Author: Stories by Karen

With summer at an end and fall upon us, Halloween is fast approaching, bringing ghosts and witches, vampires, spooks, and all things paranormal to the forefront. For those of you interested in curling up with a good book and a blanket on a cool October evening, here are some suggestions, along with short reviews and the links in case one of them grabs your attention. They are books that I enjoyed and all include aspects of the supernatural.

When the Rooster Crows at Midnight, The Mallory Shane Witch Detective Series by Hargrove Perth is a book that grabbed me from the outset. Written in the first person, the story is told by Detective Mallory Shane, who is employed by the City of Pittsburgh’s Immortal Detective Association of Witches, the IDAW. Detective Shane is a witch.

When witches are being killed by an assumed serial killer, it is up to Detective Shane to figure out who is responsible and why others of her kind are being attacked. At the same time, she needs to focus on keeping herself out of the killer’s path. “When a rooster crows at midnight, a witch will die…” And the rooster has been crowing. With memorable characters and a fast pace, this well-done novel will keep you entertained and turning the pages quickly. And it is a bargain at $1.99! https://www.amazon.com/Rooster-Crows-Midnight-Mallory-Detective-ebook/dp/B0B3BK3NH3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RJUDV529A8P8&keywords=When+a+Rooster+Crows+at+Midnight&qid=1663870141&s=digital-text&sprefix=when+a+rooster+crows+at+midnight%2Cdigital-text%2C58&sr=1-1

Meet Me in Maine by Susanne Leist is a story told through the eyes of Elizabeth, who is fleeing an oppressive relationship as fast as her feet will carry her. She and her best friend, Scarlet, move to Maine where they purchase a Bed and Breakfast. Immediately upon their arrival, the two ladies meet a couple of attractive, single, former military men who are infatuated with the Inn’s new residents and the girls get more than they bargained for.

Not expecting to be thrust into the center of a town whose residents have been cursed, Elizabeth and Scarlett are horrified to witness several grisly murders. As the story unfolds and the murders pile up, paranormal activity escalates. The plot is good and those who enjoy paranormal, with a bit of romance woven throughout, will enjoy this one. https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Me-Maine-Book-Harbor-ebook/dp/B0972C155B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WGZJL5V14MWZ&keywords=meet+me+in+maine+susanne+leist&qid=1663872594&s=digital-text&sprefix=Meet+me+in+Maine+%2Cdigital-text%2C117&sr=1-1
 

Breathless by Yvette Calleiro, is an entertaining cross between be-careful-what-you-wish-for and karma-is-a-beast. In an adult fairy tale, the author contrasts love and hate, good and evil, happy and sad, then weaves them all together with a touch of magic. The result is an engaging short story with exactly the right ending, which I doubt is what you will expect. It is a good one! https://www.amazon.com/Breathless-Short-Story-Yvette-Calleiro-ebook/dp/B08BLVDHQX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30CG46VTPZ5WH&keywords=Breathless+Yvette+Calleiro&qid=1663878276&sprefix=breathless+yvette+calleiro%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1

Handprints by Wanda Fischer is a well-done short story that realistically portrays the relationship of two women living in a mental institution. Both Edna and Anne are involuntarily committed by their husbands. While Anne has family contact, Edna has no one, until Anne. Whether mental health issues were actually present before her commitment is unclear, but Edna is determined to make the best of the life she had been forced into. The two women are inseparable until Anne passes away and Edna learns, or perhaps she always knew, that love lives forever. An excellent short story, it is worth every penny of $.99! https://www.amazon.com/Handprints-Wanda-Adams-Fischer-ebook/dp/B09GLC26NQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Happy Reading!

Rave Reviews Book Club is presenting its seventh annual virtual Writer’s Conference & Book Expo. It will be going on until the 14th and it is always a lot of fun. Here’s your invitation: https://rrbcwritersconferencebookexpo22.wordpress.com/ For those of you asking, “What is a virtual conference? How does it work?” Here’s the scoop!

