TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 243
warning...adult content
~
When Ghost got back to the motel room, he climbed into bed, feeling sleepy and satisfied, now. It was not long before he was asleep.
~
The next morning, Steve woke first. He lay there trying to remember the dream he'd had. He knew it was about Ghost...then he remembered.
"Hey, Ghost, wake up," he said, shaking Ghost until he did wake up. "I had a dream about you."
Ghost was barely waking up, as Steve was talking, but he knew this dream of Steve's was different.
Steve continued, "I dreamed you were walking in the desert, in the dark...and these...well...this is the silly part...these UFOs were up in the dark sky. They kinda glowed, and they were beaming a light down on you. It was kinda cool, but scary, too. I thought you were gonna get abducted, so I tried to warn you, but you just smiled, and kept walking. Well, that's all I remember. What do ya think of it...pretty weird, huh?"
Trying not to scare Steve, Ghost kept his voice low when he said, "Steve, that wasn't a dream. It happened just like that."
"Huh? What do ya mean?" Steve asked, frowning.
"Well, I did go outside, and I did talk to the UFO people," Ghost said. "I didn't see them, but I knew they were there. They even said they'd be waiting for me."
Steve was quiet for a minute, thinking about it. "You went out...last night...when I was asleep?"
Ghost nodded. "For a little while. It was just like your dream."
"But, how?"
"I don't know...your subconscious must have followed me, and sent the images to you, 'cause it was the same...except I didn't see anything. I just sensed they were there," Ghost said.
"But, how can I be seeing something I don't even believe is real?" Steve asked. "I don't get it."
Ghost shrugged. "Dreams are dreams, I guess. They don't have to make sense."
"Yeah, you're right, but wait...you heard them say they'll be waiting for you...where?"
"In New Mexico, I think. That's their UFO Base." Ghost said. He sat up in bed, leaning on the headboard. "They go all over, but always come back to base."
"Come on...you're just making shit up, now," Steve said, skeptical, as usual.
Ghost shrugged. "Well, it's as good an explanation as anything else. See, we don't know if it's real or not, yet. Nobody does. So, that's just what I think." He smiled. "Are we getting up, now?" He stretched, and yawned. "If we are, I need coffee."
Steve didn't answer. He moved closer to Ghost, slowly reaching his hand up under his t-shirt, which tickled Ghost's stomach, and gave him goose-bumps. Then, leaning over, he kissed where he'd just touched. Ghost drew in his breath, enjoying the sensation. He reached out his hands to clasp Steve's unruly hair. They didn't get out of bed for a long time.
Afterwards, as they dozed, there was a knock at the door. "Steve, Ghost...are y'all awake?" It was Linda. She kept knocking.
"You think I should let her in?" Steve asked.
"Mmm-hmm, but put something on, first," Ghost said.
Steve laughed. "Oh, yeah...uh, just a minute, Linda," he hollered toward the door. He got up, and scrabbled around, looking for his clothes. Finally, pulling on some jeans and a t-shirt, he opened the door. "Hey, Linda," he said.
"You know what time it is, Steve?" she asked.
"No, why?"
Linda pushed past her brother and into the room. She came face to face with a mostly naked Ghost, who'd only managed to quickly pull the sheet over his private parts, as he was getting up to find clothes. She stopped immediately, seeing his frightened face.
In that second, before she murmured 'sorry' and turned away, the image of Ghost's scars was seared into her brain. She grabbed hold of Steve's arm, to steady herself, as silent tears sprang from her eyes. She stumbled to the door, and out. She knew now, why Ghost always wore clothes that covered him...from his funky cool socks, to his long sleeved, soft hoodies.
Steve was frozen to the spot he stood on for a minute. Should he go after a distraught Linda, or comfort Ghost, who was sobbing into his pillow. He went to Ghost.
"I didn't ever want her to see," cried Ghost.
"I know, I know, Babe, but she did...it'll be ok...she already knew...she understands..." Steve said into Ghost's ear, as he held him close.
"But knowing and seeing is different...now, when she sees me, she'll know," Ghost said, trying to control his crying. "She was scared of me, Steve."
'No, no, of course not...she loves you."
"But, she ran away...and now she won't be the same to me. She'll see this when she sees me...it'll be weird, now..."
"Look at me, Ghost," Steve said, pulling him up, and wiping his face. "We're all family. It's better that she saw how hurt you've been. It brings family closer together...it binds us like nothing else does. Sharing our lives...the good and the bad...you understand?"
Ghost nodded.
"Now, y'all need to face each other, and get past this, right now, or it will get awkward. So, get dressed, and come on out. I'm going to go see about her and the kids, then we need to get something to eat and get on the road, ok?"
"Yeah, I know. I'll be ok, just go and...and tell her not to be scared of me," Ghost sobbed, one last time.
Steve took Ghost's face in his hands, and kissed him. "I love you so much," he said. Then he turned and left to go to Linda.
~
When Steve left, Ghost got up and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He looked at himself in the mirror...really looked. He hated what he saw. He ran his hands over his scarred body...remembering...the many burn scars, from the long ago torturing from those boys at school...the places they'd kicked him, and cut him, and left him bleeding...his missing toe...the one on his head, that still showed a little, where they'd bashed his skull with the baseball bat...and...and the worst of all, the ones that didn't show...the ones Steve had put on him...the one under his hair, that was indented from Steve smashing his fist into his head over and over until his skull cracked again...and the ones on his heart...the most painful of all...from Steve. He still couldn't grasp why Steve loved him...why...after all this ugliness.
He could feel his mind taking a wrong turn somehow. He knew it was not the way to be thinking, but was unable to push the thoughts away. Maybe Steve was lying to him all this time...not loving him...just staying out of pity... "No! No! Please No!" Ghost cried out, and in that moment he lost control.
He drew back his fist and slammed it into the mirror, as hard as he could, to erase the image of himself. Shattered glass sparkled, even as it cut his hands, his arms, and flew up, striking his face, as he watched the shards coming at him, as if in slow motion. He didn't even flinch as they penetrated his skin. He was too far into his psychosis, his seizure, to notice any pain.
As it continued, he sank to the floor, bleeding. Eventually, the convulsions stopped, but he did not get up. As he slowly came to awareness again, his head was pounding, and his vision was gone.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Friday, November 13, 2015
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 242
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 242
warning...adult content
~
They kept driving down Route 40, heading for the next overnight stop. Steve kept seeing notices for the Petrified Forest National Park. It was right on their way.
"You know what's coming up?" Steve asked.
"More desert?" Ghost said.
"Well, yeah, but there's a petrified forest up ahead. That sure would be cool to look at."
"Petrified...like scared?"
Steve laughed. "No, it's like trees that turned into rocks, like a long time ago."
"Rock trees? Tell me when we get to them. I'll take a picture," Ghost said.
"Ok, we'll pull over."
In a little while they came upon the place. "It didn't look so big on the map," Steve said. He slowed the car down, looking for a place to pull over.
"This place looks kinda scary. Whatever scared the trees, is scaring me, too," Ghost said.
"They didn't get scared, I told ya...it just happened after a lot of years."
"I don't care when they got scared...just what scared them."
Steve shook his head, knowing Ghost would carry on about it for awhile. He pulled over to wait for Linda to catch up with them.
"I have an idea," Ghost said, as he stared at the scattered, petrified logs laying around the area. "Get your guitar, Steve, I want to take a picture. When Steve had gotten it, they walked over to a fallen tree.
"Ok, now play something," Ghost said. "These here trees are rock stars." He took a few pictures.
Linda and the kids arrived, and the kids ran around from tree to tree. They were in an area off the main highway, back along the winding little road. No one else was around.
"Hey, that was a good idea, y'all had," Linda said. "Take my picture, too." She took the guitar, and posed. The kids wanted in on the picture taking, and so they all posed by the rock star trees. It was getting late, though, and there were quite a few miles yet to go before stopping at a motel. Before Ghost got back into the U-Haul, he reached out his hands, touching the tree.
"Thank you, rock tree, for letting us take your picture. I'm sorry you got sacared a long time ago. I hope we made you happy today." He smiled. As he got into the truck, Steve asked, "What did the tree say?"
"It said it had fun, too."
"Oh, well good. You ready to get back on the road?"
~
They drove for another hour or so. In the next town, they found a motel, and a place to eat. This time a fast-food restaurant.
"You know what?" Linda asked. "I think it's going to take longer than three days, Steve."
"Yeah, it looks that way, now, but I don't care, really," Steve said. "We're having a good time seeing parts of the country we'd never have seen if we'd gone by plane. You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
Nodding, Linda said, "Oh, sure I am, and the kids are, too. They haven't complained hardly at all about being in the car for so long. These little sightseeing stops makes all the difference."
They finished their meal, and headed back to the motel. Linda, in her room, got the kids ready for bed, then herself.
Steve and Ghost did the same, after watching TV for awhile. When the lights were out, Ghost began talking about UFOs. "Steve, are we gonna see one? Do you want to see one? It's UFO country out there, now."
Wrinkling his nose, Steve said, "No, I don't want to see one. Only a few people get to see them Ghost...and nobody believes them, anyway. So we probably won't. Aren't they mostly seen at night? We're asleep at night."
"Well, I'm gonna stay up and look for one. Maybe I'll be lucky. I see dead people, so why not UFOs?"
"Ok, if anyone could, it would be you, I guess," Steve said.
"Yeah, and if I see one, I'll holler for you to come look," Ghost said.
"But, I don't want to see one," Steve said, shaking his head.
"Why not?"
"Because they're scary, and maybe the aliens would take us away. They kinda do that, don't they?" Steve said.
"Hmm, well, sometimes, I guess," Ghost said. "I'm going outside after while, and call them to come.'
"What are you gonna say to them?"
"I'm gonna at least tell them we'll be in their state, and we want to see them. They can hear us, right?"
"Hell if I know, Ghost. I hope not...anyway, I'm going to sleep, I'm getting spooked, now."
"Petrified?" Ghost laughed.
"Yeah, like a log...see, I'm not moving...I'm a rock." He drifted off to a sound sleep.
Ghost tried to sleep, but it was no use. After a few minutes, he got up to look for a snack in his backpack. Finally finding a mostly uncrushed package of peanut butter-cheese crackers, he quietly went out the door. He munched on them, as he looked around.
The parking lot was lit by a few street lights, but over to the far edge, it was dark...only moonlight in the emptiness of the desert. This motel was the last one on the edge of the little town they were in.
"This is perfect," he said out loud to the night. Walking across the parking lot, he had a quick thought...that he should have left a note for Steve, but he didn't plan on staying out here for long. He kept going into the darkness. Finally about half a mile out, he stopped. There in the moonlight, he looked up at the stars.
They were really clear out here in the wide open spaces. At home, there were always trees that blocked his view. Scanning the sky, he looked for anything that was moving, hoping to see a UFO.
"Hey, y'all...if any of you are listening, my name is Ghost. I want to know if y'all are real. Show me. Come out of hiding so I can see ya." Then, he waited. He detected no movement, no beams of light, no noise.
