The Stranger

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“The Stranger”

By Carol Ann Keefer

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Abigail got up at 6:30 am for her walk in the park that’s near her apartment. The heat penetrated from the sidewalk as Abigail jogged down the street. Occasionally passing other people along the way, a few faces that she recognized. Nearing the park, a stranger appeared to ask for directions to the train station. Abigail stopped jogging long enough and pointed down towards the direction of West Main Street. As the stranger left, Abigail continues to the park, never gave the stranger another thought expect It will soon be her thirty-second birthday.

For it brought with it, painful memories of a time when she was twelve and her mother, Mildred, haunted by a mental illness. An illness where voices would laugh at her, nameless faces that she saw staring up at her from the kitchen floor. Her mother’s illness came the exact age that Abigail will be turning and that caused her to fear the unknown.  An unknown that she had held at bay for so long, praying that the same illness will not overtake her like it did her mom.

             As Abigail walks down one of the paths that leads to a park bench nestle underneath an old tree as a cool breeze begins to blow. Looking down at her watch, 7:30, “Where did the time go?”             Suddenly someone spoke to her, a voice that she had heard before “Excuse me, Miss, is this seat taken?” there stood before her was the same stranger as before.  Abigail quickly said “No” and was about to get up to leave when the stranger asked her to stay. Fear gripped her heart as she politely told the stranger that she was meeting someone. 

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             Leaving the stranger behind Abigail followed the path towards the sidewalk that would take her in the opposite direction.  Soon she was far enough away from the stranger and started to feel safe in the company of people around her. Still, there was a nagging voice in the back of her head that “maybe” she knew him or at least saw him before.  Pushing away that thought like brushing away an annoying cobweb from a corner wall. 

             Abigail continued the direction until she decided to head on back home and get some breakfast as her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t eaten any food this morning. Once inside the comforts of her home, she makes herself some scrambled eggs along with bacon, her go-to breakfast. Making coffee, she checks her cell phone to see if she had missed any messages. With her breakfast ready, her coffee in hand, sitting down in her favorite chair. Her phone rings she checks the number and doesn’t recognize it so lets it go into her voice mail. Then a knock on her front door when she gets up to see who it is, no one is there just a package nicely wrap waiting for her at the front door.

             She curiously looks around to see if maybe one of her neighbors must have left it for her as an early birthday present.  Abigail picks up the package and brings it inside. She places it on the table as she inspects the package. Cautiously she looks to see who may have sent it to her. Abigail decides to call one of her neighbors, Maggie, and check with her about leaving the package. After a brief conversation, Abigail wasn’t any closer to find out who was responsible.  So, she decided to wait until tomorrow before she opens it up just to make sure that there isn’t anything dangerous.

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             With the start of a new day, Abigail wakes up with a gnawing feeling about the ‘mysterious package” that sat on her table. It was Sunday a day of rest as she lazily gets dressed in her comfy shorts and a tee shirt. Going towards the kitchen Abigail walks past the table with the package. There it sat, unopen almost as it was “daring her to take a chance and open it up. Shaking her head Abigail pushes those thoughts from her mind. As she focuses on the breakfast of Frosted shredded Wheat, a cup of coffee and a good book.

             Then came a gentle knock on her door, annoyed by the interpretation she peeking through the small hole to see who was there. It was her neighbor Maggie.  Abigail opened her door and let Maggie inside. “Good morning Maggie,” as she continued, “Won’t you have a seat?” “Yes, thank you,” Maggie said.

              “Would you like a cup of coffee?” Abigail asked

               “No, thank you, one cup is enough,” Maggie said with a chuckle

             “Maggie, what can I do for you?” Abigail curiosity asked

              “Well, I was wondering if you weren’t busy this morning would you like to go to the Mall with me?

             “Sure, no problem. What time?”

             “How about ten o’clock?”

             “I’ll see you then.”

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             Abigail said good-bye as she walked Maggie to the door. Noticing her shorts, she decided to change into something more fitting for their shopping adventure.  Choosing cream-colored shorts with a pale pink short shelve shirt.  As she viewed her image in her bathroom’s mirror, Abigail was satisfied with her choice.  Since she had some time left before Maggie stops by, Abigail decided to read at least one more chapter.

             Ten o’clock on the dot, Maggie knocks on Abigail's door, as Abigail comes out of her apartment they walked down to Maggie’s car. Traveling down to the King of Prussia Mall, they had time to get to know each other a little bit better.  As it turns out, Maggie grew up in Souderton and that she is two years older than Abigail. Abigail grew up in Lansdale and graduated from North Penn High. They had discovered that they each share similar childhoods; both were the only child, expect Maggie lived with her grandparents for a while.

