The story of High Fives.

A picture is worth a 1,000 words

High Fives POV;

"Hey, High Fives, did you hear that rumor about Mordo and Rigby?" Muscle Man snorted and looked over at my transparent body. I laid back in the air like you would if you were laying back on a couch. I covered my face with my only hand. "Yes Mitch and I may vomit ghost puke all over you if you don't shut your mouth dude." He shrugged and shouted. "You know who else vomits ghost puke all over me?" He paused and screamed his usual catch phrase. "My mom!" I laughed and high fived him. "Nice, nice." I nodded. "But yeah, Tomas said he could hear them screwing in their room, but I think Tomas is just trying to draw attention to himself." Muscle man shrugged and chugged a soda. "Probably, poor bastard." He said smashing the can on the floor. I knew what they were doing, Mordecai told me..but I wouldn't judge them, I mean I'm not a total dick. Sure, Mordecai is a total dork and Rigby, no word in the English dictionary could express what he was. Not to mention I have ghost eyes so I can see through walls. "Well it's almost quitting time," Muscle Man announced. "Yeah." I mumbled as I floated beside Muscle Man going towards the old trailer. "Wanna go to Wing Kingdom with me and Starla?" He asked in his raspy voice. "Nah dude, I promised to play cards with Mordecai, Rigby, and Skips." He shrugged and went into the trailer. I floated to Skips house and floated straight through the door. "Hey Skips." I waved with my single hand. "Hey, they aren't here yet, but have a seat." He joked. "Oh, ha ha Skips." I said and floated as low as I could without going through the floor and crossed my legs. Mordecai and Rigby final showed up with a bowl of what looked like BBQ chips. "We brought chiiipppss." They said in sync. "Hey High Fives, how'd you die?" Rigby blurted. Mordecai punched his arm. "Oooowww." He moaned. "Rigby! Don't ask that!" Mordecai yelled. "No it's fine Mordecai." I waved and blinked my hollow eyes. "Even if I wanted to tell you, I will never know or remember why I'm like this." I half smiled and Rigby turned red. "S-sorry." He put the chips down on the table and they sat around me and Skips pulled out a large leather book with a slit in the front. "Okay, I'll bite, what the fuck is that." I said in my ghostly voice. "Yeah." Rigby and Mordecai said in unison. "It's a book that will tell your story." He whispered as he turned his gaze towards Mordecai and Rigby. "But High Fives won't be able to see or hear, he'll pass out while it showed us." "Awesome!" Rigby yelled. "Yea," Skips said crossing his arms. "But anything you see here is a secret!" He said pointing at Rigby. "So if you say anything to anyone, the book will take your eyes and tongue." Rigby put his finger up then curled it back into a fist. "Okay, okay. I get it." He squeaked. "You wanna do this High Fives?" Skips asked me. I shrugged. "What can I lose?" I laughed. "Let's do this." My voice was wavy. Skips waved his hand over the slit of the book and the eye opened. The eye was crystal white and shined. "No one look into the eye!" Skips yelled. Everyone's eyes shot up. "Now, High Fives, tell the eye you want them to see your story through your past life's eyes." He pointed to the eye. "Gotcha..." I looked into the eye. I froze. "Show them my story, through my past life's eyes." I copied what Skips told me to say. The book grumbled and spoke in a horrid voice. "Yes. Look into me and sleep. Sleep..." I felt my eyes droop with sleep as I felt the world turn pitch back before a fell to a slumber

"Roy Rodgers." The book said. "Hold hands everyone and look into my pages." The song 'Teenager in Love' by Dion played from my 1942 Chrysler Windsor Highlander as I drove into the old church. "Hey Roy! Over here!" A tall guy stood leaned against the brick wall and I shut the car off. Opening the door with my one arm. "How's the old nub doing?" He poked the bandaged up area and flinched and made a pained noise. Then smiled. "Doc said it'll grow back just like a weed." I laughed. "But really, it hurts and it's gone." I shrugged. "S-sorry about the wreck. I really hope it don't hurt so bad." He said rubbing the back of his neck. "It's okay, Jonathan. You didn't do it. And on the bright side got my old wagon fixed up." I thumbed towards the newly painted vehicle. He nodded and tried to smile. Let's just get this over with..I thought and walked into the church sitting in the middle pew with my family, well what was left of my family and of course Jonathan. But, we'll get to that in a minute. We all stood for prayer. And then all sat down again. "Can I have