"Ok, well, we're gonna be closer to where y'all hang out, in the morning, so when it gets dark again, I'll call for ya again, ok?" A sudden cool breeze ruffled his hair, and he imagined he heard something say..."We'll be waiting..." He grinned, knowing it was his wishful thinking, but secretly hoping it was real. He walked back toward the motel.
The neon sign was tiny from so far away, but a beacon to aim for. The whole way back, he felt something was watching him. He did not turn around to see, though.
"They're checking me out...seeing if I'm real," he thought. He sent a silent message through the air..."Yes, I'm real..."
Back at the motel room, he let himself in. Steve was still asleep.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
# 242
warning...adult content
~
They kept driving down Route 40, heading for the next overnight stop. Steve kept seeing notices for the Petrified Forest National Park. It was right on their way.
"You know what's coming up?" Steve asked.
"More desert?" Ghost said.
"Well, yeah, but there's a petrified forest up ahead. That sure would be cool to look at."
"Petrified...like scared?"
Steve laughed. "No, it's like trees that turned into rocks, like a long time ago."
"Rock trees? Tell me when we get to them. I'll take a picture," Ghost said.
"Ok, we'll pull over."
In a little while they came upon the place. "It didn't look so big on the map," Steve said. He slowed the car down, looking for a place to pull over.
"This place looks kinda scary. Whatever scared the trees, is scaring me, too," Ghost said.
"They didn't get scared, I told ya...it just happened after a lot of years."
"I don't care when they got scared...just what scared them."
Steve shook his head, knowing Ghost would carry on about it for awhile. He pulled over to wait for Linda to catch up with them.
"I have an idea," Ghost said, as he stared at the scattered, petrified logs laying around the area. "Get your guitar, Steve, I want to take a picture. When Steve had gotten it, they walked over to a fallen tree.
"Ok, now play something," Ghost said. "These here trees are rock stars." He took a few pictures.
Linda and the kids arrived, and the kids ran around from tree to tree. They were in an area off the main highway, back along the winding little road. No one else was around.
"Hey, that was a good idea, y'all had," Linda said. "Take my picture, too." She took the guitar, and posed. The kids wanted in on the picture taking, and so they all posed by the rock star trees. It was getting late, though, and there were quite a few miles yet to go before stopping at a motel. Before Ghost got back into the U-Haul, he reached out his hands, touching the tree.
"Thank you, rock tree, for letting us take your picture. I'm sorry you got sacared a long time ago. I hope we made you happy today." He smiled. As he got into the truck, Steve asked, "What did the tree say?"
"It said it had fun, too."
"Oh, well good. You ready to get back on the road?"
~
They drove for another hour or so. In the next town, they found a motel, and a place to eat. This time a fast-food restaurant.
"You know what?" Linda asked. "I think it's going to take longer than three days, Steve."
"Yeah, it looks that way, now, but I don't care, really," Steve said. "We're having a good time seeing parts of the country we'd never have seen if we'd gone by plane. You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
Nodding, Linda said, "Oh, sure I am, and the kids are, too. They haven't complained hardly at all about being in the car for so long. These little sightseeing stops makes all the difference."
They finished their meal, and headed back to the motel. Linda, in her room, got the kids ready for bed, then herself.
Steve and Ghost did the same, after watching TV for awhile. When the lights were out, Ghost began talking about UFOs. "Steve, are we gonna see one? Do you want to see one? It's UFO country out there, now."
Wrinkling his nose, Steve said, "No, I don't want to see one. Only a few people get to see them Ghost...and nobody believes them, anyway. So we probably won't. Aren't they mostly seen at night? We're asleep at night."
"Well, I'm gonna stay up and look for one. Maybe I'll be lucky. I see dead people, so why not UFOs?"
"Ok, if anyone could, it would be you, I guess," Steve said.
"Yeah, and if I see one, I'll holler for you to come look," Ghost said.
"But, I don't want to see one," Steve said, shaking his head.
"Why not?"
"Because they're scary, and maybe the aliens would take us away. They kinda do that, don't they?" Steve said.
"Hmm, well, sometimes, I guess," Ghost said. "I'm going outside after while, and call them to come.'
"What are you gonna say to them?"
"I'm gonna at least tell them we'll be in their state, and we want to see them. They can hear us, right?"
"Hell if I know, Ghost. I hope not...anyway, I'm going to sleep, I'm getting spooked, now."
"Petrified?" Ghost laughed.
"Yeah, like a log...see, I'm not moving...I'm a rock." He drifted off to a sound sleep.
Ghost tried to sleep, but it was no use. After a few minutes, he got up to look for a snack in his backpack. Finally finding a mostly uncrushed package of peanut butter-cheese crackers, he quietly went out the door. He munched on them, as he looked around.
The parking lot was lit by a few street lights, but over to the far edge, it was dark...only moonlight in the emptiness of the desert. This motel was the last one on the edge of the little town they were in.
"This is perfect," he said out loud to the night. Walking across the parking lot, he had a quick thought...that he should have left a note for Steve, but he didn't plan on staying out here for long. He kept going into the darkness. Finally about half a mile out, he stopped. There in the moonlight, he looked up at the stars.
They were really clear out here in the wide open spaces. At home, there were always trees that blocked his view. Scanning the sky, he looked for anything that was moving, hoping to see a UFO.
"Hey, y'all...if any of you are listening, my name is Ghost. I want to know if y'all are real. Show me. Come out of hiding so I can see ya." Then, he waited. He detected no movement, no beams of light, no noise.
"Ok, well, we're gonna be closer to where y'all hang out, in the morning, so when it gets dark again, I'll call for ya again, ok?" A sudden cool breeze ruffled his hair, and he imagined he heard something say..."We'll be waiting..." He grinned, knowing it was his wishful thinking, but secretly hoping it was real. He walked back toward the motel.
The neon sign was tiny from so far away, but a beacon to aim for. The whole way back, he felt something was watching him. He did not turn around to see, though.
"They're checking me out...seeing if I'm real," he thought. He sent a silent message through the air..."Yes, I'm real..."
Back at the motel room, he let himself in. Steve was still asleep.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 241
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 241
warning...adult content
~
Steve and Ghost were hot and sweaty, when they got back to the visitor's center. They found Linda and the kids inside, where it was cool. She'd gotten them sodas, and she was talking to the curator.
Walking up, Ghost said, "I saw the real town."
"What real town?" asked the man.
"The one that's not fake," Ghost said, as he stared hard at the man.
Nodding, the man said, "Yes...you have." He knew Ghost was right.
Stevie and Mandy ran up, handing Ghost and Steve a can of soda, that Linda had bought for them.
"Y'all ready to go?" Steve asked. The kids said they were, so they all went back outside to the car and the U-Haul. The kids ran on ahead, while Linda asked, "What were you talking about in there? A real town?"
"Yeah, the real ghost town," Steve said. "Ghost found it out past the one here, out farther in the desert. This one here is a replica of it...a really good one, but all new buildings that just look old. The real one is all fallen down."
"The spirits are still there," Ghost said. "I heard them."
"Oh, that's sad," Linda said.
"There was an old graveyard, too, and bones of some people that never got buried," Ghost said. "They didn't want to get trapped forever down there, but they did."
Linda was all caught up in Ghost's story. "Are you going to write the story, Ghost?"
"Yeah, I will," he said.
She smiled. "Good, because I want to read it." She got the kids settled back into the car, where they amused themselves with the little toys they'd bought in the gift shop. "We're ready. How many miles to our stopping place, Steve?"
"We're going to try for two hundred more miles, before it gets dark," he said. "That should get us into New Mexico, I think. We'll stop and eat, and get a motel for the night." He looked again at the map.
"That sounds great. I could use a shower," Linda said, and laughed.
They drove back to the main highway, where there weren't many other cars at this time of day. Steve tried to tune in a radio station, but all he got was static. Ghost was busy writing about the ghost town, but kept yawning and nodding off. The air conditioner worked good in the U-Haul, though, and Steve adjusted it to be colder, in order for himself to stay awake.
The next large town they came to, was Flagstaff, but they were not ready to stop for the night, as it was still quite awhile until dark. Besides, the kids were asleep, and so was Ghost. Steve kept seeing mileage signs to Winslow. That rang a bell...the Eagles song. He and Ghost sang that song all the time...*"Take It Easy". He perked up...he wanted to stop and see the famous corner. Calling Linda, he told her he was stopping up ahead. As they got close, he shook Ghost awake.
"Hey, wake up. Guess where we are?"
"What...where?" Ghost sat up straighter and looked out the window. "We're in the desert..."
Steve rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know, but the next town is Winslow, Arizona." He was talking loud.
"Winslow?" Ghost asked. "Like in that song?"
"Yep, the very same...and we're stopping and standing on that corner. Get your camera ready," Steve said. He and Ghost were smiling big.
Soon, they were in the town. Steve drove around, down the main street. It wasn't a huge city, but he had to look for a sign that maybe would tell them where the special corner was. Finally, he saw one, and followed the arrows, turning up one street, down another. He knew this was another tourist stop, but he didn't care. This was the most excitement he'd had in awhile, and he wasn't going to miss out on it.
Then, he saw it. It was well marked, and other people were there taking pictures. He and Linda found a parking area, and they all got out to walk over and check it out. Ghost was snapping pictures of it, and other scenery. Finally it was their turn to stand on the spot. Ghost took their picture, then Linda took some, then Steve. A passerby took one of them all together. .
"Hey, Steve...I have an idea," Linda said. "Get your guitar, and you and Ghost sing that song...right here on the street."
"What? That might be weird," Steve said.
"Oh, please," Linda said. "It'll be neat, and y'all do it so good. These other people would love to hear y'all, I'll bet. That song is probably in everybody's head, anyway. Maybe they'll sing along."
The more Steve thought about it, the more he liked it. "Ok, I'll see if Ghost will," he said. "Ghost, come here..." he waved him over. "Linda wants us to sing the song, right here on the street. I think I want to...it'll be fun."
"You mean for real? Like for these people out here?" Ghost asked.
"Yep, I'll get my guitar, and everything. Ya want to?"
Ghost grinned. "Hell, yeah...you know I'll sing anywhere. Go get it."
Steve ran back to the truck, and grabbed his acoustic. Ghost was already rounding up an audience.
"Hey, y'all," he shouted. "Ya wanna hear that song, don'cha? Well, me and Steve are in a band, called Lost Souls, and we sing it all the time...so...we're gonna do it for y'all." He kept waving people over, until there was a small crowd.
Steve didn't know if they needed a permit to sing on the street, but by this point, he didn't care. He tuned his guitar, quickly, and nodded to Ghost.
"Ok, ya'll...here we go...sing it with us, if you want to," Ghost urged.
Steve began to play, and needing no microphone to be heard, Ghost started singing. His voice was loud and clear...mesmerizing, as always. Pretty much everyone standing around them joined in. The police security for the tourist stop, came over and joined in, too. Linda was taking pictures of everyone, and every thing. After singing it a couple of times, the crowd shouted and clapped, and cameras were clicking everywhere. Someone hollered, "Can you sing some more Eagles songs?"