Instead of going to a conference center or a hotel ballroom, you click on a computer link and you are there! Since the virtual conference is available twenty-four hours, you attend at your leisure, and you don’t need to get up early if you want breakfast before the day’s agenda.

You have the option to visit as many author booths, play as many games, and enter for as many door prizes as are available, and it is free! You can meet every author at the conference, and while you won’t get to shake their hands, you will be able to connect in a variety of other ways. There is also a raffle. Seven winners will each receive a $100 Amazon gift card. Tickets are $5.00 and available at the conference.

Stop by my booth, leave a comment, and you’ll automatically be entered for a door prize. I hope to “see” you there!

Abducted by a human trafficker, four-year-old Lily is taken to an interim location, where it is Marcy’s job to prepare her for sale to the highest bidder. But when the precocious child rebels, it puts the entire operation at risk. With the authorities getting too close, Marcy needs Lily to disappear.  https://amzn.to/3xwhE4g

https://amzn.to/3xwhE4g

A homicide has eerily similar circumstances to another murder that happened months prior. Indications point to a serial killer. Torn between his belief in the law and the demand for justice, lead investigator, Devon Mahoney, must decide which is of more value. When the legal system fails, should justice be neglected? If a murderer is killed, is the executioner a criminal or a hero?

VINDICTIVE ANGEL is on sale at Amazon.com and most other retailers.

https://books2read.com/u/bw1VXy

And for those who enjoy romance,

Coming July 4th, LIFE’S HIGHWAY TO LOVE, a Novelette, available for pre-order now.

Dylan doesn’t want a permanent relationship and Jamie has sworn off romance. With an unspoken agreement that their friendship is platonic, the two become inseparable. But a kiss changes everything.

Their ecstasy is short-lived, however, when Jamie tells Dylan the truth about her past. Confusion, anger, and misunderstanding rock their world and send them in different directions. Will time apart bring them back together or cement their separation? Is it possible to ignore the past? Can anyone choose who they love? Is love enough?

LIFE’S HIGHWAY TO LOVE, A Novelette.

Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y0b1bU

and retailers everywhere:  https://books2read.com/u/m2eK5d

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17jnIADHdgB-wxBN6Jd4m4TzqV2Mxbjte/view

Thank you to everyone who has been reading my books, promoting my titles, and writing reviews. You are appreciated more than you realize! I have a new release just about ready and will fill you in within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, take a break and enjoy a flash fiction smile.

A Blessing in Disguise

After her five-hour, white-knuckled trip, Mandy pulled into a semi-plowed parking space. With a sigh of relief, she turned off the car’s engine. Big fluffy flakes of snow were beautifully swirling. Sliding around the highway, however, was no way to enjoy the scenery.

Though a snowstorm had been predicted, its magnitude was a surprise. A multitude of accidents made driving treacherous with drivers unable to maneuver the roadways. Even the snowplows were having trouble navigating.

On her way to look at a house for sale in a new town, Mandy was disappointed that driving conditions forced her to get a hotel room, yet relieved to have found a hotel. She was trudging to the back of the car to get her luggage when a ball of snow whizzed past her ear and splatted against the rear window. Exhausted and one-hundred-twenty miles from her planned destination, Mandy was in no mood for a snowball battle. With a scowl, she turned to locate the origin of the icy, white missile.

Covered in snow, a laughing woman waived and approached Mandy.

“Sorry! I was aiming for the lamp post.”

Despite her initial irritation, a smile tugged at Mandy’s lips. “No problem. Are you the welcoming committee?”

“I am today,” the lady answered. “I’m Bev.”

Bev’s forest-green eyes radiated warmth despite the frigid temperature. Her cheeks were the same shade as her red parka. Dark, damp curls escaped the hood of her jacket, and were fringed with snowflakes.

  “Hi, I’m Mandy.”

“Where are you headed?” Bev asked.

“Lewistown,” Mandy answered. “I’m looking for a new home there.”

