Page 43 of Ghost
“What did he say, Mas?”Paul asked
“Tear it down.”
“Is he still here,” Mitch asked, looking around.
“No.He left.”Mason started collecting the fallen brick.
“What’cha gonna do with this brick?”Paul asked, as he too began to pick them up.
“I don’t know.”Mason answered with his arms full.“I think for right now I’m just going to stack them next to the wall outside.I’ll figure out something to do with them.”
They all worked in silence, clearing out all the brick and remaining debris from the wall.They were done by the time lunchtime rolled around.
“What would you guys like to do for lunch?”Mitch asked.“I’m a little tired of sandwiches.”
Mason looked up.“It must be Nick’s day off.It doesn’t matter to me, guys.Whatever you’d like.”
“I’d like to have a good, homecooked meal,” Paul said, rubbing the dirt and dust on his shorts.
Mason pulled out his wallet.“How about a couple of burgers for now and we’ll go and find us a place to have dinner tonight.A real sit-down meal.”
“That works for me,” Paul agreed.
Mason handed him some cash.“Take Mitch with you.We also need a bag of ice and of course, we’re going to need more beer for later.”
Mitch grabbed his shirt off the banister of the stairs.“Okay, sounds like a plan, Stan.”
Paul patted Mason on the shoulder.“We’ll be back in a bit.”
Mason only nodded as he watched his friends leave.He was alone in his house for the first time in a while.He looked around before sitting down, leaning against one of the new kitchen cabinets.Mason couldn’t help it: he started to cry.It wasn’t fair that Francis had had his life stolen from him and by his own mother.That had to be the worst.
Mason’s relationship with his own mother wasn’t great, but he didn’t think she’d ever want to kill him.Why?Why would Francis’ mother do such a thing?Did he do something so horrific that she felt she had to?
“Please, Mason, do not mourn for me.”
Mason looked up to see Francis squatting in front of him.
“I can’t help it.”Mason wiped his eyes and stood up.“It...shouldn’t have happened.”
“There are a lot of things that should never happen, but they do.”Francis leaned in closer to Mason.“Thank you, however, for thinking of me in such a kind manner.You are a kindhearted and gentle man, and I am glad that you are here.”
Mason stared at Francis for a long moment.“I would like to kiss you.”
Francis’ eyebrows shot up, a look of surprise on his face.“Kiss me?”
“I’m sorry.”Mason felt his face get hot.“I thought...well, I kinda thought you might be into me.”
“Into you?”Francis frowned.“What does that mean?”
Mason took a deep breath.“I’m gay.I like men.I got the feeling that you might be too.”
“Gay?”Francis blinked a few times.“Gay means happy.You can speak of such things?I think I am confused.”
“I’m so, so sorry.”Mason stepped backwards, bumping into the cabinet behind him.“I...I just thought you might like...you know...be attracted to men too.”
Francis stared at Mason.Mason was feeling uncomfortable and started to shift his feet around, wondering what he should do now.Leave?
“I would like very much to kiss you, Mason.”Francis took another step forward.Had he not been a ghost, they’d be almost touching.“I find you quite attractive.To feel your lips against mine, you in my arms, would be like heaven to me.”
