Page 5 of Ghost
Chapter Three
“We need to take outall the light fixtures, outlets and light switches,” Mitch said as he fastened his tool belt to his slim hips.“Might be a good idea to start from the top and work our way down.That way we can pull all the old wiring out without having to dig into that old fuse box right off.”
“Sounds like a good plan.”Mason already had his tool belt on and a six-foot ladder in hand.“I’ll go up and have a look in the attic space first.”
“Good idea before it gets too hot up there.”Mitch followed Mason up the stairs, tripping slightly on the busted step.“Need to get that taken care of before one of us kills ourselves.”
Mason looked over his shoulder.“Yeah, I’ll try and get to that later this afternoon.I can pull it up and re-glue it so it has time to dry overnight.”
Mitch only nodded in agreement.
Mason pushed up the attic access panel.“There’s not much space up here at all and I only see a few wires.That old knob-and-tube stuff.No fixtures though, just some old gas tubing.”
“That’s good news.”Mitch popped his head around the doorway to one of the bedrooms.
“I’ll do these two fixtures in the hall first.”Mason moved his ladder and took care of them, with no problems.
“Damn, this shit is old, old, old,” Mitch said from the same bedroom.“I’ll need the ladder for this overhead when you’re done there.”
“All done with the hall except for the one over the stairs.”Mason picked up the old fixtures to take down to the trash.They weren’t even worth trying to salvage.“Here’s the ladder.I’ll need the extension ladder to get this one in the stairwell.I’ll be back in a few.”
Mason returned from getting the other ladder from the downstairs hallway.He started to set it up on one of the steps so he could get to the highest point to remove the outdated light fixture that only had a bare bulb in it.“It would have been a total bitch to have to change this light bulb,” he commented pushing the ladder as high as it would go.
He climbed up as high as he could but was still just a bit short of being able to reach the old light.Mason descended the ladder and moved it up one more step, his focus on the ceiling.Once again, he ascended the ladder, reaching the antiquated light.He reached into his tool belt for a screwdriver when he heard a crack.Looking down he realized that he’d placed the ladder on the broken step, but it was too late.The ladder tipped and down he went.
“Mason.Mason!”
Who was shouting at him?He tried to open his eyes, but it felt as if someone had just beaten him with a baseball bat.It had to be.What else could explain the brutal pounding in his head?
“Come on, buddy.Mason!”
He was glad when the shouting stopped.It didn’t cause his head to hurt any more than it already did, which was plenty.
* * * * *
“Fuck.”Mason mumbled.Must have left the curtains open again.The sun was really bright today.Why is it so cold?
“Mr.Montgomery, can you hear me?Mason?”
Mason risked having one of his eyes burned out by the bright light, lifting one eyelid.The room started spinning and he could feel the nausea roll over him like a rogue tidal wave.“Oh fuck.”
“Mr.Montgomery, I need for you to try and open your eyes.”
“Bright,” was the only word that Mason could bring himself to choke out.His mouth felt as if he done a shot of Elmer’s glue.
“Turn the overheads off, please.”A cool hand gently turned his head, more centered to his body.“Mr.Montgomery, you can open your eyes now?”
Mason risked opening one eye again, ready to shut it quickly.Seeing that it was no longer so bright, he tried opening both eyes but then the pounding in his head began again, so he shut them quickly.“Who hit me?”he growled.
“Mr.Montgomery, my name is Dr.Clarke.You fell off a ladder and hit your head.You have a pretty nasty cut and a concussion.Your shoulder was dislocated but we’ve dealt with that, but it will be sore for a week or so.”
It all came rushing back.The ladder.That stupid broken step.Mitch.“Where’s Mitch?”
“I’m right here, buddy.”
Mason felt a rough and calloused hand enclose his.He knew it had to be Mitch.
“Mr.Montgomery, I need you to open your eyes for me please and leave them open.”
