Story Camp Fire Story

gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
WHAT IS IT​

Slowly and softly, he opened the door. Peaking into the dark room, he saw her back. She was lying on the bed with her back to the door. He eased into the room, and slipped out of his shoes. Looking to assure he didn’t wake her. Just past her head, on the nightstand, he could see the red glow of the clock. It read 3:15, and it worried him that she would wake and see the time.

He undid his pants and let them drop to the floor, next came the shirt dropping on top of them. Now he had to deal with the dangers part, and fold back the blanket. Slowly he slipped one foot in the bed, and eased his butt onto the sheet. One more foot and his head to the pillow, and he would be home free. His foot was in and he laid back as he heard, “Love you.”

He knew and there was no hiding it. All he could do was whisper, “I love you too.”

The next morning she awoke without a word. He got up to find the coffee made, and her standing in front of the stove. She smiled not saying a word, and poured him a cup of coffee. She set it in front of him, and returned to butter his toast. He waited for her to say something, but she stayed silent.

She carried the steaming plate of eggs and hash browns in one hand, and her coffee in the other. She set the plat in front of him as she sat in the chair next to him. Waiting for the question he softly muttered, “Thank you.” He knew she was going to ask where he was, and he feared that more than anything. He knew she wouldn’t believe him. Heck, he didn’t believe it himself. It was like a bad nightmare, or something from a science fiction movie.

He took a drink of his coffee as she stared at him with her big green eyes. Just ask me and get it over with, he thought, but she just smiled and stared. He thought he knew her after thirty years of marriage, but something like this had never happened before. He had to say something. He knew she was waiting, but he was sure she would think it was a lie. He thought, Maybe I could tell her I had car trouble, or I got stuck and had to call a tow truck. No that would never work. She would want to know why I didn’t call her. I’ve got to do something, but what?

He had never lied to her, and he couldn’t start now. He had to tell her and he started to speak. She put her finger to his lips and gasped, “Shhhs.”

Did she not want to know? This could tear a marriage apart, and he wanted no part of it. He loved his wife, and had always been true to her. He couldn’t let this change that. Taking another sip, he tried to speak again, but she did the same thing. She didn’t want to hear it.

It worried him now. She didn’t want to know, and he knew that there was no way she could have found out. He slipped his hand over to hers, and blurted. “I have to tell you.”

She put her finger to his lips again and disclosed, “I understand. You don’t have to tell me.”

Understand what, he thought. It twisted his thoughts that she could understand. She didn’t even know what happened, and he couldn’t accept that she understood. He watched her push her long brown hair behind her ear. Then take his plate to the sink, as he tried to remember what happened. It seamed to be fading from his mind. He knew he had to tell her before the memory was gone. It seamed to be disappearing, and he could only remember parts of it now.

He shook his head and muttered, “I have to remember.”

“Remember what?” echoed from the other side of the room.

Looking to his wife he insisted, “I was trying to remember something, but it’s gone now.”

She smiled, “It’s OK dear, it probably was nothing anyway”

One ring and she picked up the phone, “Hello.”

“Hi mom, how is dad doing?”

“Who is it?” he called out.

“Melinda,” she replied as she walked into the other room. “No change dear. It happened again last night.”

He went to his room and got his coat. Then he went to his workshop. It was a small building about the size of a two-car garage. This is where he ran his little business repairing furniture. It wasn’t much, but he didn’t have to work hard, and it made him a good living.

That night he watched some TV with his wife and went to bed. Then it happened again. He found himself dressed sitting on his workbench. Going back to the house, he did the same as every other time, and peaked into the dark room. The clock on the nightstand read 3:15, and he slipped into bed, then heard, “Love you.”

Like every other time, all he could do was whisper, “I love you too.”

The next morning everything was back to the normal routine. He awoke to find the coffee made, and her standing in front of the stove. She smiled not saying a word, and poured him a cup of coffee. She set it in front of him, and he tried to say something. She put her finger to his lips and gasped, “Shhhs.”

She went back to the stove as he thought. I need to tell her something, but I don’t know where to start. I can’t tell her what I remember because I only remember parts of it. It wouldn’t make any since, and I’d sound crazy.