             As they pulled into the Mall’s parking looking for a place to park. They were able to find a parking space.  It was several rows back from the entrance, though neither of them minded a little walk. Abigail couldn’t remember the last time she went shopping; it was one of the things she didn’t like doing by herself.  They found themselves among the crowds of people going about their business.  For Maggie, this was exciting while Abigail felt timid. With the guidance of her new friend, Maggie guided her to all the new stores. And endless sea of clothes far as the eyes can see. 

             “Abby, would you like to grab some lunch?”

             “Sure”

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             “I know the perfect place,” Maggie said as she guided Abby through the crowds to the “China One” restaurant. “I hope that you like Chinese”

              “Yes” Abigail hesitated

             “Good” as they stood in line to order their lunch. 

          Abigail looked around to find a table she saw the same stranger from yesterday sitting down and eating his lunch.  She leans over and whispers in Maggie’s ear as she pointed him out to her.  “Are you sure he’s the same man from yesterday?”

               “Yes, he’s the same one,” Abigail said.

             As they were walking to find a table, the stranger waved “hi” to Abigail as she passed by. Abigail ignored him by focusing on where Maggie was leading them.    Sitting down with her back to the stranger, they ate their lunch. Maggie was her chatty self as she tried to get Abigail’s focus off from that stranger. However, no matter how hard she tried, Abby cannot help but fix her attention on the stranger. Finishing up their lunches, the stranger stopped by the table. He gently tapped Abigail on her shoulder and asked: “Did you get the present that I had sent you?”  “Yes,” Abigail whispered, afraid to look up at him. Maggie was quiet as she waited for that stranger to walk away.  Then she suggested that Abigail take that package to the local Police station for them to check it out and possibly get some fingerprints.

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             On their ride home, both felt a heaviness from the encounter with the stranger.

Maggie turned on the radio searching for calming music to soothe their pending moods.  Traffic had caused their trip home longer than this morning.   Nearing their apartment complex Maggie turns to Abby and said, “Can I ask a question?”  

             “Sure, what?” Abby said

             “When was the first time you saw that man?” Maggie asked

             “Yesterday morning on my way to the park” Abby answered

             “Was that the only time?” Maggie asked

             “No,” Abby said

             “Where?” Maggie asked

             “In the park as I was sitting on a bench,” Abby said

             Exhausted, Abby hoped to put behind her what had taken place these two days.  For her ever since she had first encounter that man, a question kept on bothering her and that was

“Do I know him?”   Going through some of the few things that her mother had given her, she researches the endless papers hoping that something sticks out to her.  It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure what she was looking for, perhaps some kind of clue about who that stranger is to her.

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             Amid her searching, Maggie calls to check up on Abby to see how she is doing, Abby appreciated her concern by assured Maggie that she was alright and not to worry.  Looking over to the package and wondering what could be inside.   Abby dismisses her curiosity as she makes herself a light dinner before she catches up on her reading before going to bed.

             With the start of a new day came with the hope of never seeing that strange man again. Abby gets ready for work, a pair of jeans and an old tee-shirt, nothing fancy for her job at America Olean Tile company.  It was a job that her dad had held a long time ago as she found herself following in his footsteps.  Glancing up at the clock, Abby quickly eats her cereal and drinks a cup of coffee.   As she dashes down the steps to wait for her ride to work. Jane pulls up in an old Chevy pickup truck.  Abby hops inside as they drove off to work. 

             On their way to work, Jane would chat away about everything. Abby enjoyed their conversation, except for today.  Today, Abby found herself lost in her thoughts.  However, that didn’t stop Jane from talking as she kept going on.   Just within a short time, Jane pulls up in her parking space, the one she somehow claims as her own.  Abby hops out and joins Jane as they walk into work. With their assignments for the day, they go their separate ways, promising to meet up for lunch. 

             When lunchtime arrived, Abby takes her lunch bag outside to get some fresh air, when she spots the stranger sitting at one of the picnic tables eating lunch. He waves for her to join him, as she looks to see if anyone else was there. Cautiously she walked towards him afraid and yet drawn to him because of her desire to learn who he was following her.

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             “Please sit down,” the man said. 

             “Thank you,” Abby said as she sat down across from the stranger.

             Nervously, Abby said, “How do you know me?”