Steve looked at Ghost, but didn't even have to ask, so he began another song. Ghost started right in. There was no stage, but none was needed. People kept singing along, for several more songs, keeping the beat with their hands and feet. Finally, it wound down, and it was time to go. Lots of people thanked them for the mini concert. Steve and Ghost were pumped up...the show had revived them, and now they were ready to get back on the road. All they way back to the car, they kept talking about it.
"That was so much fun, Steve," Ghost said. "I'm so glad you stopped here."
"I know...and I think everyone enjoyed it," Steve said. "Maybe we should do it more often."
"Hey, yeah...that's an idea that could work," Linda said. "Just pick a town, and start singing."
"I'd do it, for sure," Ghost said.
"Can we come, too" Stevie asked.
Ghost laughed. "Sure...oh, better ask your mom, first."
"You kids will be in school, but if any of this happens, I might let you go to one or two," Linda said.
They stopped for gas, on their way out of town, agreeing to travel awhile longer, before stopping for the night. Ghost was humming, and writing in his journal, about the afternoon.
"What was your favorite part?" he asked.
"Oh, probably watching you," Steve said. "I always like that part best...you seem so happy when you sing, Ghost."
"I am," Ghost said.
~
* Take it Easy, recorded by the Eagles, on the Album - Eagles. Released May 1, 1972. Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios, London. Label, Asylum. Written by Jackson Browne and Glen Frey.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
# 241
warning...adult content
~
Steve and Ghost were hot and sweaty, when they got back to the visitor's center. They found Linda and the kids inside, where it was cool. She'd gotten them sodas, and she was talking to the curator.
Walking up, Ghost said, "I saw the real town."
"What real town?" asked the man.
"The one that's not fake," Ghost said, as he stared hard at the man.
Nodding, the man said, "Yes...you have." He knew Ghost was right.
Stevie and Mandy ran up, handing Ghost and Steve a can of soda, that Linda had bought for them.
"Y'all ready to go?" Steve asked. The kids said they were, so they all went back outside to the car and the U-Haul. The kids ran on ahead, while Linda asked, "What were you talking about in there? A real town?"
"Yeah, the real ghost town," Steve said. "Ghost found it out past the one here, out farther in the desert. This one here is a replica of it...a really good one, but all new buildings that just look old. The real one is all fallen down."
"The spirits are still there," Ghost said. "I heard them."
"Oh, that's sad," Linda said.
"There was an old graveyard, too, and bones of some people that never got buried," Ghost said. "They didn't want to get trapped forever down there, but they did."
Linda was all caught up in Ghost's story. "Are you going to write the story, Ghost?"
"Yeah, I will," he said.
She smiled. "Good, because I want to read it." She got the kids settled back into the car, where they amused themselves with the little toys they'd bought in the gift shop. "We're ready. How many miles to our stopping place, Steve?"
"We're going to try for two hundred more miles, before it gets dark," he said. "That should get us into New Mexico, I think. We'll stop and eat, and get a motel for the night." He looked again at the map.
"That sounds great. I could use a shower," Linda said, and laughed.
They drove back to the main highway, where there weren't many other cars at this time of day. Steve tried to tune in a radio station, but all he got was static. Ghost was busy writing about the ghost town, but kept yawning and nodding off. The air conditioner worked good in the U-Haul, though, and Steve adjusted it to be colder, in order for himself to stay awake.
The next large town they came to, was Flagstaff, but they were not ready to stop for the night, as it was still quite awhile until dark. Besides, the kids were asleep, and so was Ghost. Steve kept seeing mileage signs to Winslow. That rang a bell...the Eagles song. He and Ghost sang that song all the time...*"Take It Easy". He perked up...he wanted to stop and see the famous corner. Calling Linda, he told her he was stopping up ahead. As they got close, he shook Ghost awake.
"Hey, wake up. Guess where we are?"
"What...where?" Ghost sat up straighter and looked out the window. "We're in the desert..."
Steve rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know, but the next town is Winslow, Arizona." He was talking loud.
"Winslow?" Ghost asked. "Like in that song?"
"Yep, the very same...and we're stopping and standing on that corner. Get your camera ready," Steve said. He and Ghost were smiling big.
Soon, they were in the town. Steve drove around, down the main street. It wasn't a huge city, but he had to look for a sign that maybe would tell them where the special corner was. Finally, he saw one, and followed the arrows, turning up one street, down another. He knew this was another tourist stop, but he didn't care. This was the most excitement he'd had in awhile, and he wasn't going to miss out on it.
Then, he saw it. It was well marked, and other people were there taking pictures. He and Linda found a parking area, and they all got out to walk over and check it out. Ghost was snapping pictures of it, and other scenery. Finally it was their turn to stand on the spot. Ghost took their picture, then Linda took some, then Steve. A passerby took one of them all together. .
"Hey, Steve...I have an idea," Linda said. "Get your guitar, and you and Ghost sing that song...right here on the street."
"What? That might be weird," Steve said.
"Oh, please," Linda said. "It'll be neat, and y'all do it so good. These other people would love to hear y'all, I'll bet. That song is probably in everybody's head, anyway. Maybe they'll sing along."
The more Steve thought about it, the more he liked it. "Ok, I'll see if Ghost will," he said. "Ghost, come here..." he waved him over. "Linda wants us to sing the song, right here on the street. I think I want to...it'll be fun."
"You mean for real? Like for these people out here?" Ghost asked.
"Yep, I'll get my guitar, and everything. Ya want to?"
Ghost grinned. "Hell, yeah...you know I'll sing anywhere. Go get it."
Steve ran back to the truck, and grabbed his acoustic. Ghost was already rounding up an audience.
"Hey, y'all," he shouted. "Ya wanna hear that song, don'cha? Well, me and Steve are in a band, called Lost Souls, and we sing it all the time...so...we're gonna do it for y'all." He kept waving people over, until there was a small crowd.
Steve didn't know if they needed a permit to sing on the street, but by this point, he didn't care. He tuned his guitar, quickly, and nodded to Ghost.
"Ok, ya'll...here we go...sing it with us, if you want to," Ghost urged.
Steve began to play, and needing no microphone to be heard, Ghost started singing. His voice was loud and clear...mesmerizing, as always. Pretty much everyone standing around them joined in. The police security for the tourist stop, came over and joined in, too. Linda was taking pictures of everyone, and every thing. After singing it a couple of times, the crowd shouted and clapped, and cameras were clicking everywhere. Someone hollered, "Can you sing some more Eagles songs?"
Steve looked at Ghost, but didn't even have to ask, so he began another song. Ghost started right in. There was no stage, but none was needed. People kept singing along, for several more songs, keeping the beat with their hands and feet. Finally, it wound down, and it was time to go. Lots of people thanked them for the mini concert. Steve and Ghost were pumped up...the show had revived them, and now they were ready to get back on the road. All they way back to the car, they kept talking about it.
"That was so much fun, Steve," Ghost said. "I'm so glad you stopped here."
"I know...and I think everyone enjoyed it," Steve said. "Maybe we should do it more often."
"Hey, yeah...that's an idea that could work," Linda said. "Just pick a town, and start singing."
"I'd do it, for sure," Ghost said.
"Can we come, too" Stevie asked.
Ghost laughed. "Sure...oh, better ask your mom, first."
"You kids will be in school, but if any of this happens, I might let you go to one or two," Linda said.
They stopped for gas, on their way out of town, agreeing to travel awhile longer, before stopping for the night. Ghost was humming, and writing in his journal, about the afternoon.
"What was your favorite part?" he asked.
"Oh, probably watching you," Steve said. "I always like that part best...you seem so happy when you sing, Ghost."
"I am," Ghost said.
~
* Take it Easy, recorded by the Eagles, on the Album - Eagles. Released May 1, 1972. Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios, London. Label, Asylum. Written by Jackson Browne and Glen Frey.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Sunday, November 8, 2015
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 240
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 240
warning...adult content
~
Steve knocked on the door to Linda's motel room. She let them in, and he helped her get the kids ready to leave.
"Ok, who wants pancakes?" Steve asked.
"We do, we do," Stevie and Mandy hollered, as they jumped up and down.
Linda grabbed her purse, and they all walked over to the little diner. The place was filling up with hungry customers, already. Ghost was telling the kids about the banana pancakes that he makes at home, while Linda and Steve discussed the travel plans for the day. When their breakfast orders came, they dug in. Afterwards, they collected their things from their rooms, and were soon back on the highway.
They stopped at a gas station on the way out of town. Steve checked the U-Haul, and Linda's van for everything he could...oil, water, gas, and tires, then went in to pay.
"Where ya headed?" the clerk asked.
"Just trying to get across Arizona for today," Steve said.
"Well, ya better take along some jugs of water then, and some food...just in case," the man advised. "There isn't much between here and Flagstaff...just desert, and it gets hot."
"Oh, yeah, ok, I'll get those then," Steve said. He came out of the little gas/convenience store loaded down. He put some of the supplies in each of their cars.
"Ok, guess we're ready," he said.
"Lead the way," Linda said. She'd settled the kids in the back seat, with their DVD player going, so they were entertained for awhile.
Steve got back into the U-Haul, and drove on down the road. Soon they were cruising at a good pace.
"There's nothing out here," Ghost said, as he stared out the window. "It's weird."
"Well, it's a desert...you know...cactus and sand," Steve said, but he thought it was weird, too. "Nothing like home, huh?"
"We were gonna come here, before," Ghost said. "There's ghost towns, and UFOs out here. I can tell we're close to some."
"So, you want to stop and look around?" Steve asked.
"Can we? Can we find a ghost town?" Ghost asked, looking excited now.
"Well, that sign back there said there's one not too far out of our way. I could use some leg stretching time," Steve said. "It's a tourist place now, though, and surely they have a bathroom. Call Linda, tell her we're stopping there."
Ghost did, and when they got to the right turn-off road, Steve took it, driving them on up to what seemed a modern looking building. They all got out, and went inside, where it was nice and cool. It was a visitor's center, with a gift shop. They found the bathrooms, then asked the clerk about looking around the abandoned town. He gave them a pamphlet that included a map of the ghost town.
They were able to wander around, looking at everything, and taking some pictures. "Is this a real town?" Ghost asked.
Steve looked at the map they'd gotten. "It says here it was, way back when. These stores and houses were restored to what they were like, and some of the original furniture and stuff are what really was here."
They kept looking, peeking into the windows of the buildings in the little ghost town. The kids were having fun, running around. The farther they all got, away from the visitor's center, the more Ghost slowed down.
Steve was looking in the storefronts, reading the descriptions on the info sheet. He was imagining what it would have been like to have lived here. "Hey, Ghost, look at this one," he kept saying. He and Linda were chattering about it all, enjoying it. Ghost didn't seem interested.
"You gonna look at any of this, or just stand there in the street?" Steve asked. "It was your idea to come here, and I know you like history shit."
Ghost shrugged. "This isn't real. It's too neat and museum-y," he said.
"So...it's still how it looked back then. You know...then everybody just left, and it got abandonded," Steve said.