He wanted to tell her, but his thoughts were fading. He knew they would be gone in a moment, and wondered if it had happened before. He promised himself today was the day. He had to do something, so he planted a thought in his mind.

She sat next to him, and he put out his hand. She took it with a smile, and he knew she knew.

After eating, he went to his room and got his coat, but today he didn’t go to his workshop. He took his keys and went to the car. She watched as he backed out the driveway. She knew what he was doing, and knew he had done it before. It saddened her to think of it, but she could do nothing.

She called her daughter, “Hello.”

“Hi sweetie, it’s mom.”

“Hi mom, how is dad doing?”

“No change dear. It happened again last night. I think he’s going to try and catch it again.”

“Oh mom, he doesn’t remember about last time.”

“I don’t think so dear, he never remembers. It’s OK Melinda, don’t worry, we’ve been through this before, and I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Just the same mom, I want to be there when he comes back. I’m on my way over.”

“Love you dear, see you in a few.”

He returned as she watched out the window. She saw him open the trunk, and carry a box to the shop. Then she saw her daughter park in the driveway next to his car. She opened the door and waited for her. At the door, Melinda embraced her mother and whispered, “It’s going to be Ok mom.”

After visiting with her mother, she headed to the shop. Inside her dad was stretching out some wire. Seeing her he greeted, “Hi Melinda, what are you doing out running around.”

“Just thought I would come see how you were doing.”

“I’m doing fine dear.”

“What’s that you’re doing?”

“It is a camera. Someone has been breaking in the shop, and I’m going to catch them.”

“Really dad, what’d they take?”

“That’s what’s weird Melinda. They didn’t take anything, but they’ve been breaking in almost every night. I’m going to catch them though, and then I can prove it.”
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
With a smile she requested, “Let me help you with that dad.”

“Ok. I’ll go check the monitor, and you can point the camera at the workbench. That’s what they seem to mess with the most.”

From the other room she heard, “Up a little.” Then, “A little to the left, that’s it right there.”

Coming through the door he insisted, “I’ll catch those SOB’s now. The guy at the store said this thing will record 24 hours at a time. There’s no way I’m missing a thing.”

Melinda put her arm around her dad and exclaimed, “I’m sure you’ll see what ever happens, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t see anything dad.”

“Now you’re starting to sound like your mom.”

“Oh dad, like mother, like daughter. Didn’t you know that?”

He smiled and winked as they walked to the house. She took his hand as she had every since she was a little girl. Then she gave it a squeeze and requested, “I want to be here when you watch the tape in the morning.”

He smiled, “I’d like that. Then you can tell your mom what you see. I think she thinks I’m crazy.”

“Oh dad, she thinks nothing of the kind.”

Opening the back door, they stepped into the kitchen. There she was wiping the counters, and putting away the dishes. Looking up she questioned, “What were you doing out there?”

Melinda spoke up, “Dad put in a camera to catch who ever is breaking into the shop.”

“Oh Gilbert,” she exclaimed. “The only one braking into the shop is you with a key.”

He shook his head and argued, “Told you she thought I was crazy.”

Then he stomped out of the room as Melinda scolded, “Mom how could you say such a thing. That was cruel.”

“It’s true Melinda, and you know it. He’s done this camera thing before, and he doesn’t even remember it.”

“I know mom, but it’s not his fault he don’t remember.”

“I know dear, but you know what the doctor said. He told us not to support his delusional thoughts.”

“How do you know there delusional mom? You told me yourself you never get up at night. You wakeup and he’s gone, and then you lay there until he comes back to bed.”

“There’s nothing to see Melinda. You watched the tape last time. All he does is go out to the shop and sit on the bench.”

“I know mom, but you don’t have to be cruel to him about it.”

“I’m not dear, this isn’t the first time. It’s just the waste of money buying that stuff, then him getting upset when nothing happens. You and I both know all he’ll see is him sitting on the workbench at night.”

“Ok mom, I’m going to go, but I’ll be here for breakfast.”

“Darn it Melinda, I wish you wouldn’t support him with this.”

“I’m not mom. If there’s nothing on the tape, then he will have to face it, and I’m only supporting what I see.”

