Page 46 of Ghost
“Hmmph.You won’t have much trouble findin’ work, Mason.You’ve got skills, man.I saw what you did with that dump you had in Atlanta.”Mitch downed the last of his beer.“I want some of that strawberry pie.”
“I want me some of that chocolate cake.”Paul pushed his plate forward a bit.“Mitch here is right, Mas, you got skills.Prob’ly more skills than either of us have.You won’t be needing to look too hard to find some work.”
“I’m glad you guys have such faith in me.”Mason finished up his own beer.“But now I’m torn.I don’t know if I want the hot fudge sundae or the strawberry pie.”
Their waitress came by and took their desert orders.Mason decided on the hot fudge sundae on her recommendation.As she was walking away, Mitch’s eyes followed her.
“Man, I could sure use some of that.”
“Mitch, that girl prob’ly ain’t even legal yet.”Paul shook his head.
“Okay, maybe she’s got an older sister.”Mitch grinned.
“I’m glad you’ll be an old man before my daughter gets to datin’ age.”Paul scowled at Mitch.“I wouldn’t want her anywhere near you.”
Mitch threw his arm across Paul’s shoulders.“Aw, come on, Paul.You wouldn’t want me for a son-in-law?”
“Oh, hell no!”
Mason cracked up.“I’m sure gonna miss you guys.”
“Speaking of which...”Mitch sobered.“I think I may head out on Wednesday with Paul here.It’d be convenient if one of us had any car issues on the way back, and I’ve got to be ready to get to work by the end of the week.”
“Sure, Mitch.I just appreciate all the time you’ve given me.Both of you.There’s no way in hell I could have gotten this much done in such a short amount of time.”Mason sighed.“I just wish I could afford to give you some cash for all your work.”
“Mas, we’ve been over this,” Paul grumbled.“We’ll get our payback at some point, won’t we, Mitch?”
“Yep, you know it.”Mitch eyed the too-young waitress as she brought the desserts.“I have a feeling I’m gonna make this my home away from home.”
“Oh lordy, help me,” Mason groaned.
When they got back to Mason’s small apartment, they all flopped down.Mason turned the TV on to catch the last part of the ball game.When he sat back down, he asked Mitch, “I thought you were goin’ out?”
“I think I’m too full.”Mitch groaned and popped the button of his jeans.“I feel like a beached whale.I don’t even want another beer.”
Paul sat up and looked at Mitch.“Stop the presses: this is a day for the history books!”
“Hardee-har-har,” Mitch said, glaring at Paul.
“What’s on for tomorrow?”Paul asked, leaning back, a smug smile on his face.
“I was thinking I’d run over to Home Depot and pick up that tile and get started on that.”Mason leaned back against the arm of the sofa as he sat on the floor.
Paul shrugged.“We can help with that.”
Mason turned and looked over his shoulder.“Think we’ll pass the inspection on the electrical?”
“Pfft.I’d like to see them find anything wrong with our work,” Mitch replied.
“I’m gonna agree with Mitch on that one.”Paul patted Mitch on the chest.“The one thing I can say about this one here is that he’s a damn fine electrician.”
“Aw, I knew you loved me.”Mitch smiled at Paul.
“Just not enough to let you anywhere near my daughter!”
* * * * *
The next morning, theyall got into Mason’s truck and headed for the big box store to pick up some tile.