the son of Michael Rodgers to come up here." I stood and I heard a little boy say, "Mommy, he only has one arm! Why?" He shouted and pointed and he continued to keep his sharp gaze on my wound. "Timothy! Apologize right now!" The mother jerked his shoulder and awkwardly smiled. "Sorry mister." He mumbled. I walked up to the casket where my dad laid. Yep this is my dad's funeral. "Hello, my name is Roy. And I'm here to speak about my pop." I paused patting the casket loudly and smiled. "1910-1950." I said. "He died so young, and I'm just grateful I could come out alive to live for him, with two arms or not." I tried not to cry as I shook my head. "He was a good man and he taught me and my friend, Jonathan, a lot when we where kids and was a great dad." I could see Jonathan hugging my mother crying with her. "It sucks to speak at your dad's funeral, but I'm going to live for him. We all should. I loved my pop. He was stubborn as a mule, but as smart as an owl. Without him I wouldn't be here. That's all." I said walking back to the pew covering my face with my hand. I feel like my other hand is still there. Just invisible. Some other people went and spoke for my father including Jonathan and mom. We gave him his proper barrier for him then me and Jonathan drove to my house. He was still crying, rubbing his nose on his aviators jacket. He was taking it harder then I was. "Jonathan-" he interrupted me and said. "Call me Johnny like your dad did, keep him alive." He sobbed. "Man, why'd you havfta go off and say that." I said my voice wobbly. "Ya gonna make me cry." I sobbed driving with my one hand trying to see the road through my tears. I drove into his opened garage. And we went into his room. "So..." I said turning the car off the whipping my tears and snot off my face. "Awh dude sick. Did you just whip that snot all on yer arm?" I nodded and looked at my arm. "I wish I hand my other arm to whip it off." I looked down. "Ah! Sorry! Don't think that way! I mean left arms at great! Look on the bright side, you can write with that arm. And ya got this guy." He pointed at himself smiling with his eyes puffy. I nodded. "I like the arm part, but the 'I still have you' thing is what I'm worried about." I tried to laugh. He grabbed a tissue from his pocket and whipped my arm. "Let's get inside. My mom probably isn't home yet, so we can grab a snack." He said opening his car door and I opened mine too and we both went into the house and was greater by Simon the wiener dog. He barked. "Guess he's not used to my arm being gone." I laughed and pet him. "Dude your 24 and still live with you mom." I reminds him. "Yea, yea." He said pulling a bag of plain potatoes chips from a cupboard. "I'm finding me a place." He paused then said with his mouth full. "When are you coming back to work?" I shook my head and shrugged. We worked mechanics at Johnny's grandfathers auto shop. "When this bad boy heals." I said grabbing some chips. We sat at the table with a couple of sodas and the chips. "How do you feel?" He asked sipping the soda. "Can ya open this?" I said awkwardly pushing the can to him. He turned bright red. "So sorry! I forgot. Sorry sorry." He opened it and handed it back. "It's okay, and I'm okay. That old sucker is waiting for me to mow his lawn in heaven." I laughed and he snorted. "You bastard." Johnny shook his head. "How's the new apartment? Is it harder to do crap around?" I shook my head. "I've been going to therapy. So things are a lot easier, just trying to open things that require two hands an putting on clothes. But I'll figure this life thing out again eventually." I smiled and drank my soda. Jonathan Elks. Or now, Johnny, was my best friend. He was younger than me by a year and a half but was talker than me by a few inches. He had black hair and was half Italian. So he had thick black eye brows and shaggy black hair and dark eyes. I was plain blonde hair, green eyes and freckles everywhere, my mom called it "angle kisses." But I call them paint splats, like when god was making me he splat little brown dots on me. I was kinda sickly as a kid but now I have one arm. I felt out of place now. I just want to go back, before the wreck, I'd still have my arm and my dad. But can't take back what is done. Mom didn't want me driving but it's been 3 weeks since the wreck and I just got my car back today. They held out dad's funeral until I could properly function my only arm and my damaged heart. I'm glad I got Johnny that kind hearted bastard. "Roy! Hello?" He waved his hand in front of my unblinking eyes. "Oh yeah? I was listening." I nodded drinking the rest of my soda. "I