“Well if it makes you feel better Melinda. Then I won’t protest it, but you and I both know what happened last time.”

“I know mom. I’ll call you tonight, and we can talk.”

“Ok, but don’t show up to early. I’ll have breakfast ready at seven.”

Standing in the doorway she exclaimed, “I know mom. That hasn’t changed in twenty years.”

At her car, she saw her dad wave from the open door of the shop. She smiled and waved back as she got in. Heading home, she thought about the last time her father put up a camera. Oh, how I wished I’d seen something on the tape last time, but there was nothing for three days. Then all I saw was dad coming in the shop at midnight and sitting on the workbench until there in the morning. Then he went back out the door. Maybe mom’s right, and it’s all in his head. After all, He never remembers that he did it. A few times, he remembers something in the morning, but mom won’t let him tell her. Then he forgets it ever happened.

The next morning Melinda showed up promptly at seven. Sitting at the table her dad mumbled, “Sorry Melinda, but there’s nothing on the tape.”

“Oh, did you check it already dad?”

“No, didn’t have to. I know there is nothing on it.”

“How can you be so sure dad?”

From the kitchen, her mom Ashley called out, “Because he was in bed all night.”

Gilbert leaned over and whispered, “Your mom thinks it’s me that’s breaking in to the shop.”

Setting a plate in front of Melinda, her mother complained, “I wish you would learn to eat you eggs like your dad. Scrambling them messes up the pan.”

She put her hand over her mouth to hide the snicker, as her dad winked at her.

The next two days went the same, but on Thursday, things were different. At the table, her dad told her that they broke in last night. Her mom shook her head at his comment, and Melinda worried that all she would see was her dad sitting on the bench. After they ate, they went to the shop. Gilbert put the key in the door as Melinda confessed, “It don’t look like anyone broke in dad.”

“I know dear, they must have their own key or something. Opening the door he exclaimed, “Look, the stuff has been moved off the bench.”

Melinda thought, Oh no, its right where he sat on the last tape. I hope we see something, its heart breaking to see him when he’s the only one on the tape.

A few minutes later, he was rewinding the tape. Then he started it in fast play back. They watched as nothing changed. All the stuff on the workbench stayed the same. Then at midnight, the picture went snowy, and there was nothing to see until three in the morning. Then the snow slowly cleared, and she could see her dad sitting on the workbench. Her dad looked puzzled and blurted, “I didn’t move that stuff to sit there. Someone else did it, but that part of the tape was bad.”

Melinda felt bad and put her arm around her dad. Then she whispered, “Its OK dad, it’s just a bad spot on the tape. I’ll pick up another one, and we’ll catch them next time.”

He popped the tape from the recorder and handed it to Melinda saying. “Don’t tell mom sweetie. She already thinks I’m crazy.”

Giving him a kiss on the cheek she whispered, “Not a word dad. I’ll just say nothing was on the tape. It was bad or something. That’s not a lie, it was messed-up you know. You just finish fixing the leg on Betty Collin’s table, and I’ll go get another tape.”

At the video store Melinda showed the salesmen the tape, and told him what happened. He explained that he sold her dad the best recorder they had, and something like that should have never happened. He gave her another tape for free, and explained that there might be something coming on at that time of night. He told her that some other devices could put out a signal that could mess-up the recorder. Then he gave her a card and told her to give this guy a call if it happened again. He’s good at figuring these kinds of things out.
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
She thanked him, and went to her car looking at the card. Seeing that his shop was on the way back to her dad’s, she decided to check it out. It was a little shop sandwiched between a tire store and a convenience store. She opened the door and a bell at the top of the door rang. The place looked a mess with cords and wires running all over the place. There were hooked to all kinds of computers and strange things stacked everywhere. She made her way down the narrow path to the counter.

She looked around, but didn’t see anyone. She called out, “Is anyone here?”

“Just a minute,” rang out from behind a tall cabinet with a lot of wires coming from it. Then he questioned, “What can I do for you?” as he stepped from behind the cabinet. Melinda explained about what the salesmen told her about the interference.

