TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 185

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 185
warning...adult content





~
When they reached home, Steve and Ghost gathered up their packages and went inside. Ghost took the phone, and his bags from the thrift store, and magic shop, into his bedroom, closing the door.

Steve took the rest of the food from the take-out place, his packages, and the box of flyers from the print shop, into the kitchen. Spirit wound around his ankles, begging for a bite. "Kitty's hungry, huh? Here's a little bite of chicken, and some of your cat food," Steve said, petting the fur ball cat. Spirit began eating and purring. "Yeah, kitty, Ghost has secrets. He don't want me to find out, either. Well, I have a secret, too."

He could hear Ghost, very faintly talking in the bedroom. He figured he probably called Zach back. He had a strong urge to go listen at the door, but he didn't. If Ghost wanted it to be a surprise, he didn't want to ruin it.

~
"What happened, Zach?" Ghost asked, when he called him.

"The car repair place called me, and said they were finished early with Steve's car, and could they go ahead and deliver it tomorrow, because they all want to go on their vacation days, now. I didn't know what to tell them...then I couldn't get ahold of you," Zach said.

"Zach, they can't bring it now. It has to be a surprise for Christmas. Tell them no."

"I'll try, Ghost. They're closed now, but I'll call them first thing in the morning," Zach said. He took a breath..."But what if they insist? Do you have a back-up plan?"

"No, I don't think so...what is it?" Ghost asked.

"Oh, somewhere to hide the car, here in town, until you can give it to Steve...you know."

"But, Zach...I don't have a hiding place like that," Ghost said, getting upset. "I don't know what to do. Help me think of something or somewhere."

"Ok, let me think," Zach said, and took a moment. "First, I'll find out if they can wait a little longer to bring it out here, then, if they can't, I'll try to figure something out, ok? And, I'll call you later to let you know."

"Ok, Zach, and I'll be thinking, too," Ghost said, and hung up. He paced around the room. He didn't want anyone else to know about the surprise, before Steve. He didn't know of a big enough hiding place, either.

Steve heard Ghost pacing and muttering to himself, so went and knocked on the bedroom door. "Ghost, what are you doing in there...come on out." Ghost opened the door, and Steve, asked, "Was that Zach you were talking to?"

Nodding, Ghost said, "Yeah...we were talking about chicken bones, you know...I told ya I was gonna ask him." He came out of the bedroom, handing the phone to Steve. It was warm, from talking on it for so long. Steve followed him down the hall to the living room.

"Sure was a long talk..."

"Umm-hmm, I know, but I gotta talk some more, so when he calls, let me talk to him, ok?"

"Ok, sure thing," Steve said. He watched, as Ghost went to the kitchen, and heated up a cup of coffee in the microwave. Then, passing by Steve, on the way out to the front porch, he didn't say anything more about it. Steve followed him. "You gonna sit out here by yourself?"

"Yeah, I have to think," Ghost said.

Steve shrugged. "Well, ok, but I'm going on to bed. Lock up when you come in."

~
Ghost sat there in the porch swing for a long time, thinking and staring at the stars. It was a clear night, chilly, but he didn't want to get up to get a blanket. His hands were warmed from the hot coffee. If I have to, I can give Steve his car early...at least he'll have it and it will still be a surprise...I'll tell Zach when he calls...if the car people can't wait 'til Christmas Eve... With that settled in his mind, he went inside. As he passed by Steve's room, Steve asked, "Did ya get it figured out, ok?"

"Yeah, it's ok, now..."

Steve smiled to himself...whatever bothers, Ghost doesn't bother him for long...

~
The next morning, Ghost was first up, knowing Zach could call at any time. He wanted to be the one to answer the phone. He was too agitated to sit still, so he fixed them a big breakfast. He kept looking at the phone, willing it to ring. They ate, and still no phone call.

"I think Zach is going to call," he told Steve.

Steve figured as much. "And...?" he asked.

"And I want to answer the phone. I'm going down to the graveyard for awhile, and I'm taking the phone."

"Ok, no problem," Steve said.

Ghost and Spirit went down the path toward the cemetery, as Steve watched from the back door. Then he got out his guitar, to go over their songs planned for the show. He figured they had a good mix of them to play on stage, some older ones and some new ones. He played them all in the order he'd listed them, while Ghost was out.

The first hour would be Zach and Gumbo, playing their mix of songs, then a break; Lost Souls would take the stage the second hour. Terry and R. J. would have to be on for both hours, but they'd have no problem, as they were used to a two hour set.  He'd try to get with them tomorrow, to rehearse at the club. The show would be the next night.

He still hadn't thought of a way to get the CDs and books sold, while they were on stage, but he'd talk to Kinsey about it, when he saw him. All in all, he felt ready to get back to playing, and he knew Ghost was.

"Hmm...Ghost has been out there a long time," he thought. "Guess I'll go check on him." He headed out the back door.

~
Ghost had gone out there to the graveyard, to wait for Zach's call. While he waited, he wandered around to the headstones and crosses. He could hear Steve playing, all the way out here, so he sang aloud to all the songs. He couldn't wait for the show; it had been so long. Finally sitting down at his and Steve's favorite spot, he leaned back against the marker, and almost fell asleep.

He was jolted out of his semi-asleep state, when the phone rang. It kept on ringing, as he figured out the on button, again. "Hello...Zach?"

"Yeah, Ghost, it's me."

"Did you call them?"

"Yeah, got to talk to the manager, and told him the problem. They weren't too happy about it, though. I reminded them that they signed an agreement that they'd deliver the car on Christmas Eve, at the time we agreed on," Zach said.

"Ok, ok, so what's gonna happen?"

"It's gonna be ok...there is one guy that said he could do it. He'd go on and take his vacation, but wasn't going out of town, so he will drive the car over, no problem. So, Ghost you don't have to worry about it...it's all good," Zach said.

"Oh, Zach...thank you for calling them and making it ok," Ghost said, relieved.

"Yeah, the guy said he'd be at your house right after noon, on Christmas Eve. Now, all you have to do is be home and sign the delivery papers, ok? The rest is up to you, how you want to present it to Steve...where he'll be, at home, or away, all that stuff. Can you do that?"

"Yeah, I think so," Ghost said.

"Ok, then...did Steve say anything about when we're all gonna rehearse for the show?"

"Uh, not to me. I'll tell him to call you...oh, wait, here he comes now...you can ask him," Ghost said, and handed the phone to Steve. as he approached. "Here, Steve...Zach wants to talk to you...bye Zach."

~
Next part coming soon!



Peace, Love, & Writing