"I don't feel anything," Ghost said. "No spirits are here...it's not even where the real town used to be. They fixed it over here, closer to the road." He held out his arm, like a pointer, then closed his eyes, and slowly turned in a circle. When he stopped, he said, "The town was over there, past that...that cactus. It's down below there...there's a drop-off." He paused a second, listening. "Guess that's why they moved it. I'm going over there," he said, and started walking that way.
"Wait, wait...you can't just go walking out into the desert," Steve said. "How far is it, anyway? I don't see anything out there."
But, Ghost didn't answer, he just kept walking away from the little town. Steve looked back at Linda and the kids. They were still looking at the buildings, and weren't looking his way. He looked back at Ghost, who was getting farther away. He was afraid he'd lose him, if he didn't follow. Linda would be fine, even if she realized he and Ghost were gone. So, he ran to catch up with Ghost.
Panting in the heat, as he came up beside Ghost, he grabbed Ghost's arm. "Stop...there's nothing out here to see...and you're gonna get heat stroke...you're all red. We're going back, come on," Steve urged.
Ghost stopped, just looking out across the barren scrub land. He had a far-away look in his eyes. "They're out there," he said, pointing. "Not much farther, Steve. I have to go see."
Steve scanned the area in front of them. Sighing and shaking his head, he said, "Ok, but five minutes...that's all...then when I say, we go back...deal?"
Ghost nodded, and started walking again. Steve glanced back from where they'd come. The little town's buildings looked tiny now, they were so far away. Ghost was walking faster now, and then suddenly he stopped. Steve almost ran into him.
"Look, there it is, Steve."
Steve was amazed. Just a few feet from where Ghost had stopped, the flat ground dropped sharply, with no warning, into a sort of gorge, or valley...a canyon, maybe, he thought. It was not terribly long or wide, but still, about two hundred yards down a rocky cliff. At the bottom was what looked like a dried up river bed, and clustered up and down it's banks was the little town...laid out exactly as the one behind them. Except this one was the real thing.
Dilapidated, weathered, wooden structures, an old rotted wagon, and rusted plows were scattered around the area. There was the remnants of a long ago garden off to one side, that had lived and died, along with the former residents. It was stark and beautiful at the same time.
They stared in silence for a few minutes. "They're still there...the spirits of the dead. Not everybody just up and left. There's a graveyard, too." He closed his eyes to concentrate. "There's the bones of a couple of others that never got buried. They're in the root cellar...the last hold-outs." Ghost sighed, looking sad now.
"Wouldn't they have gotten them out when they re-did the place back there?" Steve asked.
Ghost shook his head. "No one knows about 'em...just us, 'cause the cellar got hidden when the house fell down, a long time ago, after they died...so it's kinda like their grave, anyway. But, I can find it...I hear them calling and calling for help...still..."
Steve shivered, despite the heat of the afternoon. "This is creeping me out...I gotta get outta here. Let's go. We can't help them, Ghost...let them alone...rest in peace, spirits," he said, out into the wind.
"I think they understand," Ghost said. "I told them how sorry I was that I couldn't really help them. They said they were happy to have someone finally hear their cries." He wiped a few tears from his own eyes.
"Aww, that's nice, Ghost. At least you gave them that," Steve said. "C'mon...let's go back."
They began the long walk back to the visitor center.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
# 240
warning...adult content
~
Steve knocked on the door to Linda's motel room. She let them in, and he helped her get the kids ready to leave.
"Ok, who wants pancakes?" Steve asked.
"We do, we do," Stevie and Mandy hollered, as they jumped up and down.
Linda grabbed her purse, and they all walked over to the little diner. The place was filling up with hungry customers, already. Ghost was telling the kids about the banana pancakes that he makes at home, while Linda and Steve discussed the travel plans for the day. When their breakfast orders came, they dug in. Afterwards, they collected their things from their rooms, and were soon back on the highway.
They stopped at a gas station on the way out of town. Steve checked the U-Haul, and Linda's van for everything he could...oil, water, gas, and tires, then went in to pay.
"Where ya headed?" the clerk asked.
"Just trying to get across Arizona for today," Steve said.
"Well, ya better take along some jugs of water then, and some food...just in case," the man advised. "There isn't much between here and Flagstaff...just desert, and it gets hot."
"Oh, yeah, ok, I'll get those then," Steve said. He came out of the little gas/convenience store loaded down. He put some of the supplies in each of their cars.
"Ok, guess we're ready," he said.
"Lead the way," Linda said. She'd settled the kids in the back seat, with their DVD player going, so they were entertained for awhile.
Steve got back into the U-Haul, and drove on down the road. Soon they were cruising at a good pace.
"There's nothing out here," Ghost said, as he stared out the window. "It's weird."
"Well, it's a desert...you know...cactus and sand," Steve said, but he thought it was weird, too. "Nothing like home, huh?"
"We were gonna come here, before," Ghost said. "There's ghost towns, and UFOs out here. I can tell we're close to some."
"So, you want to stop and look around?" Steve asked.
"Can we? Can we find a ghost town?" Ghost asked, looking excited now.
"Well, that sign back there said there's one not too far out of our way. I could use some leg stretching time," Steve said. "It's a tourist place now, though, and surely they have a bathroom. Call Linda, tell her we're stopping there."
Ghost did, and when they got to the right turn-off road, Steve took it, driving them on up to what seemed a modern looking building. They all got out, and went inside, where it was nice and cool. It was a visitor's center, with a gift shop. They found the bathrooms, then asked the clerk about looking around the abandoned town. He gave them a pamphlet that included a map of the ghost town.
They were able to wander around, looking at everything, and taking some pictures. "Is this a real town?" Ghost asked.
Steve looked at the map they'd gotten. "It says here it was, way back when. These stores and houses were restored to what they were like, and some of the original furniture and stuff are what really was here."
They kept looking, peeking into the windows of the buildings in the little ghost town. The kids were having fun, running around. The farther they all got, away from the visitor's center, the more Ghost slowed down.
Steve was looking in the storefronts, reading the descriptions on the info sheet. He was imagining what it would have been like to have lived here. "Hey, Ghost, look at this one," he kept saying. He and Linda were chattering about it all, enjoying it. Ghost didn't seem interested.
"You gonna look at any of this, or just stand there in the street?" Steve asked. "It was your idea to come here, and I know you like history shit."
Ghost shrugged. "This isn't real. It's too neat and museum-y," he said.
"So...it's still how it looked back then. You know...then everybody just left, and it got abandonded," Steve said.
"I don't feel anything," Ghost said. "No spirits are here...it's not even where the real town used to be. They fixed it over here, closer to the road." He held out his arm, like a pointer, then closed his eyes, and slowly turned in a circle. When he stopped, he said, "The town was over there, past that...that cactus. It's down below there...there's a drop-off." He paused a second, listening. "Guess that's why they moved it. I'm going over there," he said, and started walking that way.
"Wait, wait...you can't just go walking out into the desert," Steve said. "How far is it, anyway? I don't see anything out there."
But, Ghost didn't answer, he just kept walking away from the little town. Steve looked back at Linda and the kids. They were still looking at the buildings, and weren't looking his way. He looked back at Ghost, who was getting farther away. He was afraid he'd lose him, if he didn't follow. Linda would be fine, even if she realized he and Ghost were gone. So, he ran to catch up with Ghost.
Panting in the heat, as he came up beside Ghost, he grabbed Ghost's arm. "Stop...there's nothing out here to see...and you're gonna get heat stroke...you're all red. We're going back, come on," Steve urged.
Ghost stopped, just looking out across the barren scrub land. He had a far-away look in his eyes. "They're out there," he said, pointing. "Not much farther, Steve. I have to go see."
Steve scanned the area in front of them. Sighing and shaking his head, he said, "Ok, but five minutes...that's all...then when I say, we go back...deal?"
Ghost nodded, and started walking again. Steve glanced back from where they'd come. The little town's buildings looked tiny now, they were so far away. Ghost was walking faster now, and then suddenly he stopped. Steve almost ran into him.
"Look, there it is, Steve."
Steve was amazed. Just a few feet from where Ghost had stopped, the flat ground dropped sharply, with no warning, into a sort of gorge, or valley...a canyon, maybe, he thought. It was not terribly long or wide, but still, about two hundred yards down a rocky cliff. At the bottom was what looked like a dried up river bed, and clustered up and down it's banks was the little town...laid out exactly as the one behind them. Except this one was the real thing.
Dilapidated, weathered, wooden structures, an old rotted wagon, and rusted plows were scattered around the area. There was the remnants of a long ago garden off to one side, that had lived and died, along with the former residents. It was stark and beautiful at the same time.
They stared in silence for a few minutes. "They're still there...the spirits of the dead. Not everybody just up and left. There's a graveyard, too." He closed his eyes to concentrate. "There's the bones of a couple of others that never got buried. They're in the root cellar...the last hold-outs." Ghost sighed, looking sad now.
"Wouldn't they have gotten them out when they re-did the place back there?" Steve asked.
Ghost shook his head. "No one knows about 'em...just us, 'cause the cellar got hidden when the house fell down, a long time ago, after they died...so it's kinda like their grave, anyway. But, I can find it...I hear them calling and calling for help...still..."
Steve shivered, despite the heat of the afternoon. "This is creeping me out...I gotta get outta here. Let's go. We can't help them, Ghost...let them alone...rest in peace, spirits," he said, out into the wind.
"I think they understand," Ghost said. "I told them how sorry I was that I couldn't really help them. They said they were happy to have someone finally hear their cries." He wiped a few tears from his own eyes.
"Aww, that's nice, Ghost. At least you gave them that," Steve said. "C'mon...let's go back."
They began the long walk back to the visitor center.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Friday, November 6, 2015
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 239
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 239
warning...adult content
~
Steve pulled up into the motel's parking lot. It had been pretty easy to find one in this town. It was on the outskirts, right by the highway. He went inside to secure two rooms for the night.
"I think we should get something to eat, Steve," Linda said. "There's a diner, right over there. Then, we can get our things and settle in for the night."
"Ok, sounds good to me," Steve agreed. "I'm just happy to walk around a little. That U-Haul is ok, but my butt's gone to sleep." He laughed, as he shook a leg.
"Same here," Linda said.
She got the kids out of their car, and Steve went to wake up Ghost. The diner was only about half a block away, so they all walked over. Inside, it was pretty much like any diner in any town. They found a booth, and looked around. There were a few other people at tables...most looked local, but a couple of groups looked like travelers, like themselves. It was easy to tell by everyone's rumpled looks, and bleary eyes, from being on the road. They ordered what they wanted, and only the kids had energy to chatter.
Ghost, Steve, and Linda just waited for the food to arrive. After taking a few bites, Linda asked, "Any certain time we're leaving in the morning?"
Steve shrugged. "Nope, just when we get awake. We'll get breakfast here, then need to find a gas station. Like you said, we're not on a strict schedule. It's better that way."
The kids were beginning to get restless, and Ghost looked bored, as he traced circles on the table with drops of water. Steve got the ticket, and paid, while Linda and the rest, headed to the door. The food and the cool desert air had revived them all a bit. They unloaded what they'd need for the night and morning, and said good night, each going to their rooms.
