If Catfish Had Nine Lives(88)

            “You just never know,” Gram said. “You can’t spend a lot of time worrying about how things were. They won’t change and there’s always some good. However, it’s interesting to see if any of the mysteries can be solved. Like where your remains are located,” Gram said.

            Astin looked down at us for a long time before he said, “I only remember this: I took a shortcut. I remember I wanted to hurry home. I took a shortcut. No, it turned out not to be a shortcut. I just thought it was one.”

            “Do you remember where?” Gram asked.

            “Sort of.” Astin looked toward the crowd watching the skit.

            “Tell us,” Gram said.

            He shook his head slowly. “I was almost home. I was almost home. That’s all I know right now.”

            “I see.” Gram didn’t hide the disappointment in her tone.

            “Astin!” Joe suddenly said.

            “Yes, sir. Who are you? I thought only those two ladies could see me,” Astin said.

            “Joe’s a ghost, too, another rider. Remember him?” I said.

            Astin squinted and stared. “No, not at all.”

            “Are you sure?” I said. “I think there’s some sort of connection between the two of you.”

            “I don’t remember any connection at all.”

            “Astin, Astin,” Joe said.

            “That is my name,” Astin said as he inspected Joe again.

            “You don’t remember me?”

            “No, sir.”

            “I didn’t think you would, but that’s not important anyway,” Joe said with disappointment lining his voice.

            “What’s important is finding where you died. Were you killed, Astin? Did someone kill you?” Gram said.

            “I don’t know. I’ll have to think on it.”

            “Yes, think, Astin, think,” Joe said.

            I looked back toward the campsite. The skit was still being performed. Even from where I stood, the stick horses didn’t seem hokey or contrived. Teddy and Opie were still sitting in the folding chairs, but Cliff was no longer in the spot by them. He must have gone to look for me, but just hadn’t made it this direction again.

            “Gram, have you seen Jerome?” I said.

            “Earlier, yes. Why?”

            “He might be able to help Astin and Joe. He’s been looking for Astin’s remains. He might have a better idea. I think I’ll go look for him. You okay here?”

            “I’m fine.”

            I hurried back to the campsite.

            As interesting as it would have been to watch and listen to Joe and Astin, I did think that Jerome might be able to help them. And I didn’t think Cliff needed to find me by the station again.

            Unfortunately, I couldn’t immediately find either the ghost or Cliff, but I finally found Jake. He and Esther were sitting together on a long bench that was made out of a fallen tree trunk. They weren’t watching the skit. The bench was back from the main crowd and gave them enough quiet to talk about whatever they were talking about. I didn’t want to interrupt and I did want to interrupt. It was only a short time earlier that Esther had mentioned how unfeasible a long-distance relationship between the two of them would be. As close as they sat and as attentive as they were to each other, it didn’t look like she was sharing the same thoughts with him.