Here is just a little taste of my newest title, BACK TO RILEYVILLE
BACK TO RILEYVILLE
By Garry E. Lewis
It began as a beautiful autumn morning in the town
of Rileyville, Pastor John had completed Sunday morning Mass. After Confessions
were completed he exited the church and sliding into his front seat of his car
he headed into town to visit a sick Parishioner.
Pulling
into Harvey’s Gas & Grub café he decided to stop for a bite to eat before
his morning visit. Harvey’s was a local spot where the regulars would set and
have coffee and breakfast and compare fishing stories. As stories they most
indeed were, more on the fiction side then truth. It was a typical morning in
Rileyville. The church ladies set at their table which was comparable to a hen
house where all the hens gathered to gossip and point fingers at the non-
church goers. After of course attending confessional first, so their conscious
could be clear to again tear down certain town members. Just another day as
usual, you know how small country towns can be. Everyone knew everyone else’s
business. Today there was new gossip being spread around, strangers had moved
into the old Smith house at the outskirts of town. It was a old run down house
in need of serious repair, but now it seemed to be once more occupied again
after years of neglect setting empty.
2.
Garry E. Lewis
Pastor John parked his car and entered the café
taking his favorite window seat. Not long after Betty the waitress came over.
“Morning John, you’re usual?”
Looking up
smiling he replies, “yes Betty thank you.” Coming right up, I’ll get your coffee
and morning paper John she responds.
Returning with his coffee and paper she asks, “Well I guess you heard the
news?” Pastor John replies, yeah I did, what’s their name? Betty responds not
really sure, no one seems to know as of yet who they are or where they come
from. We should know soon though, as they’re buying the house to restore it. So
the bank will have all that information for sure.
Grand Pa
Ernie suddenly slides into the booth across from Pastor John, nearly spilling
his coffee. Strangers in town, how about that Pastor, what do you think about
that? “Oh now Ernie, don’t go stirring
up gossip now, we want our new citizens to feel welcome.”
Kind of
odd though don’t you think Pastor? Now what’s odd about new people moving to town
Ernie? Don’t you go stirring the pot now? We should make them feel welcome, not
scare them away. It’s been a while since we’ve had new folks move to town, I
think it’s very refreshing news.
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BACK TO RILEYVILLE
Betty sets
his breakfast down responds, “I think so to Pastor, it’s been awhile since we
have had new faces in town, and it will be nice.” I agree totally, ok enough
talk now enjoy your breakfast it’s your usual.
Ernie
speaks up, “what greasy and burnt,” he says chuckling. “That will be enough out
of you old man, don’t make me evict you, you’d starve to death if I did.” Betty
winks at the Pastor and walks away.
Ernie
responds, “oh now Betty my love, you know you’re the love of my life.” “Yeah,
yeah, whatever old man,” she responds as she turns and walks back to the
kitchen.
Finishing
his meal Pastor John leaves his money on the table and exits to his car. Soon
he is heading down the road to Miss Myrtles house. Having come down with the
flu recently, he felt some flowers & some prayer will work wonders for her.
He passes
an old Black Cadillac on his way there, noticing its windows were tinted he
wondered if it could be the new folks who had recently moved in. Turning into
Miss Myrtles drive, he watches in his side mirrors as it passes by down the
road.
4.
Garry E.
Lewis
Later that afternoon Pastor John leaves Miss Myrtles
and returns back to the Parish. As he pulls away he notices the big Black Caddy
slowly passing Miss Myrtles house.
Soon after
a knock is heard at her front door, smiling she opens it without hesitation
thinking maybe the Pastor had forgotten something. To her surprise she finds
strangers on her porch as they shove her back into the house closing the door
behind them.
They force
her down onto the sofa a woman walks over to her and orders the two men to hold
her as she sticks a syringe into Miss Myrtle’s neck crying out in pain Miss
Myrtle slumps over onto the sofa. The two men carry her to her bed laying her
face down covering her, as they turn and start to exit the house they notice a
young man peeking in the window, seeing what they had done he turns and runs
off the porch. Mr. Antonio screams at the two men. “What are you waiting for? Go
get that little bastard quick before he gets away!”
The two
men run outside chasing the young man across the yard tackling him. Having
pinned him down Mrs. Antonio walks over and sticks a syringe into his neck. The
men quickly load his body into the trunk of the Caddy.
5.
BACK TO RILEYVILLE
Looking around seeing the coast is clear they soon
back out of the drive and head off down the road. On the outskirts of town the caddy comes to a
stop next to a drainage ditch. The men exit the car quickly opening the trunk
they life the body from the trunk and roll it into the drainage ditch. Climbing
back into the caddy they speed off down the country lane out of sight.
Across
town Pastor John pulls into the Parish parking lot. Shutting off his engine he
gets out and walks towards the parish, as he approaches the front porch he
notices little Tommy Daniels sitting on the steps. He calls out, “hey Pastor
have you heard the news about the new folks in town?”
Yes that
seems to be the talk of the town there Tommy; I need to take time to pay them a
visit soon. Well when you do can I come along? Tommy asks.
I don’t
see why not as long as you behave yourself and don’t ask them too many
questions. I just thought it would be really neat to find out we have Vampires living
among us Tommy responds. Rolling his eyes Pastor John replies, “well please
leave your wooden stakes & your Holy water at home. We don’t want them
thinking we are a bunch of weird o’s do we?”
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GARRY E. LEWIS
Tommy responds, well you do have to admit it is kind
of mysterious, why would anyone want to move into that old house? That place is
creepy most likely haunted. “Oh now Tommy, just because a house has set empty
for a while doesn’t mean it’s haunted or creepy. Not only that some people make
a living buying a restoring old homes and reselling them Pastor John responds.