Linda gave Stevie and Mandy a quick bath, and tucked them into the bed. She showered, then joined the kids, who were already asleep. She made a quick call to Lisa, to let her know where they were, then picked up her book to read for a few minutes. But before she had finished a page, she was asleep, too.
~
Steve unlocked the door to their room, and they brought a few things in from the U-Haul that they might need. The room was fine, nothing fancy, but it did have a big bed and a TV. Ghost dropped his backpack, jacket, and items from the truck, right there where he was. Going over to the bed, he lay on his side, curled up on top of the bedspread. He just stared at the wall. Steve didn't say anything yet, but wondered what was bugging him.
He put his things on the chair, and turned on the TV. Flipping through the channels, he stopped at only a couple for more than a few seconds. He sat on the bed, and looked at Ghost.
"Anything you wanna watch?" he asked.
Ghost shook his head.
"You ok?"
Ghost shook his head, again.
""Wanna talk about it?"
"No, I'm just tired, Steve," he said in a low voice.
Steve shrugged. "Well, ok, I'm getting in the shower." He was worried, but didn't want to show it. In the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror, not liking what he saw...hair all tangled up, bloodshot eyes, and scruffy face. "Yeah, Ghost really wants to go to bed with this," he said. He cleaned himself up, then went back into the main room. He saw that Ghost was still awake, hadn't moved, and was still staring at the wall.
"Hey, I thought you'd be asleep already," he said.
"I'm not sleepy."
"Oh..." Steve said, then turned out the light, leaving the TV sound on low. Getting into the bed, he tried to get under the covers, and tried to adjust his pillow, but couldn't, because Ghost was still on top of them.
"Get up and get comfortable," Steve said. "Get under here with me."
Ghost sighed, but got up, took off his clothes, and joined Steve. Facing him, he snuggled his face up by Steve's neck. "You smell good," he said. He could feel Steve's still damp hair on his face.
"I thought you were tired."
"I am, but...I..." Ghost said, then he took Steve's hand, putting it on himself. "I want you," he breathed into Steve's ear, the soft words tickling him, giving him chills.
With the one hand still caressing Ghost, Steve turned on his side, and found Ghost's lips. "Mmm...I want you, too." They reaffirmed their love for each other, then fell asleep in each other's arms.
Some time later, Ghost woke from a strange dream. He couldn't get back to sleep, so got up and got his journal. He sat up in the bed, writing for awhile.
Steve was sleeping soundly. Ghost smiled, as he watched him. The bathroom light had been left on, and with that small light, and the on/off flickering of the neon motel sign, through the curtains, Ghost noticed the play of shadows across Steve's face. He began to draw.
The finished portrait was haunting and surreal. Pleased with it, Ghost closed the book, and was able to go back to sleep.
As morning sunshine lit up the room, Steve got up and slipped quietly outside. He went down to the diner, to bring back coffee for everyone. When he got back, Ghost was in the shower, singing, so he turned on the TV. The news was depressing, so he flipped on to an early morning sci-fy movie. Leaning back on the pillows, he sipped his coffee.
Ghost came out then, spied his cup, and joined Steve on the bed. It was a nice way to start the day...no stress, no rushing around.
"I wonder if Linda is up, yet?" Steve asked. "I'm getting hungry, now, are you?" he asked.
"Yeah, I need pancakes," Ghost said.
"Mmm, me too. I'm going to go see what's up over there...or who's up," Steve said.
While he was gone, Ghost picked up his journal, and looked at the picture he'd drawn. He's show it to Steve when he returned.
When Steve got back, he said, "Ok they're up and almost ready to go...maybe ten minutes."
Ghost held up the journal. "Look."
Steve took the journal. "Is that supposed to be me?"
"Not supposed to be...it is you. I drew it last night when you were asleep," Ghost said.
Steve frowned. "Why is it all...uh...wavy? or psychedelic looking? Were you trippin' or something?" He laughed.
"No, this is how you look... or looked last night. It was dark, and those crazy lights were blinking on and off. So you were dark and light. I could'a used the colored markers...then you'd be all red and green." Ghost laughed at that thought.
Steve squinched his eyes to see the picture, again. "Oh, you're talking about the neon sign out there. I get it, now. It's cool, dude. I just didn't get it at first."
Ghost shrugged. "I just drawed it, I didn't analyze it."
"How come you were up?"
"Oh, I had this weird dream...it wouldn't let me go back to sleep."
"What about?"
"I don't know...I wrote some words, but they don't make any sense now...just a feeling...like a coming up soon, happening...on down the road, but it was weird," Ghost said. "I'll know it when it happens."
"Oh, like a pre-condition thing...or an omen, or a deja-vu, or a sign?" Steve asked.
Ghost nodded. "Yeah, like that, only it's pre-cognition..."
"Well was it good or bad?"
"I don't know yet, maybe both...like it might be bad, but turn good in the middle," Ghost said. "But, I'm too hungry to think about it, and I'm tired of talking about it. Can we go eat?"
"Yeah, but let me know when it happens, Steve said.
They went out, and down the way to Linda's room.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
# 239
warning...adult content
~
Steve pulled up into the motel's parking lot. It had been pretty easy to find one in this town. It was on the outskirts, right by the highway. He went inside to secure two rooms for the night.
"I think we should get something to eat, Steve," Linda said. "There's a diner, right over there. Then, we can get our things and settle in for the night."
"Ok, sounds good to me," Steve agreed. "I'm just happy to walk around a little. That U-Haul is ok, but my butt's gone to sleep." He laughed, as he shook a leg.
"Same here," Linda said.
She got the kids out of their car, and Steve went to wake up Ghost. The diner was only about half a block away, so they all walked over. Inside, it was pretty much like any diner in any town. They found a booth, and looked around. There were a few other people at tables...most looked local, but a couple of groups looked like travelers, like themselves. It was easy to tell by everyone's rumpled looks, and bleary eyes, from being on the road. They ordered what they wanted, and only the kids had energy to chatter.
Ghost, Steve, and Linda just waited for the food to arrive. After taking a few bites, Linda asked, "Any certain time we're leaving in the morning?"
Steve shrugged. "Nope, just when we get awake. We'll get breakfast here, then need to find a gas station. Like you said, we're not on a strict schedule. It's better that way."
The kids were beginning to get restless, and Ghost looked bored, as he traced circles on the table with drops of water. Steve got the ticket, and paid, while Linda and the rest, headed to the door. The food and the cool desert air had revived them all a bit. They unloaded what they'd need for the night and morning, and said good night, each going to their rooms.
Linda gave Stevie and Mandy a quick bath, and tucked them into the bed. She showered, then joined the kids, who were already asleep. She made a quick call to Lisa, to let her know where they were, then picked up her book to read for a few minutes. But before she had finished a page, she was asleep, too.
~
Steve unlocked the door to their room, and they brought a few things in from the U-Haul that they might need. The room was fine, nothing fancy, but it did have a big bed and a TV. Ghost dropped his backpack, jacket, and items from the truck, right there where he was. Going over to the bed, he lay on his side, curled up on top of the bedspread. He just stared at the wall. Steve didn't say anything yet, but wondered what was bugging him.
He put his things on the chair, and turned on the TV. Flipping through the channels, he stopped at only a couple for more than a few seconds. He sat on the bed, and looked at Ghost.
"Anything you wanna watch?" he asked.
Ghost shook his head.
"You ok?"
Ghost shook his head, again.
""Wanna talk about it?"
"No, I'm just tired, Steve," he said in a low voice.
Steve shrugged. "Well, ok, I'm getting in the shower." He was worried, but didn't want to show it. In the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror, not liking what he saw...hair all tangled up, bloodshot eyes, and scruffy face. "Yeah, Ghost really wants to go to bed with this," he said. He cleaned himself up, then went back into the main room. He saw that Ghost was still awake, hadn't moved, and was still staring at the wall.
"Hey, I thought you'd be asleep already," he said.
"I'm not sleepy."
"Oh..." Steve said, then turned out the light, leaving the TV sound on low. Getting into the bed, he tried to get under the covers, and tried to adjust his pillow, but couldn't, because Ghost was still on top of them.
"Get up and get comfortable," Steve said. "Get under here with me."
Ghost sighed, but got up, took off his clothes, and joined Steve. Facing him, he snuggled his face up by Steve's neck. "You smell good," he said. He could feel Steve's still damp hair on his face.
"I thought you were tired."
"I am, but...I..." Ghost said, then he took Steve's hand, putting it on himself. "I want you," he breathed into Steve's ear, the soft words tickling him, giving him chills.
With the one hand still caressing Ghost, Steve turned on his side, and found Ghost's lips. "Mmm...I want you, too." They reaffirmed their love for each other, then fell asleep in each other's arms.
Some time later, Ghost woke from a strange dream. He couldn't get back to sleep, so got up and got his journal. He sat up in the bed, writing for awhile.
Steve was sleeping soundly. Ghost smiled, as he watched him. The bathroom light had been left on, and with that small light, and the on/off flickering of the neon motel sign, through the curtains, Ghost noticed the play of shadows across Steve's face. He began to draw.
The finished portrait was haunting and surreal. Pleased with it, Ghost closed the book, and was able to go back to sleep.
As morning sunshine lit up the room, Steve got up and slipped quietly outside. He went down to the diner, to bring back coffee for everyone. When he got back, Ghost was in the shower, singing, so he turned on the TV. The news was depressing, so he flipped on to an early morning sci-fy movie. Leaning back on the pillows, he sipped his coffee.
Ghost came out then, spied his cup, and joined Steve on the bed. It was a nice way to start the day...no stress, no rushing around.
"I wonder if Linda is up, yet?" Steve asked. "I'm getting hungry, now, are you?" he asked.
"Yeah, I need pancakes," Ghost said.
"Mmm, me too. I'm going to go see what's up over there...or who's up," Steve said.
While he was gone, Ghost picked up his journal, and looked at the picture he'd drawn. He's show it to Steve when he returned.
When Steve got back, he said, "Ok they're up and almost ready to go...maybe ten minutes."
Ghost held up the journal. "Look."
Steve took the journal. "Is that supposed to be me?"
"Not supposed to be...it is you. I drew it last night when you were asleep," Ghost said.
Steve frowned. "Why is it all...uh...wavy? or psychedelic looking? Were you trippin' or something?" He laughed.
"No, this is how you look... or looked last night. It was dark, and those crazy lights were blinking on and off. So you were dark and light. I could'a used the colored markers...then you'd be all red and green." Ghost laughed at that thought.
Steve squinched his eyes to see the picture, again. "Oh, you're talking about the neon sign out there. I get it, now. It's cool, dude. I just didn't get it at first."
Ghost shrugged. "I just drawed it, I didn't analyze it."
"How come you were up?"
"Oh, I had this weird dream...it wouldn't let me go back to sleep."
"What about?"
"I don't know...I wrote some words, but they don't make any sense now...just a feeling...like a coming up soon, happening...on down the road, but it was weird," Ghost said. "I'll know it when it happens."