“I live in Lewistown,” Bev said. “Maybe we’ll be neighbors!”

“It’s possible,” Marcy said. “I’m still house hunting.”

“I can fill you in on all the Lewistown gossip.”

Mandy opened the trunk and like an old friend, Bev reached for the duffle bag. Mandy grabbed her briefcase and an overfilled tote. She followed Bev toward the hotel’s entrance.

“After you check in, you can help me finish my snowman.” Bev pointed to a mound of snow.

Aware that the ache had disappeared from her forehead, Marcy said, “It has been years since I built a snowman.”

“Then it’s time for you to re-visit the joys of frosty fingers and a runny nose.” Bev tilted her head. “Listen!”

Mandy listened, though for what she didn’t know.

Bev scrunched her forehead and pursed her lips. “I thought I heard something earlier, but it stopped before I could figure out where it was coming from.”

Then Mandy heard a squeak that became a soft wail. Motionless, the women tried to pinpoint the source.

“There.” Mandy pointed to a dark-colored Buick parked in snow that rose halfway up the tires.

Bev dropped the duffle bag in front of the hotel’s revolving door and strode toward the icy car. Mandy dropped her luggage and followed.

After shuffling through the deep snow, Bev scrunched down and looked under the vehicle. She reached behind the car’s front wheel and captured a limp, soaked, gray kitten, covered with tiny ice balls.

“You poor little thing,” she murmured, and held the baby toward Mandy.

Mandy took the half-frozen creature, wiped away the snow and ran her fingers over the cold little body to loosen ice chips that stuck to the fur. She unzipped her jacket and tucked the kitten inside. Nestled between her flannel shirt and wool jacket, the shivering creature would warm up in no time. Mandy pressed her hand against the outside of the thick jacket to support the baby and pulled the zipper halfway up to create a cocoon.

“I wonder how long she’s been under there?”

“There aren’t any kitty footprints and I’m sure that car has been here all night. I would guess she’s been hiding since the storm started.” Mandy felt a slight vibration as the kitten purred. “Let’s hope this place allows pets. If they don’t, I’ll be sleeping in my car.”

Always an animal lover, it still surprised Mandy that it took her all of twenty-five seconds to fall in love with the warm little fur ball.

“Under the circumstances, I’m sure the hotel will be glad for any business,” Bev said. “Besides, she is adorable. Can you keep her?”

Mandy hesitated. With an upcoming move and a new job, how would she manage having a kitten to care for? And then she felt tiny needle-like pricks against her diaphragm. The kitten was getting comfortable and kneading the flannel shirt where she snuggled.

With a wide grin, Mandy said, “Of course, I’ll keep her.”

“In that case, consider her a housewarming present,” Bev said. “I’m in room 827. Call me when you get settled in.”

Without waiting for a response, Bev snatched the duffle bag and went inside. Still supporting the tiny ball of fur, Mandy hoisted the tote bag over her shoulder, grabbed her briefcase and strode to the front desk where her duffle bag was waiting.

“Good afternoon,” the desk clerk greeted. “Welcome to the Amadeus Hotel. How long will you be staying?”

“One night, if my colleague can stay, too.” She unzipped her jacket to allow a glimpse inside.

“No problem,” the clerk smiled.

Mandy got a turkey sandwich from the vending machine, then went to her room and fed some turkey to the kitten. She dumped the contents of her briefcase on the table, lined the empty case with a flannel shirt, and put the exhausted kitten in the impromptu bed, where the little critter promptly fell asleep. She called Bev.

“Hi,” Bev answered.

“Let’s make the best snowman ever!” Mandy replied.

“Afterward, we can have dinner and I’ll fill you in on life in Lewistown,” Bev said.

With a lopsided grin, Mandy dashed outside. The snowstorm that wrecked her plans for the day had been a blessing in disguise. She had a new furry roommate, she liked Bev, and it had been a long time since she’d played in the snow.

                                                            ###

GIVEAWAY:  3 e-book copies of HYPE! Leave a comment below for your chance to win! 

