The In-Between and After: A Ghost's Story

Freedom

They didn't say much during the first hour or so. On the roof of the bus, staring out as the landscape shifted from the concrete and brick cityscape slowly back to the natural world. Stretches of tall trees towered over on either side of the highway, the sunlight strobing as the tree's shadows passed over the bus. They saw large pastures and fields, large grain silos, stereotypical red farmhouses, the scenery as if it were ripped from dime store postcards. Each in their own mind.

McGregor thought it was as if he had traveled back in time, back before industrialization, when working with nature was the only way of life available. Before man seemed to have developed some sick and twisted vendetta against it. When farming and fishing was all there was. Back-breaking, dirty and sweaty, honest-to-goodness work - all day toiling in the field or mending fences, and coming home to your family and a nice warm supper. Peaceful living without having to worry about the superficial stresses that come with city life. Actually knowing your neighbors and not hesitating to help when they needed it. Selflessness, family, community, and love were the main themes of your life, worth every bit drop of sweat and blood that was spilled, every sore back, broken bone, every bruise, all the pain and frustration, all part of the deal and worth dying to protect and defend.

Bell couldn't help but see the beauty in it. Picturesque, the kind of setting that had been the inspiration for many of the greatest writers and poets the world had ever seen. Half-remembered lines of poetry streamed through her mind. Immortal words from Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson and many others - though she didn't know from where or who by - she couldn't shake them from her mind. The gentle rolling of the hilltops; the brilliant palette of lush greens and natural golds, the woody browns and deep reds, and bright blues and stoney greys; the way the wind and the sunlight made the fields of grain sway and shine like large amber oceans, the animals - majestic horses laying in the shade while the colts run and play, the cows grazing in the field, slow and steady huddling together and eating grass, wispy and bulbous clouds rivaling or even surpassing the best abstract paintings. The fresh air whipping her hair back, Tears welled up as she tried to take it all in.

Shelby couldn't care less about the trees or the farms or the hicks therein. He focused on the road, that asphalt river he used to have domain over, now forced to bow to others use of it. Still, just being near it brought a modicum of peace. From atop the bus, he could feel it all - The vibration from the bus's engine as it shifted gears, the engine roaring and powering through its struggle as it chugged over the hills. All fueled his imagination and desire. That ever-present memory of the steering wheel and his sunset drive was stronger than ever. So much so that beads of sweat were forming on his brow even though they were miles from any real source of heat. He imagined ripping down an open highway, windows down, the wind rushing past his skin and whipping his hair around, blowing past the bus and passing the other cars on the road. His hands gripping the steering wheel and gear shift as he and the car melded into to one entity. His heart beating in time with the cylinders, the blood coursing through his vein mixing with the oil and gasoline. His voice reduced to the sound of the engine revving and shifting, though no less powerful in fact more so, guttural and violent.

The sun began its slow descent in the sky, the brilliant blues shifted through the spectrum to deep oranges and purples. Beams of light below them, as the car began putting their headlight on, stars began to come out mirrored on the ground as the farmhouse lights were switched on.

"Gonna head down," McGregor said as he turned to Bell, who was sitting the nearest to him, she nodded. Shelby walked up from the front of the bus.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Gonna head down, get some shut-eye," McGregor repeated himself as he stood up. Shelby nodded and sat down next to Bell. McGregor walked to the back of the bus, thinking about who he was going to get down. Eventually, he settled on a method. Though the time he took to figure it out seemed to be amusing for both Bell and Shelby who turned to watch him instead of the lovely highway at dusk scene. McGregor tried to not notice them staring but he did feel a bit of a fool and didn't want to ask for help because that would mean acknowledging it.

He got down on his knees and phased his head through the roof. Inside the bus, it was mostly dark, save for the few glows coming from a few of the passenger's laptops or phones, the dim floor lights that lined each side of the aisle, guiding the way in case someone needed to get around, and some light coming from the outside. Though the light from the sky and street lights were obscured by the tinted windows. Seeing the lay of the land he then phased his hand through and grabbed firmly onto the railing. While still holding on to the railing he brought his head back up through the roof, only to see Bell and Shelby sitting there enjoying the show. McGregor hesitated.

"Can I help you?" He asked. Bell and Shelby continued to stare. Shelby shook his head, trying and failing to cover his amusement.

"Nope... We're good." Shelby teased. McGregor shook his head and continue the task at hand. He phrased his other hand through and grabbed on to the bar as well. He took a beat to think about the next move, hoping to think of some other way, unfortunately, he didn't and took a deep breath. He allowed his mind to stop thinking about his knees on the roof, allowing them to phase through the roof and swing down into the bus. He would like to say it was graceful and worked very well, but it wasn't. As he passed through the roof his body swung quickly in an arc, being only anchored by his hands on the rail, which took his whole weight at a strange awkward angle, his feet and shins phasing through the floor.. Luckily, he was able to hold on through the pain. He Hung for a second or two, reeling from what just happened. McGregor lifted himself up and set his feet on the ground, and let go of the rail. He looked around at the people on the bus, all completely oblivious to the clumsy spectacle that happened just a few feet away from them. He walked to the back of the bus to his platform and sat down, he rubbed his shoulder, the pain from the fall felt real, even though he was told it wasn't. About fifteen minutes later, a pair of lags phased through the roof, McGregor stared at them before Bell phased through the roof and landed on the floor of the bus. McGregor quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be resting. He felt a little ashamed that he didn't think of that way. Bell stood up and gave each foot a little shake, she looked at McGregor and walked over to the floor next to the platform and sat down. She adjusted into the corner of the floor and shut her eyes. McGregor peeked and saw her sitting there. Another pair of legs came down, he just barely saw them before Shelby jumped down. He wasn't able to pretend he was asleep this time. Shelby smiled as he stood up and walked over.

"Thought I'd do the easy way down, maybe next time I'll try yours." Shelby tone hushed to a whisper once he noticed Bell there. McGregor smiled and nodded. Shelby sat down in the aisle and laid back. He closed his eyes.

"Until tomorrow, young Mickey Gee," Shelby called out.

"Goodnight, McGregor whispered back, wondering again how they were able to sleep while shallow stepping, he thought he should ask in the morning. McGregor stayed up for a bit as the day ended, but eventually, the vibration of the engine and the cool air lulled him to a deep sleep.