"Oh, like a pre-condition thing...or an omen, or a deja-vu, or a sign?" Steve asked.
Ghost nodded. "Yeah, like that, only it's pre-cognition..."
"Well was it good or bad?"
"I don't know yet, maybe both...like it might be bad, but turn good in the middle," Ghost said. "But, I'm too hungry to think about it, and I'm tired of talking about it. Can we go eat?"
"Yeah, but let me know when it happens, Steve said.
They went out, and down the way to Linda's room.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ...# 238
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 238
warning...adult content
~
Linda sat down by Ghost, and hugged him close. "Oh, Ghost...I don't know what to say. I wish my brother wouldn't act like that." She could feel Ghost still crying, so she rubbed his back, and kissed his head. "Go ahead and let it out, Ghost. It's ok..." She rocked back and forth, humming a soft song...one she sang to the kids at night. She could tell that Ghost was calming down, the tension easing from him.
She wasn't thinking consciously about anything, but some thoughts didn't have to be taken out and examined. Ghost innately heard them. He whispered just barely loud enough for Linda to hear... "I love him...that's why I stay."
She was surprised he'd picked up on her unvoiced thoughts, but only said, "I know you do, and I know he loves you...it's just, why...?" She shook her head. "Why does he get so angry, so fast?"
Ghost sat up and looked into her eyes. "Because that's all he knew. It happened to him the same way, and...and he's better, now. He tries so hard to learn another way. I show him all the time...love...that's all...all these years. Some of the old ways are still in there...it's like a scar...it heals, but it's still remembered...maybe forever." He sighed.
Linda had never heard anything like that before. It made sense, now. "Ghost, I know he's better, but you shouldn't have to live in fear of him losing control at any moment. It's not right," she said. "Is he still seeing that counselor?"
"No, I don't ever see him go anymore," Ghost said, shaking his head.
"Ok, well...I'm going to suggest that he does. Therapy isn't a one time deal. It takes work, and I believe it will benefit him, and you...well, all of us, if he continues to go."
"I know..." Ghost said.
They sat there in the shade of the truck, for awhile, waiting for Steve to return. "I'm getting us a bottle of water from the cooler," Linda said, getting up. Ghost got up to help.
"When he gets back, he'll probably apologize to you, and he'll be sorry he acted the way he did. I'm sure it's a pattern, right?" Linda asked.
"Um-hmm, all the time," Ghost said.
"Do you know what you'll say to him?"
"No, I never know what I'm gonna say ahead of time...it just comes out when I say it...and that gets him mad sometimes, too."
"That's what I thought," Linda said. "Here, go give this water to the kids, and make them sit in the shade awhile." She looked off down the highway. "I think I see him coming down the road. I want to talk to him first, ok?"
"Ok," Ghost said, as he took the water bottles from her.
~
Steve pulled the car up into the parking area. He could see Ghost over by the kids, and saw Linda waiting on him, by the U-Haul. He knew she was going to give him another lecture. Shutting the car's engine off, he just sat there for a minute. He'd tried to figure out what he was going to say to Ghost, and now Linda was waiting to hear what he had to say. He rubbed his hands over his face...wishing this day was done, already. Getting out, he walked over to face Linda.
"Well, did you get it?" she asked.
"Yeah, the clerk had it behind the counter," he said. "Look, Linda, I'm sorry I blew up earlier. I know I shouldn't have...I just wasn't thinking straight."
Linda was just looking at him. Then she said, "Steve, I was going to yell at you, and probably give you what for, but...well, something Ghost said hit home. I'm still not ok with you talking like that to Ghost, but I can see why you did. Not because Ghost messes up...we all do...but because of what our dad put us through...you especially. He yelled, and threatened, and beat us. That's what you learned, that it was how you dealt with things. It was wrong then, and it's wrong now, and it's up to you to break the pattern of abuse. Steve...you love Ghost. You don't want to hurt him, and he loves you, but there's only so much a person can take." She sighed, hoping she was getting through to him.
"I'm giving you this advice, Steve. Do something about it. I know you're trying, but I suggest you continue to see your counselor, to keep working on it, before it's too late." She stopped for a minute, giving her words time to sink in. Steve was nodding his head, like he understood what she was saying.
"Do you really understand how serious and important it is?"
"Yes, I do, Linda, and I promise I'll try harder. I have to." He looked down at the ground. " I know I shouldn't, but I do sometimes take for granted that Ghost will always be here with me...now...except at the same time, I'm so afraid he'll leave me, again...and Linda, I'd die if he ever does. I mean that." He brushed away tears.
"I know, I know..." Linda said, hugging him tight. "Now, go to him...make it right. You've hurt him so many times already...you can never be sure when it will be the one time too many."
Steve took a deep breath, and looked over toward Ghost. He was standing in the sunshine, eyes closed, and his head thrown back. The breeze was blowing his long strands of hair around, and he was smiling. the kids were doing the same, and they all turned slowly around and around, with their arms stretched out.
Steve caught his breath. This was Ghost...as one with the elements...and he wanted him... He whispered, "Ghost..." and as he watched, Ghost stopped turning, and looked at him...those sky blue eyes, seeing into his heart...knowing his love and lust. He walked slowly over to Steve, took his hand, and led him to the far side of the truck.
Steve started to make his apologies, but Ghost silenced him with a long, deep kiss. There was no need for words...all was right, again. They spent a few more minutes with each other, vowing to continue, when they got to the motel, later on. They heard Linda corralling the kids, getting them ready to get in the car, so they came back around to see if she needed help.
She looked over at the both of them, and could tell they would be alright. "Everything ok?" she asked.
Steve smiled, "Yeah, we're good," he said. Ghost just looked dreamy eyed.
"Ok, then, let's get going," Linda said, as she settled Stevie and Mandy into the car.
"We've got about two-hundred miles to go, before we can find a motel for the night. It's pretty much a straight line down the road, so it shouldn't be a problem." They pulled back out onto the highway.
In Linda's car, she had put on a kid's movie for them to watch on the little DVD player, and they did watch for a little while, but soon both were asleep. She followed the U-Haul at a steady pace, and wondered what Steve and Ghost were talking about.
They weren't discussing deep thoughts, just commenting on the passing scenery. Then, Steve remembered what started the whole mess back there, in the first place. He'd wanted Ghost to call Kinsey.
"Hey, you still want to call Kinsey," he asked.
"Oh, yeah, I could I guess," Ghost said. He reached for the phone. Steve had put it on the seat between them. Thinking for a minute, to remember how to dial Kinsey's number, he then punched it in. After a few rings, Kinsey answered.
"Steve...Ghost...what's up? Where are y'all?" Kinsey asked.
Ghost was smiling. "Hey, Kinsey, it's me. We're driving in a U-Haul," he said.
"Oh, where are you...are you on your way home?"
"Yep, and we're staying at a motel tonight, and ...hey, Steve, did we do the border thing yet?"
"Yeah, about fifty miles ago," Steve said.
"Ok, Kinsey, we did the border thing...huh? What border? Um...California, and what was next, Steve? Oh, Arizona. What? Oh, yeah, everything is going ok. We stopped a few times, and I lost the phone, but Steve found it at that little store. Did you see my cat? Is he ok?" Ghost asked.
"Yes, Spirit is having a good time with Zach and Trevor. Don't worry about him," Kinsey said.
"Ok, good, well, we'll be home soon, I think," Ghost said. "Oh...Steve said three days."
"Ok, I'll see y'all then," Kinsey said. They disconnected.
Everything sounds good at home, then?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, all good."
Steve turned on the radio, found a station that faded in and out a bit, but sang along to whatever song they played. So did Ghost, at least for a few minutes, but his eyes kept shutting, and soon he nodded off. Steve kept singing along for awhile, seeing the desert scenery go by. He liked it ok, but missed the woods of home. As it began to turn into twilight, he was more than ready to get to their stopping place, find a motel, and fall into bed with Ghost. Only about fifty more miles, he thought.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
# 238
warning...adult content
~
Linda sat down by Ghost, and hugged him close. "Oh, Ghost...I don't know what to say. I wish my brother wouldn't act like that." She could feel Ghost still crying, so she rubbed his back, and kissed his head. "Go ahead and let it out, Ghost. It's ok..." She rocked back and forth, humming a soft song...one she sang to the kids at night. She could tell that Ghost was calming down, the tension easing from him.
She wasn't thinking consciously about anything, but some thoughts didn't have to be taken out and examined. Ghost innately heard them. He whispered just barely loud enough for Linda to hear... "I love him...that's why I stay."
She was surprised he'd picked up on her unvoiced thoughts, but only said, "I know you do, and I know he loves you...it's just, why...?" She shook her head. "Why does he get so angry, so fast?"
Ghost sat up and looked into her eyes. "Because that's all he knew. It happened to him the same way, and...and he's better, now. He tries so hard to learn another way. I show him all the time...love...that's all...all these years. Some of the old ways are still in there...it's like a scar...it heals, but it's still remembered...maybe forever." He sighed.
Linda had never heard anything like that before. It made sense, now. "Ghost, I know he's better, but you shouldn't have to live in fear of him losing control at any moment. It's not right," she said. "Is he still seeing that counselor?"
"No, I don't ever see him go anymore," Ghost said, shaking his head.
"Ok, well...I'm going to suggest that he does. Therapy isn't a one time deal. It takes work, and I believe it will benefit him, and you...well, all of us, if he continues to go."
"I know..." Ghost said.
They sat there in the shade of the truck, for awhile, waiting for Steve to return. "I'm getting us a bottle of water from the cooler," Linda said, getting up. Ghost got up to help.
"When he gets back, he'll probably apologize to you, and he'll be sorry he acted the way he did. I'm sure it's a pattern, right?" Linda asked.
"Um-hmm, all the time," Ghost said.
"Do you know what you'll say to him?"
"No, I never know what I'm gonna say ahead of time...it just comes out when I say it...and that gets him mad sometimes, too."
"That's what I thought," Linda said. "Here, go give this water to the kids, and make them sit in the shade awhile." She looked off down the highway. "I think I see him coming down the road. I want to talk to him first, ok?"
"Ok," Ghost said, as he took the water bottles from her.
~
Steve pulled the car up into the parking area. He could see Ghost over by the kids, and saw Linda waiting on him, by the U-Haul. He knew she was going to give him another lecture. Shutting the car's engine off, he just sat there for a minute. He'd tried to figure out what he was going to say to Ghost, and now Linda was waiting to hear what he had to say. He rubbed his hands over his face...wishing this day was done, already. Getting out, he walked over to face Linda.
"Well, did you get it?" she asked.
"Yeah, the clerk had it behind the counter," he said. "Look, Linda, I'm sorry I blew up earlier. I know I shouldn't have...I just wasn't thinking straight."
Linda was just looking at him. Then she said, "Steve, I was going to yell at you, and probably give you what for, but...well, something Ghost said hit home. I'm still not ok with you talking like that to Ghost, but I can see why you did. Not because Ghost messes up...we all do...but because of what our dad put us through...you especially. He yelled, and threatened, and beat us. That's what you learned, that it was how you dealt with things. It was wrong then, and it's wrong now, and it's up to you to break the pattern of abuse. Steve...you love Ghost. You don't want to hurt him, and he loves you, but there's only so much a person can take." She sighed, hoping she was getting through to him.