wasn't saying anything you where just staring off in space so I wanted to see if you where okay." He said looking worried. "Listen Johnny Elks, don't you worry about me or I'll sock you right in the eye!" I raised a fist. "As soon as you get better we will wrestle you punk." He snarled back and then we both laughed. "Today's a sad day, but let's enjoy it." I raised my empty can and he raised his. "Live for the dead." He nodded. "October 13, 1950. Day of the living, our holiday." I smiled and we bumped cans. His mom returned crying with his dad trying to look tough. He half hearted a smile at me and nodded. "Hellos second son of mine." He walked over and squeezed me too tight it hurt. "Ahh. That hurts Mr.Elks." He let go and snapped back into his standing position. "I'm sorry I thought it was healed." I smiled. "Not yet sir. But as soon as it is I'll make sure to give you the biggest hug I can afford. Within reason, I pay my rent in hugs." I joked he laughed and took of his jacket. "Well I better get home. I have some practice house work to do." I stood up and his mother ran to me with her hair tied up and apron on. "Oh won't you have diner with us?" She said with her Italian accident. I laughed nervously and nodded, giving her my biggest smile. "Need me to stay with you for a few days and help around the house?" Johnny said throwing our cans away. "What a fine idea, boy." His dad rumbled from the kitchen. "Ehh. Why not." I shrugged. "Beats being alone with my cat." I awkwardly said. We ate some kind of spicy sausage and noodles on some sweet red sauce. She packed me some in a canister and sent me and Johnny off. He brought a back pack filled with clothes. "Feels like when we where kids, huh Roy?" He said nudging my side with his pointy elbow. "Yea. We used to stay up all night telling ghost stories and practicing our secret hand shake." I laughed at the memories. "Course I can't do it anymore. Cause you know." I nodded my head towards my right arm. "Let's get going." He said getting in the drivers side. "I'll drive. You've had a long day." I just nodded and got in on the passenger side. "We can have a new hand shake." Johnny said backing the car up. "Yea, what?" I said looking at him. We pulled into the road and started towards the city where my apartment was. "How about a high five?" He suggested. I rolled my eyes. "That's not secret." I leaned my head back. "But, we only do it with our left hands." He nodded. And smiled. "Fair enough." I laughed. He extended his left hand from the wheel and I high fived him. "Roy, this just might work." He nodded and his laugh trailed off. "Just might Johnny boy, just might." We made it into the apartment and I unlocked the door. "Gotta practice." I reminded him. "Yeah. Get all that practice you can." I opened the door and walked in to see my cat sleeping in the little box. "Ricky is so gross." I pointed. "Doesn't everyone sleep in there toilet?" Johnny chuckled and put his jacket onto a coat rack showing his dressy clothes underneath. "Wanna drink?" I said taking my shoes off. "Sure." He nodded. I did everything, trying to practice anything I could. "Want me to open that can for you?" He said extending his hand. "No, I can do it." I reassured him. I struggled at first then I got it open. "Good job old boy." He patted my back and took a drink from his beer. I drank a little and nodded. "I'll get used to it. Don't worry about me." I said with the can on my lips. "Gotcha." He nodded and drank all his beer. Johnny went into the kitchen and got two more beers and handed me one. "Hey ya go." He put in in front of me. "Thanks. Let's listen to some radio." I stood up and flipped on the old radio in the kitchen with antennas that almost touched my apartment ceiling. It played and I closed my eyes. "The everly boys." I nodded. "Yea." Johnny said loosening his red tie and drinking more. "So why did you wear converse and street clothes at your dad's funeral?" He asked taking a swig from his beer. "My pop always loved this plaid shirt on me and these jeans. The shoes where my choice." I smiled. "Course mom had to cut the sleeve and roll it all up to my shoulder and the bandages show, so I don't really like it." I touched my bandages and stared at them. "It looks alright Roy, don'tcha go worrying about it." He finished his beer and I opened my new one. "Yea, yea," I sipped my drink. "It's gonna work out, you see, I still got my old mans charm. One arm or not." I laughed. "The eyes." Johnny nodded. "What?" I asked gulping down the last of my beer. "Your eyes are the real charmer." He pointed at me. "Oh please." I covered my eyes and laughed.