The gift of short story for fitzy93

Moving on by the Seaside

There was a moment in one adult’s life when everything was going down the river.

I recently learned about my husband’s infidelities. For two years, for fucking two years, he’d been cheating on me with a woman (online relationship), who used to be a man. This woman had no problem turning on my husband with her size D boobs and a dick. To say that I was embarrassed and made myself to never divulge those details to my family and friends, I decided after the divorce to move to a boating village. Only my best friend knew and according to her, it was all my fault. I stopped being ‘sexy’ at age twenty-five.

It was always hard for me to be ‘sexy’ mainly due to the fact of being half-Asian with no big boobs and no long legs. Also, my beautiful Asian side made me look young. At age 30 and with the right amount of makeup, I could pass for a 20 year old. It was safe to say that I dropped my best friend like she was on fire and never gave her my forwarding address. Now, my best friends were visiting fish.

So here I was, living in a small community, reading Cosmopolitan, and drinking a latte in the ‘best’ spot in town. Currently, I was unemployed due to a nice divorce settlement.  It was greatly in my favor and according to my lawyer, I was set for a long vacation. I figured that I would relax until I started to forget my cockroach ex-husband.  

I was startled from my magazine by a shadow. I looked up to find Fox standing, more like hovering over me with a big smile.

“Morning, Addie,” Fox said. “Learned anything interesting from that thing?”

“Morning, Fox,” I replied and flipped the magazine closed. “Granny panties are in these days because men like to leave some things to imagination.”

He laughed before sitting down across from me, and after he composed himself, he said, “Some men. Some. Why are you reading that anyway?”

“I’ve been told that I lack sex appeal,” I huffed.

Fox raised his eyebrow questionably and laughed again.

I kicked his leg under the table.

“Sorry,” he apologized. “You’re fine. It’s not like you dress like a middle school girl in leggings and short skirts. You dress okay and wear enough make-up. You’re fine.”

“Thanks,” I replied bitterly and drank more of my coffee.

He smiled. “Sorry. You know me. I like playing around. How you like living here so far?”

“It’s a nice haven,” I told him truthfully.

“It is,” he agreed, “though it will get loud for about a week.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You know how we live close to a navy base?” Fox asked.

“Yeah,” I said slowly.

“Well, a ship will be coming in. The men and women will have a week off from duties so they will be coming into town. There will be a dance held each evening and everything. I also heard that this year there will be a beer walk.” He sounded really excited.

“You don’t say.”

😸

True to Fox’s words, a couple of days later, there was chaos. My mailbox had been filled with letters, flyers, and post cards about the events for the navy men and women.

It was amazing to read about nightclub events, stars flying in to put on shows, and plans for fireworks for every night. It felt like Disneyland… except for adults.

Shopkeepers put up decorations. Trees were suddenly Christmassy, and people started drinking earlier than usual. Parking lots were filled, security was through the roof and I felt like I had no place to go. The town was closed off to out of towners unless they showed tickets to shows. However, due to living in town, I had the rights to mingle, walk around, and start on the festivities with the locals.

I joined Fox at the pier, watching a ship sailing towards the base. It was a beautiful sight so I took a photo for memories.

“I think that’s the first photo that I saw you take,” Fox observed.

“Yeah, well.” I shrugged. “I’ve been waiting for something worthwhile.”

He rolled his eyes at me and asked to see the photo. I handed the camera over and he clicked through my shots. His gaze returned to the ship and then back to the shot. He looked confused.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Did you already look at your photo?” he asked me.

I shook my head no.

He handed me the camera and I looked at the photo and gasped.

The ship was surrounded by white small ghostly balls of light. They lingered by the decks and by the anchor.

I quickly looked back to the ship and could see more detail. Men and women were waving to us so I waved back and so did Fox.

My finger touched the button on the camera and another photo was taken. It was like I was in a trance. I then viewed the new photo and felt shivers run down my spine. Fox leaned over and coughed.

“They brought ghosts with them.”

I was too shocked to respond to his absurd remark.

This time the photo showed the balls of light in more detail. Now, they were human silhouettes. The ‘ghosts’ were not waving. They stood still, eyeing the mainland.

Fox took the camera, zoomed in, and took another photo. Next, he whistled.

“Blimey.”

I looked at the zoomed in photo and felt my hairs rise. This time, the photo showed two ghost males standing next to one of the live men. One was eyeing him in anger while the other looked directly into my camera. At least, that’s how it felt to me.

In the next moment, after I looked away from the camera, I jumped back because one of the ‘ghosts’ was right in front of me.

“Hi,” he uttered with an accent. “Nice to meet you. Name’s Captain Baldwin.”

I looked to Fox who shrugged.

“What do you expect?” he asked. “All navy ships have ghosts on them.”

I looked around me and saw that no one jumped. No one screamed and that many were actually conversing with their own ghosts.

My ghost titled his head to the side. “You’re not going to introduce yourself? Only fair.”

“Ad,” I started, “Addie.”

He smiled and I passed out.

😸

I awoke back on my boat with Fox and Captain Baldwin looking at me.

“If you believe in ghosts,” I started accusingly at Fox, “how come you were as shocked as me?”

He smiled. “It takes time to sink in and I didn’t want to make you bat scary.”

I threw my pillow at his head.

Captain Baldwin laughed. “Today’s women are feisty.”

I glared at him. “Don’t be an ass.”

Captain looked like I punched him.

“Yeah,” I growled. “Women of today are allowed to curse like men.”

“Though I wouldn’t call that cursing,” Fox commented.

I glared at him.

“This is all normal. We entertain both the living and the dead,” Fox said and then added, “not many see the ghosts though so I’m happy to see you seeing them. Makes things easier on us.”

“Right,” I replied slowly. “This was supposed to be a normal vacation.”

“At the seaside,” Captain Baldwin laughed. “Vacations near seaside are never normal.”

“Funny,” I muttered and jumped after feeling my cell phone vibrate.

I looked down at the phone and growled.

He came in on the line. “You bitch!”

“Excuse me?” I asked calmly into the phone.

“I just received the last boxes of my stuff,” my ex yelled, “everything’s inside is broken!”

“Oh?” I asked, feeling bored. “Wasn’t me.”

“Who then?” he barked.

“UPS,” I replied. “Complain to them.”

“They said that you didn’t tell them that everything’s in there is breakable so they had no knowledge that they had to be careful,” he explained.

“Oh?” I laughed. “Who you going to believe? A company or your ex who never lied to you or cheated on you like you? They’re covering their asses. Whatever. I sent you your stuff, now leave me alone. I’ve got a date.”

“A date?” he asked, perplexed. “Since when?”

“Since it’s none of your business,” I snapped. “Don’t call me ever again. Goodbye.”

“So?” Fox said. “You were married?”

“Yes,” I snapped.

“Then you really need to let loose and enjoy yourself,” Captain Baldwin said. “Let’s go experience life like never before.”

Funny, hearing that from a ghost.

I sighed before giving in to the crazy turn of events.  

“From here,” I said, getting up, “it can only get better.”