Ghost Town

 

Ghost Town

By Paul McCann

A blistering heat burnt down from an unforgiving  sun on a high plain somewhere beyond the western  red mountain range . A horse and rider made their way into the town as the church bell began to ring  and the rider pulled his horse to a stop . Ther rider noticed smoke coming for many buildings and houses around the town . The smell of burning ashes filtered through the breeze  .

There was a man sitting on the porch of the sheriff’s office who came to greet the horse and rider as they came into the town.

“Hey , welcome to Howling Wolf . Have you come far ?”

The rider dismounted from his horse and said ,

“Something tells  me I’ve come too  far “

The church bell stopped ringing as the rider took a water canister from his saddlebag and gave his horse a drink then had a drink himself .

“Well, I suppose there’s no turning back now you’re here “

Said the sheriff.

The rider looked around and said ,

.“ So, tell me what’s going on with all these flowers blooming in the dust ?

The sheriff replied ,

“Sure , in these parts we have these desert plants with the ability to put their deep down into the soil then they wait for the last summer rains to come and that’s when we get these miracle flowers in bloom . For us it’s no surprise . It’s just a normal seasonal thing “

The rider asked .

“Is there any where to stay in town ?”

The sheriff replied ,

“ Well since you’ve just come into the stranger there is a shed down at the end of town . Just head through past the church and the cemetery and you’ll see a barn where you can leave you horse and then further to your right there sashed beside a land there . Ask O’Shea if he’s there for a place to stay “

“Thanks for your help “

He put his feet into the stirrup and climbed  back on his horse then made his way down the street towards the church and cemetery noticed a lot of the buildings had been   burnt down . Beside the church he went into the shed but no one was there . He called out several times but no one answered so he is walking around the back to have a look and saw a place called Memory Lane . So, he went for  a walk where strange things were happening . He saw fields of green suddenly become covered in snow . As if seasons were changing before his eyes , springtime arrived with little birds singing and rabbits and hopping along the lane .

He turned around and walked back again to the town where street was full of people who acknowledged him as they passed .  They all looked young and healthy. He noticed that all the houses and buildings had been rebuilt.  

He wandered over to the shed and there was a man standing there who said ,

“Hello stranger . It’s a nice day to be out on the streets “

The rider replied.

“ You must be O’Shea . Can you tell me what’s going on . Things here are so strange and I don’t know if I’m still right in the head “

“You can do no wrong”.

“I seen seasons flash before my eyes and houses that were burn to the ground rebuilt . What is going on “

O’Shea replied ,

“No one here knows what’s going on . I take it you want a place to stay . Well, you’re welcome to stay here in the shed as long as you need”!

‘Where is this place ?’

The rider asked .

“Well stranger nobody really knows where we are . This is a transitional place . Everyone here is young and none of us know how long we will be here for ...People come and go here every day just like the seasons you saw “

“You must be kidding me “

The rider said and O’Shea replied.

“Why would I lie to you , I don’t mean to shock you stranger but you have already left the world you once knew and now you’re in a spiritual plain waiting to move on to your eternal home. “

The rider asked .

“Are you saying I’m a ghost ?”

O’Shea replied .

‘Everyone here in Howling Wolf is a ghost . Theres nothing to fear , Living here I a sweet thing . Yeah, we’re all lost souls living here on the streets waiting to find our way home . Here time is non-existent  “

He replied ,

“So, I’m stuck here then and there’s nothing anyone can do “

O’Shea said ,

“Nobody choses to come here . It’s where you are supposed to be It will be all right in the end . You just need a little time until things get worked out”.

The church bell started top ring and a gust of wind blew through the town . A beautiful young lady approached the rider and said .

“Everything you have ever believed is true and now I believe it’s time for you to come home . Let’s go . It’s time to leave these streets behind .” 

 

The End