"I'm giving you this advice, Steve. Do something about it. I know you're trying, but I suggest you continue to see your counselor, to keep working on it, before it's too late." She stopped for a minute, giving her words time to sink in. Steve was nodding his head, like he understood what she was saying.
"Do you really understand how serious and important it is?"
"Yes, I do, Linda, and I promise I'll try harder. I have to." He looked down at the ground. " I know I shouldn't, but I do sometimes take for granted that Ghost will always be here with me...now...except at the same time, I'm so afraid he'll leave me, again...and Linda, I'd die if he ever does. I mean that." He brushed away tears.
"I know, I know..." Linda said, hugging him tight. "Now, go to him...make it right. You've hurt him so many times already...you can never be sure when it will be the one time too many."
Steve took a deep breath, and looked over toward Ghost. He was standing in the sunshine, eyes closed, and his head thrown back. The breeze was blowing his long strands of hair around, and he was smiling. the kids were doing the same, and they all turned slowly around and around, with their arms stretched out.
Steve caught his breath. This was Ghost...as one with the elements...and he wanted him... He whispered, "Ghost..." and as he watched, Ghost stopped turning, and looked at him...those sky blue eyes, seeing into his heart...knowing his love and lust. He walked slowly over to Steve, took his hand, and led him to the far side of the truck.
Steve started to make his apologies, but Ghost silenced him with a long, deep kiss. There was no need for words...all was right, again. They spent a few more minutes with each other, vowing to continue, when they got to the motel, later on. They heard Linda corralling the kids, getting them ready to get in the car, so they came back around to see if she needed help.
She looked over at the both of them, and could tell they would be alright. "Everything ok?" she asked.
Steve smiled, "Yeah, we're good," he said. Ghost just looked dreamy eyed.
"Ok, then, let's get going," Linda said, as she settled Stevie and Mandy into the car.
"We've got about two-hundred miles to go, before we can find a motel for the night. It's pretty much a straight line down the road, so it shouldn't be a problem." They pulled back out onto the highway.
In Linda's car, she had put on a kid's movie for them to watch on the little DVD player, and they did watch for a little while, but soon both were asleep. She followed the U-Haul at a steady pace, and wondered what Steve and Ghost were talking about.
They weren't discussing deep thoughts, just commenting on the passing scenery. Then, Steve remembered what started the whole mess back there, in the first place. He'd wanted Ghost to call Kinsey.
"Hey, you still want to call Kinsey," he asked.
"Oh, yeah, I could I guess," Ghost said. He reached for the phone. Steve had put it on the seat between them. Thinking for a minute, to remember how to dial Kinsey's number, he then punched it in. After a few rings, Kinsey answered.
"Steve...Ghost...what's up? Where are y'all?" Kinsey asked.
Ghost was smiling. "Hey, Kinsey, it's me. We're driving in a U-Haul," he said.
"Oh, where are you...are you on your way home?"
"Yep, and we're staying at a motel tonight, and ...hey, Steve, did we do the border thing yet?"
"Yeah, about fifty miles ago," Steve said.
"Ok, Kinsey, we did the border thing...huh? What border? Um...California, and what was next, Steve? Oh, Arizona. What? Oh, yeah, everything is going ok. We stopped a few times, and I lost the phone, but Steve found it at that little store. Did you see my cat? Is he ok?" Ghost asked.
"Yes, Spirit is having a good time with Zach and Trevor. Don't worry about him," Kinsey said.
"Ok, good, well, we'll be home soon, I think," Ghost said. "Oh...Steve said three days."
"Ok, I'll see y'all then," Kinsey said. They disconnected.
Everything sounds good at home, then?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, all good."
Steve turned on the radio, found a station that faded in and out a bit, but sang along to whatever song they played. So did Ghost, at least for a few minutes, but his eyes kept shutting, and soon he nodded off. Steve kept singing along for awhile, seeing the desert scenery go by. He liked it ok, but missed the woods of home. As it began to turn into twilight, he was more than ready to get to their stopping place, find a motel, and fall into bed with Ghost. Only about fifty more miles, he thought.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Sunday, November 1, 2015
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 237
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 237
warning...adult content
~
In the kitchen, Linda was fixing plates for the kids, as Ghost and Steve came in.
"Help yourselves, it's on the stove," Lisa said. She'd already sat down by Bill.
Steve looked in the cabinet. "Hey, Ghost, look what I found," he said, pulling out a jar of molasses. "Just what you wanted."
"Yes," Ghost said, and took the jar with him to the table. He poured some onto his plate, and dipped his finger in it. "Mmm, this is so good," he said, as he tasted it. Then, as he sopped his biscuit in the dark syrup, he noticed everyone staring at him. "What?"
Lisa giggled. "I never saw anyone like molasses so much, Ghost."
"Oh, yeah...well, I do. I love it," he said, and ate some more.
Stevie and Mandy began copying Ghost, by dipping their fingers into the tiny amount Linda had put on their plates. "Mmm," Stevie said, and Mandy did the same. They all laughed.
"Ghost, you're funny," Stevie said.
Ghost looked up, "Y'all are funny too," he said, smiling at the kids.
After eating, the guys loaded the rest of the items to be moved, into the U-Haul, then shut and locked the big door. Linda took a last look around the house to make sure she had all she needed. Then it was time to go. She and Lisa looked at each other, and both burst out in tears. Everyone else was just standing in the front yard, feeling awkward, now. Then, hugging and good-byes were done. The kids were in the car, already, and Steve and Ghost were in the truck, ready to pull out.
One more quick hug, and Linda started her car, and drove off down the street. Steve followed. He'd let Linda lead the way, until they were out on the highway, headed east. Steve had mapped out their route, and had even determined where they'd stop for bathroom breaks, and stretching their legs.
In the car, Linda explained again to Stevie and Mandy what was happening. They seemed fine with the new adventure. At about twenty miles out of the city, they both pulled over. It was now Steve's turn to lead the way. They re-affirmed the first leg of the route, and started off again.
Ghost was trying to find a radio station to listen to, finally stopping at an oldies one. He sat back and sang along. Steve was surprised that the truck was so easy to drive. It was the first time he'd driven a big truck. Linda was keeping up, right behind them. Mandy was already asleep, and Stevie was coloring in his coloring book, but his eyes were having a hard time staying open.
Steve had figured everyone would appreciate a stop about every hundred miles or so, or the nearest town to that. He was enjoying driving, he always did, and even though the truck couldn't handle the fast speed he drove his T-Bird at, it was nice to see the scenery along the way, for a change. He kept looking in the rearview mirror to make sure Linda was still there. If there was some problem, they had their phones.
Ghost had been singing and chattering about this and that for awhile. Steve was only half-way paying attention, since he was concentrating on his driving and the road. When he noticed that Ghost had gotten quiet, he glanced over. He saw that Ghost had gone to sleep, as usual. He smiled. That was typical Ghost. He never could stay awake very long when they were driving the roads.
It was coming up to their first pit stop, though, and he felt ready to walk around a little. He'd wake Ghost up then. He saw up ahead, the exit to the next town, and took it. Signaling a turn in at a convenience store, he pulled in up by the gas pumps.
"Wake up, we're at the first stop," Steve said, shaking Ghost's shoulder. "I'm getting gas, and if you need to go...go...and get us some snacks from inside the store, too."
They both got out. Steve began pumping gas into the truck. Linda had pulled up to the pump next to his, and they got to talk for a few minutes.
"Let's pull over to the side for a bit," Steve said. "You can let the kids go to the bathroom, and run around a minute."
"Ok, I will. They were asleep, but better to do it now, than after we get going again," Linda said. She roused the kids, and they all went inside the store.
Steve found Ghost, who was still wandering around in the little store, gathering up snacks. "Ya, think that'll be enough?" Steve asked.
"Oh, hey Steve...these are for everybody, not just us."
Steve laughed, then paid for it all. They met up with Linda and the kids, out by the truck, where he divided up the snacks. "I think we can get a few more miles in, before we stop for the night," Steve said, looking at the map.
"We're staying in a motel tonight, right?" Linda asked.
"Yep, this town right here...there should be one we can go to." He looked at his watch. "It's about 200 miles down the road. Ya want to go for it...straight on, no stopping?" He asked.
"I'm good," Linda said. "And, it'll be getting dark by then. I'd rather not drive after the sun goes down. That town will be a good stopping place."
Steve nodded, "Ok, let's go, then." They all got situated in the car and truck, and drove on down the highway, making good time and miles.
Steve and Ghost busied themselves, eating beef jerky and peanuts, and drinking their colas for awhile. Steve was beginning to get tired of driving so many miles, though. "Hey, why don't you call Kinsey...let him know we're on our way back home," he said.
"Ok, where are we, anyway?" Ghost asked.
"Let's see...we're almost to the border. We'll be in Arizona in a little while."
"I don't see a border," Ghost said. "What does it look like?"
It doesn't look like anything. It's just the same ol' road. There might be a sign or something...you know, like when we left North Carolina, and got to Tennessee, that time."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember," Ghost said. "Where's the phone?"
"You had it...it was in your pocket when we left this morning," Steve said. "I saw you put it in there."
Ghost frowned. "Was it in my jacket?"
"No, you weren't wearing it."
Ghost felt in his jean's pockets, but it wasn't there. He looked around on the seat of the truck, and the floorboard, and the bag of snacks.
"Did you find it?" Steve asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, it's not anywhere," Ghost said, beginning to get worried.
"Ghost, you have to find it. It's important," Steve said. "I'm trying to drive, so I can't look, you have to..."
"I know," Ghost said, "but I looked all over, and it's not here. I can't find it if it's not even here."
Steve was taking deep breaths, trying to keep calm. "So, you're saying you lost it?...Ghost...is that what happened?" He glanced over at Ghost, who was now looking scared.
"Maybe...maybe it dropped, back at that store we were at. You think it did that, when I didn't know?"
"It seems it must have," Steve said, shaking his head. "I gotta pull over and talk to Linda," he said, keeping an eye out for a rest area, or a side road, or something. He didn't say any more just yet, afraid of what he might say. But, Ghost started in again, retracing his time in the store.
"Just be quiet, Ghost. You've done enough," Steve said. "We're gonna have to go back there and see if we can find it, ya know...and that will cost us time...time wasted." He was frowning, now. "But, what do you know about time, or wasting time, huh? Nothing...Ghost, you have to pay attention to what you're doing. This can't keep happening, and then you act like it's no big deal...well, it is a big deal. I'm telling ya right now...it...is...a...big...deal."
"I didn't mean to lose it," Ghost said. "Anybody could lose something..."
"No...not anybody, Ghost...just you. And quit making excuses...I don't need to hear them. Just shut up," Steve said. He saw a sign for a rest area up ahead. Turning on his signal light, he slowed, and pulled in. Linda pulled in a couple of minutes later.