High school student, Cici, is at the center of Yvette Calleiro’s NEW RELEASE and it is a good one! Keep reading for an introduction to HYPE.

High School Life

How many of you can recall your high school years? Or perhaps you’re in high school right now. For me, that was many moons ago, but I remember it so clearly. Join me for a short trip down memory lane…

Everyone always told me that high school would be the best years of my life, but it didn’t turn out that way for me. For many, those years are the most difficult. Teens try to shed their childlike ways and grow into independent, young adults while still being treated like children. They both struggle to fit in and stand out. They attempt to have relationships while dealing with raging hormones and inexperience. As if that wasn’t enough, they strive to do well in their classes to set themselves up for a successful future. Honestly, I would never want to go back to those years! Lol!

When I started writing HYPE ten years ago, I was teaching ninth and tenth grade. I also sponsored the Key Club, which consisted of students in all high school grade levels. I was surrounded, day in and day out, with students. They spoke freely around me about their relationships, their insecurities, their hopes and dreams, and their frustrations. I admired their tenacity and their vulnerability. So, when I created my characters, I wanted them to be authentic and relatable.

Here is a scene from a moment when Cici’s emotions get the better of her:

I button my jeans and shove the front of my shirt into the waistband and inspect myself in the mirror. “Why can’t my life be normal?”

I lean against the counter as the tears flow down my cheeks. The hard sobs come so I lower the toilet seat and plop myself on it to allow my heart to have a strong cry. Every painful memory rams through me as the waterfall of tears cascades down my face. I pull my legs up and hug them close to me, lowering my head to my knees.

Eventually, the tears subside as the numbness coats me again. I lower my legs and rise. I splash water on my face to remove the salty traces of my breakdown. Facing the mirror again, I roll my puffy eyes. I open the drawer and pull out the hardcore concealer. I’ve got to cover this weakness as best as I can. I really hate hormones.

My phone bings the reminder I’ve set to make sure I’m not late for school, and I’m nowhere near ready. I quickly finish my make-up and throw my hair into a loose ponytail. It’ll have to do. I rush to the closet and grab the closest pair of tennis shoes and shove my feet into them. I grab my bag and run down the stairs to the kitchen to grab a banana. I’m out the door, praying I’m not late.

I hate all the symptoms that come with my period. I guess this meltdown is overdue, especially since I’ve used the whole PMS excuse one time too many with Dee. Mother Nature’s payback sucks.

I park in my usual spot and check my makeup one last time in the mirror. I take a deep breath, put on my emotionless mask, and exit the car, ready to take on the day. I avoid conversations with everyone as much as I can. I tell Dee I have my period, and she leaves me alone. I’m grateful for small gestures of kindness.

HYPE is a young adult contemporary story that takes place in Cici’s high school years. Teens will definitely connect with the story, but I believe adults will enjoy reliving their high school moments through Cici’s activities and classes. I must warn you: it isn’t all pep rallies and parties. Come for the fun but be prepared for the drama because Cici gets it all. 😉

Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.

Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

Amazon Links:

Hype – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7BFNXG

The One Discovered (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 1) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4L2Q40

The One Enlightened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 2) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R0QI51I

The One Betrayed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 3) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191O1892

The One Revealed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 4) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBKJHIO

The One Awakened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 5) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0781WT73J

The One Chosen – A Diasodz Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0986Q6P1D

Breathless – A Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLVDHQX

To follow along with the rest of this tour, please visit Yvette M Calleiro’s tour page.

GIVEAWAY:  $25 Amazon Gift Card & 1 e-book or paperback copy of one book in the Haunted Shores series (Winner’s choice).  Simply leave a comment below for your chance to win! 

For those of you who haven’t discovered Randy Overbeck, it is my pleasure to introduce him. For those of you who already know him, you won’t be surprised to see another Haunted Shores Mystery that will keep you turning the pages!

But first, Randy has shared some background about Crystal River and why his latest mystery is set in that quaint Florida town.

Why Crystal River?

