The rules aren't always made clear. But when your dead, things seem out of place. The common formality of the affair isn't without its price. A dream like state you wander the land of which you were killed, forever in a state of complete disservice.
He Regarded himself as a cursed man of a rather unusual precipice. died within the confines of a Rv Park. A unconventional lack of loneliness and probably perfect grounding for a ghost.
He once was a man by the name of Arthur Flanagan. A usual traveler to this amusement. Arthur awoke alone and in the dark on the old bed. His Rv had been left to stand on this ground as a permanent fixture parked next to the owners cabin.
He had been Very unsure what would of happened if it had been moved from this place but He hadn't a need to worry.
Happy Halloween cousin", a woman stood near where Arthur was sitting. She looked at a man across from the bench. The green trees around were empty. He came here to sit alone often but on occasion Arthur would have some sit near by.
"Hello Sandra Beckett". Said the man. He gazed at the woman with a sharp disgust that Arthur could feel. He realized she might not realize this feeling of foreboding eyes. The capture and driving intrigue of the affair is what drove Arthur to stay and listen.
So when will the children be here"? She asked. The lot was empty. A big statue of a bear sat in the middle of the drive near the pool and the way up to the RVs and motor homes all parked in lines of conformed adequacy.
A breeze rolled through. Arthur waited the feeling of air through his hair as it came through Sandra's clothing and hair. Mr. Glover felt this gift of the sky and when it came time for Arthur he felt nothing. He waited for this one wind that never came. He sighed and stood up.
"The children will be here in a hour. We're going to do our usual ride around the park with the Hayride".
"Ok," said Sandra "well that sounds great".
The fireworks went off as people applauded. They walked near Arthur as he walked as usual around the campground. The lonesome walk and he knew always no one would walk where he was because whether they realized it they could sense the stand offish feel of him. Ghosts always had a air of them that kept humans away.
He walked down the path between the other trailers down the road.
"Excuse me", came a voice. Excuse me", a girl was following a woman as she walked behind a woman, she tried reaching for her apron with no avail. Her hand slipped through the fabric and the woman went over to the campfire. The afternoon sun was starting to lower. She sat next to the fire and put out her hands.
The girl sat down next to her and tried snapping her fingers in front of her face.
Mom, mommy, she was about seven or eight, this made Arthur smile as he caught part of it out the side of his eye. Could she be dead as well?
The woman smiled at the girl. The girl spoke, mommy are you mad with daddy", she shook her head and smiled at the girl.
Arthur sighed and looked away. She was alive, god he was pathetic trying to hope to find some comfort in someone. He felt so alone all the time.
He watched as the woman stood. A breeze came through and the girls clothes moved. The woman's brown hair and clothing stayed still.
Ok that's odd he thought then, She looked up at Arthur and vanished.
That was a weird turn of events thought Arthur. The girl sat in sorrow as she realized. 'Had her mother died here as well'?
He walked over to the campfire and sat down opposite the girl.
Go away", the little girl spoke. She picked up a rock and chucked it at Arthur,
"Wait you can see me"? He asked.
"Of course I can see you your right there", she threw another rock right at Arthur and it went through his clothing.
"Whoa", she spoke. He was just as surprised but he had heard of this. Some kids having a sixth sense until they were older. He smiled as she looked shocked.
"Janie you ready for dinner", came a voice. A man walked over from the trailer. He looked at The girl and she nodded. Her attention disappeared and she ran off. It was as if she forgot about him.
Daddy this man i can throw things and it goes through him, look".
There's no one there sweetheart, come on let's go get some dinner", Arthur waved as she sighed and walked back to the trailer.
My daughter is between worlds", came a voice.
Arthur jumped. He nearly fell off the chair. His hand slipped through it.
"Geez you scared me", He spoke straightening up. He looked over at the woman as she walked over. Blood was silvery over her chest now and she was a grayish white color. She was young probably mid to late thirties. Arthur was forty two. He would be for the rest of his eternity.
"I thought I was the only one she could see though". Said the mother. She sighed and smiled. You gonna stay around you think"?
"Janie right, God I am so sorry", said Arthur.
"It's ok, it's one of the crazy things about life I think", she spoke. "One minute we're here the next we're gone", she looked at the trailer. "It's been hard being away",
"What happened to you"? He asked. She touched his face and he had flashes. He felt them as he pictured a knife in his hand slashing after her.
