noise reduction headphones.He put them on and picked up the sledgehammer from where Mitch dropped it.He took aim and pounded the wall next to where Mitch had made a large opening.The entire wall started to crumble.