            As my readers know, my settings are as important to my best-selling novels as the whodunit puzzles and the engaging characters. In selecting a venue for my Haunted Shores Mysteries, I search for remarkable resort locations, but those probably less well known. No place like Myrtle Beach or Malibu or Fort Lauderdale will do. I hope part of the fun of reading my novels is discovering another gem of a location to put on readers’ “to visit” list.

            In completing the research for the third entry in the series, I had already decided to take my protagonist, Darrell, and his new wife, Erin, to someplace in Florida for their honeymoon. So I did a considerable amount of advance research on various locations in the Sunshine State and then began the onsite Investigations. To make a long story short, after checking out different possibilities, I fell in love with Crystal River. The small town has a charm all its own and turned out to be the perfect setting for my story. Here are just a few of the reasons it is a “must visit” place.

1. Crystal River is a quaint town that has an “old Florida charm,” unlike most Florida tourist stops. Located on the Gulf coast about an hour north of Tampa, the town is populated with retro hotels like the Plantation at Crystal River—featured in my novel, by the way—even including one called Port Paradise where Elvis Presley filmed Follow That Dream in the ‘60s. (Insert pic of Follow That Dream)
2. The coastal section of the town—and indeed the whole of Citrus County— boasts a bit of everything. A few miles outside of town, visitors can enjoy a charming, if small, white sand beach with enough surf to enjoy the fun waters of the Gulf. (Insert pic of beach) Other sections of the coastline are still wild and unspoiled with forests running right to the water. Still other parts of the coast merge with swamp lands extending inland, creating vibrant eco-systems for fish and wildlife.
3. The town has cultivated a small park called the Three Sisters’ Springs, whose warm waters welcome hundreds of manatees every year, from December through February. In fact, this fresh water spring is the only place in the US where visitors can swim with the massive, gentle creatures. (Insert a pic of manatees) This alone makes the trip to Crystal River well worth it. It’s an experience visitors say they never forget.
4. If you’re a biker or runner, Crystal River offers six incredible bike/running trails which run through all the eco-systems, along the shore, through vine-tangled forests and over salt marshes. Although none of the trails are too strenuous, all labeled easy to moderate, they provide various lengths of breathtaking beauty and glimpses of wildlife, both birds and mammals.
5. The town of Crystal River sits at the mouth of Kings Bay—which dumps into the Gulf of Mexico—and faces due west. This creates the perfect setting for an evening seafood meal at one the fine restaurants like Charlie’s Fish House—also featured in the novel—all while watching the sunset ignite the blue-green waters of the Bay. As Darrel and Erin learn, it’s the perfect romantic way to end a day, especially after a day on the trails or swimming with the manatees. (Insert pic of sunset)
6. If you’re an avid water sportsman, you’d be hard pressed to find a more attractive location. Because the area offers both salt and fresh water habitats, visitors can choose from boating, kayaking, scuba diving, water skiing and some of the best fishing anywhere. In fact, Crystal River is one of the few places you can dive for scallops in the summer.

I have to admit, like many others, I’d never heard of Crystal River before I completed my research. When I had the chance to visit—right before the pandemic closed everything down, thank heaven—I was taken by the small town charm and beauty of the area. After meeting the locals, I decided it was the perfect setting for my Christmas ghost story/mystery, SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER. (Insert cover of SCARLET) I think when you read my new novel, you may fall in love with the beautiful town as well.

“Overbeck’s writing transports you into real-life landscapes and imagined locations with a seamlessness that makes it hard to tell one from the other. The beauties of the Florida Gulf coast, the swampy growth that borders the greenery of well-fertilized fields, the posh interior of an ag magnate’s two story, all create a land that is seen, heard, smelled and felt.”—KRL News and Reviews

All Darrell Henshaw wanted was to enjoy his honeymoon with his beautiful wife, Erin, in the charming town of Crystal River on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. Only a pair of ghosts decide to intrude on their celebration. And not just any ghosts, the spirits of two young Latino children. Unwilling at first to derail the honeymoon for yet another ghost hunt, Darrell finally concedes when a painting of the kids comes alive, weeping and pleading for his help.

