A Pennsylvania Ghost Story
At the edge of a forest, under the shadow of the Appalachian mountains, there was a cabin. Only a year old, it would soon be used as a foundation for a proper home come spring. A large black dog snoozed next to the door of the cabin. In front of the house, a woman was feeding chickens. She used one hand to hold up her apron, which was full of corn, and the second to toss the corn to the chickens. Slowly, she walked round the yard, distributing her small golden kernels in the golden daylight. She seemed to still have the spell of sleep over her, as she did not hear her husband calling for her.
“Sarah! Sarah!”
A man walked out of the cabin and yelled again, this time catching the woman’s attention.
“Sarah, what’s the matter with you? I’ve been calling”
“I am sorry Abe, guess I dozed off a little. Did you find your boots?” She emptied out the remainder of her corn and walked over to her husband.
“No.” Abe scowled, “I don’t understand. They were right in the middle of the floor this morning, plain as day. I looked everywhere and still can’t find them.”
“If you can’t find them, then it must have been the ghost.”
“The ghost?! Again with the ghost. Sarah, I told you before that it’s just your nerves talking. Nothing here is haunted and besides what would a ghost need boots for.”
“It’s not about needing, it’s about taking. Plenty of things have gone missing. My handkerchief, knitting needles, one of my wooden spoons, and a spool-”
“Damn it, Sarah! That’s not a ghost! It was just the dog, he probably took the handkerchief, the needles, everything! And the boots!”
“You and I both know that Titus doesn’t go in the house anymore, he hasn’t been in the house since I started having my nightmares. He just sits at the door and makes big ruckus when you try to get him to come in, howling, whining, growling and all that.”
Abe threw his hands up in the air, “Again with the nightmares, Sarah, you put too much stock in them.”
“But I still have them. Abe. That’s why I can’t sleep. That’s why I am so tired. I see that ghost, it’s in my dreams. It’s trying to strangle me, you’ve seen the bruises on my arm.”
“It’s not a ghost, you’re just getting bruises walking around and not remembering it that’s all, Sarah. Now you stop with this ghost jabber and keep looking for them while I get going.”
Abe turned around and went back into the cabin, leaving Sarah silently pleading. He had already searched the cabin up and down and found nothing. He decided to take some money and head into town, hopefully there would be someone selling a pair that he could wear. Looking around the cabin, he saw all kinds of things of disarray. Some of it from his search that morning, others from a general lack of care. Abe felt guilty for yelling at his wife, but she had been to a doctor and nothing seemed wrong with her. Abe couldn’t think what was wrong, and that made him angry. What could he do? He was supposed to protect Sarah. Now he was powerless. Abe fumbled with the lock on the chest at the food of their bed. He opened it and took out a cash box. He was going to look for the doctor first, to see if he could check on Sarah one more time. Maybe there would be something he could do.
Original artwork by author, Owen Zaleski
As Abe walked out of the cabin, he noticed that there were two figures at the fence that snaked around his farm. One was Sarah and the other was a man that he did not recognize. He could see that he wore a broad-brimmed, black hat and black cloak. Abe had never seen a man dressed like that before, even when he was in town. A strange but pleasant sound made Abe stop in his tracks. The stranger was in conversation with Sarah and had said something that made her laugh; Abe had forgotten what it sounded like. They noticed Abe standing there and Sarah walked over with the stranger.
“Abe, this man said he can help me.”
“Good day to you sir, my name is Raphael Wing.” The stranger swept his hat off his head in a small bow.
“Pleased to meet you Mr. Wing. May I ask what brings you round these parts?”
“I am a traveler, your wife and I have been talking. She told me about what’s been troubling you and I am here to help.”
“You a doctor?”
“Of sorts, yes.”
Abe sized up the man, his face and mannerisms didn’t strike him as anything special, unlike the self important city doctors he’s seen before.
“How much you charging?”
“I am just looking for a place to rest for the night. No need for anything more.” Abe looked at Sarah and then at Mr. Wing.
“Alright then, if it’s alright with Sarah and she’s up for cooking for three, you’ve got yourself a deal.” He shook Mr. Wings hand as they all turned back to the cabin for night. After the meal, Abe and Sarah stayed at the table and ate with Mr. Wing. Long into the night, the couple and their guest exchanged stories. They didn’t notice Titus wandering into the cabin as they talked. Soon night turned to morning and Sarah and Abe woke to find no sign of Mr. Wing. All that they could find was Abe’s boots looking like they had never moved from the center of the cabin’s floor since last morning.
At the edge of a forest, under the shadow of the Appalachian mountains, there was a cabin that was now a proper house. Abe was working the field in his boots, and Sarah held a baby boy close to her as she worked.