             The stranger gave a little chuckle as he rubs his beard, “Well,” as he takes a bit from his sandwich. Abby watched with anticipation as she waited until he was doing chewing his food.  

             “Well?” Abby said, tapping her fingers on the table. The suspense was too much for Abby to wait for him to answer her question. Finally, he answered her question with a tantalizing story about her mom. One that she had never heard before when her mom was living in Mainland.  He claims that he was, in fact, her mom’s long-lost cousin, Clarence. Abby grew suspicious about his claim that he just so happens to be her mothers' cousin. In all her years of growing up, her mom had never spoken about having a cousin named Clarence. Abby didn’t know what to think.  Abby just stared at this man as she tried to process everything that he had said. As his hand reached out for hers, she abruptly gets up and walks away and goes back to work.

             As the afternoon blends into the end of the day, Abby is glad that it is over and that a start of a new day will chase away her doubts.   Doubts about what that stranger had said that he was her mom’s cousin still played in her mind as she stared at the package that he had sent her.  Abby takes the box and unwraps it only to discover that inside it was another smaller package neatly placed in the box.                                         

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             Inside the smaller package is a black and white picture of a young girl standing next to an older boy. Seeing the similarities to old pictures of her mom, she knew that this picture was of her mom.  Is this boy, Clarence?  She had to find out, but how?  Abby remembers her mother’s old shoebox as she rummages through the pictures. It was then a picture caught her eye. Looking closer at that picture she discovered, it was the same one. 

             With this discovery, Abby wonder why her mom never mentioned her cousin Clarence?

One more riddle to this puzzle to solve, as she calls Maggie to come over.  Waiting for Maggie to show up at her place, Abby goes through the box of pictures one more time.  A knock on her door, Abby invited Maggie inside and have a seat. Abby begins to tell Maggie about her encounter with that stranger, as Maggie listens to her story.  Maggie is surprised by what he had told Abby that he was her mother’s cousin. 

             “What are you gone to do?” Maggie asked

             “I don’t know,” as Abby said since she wasn’t sure what to do about her mom’s cousin.

             “Abby, be careful,” as Maggie reminded Abby not to rush into anything.

             “I will” Abby assured her friend

             Looking at the time, Maggie excuses herself as Abby puts away the shoebox adding the picture that Clarence had given her in hopes of putting the mystery behind her. Unfortunately, the night has proven to rob her from any hope to forget the past. With the start of a new day, Abby got dress as she laced up her jogging shoes, ready for her run.

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             Meanwhile, she also calls off work as well as letting Jane know not to pick her up.

As Abby begins her run towards the park with the heat rising from the sidewalks. Feeling tense from the sleepless night, Abby pushes herself a little bit further.  Her birthday is in two days, and now she is faced with another puzzle. “What to do with her mother’s cousin, Clarence?”   Abby wished that she had never met the stranger. And now here she is faced not only fear of becoming like her mother, an unexpected turn of events that came gift wrapped in a box.

             Abby finally reaches her destination the park. There she follows the same path as before looking for Clarence. She thinks that she sees him sitting on a bench nestle underneath one of the tall pine trees.  Abby approaches the man and finds out that he wasn’t Clarence.

             “Can I help you miss?” the man asked

             “No,” as she was ready to leave, he asked her if she was looking for someone?’

             Then Abby told the man that she was looking for someone named Clarence. “Oh, I see,” the man said, “Is he an older man, with thin silver hair and dull blue eyes?” “Yes”

“I’m sorry to tell you this, miss. But the person that you are looking for died”

“When?” Abby asked

The man told Abby that he had died several years ago in a tragic accident near the train station, Abby couldn’t believe it. She asked more questions to make sure that the person this man was talking about was her mom’s cousin, Clarence. At the end of their conversation, Abby doubted

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that it was Clarence.  Abby thank him and was about to leave when the man gave her an envelope as she opened it up the letter read: 

                                          My dearest Abbigail;

                                                         If you are looking for me, please don’t. I left you a gift of a picture of your mom when she was young. A time of joy and happiness. Please remember her not as she had become. But remember her as a young child. A time of innocence and laugher.

And do not worry about what the future holds for you, for you are not your mother.

                                                         Love,

                                                         Your Cousin Clarence

             Abby read the letter in silence, wondering about what was the truth and what was a lie. Was the man she had seen alive? Or was it all her imagination playing tricks on her mind?

Abby thought about this for a while as she folded up the letter and placed it in her pocket. When she was about to thank that older man, he was nowhere in sight. Which had caused her to wonder was she dreaming. Or awake?

The End.