He stared at her beauty, and was awe struck. Her long wavy red hair and green eyes was all he could see. Tripping over a cable and almost falling on his face snap him out of it. Catching his balance he admitted, “It gets a little messy in here sometimes. I’ve just been so busy lately I haven’t had time to straighten things out.”

She held up the tape and explained, “This is the tape that has the bad spot on it.”

Taking the tape he requested, “Let me see if I can see something.”

He moved some stuff and put the tape in a recorder. Then he flipped a switch to turn on the monitor. Melinda explained, “We stopped it just past the bad spot. If you rewind it a little you can see what it was doing.”

He ran the tape back a little and informed, “It looks like magnetic interference. Is there a big electric motor or light ballast next to the recorder?”

“I don’t think so,” Melinda replied. “Its in my dad’s office, and all he has in there is a desk and a calculator.”

Seeing no ring on her finger, he leaned over the counter close to her. Then pushed a pad to her and whispered, “I’ll take a closer look at the tape later. Just put your name and phone number on this work order, and I’ll call and let you know what I fine, or you can call in a day or two. If I don’t find anything then there’s no charge.”

Melinda filled out the work order and stepped back from the counter. He was still leaning over the counter staring when she asked, “Who do I ask for when I call?”

In a daze he mumbled, “Who do you ask for? Oh, Carl.”

With a smile she affirmed, “OK, Carl, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Carl was still leaned over the counter with his hand under his chin, and his elbow resting on the counter. When she opened the door, and turned and winked.”

He stood and shook his head trying to remember what he was doing, as he thought. Darn, that was a beauty queen if I ever saw one. She could come in everyday, and I wouldn’t mind a bit.

Melinda took the tape to her dad, and told him to call and let her know if it worked. Then she went home to work her web building business.

That night Carl took a closer look at the tape. He was hoping to find magnetic interference. Then he could make some money showing them what caused it, and how to keep it from happening again. Besides, working with Melinda was like a bonus. He wouldn’t mind that one-bit, and what if it took him all day to find it. Well…

Then he saw the last thing he ever expected. He almost couldn’t believe his eyes. He jumped up and grabbed a cord, and hooked it to the recorder. Then he plugged the other end into a computer. He waited impatiently as he recorded the digital file. Finely he thought he had enough to get a better look.

He played the file, and watched intensely. There it was in the corner of the video, a reflection in the mirror on a dresser. He zoomed in on the corner of the video and played it again. He pushed his chair back from the screen and gasped as he thought, This has to be a practical joke. I bet Benny is behind it. That scum bag got me good this time.

Picking up the phone, he gave him a call. In a half-awake voice he heard, “What!”

Snapping back Carl complained, “Good one Benny, you had me going good on this one.”

Benny grumbled, “What in the hell you talking about Carl. Don’t you know it’s one in the morning?”

Carl chuckled, “Yah, right Benny. I should have known as soon as I seen the good-looking redhead. You must have spent hours making this tape. I have to admit it’s good. You could probably win a prize with this one.”

Benny queried, “I have no idea what you are talking about Carl.”

Carl snickered, “Yeah, sure thing Benny. Just like the self-erasing tape. Took me a whole day to figure out you put a magnet inside the case.

Benny insisted, “Honestly Carl, I don’t have a clue what you are talking about.”

Carl finally gave in and admitted, “If this wasn’t you then you have to see this. I’m telling you if this is real, then it’s… Well just get over here. You have to see it to believe it.”

Benny whined, “It’s one in the morning. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

“Benny get over her now!” Carl ordered.

Reluctantly Benny agreed, “OK, I’ll be there in a few.”

Carl replayed the recording repeatedly until Benny got there. Then he showed it to Benny. Benny shook his head and complained, “OK, Carl, we’re even. You got me out of bed in the middle of the night, and I watched your video. How much did it cost you to have it made?”

Carl looked straight at Benny and confessed, “I think this is the real deal. A good looking redhead brought it in, and thought it was a bad tape.”

Benny played it again and insisted, “It can’t be real Carl. Someone has to be setting you up, and it’s not me. I swear.”