Well why hasn’t anyone ever stayed in that house
very long then he asks? Well for one thing the Pastor says it’s probably very
expensive as far as utility bills go, some people find after moving in they
just cannot afford the utilities. Not only that you have property Taxes to pay
as well that often can be very expensive. So you see Tommy just because someone
doesn’t stay in a home very long doesn’t mean it’s creepy or haunted.
“Whatever
Tommy says,” I still think it’s a scary old house; I sure wouldn’t want to live
there. You young men have a very vivid imagination for sure. Pastor John
responds. Well I better head for home supper is probably ready, and don’t
forget to pick me up when you’re ready to visit them. I want to meet these
creepy people. Pastor John just rolls his eyes and says, Tommy you’re something
else I swear. Be safe heading home watch for traffic. “You’re a pistol boy.”
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BACK TO RILEYVILLE
The next morning Pastor John pulls into the café to
grab some breakfast and coffee before heading over to meet the new arrivals in
town. He had told Tommy to meet him at the café. As he takes his favorite seat
next to the window Betty walks over and slaps the local Newspaper down in front
of him.
Pastor
John looks up and says, “Hey Betty what’s up?” Just read John, read the
obituaries. Who passed away? Just read it John! Alright, alright, I’m reading,
I’m reading. John looking around the café asks where everyone is this morning.
Betty shouts
“Are you going to read the damn paper or what?” Alright I’m reading… OMG John
responds, I just saw her yesterday morning, I stop by to visit and offer
prayer. This doesn’t make sense; she was fine just a touch of the flu is all.
She was planning on attending morning Mass. What could have happened?
Betty
responds, well their claiming it was heart failure John. They’re supposed to
perform an autopsy to know for sure what happened. Well who found her? Betty
answers the sheriff did. He had stopped by to take Myrtle one of his wife’s
homemade pies. That’s when he found her lying face down in her bed lifeless. He
called for an ambulance right away. Her poor old dog was lying beside her on
the bed howling something awful the sheriff said.
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GARRY E.
LEWIS
Well John says, I never knew her to have heart
trouble or a dog either for that matter. Betty responded, well she kept it
outside mostly she’d bring it in at night for protection and during adverse
weather of course. It was a good dog never barked much, it was getting on in
years. Just a real shame poor dog it’s master is gone now. I guess one of the
animal shelters will keep it now till it finally passes.
Sure was
sudden, Yes it was Pastor John responds, well there’s Tommy guess we will be
heading over to greet our new town folk. Talk to you later Betty as he turns
and heads out to the parking lot where Tommy awaits.
Betty
shouts out the door, “Now you best be careful Pastor, we don’t know anything
about these people.” Oh now Betty, John says, you’re starting to sound like old
Ernie, that’s why I’m heading over there so we can find that out, learn more
about them.”
Betty
shouts, “well just be careful you two.” Pastor John gives her the thumbs up and
slides into his car. Soon after, he and Tommy head out to greet the new folks.
It isn’t
long after they soon arrive and turn onto the long winding driveway back to the
house. Tommy asks, so Pastor, did you bring your Holy water? He looks at Tommy
and says what? “No I didn’t bring any Holy water you silly boy.” Great now
we’re in trouble, Tommy says. You stay in the car Tommy; I’ve got this under
control.
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No way! Tommy
shouts, I’m coming with you Pastor. Well let me do the talking I don’t want you
going all Vampire hunter on their asses! Tommy wrinkles his nose frustrated at
the Pastor.
He rings
the door bell, and he can hear voices inside and catches a glimpse of someone
looking out the window at them. The door opens and a heavy set older woman
stands smiling, “well we have guest, “ please, please, come in make yourselves
at home. I’ll get us some Lemon tea, she says as she heads for the kitchen,
Pastor John and Tommy takes a seat on the sofa.
Soon after,
the woman reappears, with a serving tray, along with cookies and Tea. Setting
them down on the coffee table she says smiling, please by all means help your
selves.
That’s so
very kind of you Miss or Mrs.? Pastor John asks. Oh please you can just call me
Ester she responds smiling. Well Ester it’s a pleasure, my name is John and
this little fella is Tommy. I’m Pastor of the Church of New Hope here in
Rileyville, and I would like to welcome your family to our little town and to
our church services as well. I brought a pamphlet with the times of services
available. She smiles and says well how
nice of you, but I have my own faith I follow, it’s more of an earth religion
you might say.
10.
GARRY E. LEWIS
Tommy’s eyes light up and he shouts, “You’re a devil
worshipper I bet! huh?” He stands up excited to hear her response. With that
Pastor John shouts, “Tommy that will be about enough out of you young man!”
Tommy hangs his head sitting back down picking up another cookie and taking a
bite. I’m so sorry Ester he doesn’t mean any harm; the boy just has a wild
imagination as you can see.
Ester
smiles and responds it’s perfectly ok Pastor, we’re new here in town so it’s
only logical that he would find us moving in here quite fascinating to a boy
his age of course. I totally understand where his interest would be peaked as
it were, us moving to town so suddenly.
Tommy she
says, to answer your Question about my religious beliefs, no I’m not a Satanist,
but I am into the occult you might say, in fact I’m looking to start up a
service here for the town’s people. You see I read the Tarot, and I tell people
about their past, present, as well as their future. It’s a modest way for me to
make a little added retirement income you might say, as she smiles looking over
towards Tommy. “Would you like some more Tea Tommy she asks?” “Oh yes Tommy
says smiling, a Tarot reader right here in our town Wow!” How awesome is that? That
is so cool Ester! She smiles at Tommy and says, I thought you’d like that young
man. You see Tommy the truth is I’m a Witch! Having said that, Pastor John
drops his tea glass, it shatters onto the floor. He sets with a look of shock
on his face turning a bit pale as well.
11.
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