            When he and Erin track down the artist, they discover the children’s family were migrant workers the next county over. But when they travel there, their questions about the kids gets their car shot up and Erin hospitalized. Torn between fear and rage, Darrell must decide how far he will go to get justice for two young children he never even knew.

            Darrell and Erin thought they were heading to Florida for a carefree honeymoon, but the ghosts of two immigrants children haunt them, pleading for help.

“Scarlet at Crystal River is an eerie paranormal mystery I couldn’t stop reading. Randy Overbeck is a masterful writer of the paranormal, drawing the reader in before instilling shivers down the spine. 5+ stars.” –N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

“A rollercoaster of a mystery, hurtling up and down hills and sharp corners until the very end, when the reader is left slightly breathless, waiting for their hearts to beat back to a normal rhythm. ★★★★★—ReadersView

“Scarlet at Crystal River is a suspenseful paranormal novel with compelling characters and an enigmatic mystery that drives the story to a riveting conclusion. Overbeck is a master at building tension–-this is easily a one-sitting read.” ★★★★★—Literary Titan

“This is another masterpiece from Randy Overbeck. His excellent writing style has left me speechless for one more time. He writes in a way that makes you feel what the characters feel and you have no choice but to partake in the journey with them.” ★★★★★—Ioanna’s Reviews, Greece

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scarlet-at-crystal-river-randy-overbeck/1139873947?ean=9781509237876

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57841458-scarlet-at-crystal-river?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RTpsYLU6mO&rank=3

https://www.bookbub.com/books/scarlet-at-crystal-river-by-randy-overbeck

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for four decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, Blood on the Chesapeake, Crimson at Cape May and Scarlet at Crystal River have earned five star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year–ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-KOC0LH2GQRSAjwxOFr5rg

Tik Tok @authorrandyo

• Release by Wild Rose Press—September 13, 2021
• Paranormal mystery
• 364 pp.
• Mild

To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the authors’ tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site.  If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and his work!
 

Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, came into being via the Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration of the end of summer and the bounty from autumn harvest. But the Celts also believed that once a year, from October 31^st to November 1^st, the spirits could leave their realm and interact with humans. It is with that in mind, that I wrote JOIN ME.

JOIN ME

He walked along the corridor, with slippers slapping on the floor. The air was foggy, damp and cold. The man was tired, sad, and old. His friend was waiting down the hall. He moved with care. He must not fall. Just once each year, she came at night and stayed until the dawn’s first light.

She was his special childhood friend, but he felt he had caused her end. Although she was alive no more, she’d meet him by the kitchen door. Electric failed when she got there, and lavender would fill the air. But candles would provide the light. They’d flicker through the cold dark night.

She’d laugh and tell him she had come to play. She wanted to have fun. This night was special, Halloween! It was twelve months, since last he’d seen his faithful friend of many years. When she arrived, sometimes his tears still fell, as he remembered when she left him. She was only ten.

They’d been close to the railroad track. He often wished he could go back to that October thirty-first. That cold, dark night he made the worst decision of his early life. He let her walk alone that night. They’d talked of costumes, tricks and treats, and after dinner where they’d meet.

Renee was picking lavender. Having such fun, she never heard the train. It rumbled down the track and struck her squarely in the back. A momentary jolt of pain, her life extinguished by the train. Her spirit floated to his side and there she wanted to abide.

It happened sixty years ago. Since then he’d never truly known a peaceful day in all his life. Her death had filled it with such strife. She never blamed him for her death, but told him she could never rest without her friend and so she stayed in every place they’d ever played.

Rejecting the light’s brilliant ray, she said she would not go. She’d stay. He only saw her once each year, but every single day he’d hear her plea for him to leave the earth, to die, then join her in rebirth. He walked along the corridor to coax her toward the light once more.

###

 

Happy Halloween, everyone!