A Ghost Story

Chapter 6

Gojyo quickly threw on his shirt and hurried downstairs to the front door. He fixed his hair a bit and opened the door. A young boy, about twelve years old, was standing there with a large bag filled with papers.

“Good morning, sir! I heard you are new in town and thought you’d want to get a newspaper. Its only thirty-five cents a week!” Gojyo rubbed his eyes and yawned.

“Geez kid, its too early for this kind of stuff. But whatever. Sure, I’ll take a paper. Sign me up for one everyday.”

“Thank you sir! Here you go!”

The boy handed him the paper and skipped off, whistling a little tune. Gojyo closed the door and looked at all the boxes in the living room and kitchen he needed to unpack. His eyebrow twitched at the thought of all the work he had to do. He still needed to call the cable company, and perhaps change phone services. The phone was already in working order, but it was the bill he was more concerned about.

He looked at the clock and gasped at the time. Seven o’clock was WAY to early to be up and about. Gojyo debated on going back to bed or getting started on his unpacking. After a few minutes, unpacking won over. He tossed the paper on the couch and went to work first in the kitchen, unpacking pots and pans and other things. Gojyo jumped when he heard the piano start to play again. He chuckled a bit and ran a hand through his hair.

“Shit, it’s only Hakkai. Listen to me. I’m talking about a ghost as if he were a roommate, which I guess he has to be.” He walked into the living room, still a little shaken by the keys moving with no one sitting at the bench. “Alright Hakkai, no need to be invisible.” Hakkai’s transparent body slowly appeared at the piano.

/Good morning, Gojyo. Lovely day, is it not?/

“Yeah, I guess. So I’m assuming you can recognize things like the outdoors and weather?” Hakkai stopped playing and laughed.

/Oh, of course I can, Gojyo! I remember feelings more than memories. I know the feeling of love and happiness, of pain and sorrow. The intimacy of two people, the warm, joyful feeling of being drunk-/ Gojyo laughed, cutting him off.

“You must REALLY miss the last two, huh?”

/How did you guess?/ He chuckled.

“Man, that has to suck. Being stuck here, not knowing why you’re still here, unable to do all the things of a living…” he trailed off, seeing Hakkai’s fallen face. “Oh, hey man, sorry. I guess I’m just, like, counting my blessings now? I mean, I bet I’m going to Hell when I die.” Hakkai gave a forlorn smile.

/It is quite all right. Sometimes I wonder why I can not leave this place and enter Heaven or Hell./

“Maybe you’re in Hell now.” Hakkai looked at him.

/You may be right…/ he looked down at the piano keys. /Was I so horrible a person that I am destined to remain in this house until it crumbles? Or for the rest of eternity?/ He hung his head /Oh Gojyo, you can not even begin to understand this feeling…perhaps this is my penance./

“Penance? Then you have to look to atone for something, right?” Hakkai nodded.

/Yes…but how can I atone for something I have no recollection of? I do not know why I am here./

“Um, hey! I’m ready to start unpacking, so why don’t I show you some of the cool things of the 21st century?” Hakkai smiled.

/Sure, why not. No use dwelling on this./

Throughout the day, Hakkai floated next to Gojyo as he unpacked and placed things up how he wanted them. Hakkai was more interested in the electronic kitchen devices such as the blender and toaster. He could not understand the loud, booming music coming from Gojyo’s stereo, which seemed to rattle the windows. Hakkai preferred the soft, smooth music of his time. His eye twitched when he saw the various posters and framed magazine covers of half naked women go up on the wall. A few of the porno magazines that Gojyo had, thrown in the pile for later organization, were opened. Hakkai shook his head at the sight of the women.

/Gojyo, honestly. What in the world do you call these? Are they prostitutes?/ he said, crossing his arms. Gojyo laughed.

“Well, not really. They’re porno stars.”

/Porno?/

“That’s a today term for sex, mostly on video and magazines. I have some videos too if you want to watch some later.”

/No thank you. It is very disgraceful to women and you should be ashamed of looking at such things!/

“Are you serious?” Gojyo said with a smug grin. Hakkai looked firm but his lip started to twitch a bit and he turned his head to laugh politely.

/Well, it is disgraceful, but if they are WILLING to pose, then I do not see a problem in it. Can I see some more? I am curious as to how women have changed over time./

“Speaking of women. Once I go out on the town and pick up some lady company and bring them back here, I want you to stay put. Got it?” Hakkai smiled.

/Worried that I would scare them away?/

“Yeah, and also, I don’t want you bothering me when I’m doing the deed.” Hakkai laughed at that.
/
Gojyo, I understand completely. Remember, I am a man too. A dead one, but I am still a man. No man wants to be interrupted during the ‘deed’. However, I believe I have more respect for women than you do. Very rarely would I take a woman home. You have to understand that only prostitutes went home with men, not good, honest Christian women. The women of your day seem to have no modesty or respect for themselves./

“Yeah, today’s world is completely different. It would take me a long time to explain it to you, but things have changed drastically. Wait until you see television! I’m going to call the cable service right now, so don’t bother me when I’m on the phone. I need complete concentration while on the phone.” Hakkai just rolled his eyes and disappeared.

Later in the day, after Gojyo had made all the necessary calls and unpacking, he flopped down on the couch to take a rest. Everything was out of the boxes, but still scattered about. He was just dosing off when he heard his cell phone ring from his pocket. He mumbled something incoherent and answered it. Hakkai had just appeared, sitting on the arm of the couch. He was curious about Gojyo’s electronic devices. Gojyo noticed him but continued to talk on the phone and seemed annoyed. After a few more insults and a goodbye, he hung up.

“God damn it. So much for my pad!”
/Who were you speaking with?/ Hakkai asked and floated above him. Gojyo just looked at him with a slight glare.

“Dude, just sit on the arm or something. You floating above me is a little-weird.” Hakkai sat on the top of the couch crossed legs, his feet disappearing into Gojyo’s body. Gojyo just looked from his feet up to Hakkai. “Excuse me, ghost or not, can you get your feet off of me? Or rather, OUT of me.”

/Well, someone is in a nasty mood./

“Damn right I am! That call was from two guys I went to high school with and surprisingly still keep in touch with. They got evicted from their apartment. I told those two they would never make it.”

/Ah, I see that money and public policies have not changed much./ Gojyo smirked at that.

“Nope. Still taxing you for everything.”

/And kicking you out when you can not pay. Or worse, you go to jail./

“Yeah, that happens too. Anyway, those two I just told you about are coming here to stay for a bit until they can get back on their feet.” Hakkai smiled.

/You are a very good friend./ Gojyo rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. Now go walk through walls, or something. I want to rest a bit.” He said and closed his eyes.

/You certainly are a lazy one./ Hakkai said before fading away.