Carl ejected the tape and suggested, “If we take the tape back to your place, we can convert it from this point to the end of the bad spot. Then you can run some of that fancy software on it. Maybe after it’s enhanced, we can tell if it’s fake or not.”

Benny flopped in a chair, “Well I’m up now. What the hell, but I better not find out this is one of your jokes.”

They took the tape and went to Benny’s studio. Once there they started the conversion and Benny leaned back in a chair and slept. About five in the morning, Carl woke Benny. “Hey, it’s done. What do we do now?”

Benny rolled his chair to the computer and started the program. Then he rolled back and closed his eyes as he mumbled, “This will take about two hours.”

Carl complained, “Two hours? I thought this was top of the line stuff?”

Benny grumbled, “It is, have a seat and get some rest.”

Carl sat in a chair and put his feet up on a table, but he couldn’t sleep. This was eating at him, and he had to know if it was true. Then he thought, What if we can’t tell if it is real or not? What if it’s a Hoax? Heck, I don’t even know if the name and number she gave me is real.”

Exhausted Carl fell asleep, but Benny awoke at the sound of the ding. The file was complete and he could see if he could enhance it. He sat at the computer for an hour trying to pull something out of the snow, but wasn’t finding anything. Then about five minutes before the end of the bad spot, he found something. The best he could do was bring out what looked like shadows, but it was clear that two others where with the man on the bench. When they left the tape cleared up, and it was just the man sitting on the workbench.
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
Putting his hand on Carl’s shoulder, Benny gave it a shake and questioned. “Hay, how do we get a hold of this redhead?”

Carl opened his eyes and responded, “Why, what did you find?”

Benny insisted, “I have to find this redhead, so I can find out if this is real. I want to check out the stuff myself.”

Carl slowly got up from the chair as he announced, “We have to go back to my shop. It’s on the work order.”

Benny grabbed his arm, gave it a tug, and demanded, “Let’s go. Its eight thirty and I’m sure she is up. If not we’re getting her up.”

Carl pulled his tired body from the chair, and left with Benny. He insisted they stop for coffee on the way, so Benny went through a drive through espresso shop. Soon he arrived at his shop with the four shot espresso half gone. Inside he looked for the work order pad on the counter. Benny complained about the mess, “If you kept this place cleaner you could find something.”

Carl held the pat in the air and announced, “Here it is.” Looking at the pad he went on, “Melinda Cole.”

Picking up the phone, he called the number, “Hot Shot Web-design, Melinda speaking.”

Carl’s mind went into gear. Web-design? This could be a hoax, she knows her way around a computer. “Yah Melinda this is Carl at Com-Tec. Could you come to the shop? I know its Saturday, but I need to talk to you about this video.”

“Not a problem Carl, I’ll be right over. I take it you found something.”

“I’m not sure, but I need some info about this tape,”

“Ok, I’ll see you in a few.”

Carl hung up the phone, and Benny questioned, “You didn’t say anything about what was on the video.”

Carl dropped his head and admitted, “She’s a Web-designer, and this might be a hoax. She might be using me to make it look real. I don’t want to get caught in a trap like that. It could ruin my business.”

“I don’t know Carl. I didn’t see anything when I was working with it. If it is a fake, it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. Then again, I have to agree with you. No need taking any chances until we check it out.”

A few minutes later Melinda came in the door. Carl looked up at the sound of the ringing bell. “Hi Melinda, I need you to look at the tape. Oh no, we left it at your place Benny. Well anyway Melinda, we would like to put some equipment where this recording was made. I can’t tell what’s happening, and I’d like to know myself. Benny and I talked it over, and there will be no charge. All you have to do is let us know the next time it happens.”

Carl couldn’t take his eyes off her, and she knew it as she smiled and thought, Dad told me my good looks would come in handy some day. I had expected a good deal, but not free.

“I will have to check with my dad, but I don’t think there’s a problem.”

Carl questioned, “When do you think you can get back to us?”

Melinda’s smile got bigger, “I’ll go now. I can call you and let you know in an hour at the most. If he says yes, I’ll tell you where to go.”

Benny butted in, “We’ll be waiting for your call.”


Walking to the door Melinda called out, “I’ll call as soon as I can.”

