Page 42 of Ghost
“He’s the one who knocked the bucket of mud over yesterday,” Mason explained.“Says it takes all of his energy to do something like that.”
“I believe him,” Paul said, almost whispering.
“Hey, I just realized, you’re down here,” Mason said excitedly.“And...you look even more solid, if that’s even the right thing to say.”
Francis laughed.“Yes.I was able to descend the stairs after you left me yesterday.”
“Um...what about you know who?”
“I do not know.I have not been able to feel her presence since the incident.”He motioned towards the brick wall, or what remained of it.
“Can you remember any more about what happened?”Mason asked softly.
Francis looked once again at what was left of the brick wall, and then to Mason.“I remember...everything?”
Mason cleared his throat.“And?”
“I wish to not think about it at the moment,” Francis said quietly.“I hope you understand.”
Mason nodded.“Okay...how about how old are you...or were when you died?”
Francis smiled slightly.“I was twenty-seven years of age.I was born in 1887, the year of our Lord.”Francis looked around the room.“My uncle lived on the opposite corner on this street.My dear cousin Ellen, whom I adored, would have been but a small girl then.”
“How old was Ellen when you died?”
Francis laughed.“She will not be pleased if you were to know her age, I do not think.However,” Francis leaned in towards Mason.“She was at the age of eight.I remember her birthday clearly.I gave her a porcelain doll and it was wrapped in a blue ribbon, the same color of her eyes.”
Mason smiled broadly.“Got it.”
Francis looked at the new wood paneled room.“Did you do this?”he asked, walking into the new room.
“Yeah, my two buddies here got it for me as a housewarming gift.”Mason followed Francis into the room, Paul and Mitch close behind him.
“It is stunning.I would have liked such a room.”Francis smiled.“I wholeheartedly approve.”
“He likes the new room,” Mason almost boasted to Mitch and Paul.
Mitch scowled.“Well, ain’t that just mighty kind of him.”
Mason looked at Mitch.“Don’t be an ass.”
Francis tilted his head back and laughed.When he stopped, he placed his right hand over his stomach.“I do like your friends, Mason.”
“Yeah, hang around and you might change your mind.”Mason cut his eyes towards Mitch.
“What’s he saying about me?”Mitch asked, looking around the room as if he might find Francis.
“He said he liked my friends.”Mason shook his head.
“Ah, then he has good taste.”Mitch took a little bow.“Thank you, Francis.”
“Hey...uh, Mas...why don’t you ask him what we should...you know, do about that wall,” Paul asked.It sounded like a voice he might use in church.
“Yes, the wall.”Francis walked into the other room and stood in front of it.“Tear it down.Remove all remnants of it.”He turned to Mason.“It was my tomb.A tomb that took me from this world.”He faced the wall again.“This wall took my life.”
Then like a light turning off, he was gone.
Mason sighed heavily.“I can’t even imagine what that must have been like.”
