The
call overwhelmed me tonight and it became too strong to resist that persistent
urgings that blanketed my will power. Not even the bitter choking taste of a
lit cigar would quell the cravings so it became pointless putting it off any
longer. Without hesitation a JNCO Jeans black hoodie and that old Vietnam trench coat was hurriedly tossed over my backside and
a pair of brown work glove slid on before disappearing through the door.
I had only momentarily been taken aback as the gale like
wind tried to steal my breath and blanket me in a moist mist from the evening
November rain. One final check to make sure I had everything that would be
needed. The front door key and android were in my pocket. That and the walking
stick would suffice for tonight at least.
All the neighborhood dogs greeted me as I passed; they were
the only ones who seemed to notice but I new that wasn’t completely right.
There was something else out there, something that remained in the shadows and
glided along unseen by most. There are a great deal of legends about them but
non can truly emphasize them correctly. They are as individual as a snowflake.
They also like to remain unseen. But I see them and I think they are afraid
now. They follow me through the shadows and try to intimidate me, but I’m tired
of hiding. It is time to face them and tonight I will.
In front of me, skeletal trees stretch their bony naked
arms to the sky and pray. The creek running along the side of the road gurgles
as I reach the end of the road and decide to travel a different way tonight. It
is only out of the corner of my eye that another dark and in-proportionate
figure darts by. I’m used to it by now and it doesn’t startle me. It seems to
be headed to an long gravel road that I have, for reasons unknown, refused to
travel and explore. This road has always intimidated me.
I hear the car behind me and try to make room for it to
pass but there is little room left. A large murky puddle mocks me. There is
only two choices. That is to either get my feet wet or make the vehicle go
around and I happily choose the later. It is too dark to see if they cared or
would be shaking an angry fist my way but no obscenities were yelled so the
situation seems well. At least until I notice that the car is headed for that
long dreaded drive and several blurs follow back beyond the street light’s
reach. For a brief moment I smell burring wood. I grew up visiting all the
neighbors within this vicinity and nobody had a fire place to my knowledge, except
for perhaps the house at the end of that gravel road. I had never been there.
At least I don’t remember ever being there.
The thoughts in my head are starting to muddle my
perception and I must head back home to gather my thoughts. There need’s to be
a plan of action and I can’t just show up at some stranger’s house all pathetic
like on a rainy evening. Somehow I will need to find out what truly lies at the
end of that long gravel road.
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