The door shut and Benny blurted, “I think she’s the real deal, or the best actor I’ve seen.”

“I think the same thing,” Carl agreed. “I think she’s clueless about the tape.”

“That’s what I thought,” Benny added. “I think we should go with a shielded digital recorder, and a remote camera. Then we hard wired a wide-angle camera to a seven day hard drive recorder.”

That sounds great to me Benny. I’ll dig out the stuff. Oh yah, I bet it will take most of the day to put this in.”

“Oh knock it off Carl. Just because she smiled at you, don’t mean you have to turn an hour job into all day.”

Carl started digging through his heaping piles trying to find the stuff he needed. One at a time, he put them on the counter. Setting a roll of wire on the counter Carl took a deep breath, “Oh no! What about her dad? If this is what we think it is, then he might tell about our equipment. That could ruin everything. There’s no way we can let him know, but how do we do that?”

Carl picked up the ringing phone, “Com-Tec.”

“Carl?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“Gene Bordmen at Quality Engineering, oh am I glad you’re in. My hard drive rack is down. All the drives in the left bank don’t work. My Tec has swapped some of the stuff to the right side, but all my 3D stuff is in the left bank. I’ve had him working on it all morning, but he thinks it’s a hardware problem.”

“I’m all booked up this weekend, but I can be there first thing Monday morning.”

“Carl! I need this fixed. It cost me a few thousand dollars an hour for down time. I’ll make it worth your while to get over here.”

“Come down Gene, I’ll meet you there at seven Monday morning, and I’ll have it going by eight.”

“You think you can fix it in an hour for sure?”

“Without a doubt Gene, I’ll have it going before people start.”

“I hope so Carl, I’ll be waiting at seven.”

“Don’t worry Gene, go home and have a good weekend, and I’ll have you back up Monday morning. See you at seven.”

Carl hung up the phone as Benny’s eyes opened wide, “Your turning down a service call on a weekend. I can’t believe it. You never turn down money. Don’t tell me your letting that redhead get to you.”

“Benny, I don’t even think I want anyone there when I put this stuff in. In fact I’d like to hide the stuff so no one knows it’s there.”

The phone rang again and Carl answered, “Com-Tec, this is Carl.”

“Hi Carl, this is Melinda. My dad said he’d be happy to let you try to find out what went wrong.”

“I don’t know how to tell you this, but I think we need to talk alone first.”

“What kind of talk Carl? Like in a restaurant for a date, or dose this have to do with the tape.”

Carl stuttered, “Na, no, not a date. It is about the tape.”

With a sound of disappointment she replied, “Oh, where do you want to meet?”

“Back here at the shop, if that is ok with you?”

“I’m leaving now, and will be there in about five.”

“OK, see you in a few.” Hanging up the phone Carl questioned, “You think I should show her the part of the tape I copied?”

Benny thought for a few then responded, “I think it would make her more cooperative, and we could watch her reaction. Then if it’s a fake she might give it up by the way she acts.”
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
“That is what I thought,” Carl replied as the bell on the door rang.

Walking to the counter Melinda questioned, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Pointing to the end of the counter Carl instructed, “If you come around behind the counter I’ll show you something I found on the tape. I transferred it to a digital file on my computer.”

Standing next to Carl, with Benny looking over her shoulder, Carl played the file. It was the normal view. Pointing to the corner of the screen he advised, “Watch the mirror on the video.”

Carl played the video clip and Melinda commented, “What was that?”

Carl revealed, “I enlarged that corner of the picture, and this is what I got.”

Watching the video, Melinda stepped back almost knocking Benny down as she screamed, “Oh my god, oh my god! What the hell is that?”

Benny looked at Carl because neither one of them knew what to do. Melinda was hysterical and screaming, “What is it? What is that?”

Carl guided her into his computer chair as he advised, “Deep breaths, take deep breaths.”

Melinda closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Benny kneeled on one side of her and Carl kneeled on the other. Putting his hand on hers, Carl whispered, “It’s OK, it might not be what it looks like. It’s a reflection in a mirror through a window in the dark. We would have to have a much better picture than this to tell what it really is.”