Steve started explaining the problem. "I've gotta go back, Linda. That phone is probably lying on the floor, or in some shelf of snacks, back there...unless it's stolen by now," he said, as he paced around, waving his arms. "Ghost, how can you be so irresponsible?" He stared hard at him.
"But, it was by accident, Steve."
"Yeah? You're an accident waiting to happen, aren't ya?" Steve said
"Steve, stop it," Linda said. "It wasn't on purpose...stop hollering at Ghost."
Steve was still stomping around, back and forth. "It isn't just this time, Linda...it's every time. And, you know it, Ghost. Every time something goes wrong. It's so frustrating to know some stupid thing will happen...just not knowing what or when, but I always know who." Steve glared at Ghost.
Ghost had backed up to the truck's side, and was squinching up his eyes, sure Steve was going to hit him, as he came toward him.
"Steve...Steve...get ahold of yourself," Linda was hollering, and finally grabbing his arm to make him listen.
Steve whirled around then, and saw Linda's horrified look. That broke through his anger, and he looked back at Ghost, still frozen in a defensive position. "Oh, God..." he said, and backed away. "What the hell am I doing? I'm sorry, Ghost. Please...I'm not gonna hit you. I didn't mean all that...you know I didn't. Please, Ghost, I'd never hurt you."
But, Ghost knew he would hurt him, and even Steve knew he would have, if it hadn't been for Linda holding him back. Ghost sank to the ground, putting his head on his knees, and sobbed.
Steve started to go to him, but Linda pulled him aside, and over to the rest area's picnic table. "You leave Ghost alone, Mister. Give him some space. You've been going at him like a mad man for who knows how long. What the hell is so terrible that you have to act like that? Huh? So, the phone got left, and you have to go get it. Shouldn't take but half an hour. No big deal...we aren't on some written in stone timetable here. Do you understand?" she asked.
Steve nodded.
"Now, take my car...go get the damn phone, and try to think how you're gonna apologize to Ghost. You got it?"
"Yes," Steve said.
She gave him the keys, and he got in and roared off back the way they'd come. The kids were out playing in the grassy area, and Linda kept an eye on them, while she went over to talk to Ghost.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
# 237
warning...adult content
~
In the kitchen, Linda was fixing plates for the kids, as Ghost and Steve came in.
"Help yourselves, it's on the stove," Lisa said. She'd already sat down by Bill.
Steve looked in the cabinet. "Hey, Ghost, look what I found," he said, pulling out a jar of molasses. "Just what you wanted."
"Yes," Ghost said, and took the jar with him to the table. He poured some onto his plate, and dipped his finger in it. "Mmm, this is so good," he said, as he tasted it. Then, as he sopped his biscuit in the dark syrup, he noticed everyone staring at him. "What?"
Lisa giggled. "I never saw anyone like molasses so much, Ghost."
"Oh, yeah...well, I do. I love it," he said, and ate some more.
Stevie and Mandy began copying Ghost, by dipping their fingers into the tiny amount Linda had put on their plates. "Mmm," Stevie said, and Mandy did the same. They all laughed.
"Ghost, you're funny," Stevie said.
Ghost looked up, "Y'all are funny too," he said, smiling at the kids.
After eating, the guys loaded the rest of the items to be moved, into the U-Haul, then shut and locked the big door. Linda took a last look around the house to make sure she had all she needed. Then it was time to go. She and Lisa looked at each other, and both burst out in tears. Everyone else was just standing in the front yard, feeling awkward, now. Then, hugging and good-byes were done. The kids were in the car, already, and Steve and Ghost were in the truck, ready to pull out.
One more quick hug, and Linda started her car, and drove off down the street. Steve followed. He'd let Linda lead the way, until they were out on the highway, headed east. Steve had mapped out their route, and had even determined where they'd stop for bathroom breaks, and stretching their legs.
In the car, Linda explained again to Stevie and Mandy what was happening. They seemed fine with the new adventure. At about twenty miles out of the city, they both pulled over. It was now Steve's turn to lead the way. They re-affirmed the first leg of the route, and started off again.
Ghost was trying to find a radio station to listen to, finally stopping at an oldies one. He sat back and sang along. Steve was surprised that the truck was so easy to drive. It was the first time he'd driven a big truck. Linda was keeping up, right behind them. Mandy was already asleep, and Stevie was coloring in his coloring book, but his eyes were having a hard time staying open.
Steve had figured everyone would appreciate a stop about every hundred miles or so, or the nearest town to that. He was enjoying driving, he always did, and even though the truck couldn't handle the fast speed he drove his T-Bird at, it was nice to see the scenery along the way, for a change. He kept looking in the rearview mirror to make sure Linda was still there. If there was some problem, they had their phones.
Ghost had been singing and chattering about this and that for awhile. Steve was only half-way paying attention, since he was concentrating on his driving and the road. When he noticed that Ghost had gotten quiet, he glanced over. He saw that Ghost had gone to sleep, as usual. He smiled. That was typical Ghost. He never could stay awake very long when they were driving the roads.
It was coming up to their first pit stop, though, and he felt ready to walk around a little. He'd wake Ghost up then. He saw up ahead, the exit to the next town, and took it. Signaling a turn in at a convenience store, he pulled in up by the gas pumps.
"Wake up, we're at the first stop," Steve said, shaking Ghost's shoulder. "I'm getting gas, and if you need to go...go...and get us some snacks from inside the store, too."
They both got out. Steve began pumping gas into the truck. Linda had pulled up to the pump next to his, and they got to talk for a few minutes.
"Let's pull over to the side for a bit," Steve said. "You can let the kids go to the bathroom, and run around a minute."
"Ok, I will. They were asleep, but better to do it now, than after we get going again," Linda said. She roused the kids, and they all went inside the store.
Steve found Ghost, who was still wandering around in the little store, gathering up snacks. "Ya, think that'll be enough?" Steve asked.
"Oh, hey Steve...these are for everybody, not just us."
Steve laughed, then paid for it all. They met up with Linda and the kids, out by the truck, where he divided up the snacks. "I think we can get a few more miles in, before we stop for the night," Steve said, looking at the map.
"We're staying in a motel tonight, right?" Linda asked.
"Yep, this town right here...there should be one we can go to." He looked at his watch. "It's about 200 miles down the road. Ya want to go for it...straight on, no stopping?" He asked.
"I'm good," Linda said. "And, it'll be getting dark by then. I'd rather not drive after the sun goes down. That town will be a good stopping place."
Steve nodded, "Ok, let's go, then." They all got situated in the car and truck, and drove on down the highway, making good time and miles.
Steve and Ghost busied themselves, eating beef jerky and peanuts, and drinking their colas for awhile. Steve was beginning to get tired of driving so many miles, though. "Hey, why don't you call Kinsey...let him know we're on our way back home," he said.
"Ok, where are we, anyway?" Ghost asked.
"Let's see...we're almost to the border. We'll be in Arizona in a little while."
"I don't see a border," Ghost said. "What does it look like?"
It doesn't look like anything. It's just the same ol' road. There might be a sign or something...you know, like when we left North Carolina, and got to Tennessee, that time."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember," Ghost said. "Where's the phone?"
"You had it...it was in your pocket when we left this morning," Steve said. "I saw you put it in there."
Ghost frowned. "Was it in my jacket?"
"No, you weren't wearing it."
Ghost felt in his jean's pockets, but it wasn't there. He looked around on the seat of the truck, and the floorboard, and the bag of snacks.
"Did you find it?" Steve asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, it's not anywhere," Ghost said, beginning to get worried.
"Ghost, you have to find it. It's important," Steve said. "I'm trying to drive, so I can't look, you have to..."
"I know," Ghost said, "but I looked all over, and it's not here. I can't find it if it's not even here."
Steve was taking deep breaths, trying to keep calm. "So, you're saying you lost it?...Ghost...is that what happened?" He glanced over at Ghost, who was now looking scared.
"Maybe...maybe it dropped, back at that store we were at. You think it did that, when I didn't know?"
"It seems it must have," Steve said, shaking his head. "I gotta pull over and talk to Linda," he said, keeping an eye out for a rest area, or a side road, or something. He didn't say any more just yet, afraid of what he might say. But, Ghost started in again, retracing his time in the store.
"Just be quiet, Ghost. You've done enough," Steve said. "We're gonna have to go back there and see if we can find it, ya know...and that will cost us time...time wasted." He was frowning, now. "But, what do you know about time, or wasting time, huh? Nothing...Ghost, you have to pay attention to what you're doing. This can't keep happening, and then you act like it's no big deal...well, it is a big deal. I'm telling ya right now...it...is...a...big...deal."
"I didn't mean to lose it," Ghost said. "Anybody could lose something..."
"No...not anybody, Ghost...just you. And quit making excuses...I don't need to hear them. Just shut up," Steve said. He saw a sign for a rest area up ahead. Turning on his signal light, he slowed, and pulled in. Linda pulled in a couple of minutes later.
Steve started explaining the problem. "I've gotta go back, Linda. That phone is probably lying on the floor, or in some shelf of snacks, back there...unless it's stolen by now," he said, as he paced around, waving his arms. "Ghost, how can you be so irresponsible?" He stared hard at him.
"But, it was by accident, Steve."
"Yeah? You're an accident waiting to happen, aren't ya?" Steve said
"Steve, stop it," Linda said. "It wasn't on purpose...stop hollering at Ghost."
Steve was still stomping around, back and forth. "It isn't just this time, Linda...it's every time. And, you know it, Ghost. Every time something goes wrong. It's so frustrating to know some stupid thing will happen...just not knowing what or when, but I always know who." Steve glared at Ghost.
Ghost had backed up to the truck's side, and was squinching up his eyes, sure Steve was going to hit him, as he came toward him.
"Steve...Steve...get ahold of yourself," Linda was hollering, and finally grabbing his arm to make him listen.
Steve whirled around then, and saw Linda's horrified look. That broke through his anger, and he looked back at Ghost, still frozen in a defensive position. "Oh, God..." he said, and backed away. "What the hell am I doing? I'm sorry, Ghost. Please...I'm not gonna hit you. I didn't mean all that...you know I didn't. Please, Ghost, I'd never hurt you."
But, Ghost knew he would hurt him, and even Steve knew he would have, if it hadn't been for Linda holding him back. Ghost sank to the ground, putting his head on his knees, and sobbed.
Steve started to go to him, but Linda pulled him aside, and over to the rest area's picnic table. "You leave Ghost alone, Mister. Give him some space. You've been going at him like a mad man for who knows how long. What the hell is so terrible that you have to act like that? Huh? So, the phone got left, and you have to go get it. Shouldn't take but half an hour. No big deal...we aren't on some written in stone timetable here. Do you understand?" she asked.
Steve nodded.
"Now, take my car...go get the damn phone, and try to think how you're gonna apologize to Ghost. You got it?"
"Yes," Steve said.
She gave him the keys, and he got in and roared off back the way they'd come. The kids were out playing in the grassy area, and Linda kept an eye on them, while she went over to talk to Ghost.
~
Next part coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
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