"My ex husband", said the woman. It's a sorry sight to behold",
He pulled away, "whoa, I am so sorry", he spoke.
"You should be", she said this with intensity then continued, " As we all should be sorry for those who are living",
"I mean I'm sorry you can't be with your daughter, it must be really tough I can't even imagine",
"It is tough but I'm ok, I am her Angel now, I am in some ways able to be a better mother now, I wasn't always there for her but now I'm tied to her",
"That's sweet, And kind of sad", said Arthur.
"We can't all live forever, do you know how you died"? She asked.
"I can't remember my life honestly, I just know I was Arthur Flanagan, I lived here in a trailer, I don't know why though, how long have you been gone"?
"I thought you would know or somewhat remember but not all of us have that luxury or chain", she said casually. "I don't really like to discuss that with strangers in case I come across a demon",
"I imagine your really proud of your daughter", said Arthur. She,
"Please stop discussing my child",she said abruptly, she looked around and disappeared.
"Ok wow", said Arthur. He stood up and saw Janie. She waved to him. He waved back.
What are you doing sweetheart"? Asked her dad,
"I'm waving to my new friend daddy", she spoke.
"Alright sweetheart", he chuckled. Kids and there imaginations he was probably thinking,
Arthur stood up and went off. He felt weird now and somewhat better for having seen another spirit.
'Why had that felt so real when she touched him',he wondered. He felt the cold breeze and shuddered. 'That's new,'he thought. He actually could momentarily smell the air then it was gone. It seemed to tie right with this woman whom he recognized somehow,
Whomever she actually was, the name Margaret for some reason came to his head. He also pictured that knife and a lot of blood. He was remembering 'maybe. Oh god he didn't have a memory and now which brought him a single question'?
Did he have anything to do with her before he died'?
He pondered this as he watched the hayride coming down the street and he jumped on. He sat on the back listening to the kids with the glow sticks and some wearing special trinkets. They were smiling and laughing. She's probably six to thirteen maybe. He saw a girl who he imagined was fifteen. She was typing with something in her hands. Oh is that a phone', he thought, he went next to her and watched her type out something.
'Can't wait til I get home this place is a drag, sad part is my family thinks I enjoy it here and I'm only here because of my sister',
I guess in comparison of my problems Arthur thought, maybe not remembering wasn't so bad', lest I don't have ridiculous expression over anything',
He was a free agent by all respects and that felt decent. No memory, no problem.
Great isn't it", a voice spoke next to him. A little boy who he had seen at the end stood up and looked right at Arthur. He had a old style of clothing now that he thought about it.Hippie clothing. A Shag hair style. He looked at the other kids as they just kept talking and he felt exhausting excitement from them toward each other.
Yeah it gives me something to keep occupied"said Arthur. Who are you"?
"Ray", this is my cousin Bailey, he stared down at a blond girl with blue eyes.
"Ok", Arthur spoke. The boy looked to be about twelve or so.
"What's troubling you old man"? He asked.
"Excuse me, why would there be anything bothering me",?
"I don't know your face is like my papa gets when he gets invested in his thoughts", said Ray. My papa is a Carpenter see and he always had thoughts just going through his mind and he would take on projects to try and solve real issues but he was always gone",
"Really"? Said Arthur. "I'm Arthur, I just met a woman i swear I might know somehow",
Doubt it said Ray. "This place gets all kinds of tourists, people like me well, we travel with our families. We're angel's",
"That's what she said, she had a charming little girl Janie", I just can't help and shake the feeling I have a personal connection somehow, I'm getting this investment to the situation",
"Hmm", the boy touched his arm. Flashes came to Arthur. He remembered a black man with brown hair stomping into the kitchen and a lot of yelling then he shoved someone. He couldn't decipher it. Then he was there with that man who he recognized as Janies dad,
He let go of his arm and spoke. You got some cowboys in there. Not real cowboys, no, although that has tended to happen to some people", he spoke. Ah well good luck kid", he spoke to Arthur.
"I'm older than you", said Arthur. Why you calling me kid",
"Your a noob, I've been dead since the 70s, I died at Woodstock, peace", he spoke. He got off the hayride and followed Bailey. All the kids emptied off. The hayride just sat there where Arthur took a seat.
'That's interesting', thought Arthur. 'What is that thought he was trying to see clearer'?
He focused on it and it kept dragging away from him. He tried thinking. He had a flash of a woman in white running Down a trailer trying to hold off against him. She held up a knife.