Then Benny added, “The picture has been enlarged, and there might be some distortion. We can’t be sure that it’s anything other than a reflection.”

With a shaky voice Melinda quivered, “That’s not normal. I don’t care what you say about distortion or reflection. I know what I saw, and I have to tell my dad.”

Carl flopped back on his butt and leaned against the counter. He looked at Melinda trying to think, I never should have shown it to her, now we’ll probably never find out what it is. Darn, I never thought she would react this way. I should have just put the stuff in, and let her know when we knew for sure.

Melinda looked at Carl staring at her and insisted, “I have to tell my dad. My mom thinks he’s crazy, and she needs to know the truth.”

Carl mumbled, “If you do that, we’ll probably never know what it is for sure.”

Melinda looked at Carl saying nothing as Benny thought, I can’t believe our skepticism wrecked the chance of a life time. We could have broken this thing wide open, and changed things forever.

Carl finely whispered, “We need more proof. No one will ever believe this little distorted clip. They will claim it’s a fake. In fact, your dad might think we’re trying to scam you or something. The last thing I need is for people to think I’m trying to swindle someone.”

Melinda gulped, “I don’t know what to do. If this is happening to my dad, then I need to stop it. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t. I don’t care if others know or I can prove it. It scares me to think this has been going on for years, and I have to stop whatever is happening. Who knows what their doing to him.”

That was the last that Carl ever seen of Melinda, and that Saturday will be stuck in his mind forever. He saved the tape and the digital file, and sometimes he plays them wondering what she did. Did she stop it, or is she now a victim of her own deduction and defiance. He will most likely never know, but he does record himself when he sleeps now.

As for Benny, he anonymously released the video file on the web. It turned into a joke and was called a fake and a hoax, it seamed as if it was debunked at every corner of the net. About a week after Benny released the video file. Some men in black suits paid him a visit, and now he denies the video ever existed. He even tells Carl he doesn’t know what he’s talking about when asked.
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
The Country Boy​

A country boy goes to visit his cousin in the Suburbs. Upon arriving he notices that they all have very little land, and all grow the same crop.

Standing in the driveway, he asks his cousin about the lawn. “I see everyone grows the same crop in front of their house.”

“Oh, the lawn,” he replies. “Yeah, pretty much. They make me take care of it.”

The country boy continued, “Looks like you are doing a great job. I don’t even see one weed out there.”

The city boy chuckled, “If my dad sees one weed he goes and gets fertilizer and weed killer. Then I have to spray the weeds, and fertilize the grass.

The country boy smiles, “Bet that makes the grass grow good.”

The city boy shakes his head, “You bet it makes it grow and it’s a pane too. I have to cut it twice as much after that.”

The country boy looks puzzled, “After you cut it do you bail it like hay?”

The city boy starts laughing, “Heck no. I put it in a can, and my dad pays to have it hulled off.”

The country boy scratches his head, “You fertilize the grass so it will
grow, and, when it does grow. You cut it off and pay to throw it away? You must be relieved in the summer when there’s not much rain and it gets hot. That surely slows the growth and saves you a lot of work.”

The city boy complained, “No, then he makes me drag out hoses and water it.”

In disbelief the country boy questioned, “You mean to tell me you drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so you can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it?”

“Yep,” the city boy replies. “Sounds kind of stupid don’t it.”

“Sure dose,” the country boy agreed. “If it were me, I’d plant dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff like that. It would be the perfect no-maintenance garden. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abundance. The nectar from them is long-lasting and the blossoms attract butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds.”

The city Boy advised, “If we did that the neighbors would think we were crazy, and they would want us to kill it all.”

The country boy insisted, “Sounds like all your neighbors are crazy.”

The city boy asks, “You want to watch that movie now?”

“Sure, why not,” The country boy acknowledged. “What’s the name of it?”

The city boy announced, "Dumb and Dumber."

