More of The Clearing

My head hurts. Celebrations are not good for cerebration.

Los Molinas (The Windmills) has a restaurant in the hotel part of its upscale housing development. It's located out on the flats just south of Boquete and it is where we went to celebrate RTGFKARS first anniversary of living in Panama. We, Woowoo Charly, RTGFKAR and Yers Trewly were with friends L and R -good company they -but lacked our usual companions B and L as the Old Redneck had sprained his back and opted for home and Aleve rather than squirm in pain on a restaurant chair. After enjoying a sumptuous meal (hmmm, don't think I've ever used the word sumptuous before)we retired to the restaurant's wrap around porch for a post dinner Gran Marnier and to listen to a group of Panamanian guitar players who gather there from time to time, we were told, to jam and sing. They were all older, played beautifully and sang well. It was an unexpected treat to hear them.

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It was summer in Arboles, the tourist season. The store would be open late to accommodate boaters, campers and fishermen straggling in from the lake. A weekday seemed best for the "clearing" and the following Monday was chosen by the fearless foursome. Doc had declined an invitation to join the group pointing out, rightly, that someone needed to stay home to consume the post work cocktails. He preferred his spirits in a glass. The group would gather at the store shortly after its close and Doc's departure. All the lights would be extinguished so as to discourage any would be late shoppers from banging on the doors in hopes of scoring a late six pack or a carton of cigs. No need to startle the ghosts or their chasers. Sharman would then instruct the group in whatever steps were necessary to rid the store of its lingering presences taking her cues from the ghosts themselves. A simple plan, really. One you might later describe as a piece of cake, or easy as pie. If you believed in ghosts, that is. And if they were so, would they really go?

Next - the plan put into action.