"Just leave you got what you wanted", she was pale. Blond hair grey eyes. He turned and Arthur saw his eyes looking back.
He shuddered as he heard a voice,
"Arthur right"? She was right there coming up toward him. He backed up.
"I am so sorry", said Arthur. He looked at her his chest was beating hard. He didn't even have a heart anymore but maybe it was in his head. He heard ringing in his ears.
"Like I said we should all be sorry for the human race, it's ok nothing really to be sorry about honestly", she spoke. She sat next to him on the empty hayride. You know I didn't even imagine I would still be here when I died", she smiled looking out at the swaying trees. He heard a hoot from an owl and saw the moon up in the sky. The perfect Halloween night.
"I probably didn't either", he watched her as she brought herself into full focus. She was beautiful with brown hair blue eyes and pale milk white skin. She smiled at him. A kind face.
"It's really nice to be just with someone after all this time",he spoke. I've been alone a long time",
Janie and her father come out here every other weekend, maybe if your here I'll have someone to see when I'm here to, happy Halloween by the way",
"I saw a boy from the 70s he said. He died in Woodstock", said Arthur.
"Woodstock was a big festival for a bunch of Hippies", there were a load of crazies there just listening to music and preaching about peace and love. Really weird he died there",
"How do you retain your memories still"? Asked Arthur.
Well I guess it's that old saying of men not having anything going on in there heads and women being responsible and the woman behind the man, that's what I'm thinking", she smiled and smirked at him.
"Aw gee thanks, that actually makes sense", he laughed.
"Nah I'm an Angel", she spoke. When you bridge the gap between both as a guardian they let you see anything you want about your life and about the world",
"Could I become an Angel"? He asked. She pondered this question for a moment.
"I think you have unfinished business here though,I went to heaven and back down here", she spoke. It's weird to be back and to breathe again, we're not allowed to talk to our family, plus they wouldn't hear us anyway, it's the unspoken way as to keep secrets of the beyond away from troubling poor humans",
"That makes sense, so do you know who Murdered you"? Asked Arthur.
"You did", he gulped. His heart went into his throat. He was shaking as he felt tears come to his eyes.
"I'm just kidding", she spoke. A poor man named Sheldon Drecker did. He dragged me out and buried me just up there. She pointed in front of her. She touched his head and he saw indeed a woman being dragged across the ground and someone shoveling. Then he saw himself.
"What was I to you", he asked. I feel this deep sense of responsibility or concern with you when I'm Near you", he looked into her eyes.
She smiled touching his face. "I think your cute even if I am dead", she spoke. "I could put in a good word for ya up above",
"You can't really do that" he spoke, she smiled and laughed.
No I can't but I can do this", she grabbed him and put her lips to his. He felt it weirdly satisfying and felt warmth. Then she let go. It faded away except this tingling in his chest.
"Wow", she smiled. "We're dead we do what we want", she got up and offered her hand. He took it and they walked off the hayride.
He walked with her down the street." Do you think I might gain some insight as to what it is I'm here still for at some point"?
"How long has it been"? She asked. He saw behind her two people sitting at the trailers fireplace behind her.
"It's been two years I think", he spoke. She touched his cheek and he closed his eyes.
"It's been a long time, just know it won't be to much longer", she smiled and he nodded.
"That sounds ok", said Arthur.
"Your a good man, I promise you I'm gonna help you realize why your still here", she spoke, she took off her necklace and put it on Arthur.
"What's this"? He asked.
"I want you to become apart of me", She spoke. "You won't have to be alone anymore",
"That sounds nice", said Arthur. He smiled. She nodded and they walked away.
"I am actually closer to you than you know Arthur, which is why I am gonna help you",
"Like family", she nodded. We most definitely are like family and that is why you feel a strong bond with me",
He stopped and looked at her. "So like a cousin a good friend",
"I can't give you all the answers, just know I owe you for what happened that night when I died", she touched his face again and he saw it. He saw in front of him a man stab her. He was stuck and couldn't talk or anything. He felt like he was having an out of body experience he turned and saw his own face on the floor looking up at him.
"Oh my god", he spoke.
It's all in the past like I said before, I pity the living and I pity those who truly deserve to be stuck here with unfinished business, we call you, the forgetful",
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2 comments
A fascinating story with great depth. An ambiguous ending is clever indeed. Well done.
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Your misuse of the contraction, you're not your, turns me off to your entire story. Correct that and let me know. I will come back and read your entire story. Thanks.
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