“Let me guess,” The country boy snickered, “It’s about Suburbanites.”
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
Which Road​

Taking the wrong road? We all ask this question of ourselves, am I taking the right road. For me the right road would be the rough one filled with potholes, and going up hill. It is hard to climb and there are many dangers along the way. Sometimes I look down the hill at the paved road; it looks so nice, smooth, and easy to walk. No fights, no struggles there, but it’s a deception. Your heart grows cold there, and you lose site of where you are going. This easy road teaches you nothing, and leads you right back to the rough road. The easy road doses not help you learn how to walk the rough road, and now you are at the roughest part of the back road. You have not the knowledge or wisdom to walk this road, and find yourself-fighting to survive.

I’ve spend my life walking around potholes, stepping over fallen limbs, and climbing over large boulders on this road. Just the other day I fell off a large bolder and got dirt in my eyes. This clouded my vision, and I did not see the way around the bolder. Now I see there might be a path around the bolder, and I’m going to take it. I just have to remember that not all paths lead back to the road, so I have to be careful not to get lost. It has happened to me before, and I had to find my way back to the road. Sometimes I get lost on these side ventures, but a good friend will show up at just the right time and show me the way back. Yes, on the back road, you make friends that last a lifetime, but on the paved road, you won’t find true friends. You might think they are your friend, but this is only as long as you are helping them. When they find that you are taking the back road, they will run the other way.

You see, every pothole I walk through or around teaches me something. It is the same with the limbs and boulders. On the paved road you are going to fast to see what you are passing, and miss many things. On the back road, there is time to learn what is around you, and if you stop, no one is pushing you to keep going, or get out of the way. Instead, they will walk with you and share their knowledge with you.

I would say take your time, check each road, and find where you are going. Just remember you have to live with the road you take, not the others you meet on the way.
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
It was a late august day, and the time for the garden to give up its bounty. Ellen was thankful, and gave thanks for the sliced tomatoes. It wasn’t much for a meal, but it met her needs.

Next door little seven year old Tommy watched from his window. From there he could see Ellen’s garden, and he knew a secret. The crazy old lady next door talked to herself in her garden. The back door swung open and he knew it was time. Down the stairs, and out the front door he went. Quietly he slipped down the side of the house to the backyard. Then he went along the old fence to the worn spot in the grass.

Ellen stood at the edge of her garden as she gave praise, “Thank you, looks like you have blessed me again.”

She kneeled next to the carrots, and slipped one from the soft soil. “Not as big as I hoped, but you know best. I think a few of these will make a nice soup for dinner.”

Leaning against the fence Tommy listened to the crazy old lady talking to herself. Then came the shocker, “Oh Lord, to bad you didn’t make eggs grow from the earth, and a little milk would have been nice. I know everything has its place, but it would have made things easier.”

Tommy’s mind raced as he held back a chuckle. Thinking to himself, she must be crazy to want eggs to grow in the garden.

That night at dinner Tommy told his story of the crazy lady next door. He told how she wanted God to grow eggs in her garden. It got quiet as his farther looked at his mother. Then his father replied, “I’ll do something tomorrow after work.”

The next day Tommy’s father came home from work and yelled for Tommy. He instructed Tommy to get the bag from the back of the car, put it on the neighbor’s porch, knock on the door, and run home. He insisted, “Don’t let her see you.

Like most boys Tommy’s age. He didn’t do it quit as he was told. He put the bag of groceries on the porch, and knocked on the door. Then he hid in the bushes to watch. Out came the old lady. Seeing the bag she praised God crying out, “Thank you Lord, Oh thank you Lord. You are great.”

Just then Tommy jumped from the bushes and yelled, “That didn’t come from God. I put it there.”

Ellen looked at little Tommy and exclaimed, “Oh no Tommy, it came from God! He just used you to deliver it!”

A seed was planted that day, but it would be ten more years before it sprouted. Long after Ellen went to be with her Lord. As for Tom, he talks to God in his garden, because you never know who might be listening. It might not be just God that hears you.


I heard this when I was a little Boy, but repeated it many times around the fire. I don't know where it came from.
 
gonewacky

gonewacky

Veteran Member
I’m also the Author of the, “The Truck the Witch and the Blacksmith.” It has Adventure, Romance, Suspense, Witches, Demons, Evil, Time Travel, and People with Super Powers.

At times it will stretch your imagination, and might even tie it in a knot.

Joe
 
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