#Wattys2015 The Ghost of James Fitzpatrick

Chapter 14

Sarah and James sat cross legged on the colorful plush rug in the center of her bedroom.

James absentmindedly rubbed the palm of his hand over the nap of the rug beneath him, one way, then back the other. He did not notice that Sarah was staring at him.

"I keep thinking you're just going to disappear," she said.

"Yeah, I know, me too. I don't think I can tell..."

"Where have you been?" interrupted Sarah. "What have you been doing?"

James appeared to be searching for an answer.

"Well if this is 2015, and 1978 seems like it was yesterday, but it was apparently..." he did a quick calculation in his head, "twenty seven?"

"Thirty seven," said Sarah correcting him.

"Thirty seven years ago, yeah I stink at math, and thirty seven years ago seems like it was yesterday, then the answer to that question is - nowhere. I've been nowhere."

Sarah and James just looked at each other. Finally James broke the silence.

"So, are you good at math?" he asked, "I want to know something about you. Tell me something."

Sarah had never had someone present a statement like that to her, especially a boy. She felt suddenly shy.

"Like what?" she asked.

"I don't care. What do you eat for breakfast? Or your favorite movie?"

Sarah smiled.

"Ok, well, that's not a weird question," she said with mild sarcasm.

James patiently waited for her to answer.

"Toaster waffles, without a doubt, and The Sound of Music.," Sarah answered. "I know. Corny, right?"

James laughed out loud.

"What about you?" she asked.

James answered without hesitation, "Pancakes, bacon, eggs and hash browns, definitely, and The Great Escape. Go again," he continued. "Tell me something else."

"I'm not very good at this sort of thing."

"Me neither," replied James, "Who's your best friend?"

"That's easy, Lucy Marino," replied Sarah.

"Pretend your Lucy and you're telling me about Sarah."

Sarah raised her eyebrows, adjusted her glasses and took a deep breath.

"Ok, I'll tell you about Sarah Netherby" she began. "She's super square, by most kids' standards at Arden High or anywhere, but she doesn't care. She doesn't cuss, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and she's one of the oldest altar servers in the history of St. Joseph's Church".

James smiled and nodded.

"Cool," is all he said.

"No, that's actually the opposite of cool," Sarah replied laughing.

She saw that James was looking at her, almost staring and she felt self-conscious.

"Your turn. What would your best friend say about James Fitzpatrick?"

"He sure as hell cusses," James said smiling, "but never in front of his mom, or any adult for the matter, or little kids or girls, which really just leaves his asshole buddies."

James stopped talking at the thought of his buddies, in particular JJ. He picked at the carpet beneath him, then looked at Sarah and quickly rose to his feet.