Monday, April 21, 2014

Secrets of the Cemetery, part II A short story

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Christopher at a young age sleeping on Captain Imperfecto 

To catch up first read Secrets of the Cemetery, part I here

April 21, 2014

“Every plot you see within these eight foot white walls of the burial grounds has someone buried with a story that lies beneath it. There is something about this soil that allows the dead who have stayed behind to continue to live a life from their soul. I haven’t figured it out yet. That is why I didn’t go over to the other side when my chance came at my death. I had to know why.”


“So there is an other side,” Tom asked.

“Yes. It truly is a paradise, well when I viewed it from afar. The serendipity entices all who die to enter.

“Everyone?” Tom said with a little sarcasm in his voice, “Even if you are bread with evil your entire life. What ever happened to hell? You know for those who have sinned here on earth.”

“I’ve heard from the souls that have been around this cemetery, the longest, that God’s paradise tries to lure the evil ones in. He uses the seven deadly sins. Once the mortal sinners have entered they can’t get out. And that is when their judgment is presented. And purification can commence.”

“You’re talking purgatory.”

“Yes. But most people have repented their sins and they don’t seem to be judged. Or their sins are not worthy of enough to cast them to hell. God knows of the greedy sinners, the mortal sinners. He is well aware they will want to keep what they have here on earth.”

“So he prays on their vices,” Tom said with understanding. “What made them weak as human beings and exploits it to get them in?”

“Yes God allows all those he has created free will. Even after death. You can choose to live in his kingdom or stay behind and allow your soul to rot.”

“Which is ridiculous,” Tom said, “because where is the accountability for a lifetime of hate and greed?”

“Those seven deadly sins aren’t made for man today,” Elmer said, “They are made for when the truly evil die. They don’t go over into paradise. They choose to stay and continue their evil ways.”

“Then who is here on this cemetery? Are they all sinners? What’s their story?”

“Sinners?” Elmer laughs, “Son, we’re all sinners. It all depends on how deep your sins go. Look, I haven’t figured everything out in the years I have been here. Mostly the souls here were good people. Some are young and didn’t want to leave their children behind. Others, loved life too much to let go. I’ve talked to some souls and they didn’t want the world to go on without them. A lot of the souls are quite. They choose to stay to themselves and will commit to very little interaction with the human world.”

“How do I know who is who in the labyrinth of dead and living?”

“You’ll know. You’ll see. Some of these souls are obvious and some of them not so obvious. They never leave these sacred grounds. Unless...” (He pauses)

“Unless what, Elmer?”

Elmer glances at his watch then looks directly into Tom’s eyes.

“Do not allow them to enter your home. That house is your sanctuary. Just like you shouldn’t enter their crypt or the ground.”

“How the hell would I enter the ground?”

“Not in body, stupid! These lost souls can perform telekinesis from the outside. They can control your mind and take you into their world. They can reach into your house mentally. But there isn’t enough power they can summon to control a live, human beings soul. But once you invite them into your world you will give up a part of your soul. That alone allows them to control you and the inside of your world. And trust me. They can make whatever they want happen.”

“How have you seen this? I’m the first person you’ve spoken to, yes?”

“I’ve seen it happen from the loved ones who come to grieve for their dead. And stop with all the damn questions!” Elmer yelled. He is beginning to get irate. “All I’m saying is. Keep your life separated from these souls who are still living in a damn fantasy, of a non-life.”

An alarm wails and Tom wakes up suddenly. He looks around his room. The place is still half packed. Boxes are half opened. Clothes are laid on top of the dresser.

“What a freakin dream man,” Tom says.

Today is his first day on the job as director. There is a lot to do in the funeral home. New clients. Old messes to clean up. A disgruntled staff. The whole situation is frustrating because Tom knows that his house will stay in the messy states it’s in for some time to come. And that busy schedule at work will make him lazy by the time he gets home.

“How was the commute,” Bob laughs.

Bob has worked with the funeral home for two years. He mainly goes to pick up the bodies of the deceased. Once he picks up the dead he’ll drive them back here to prepare the body for the funeral.

“Oh, I get it. Because I can walk to work,” Tom deadpan said. “Well, I was caught in a nasty traffic jam. A funeral procession. If it weren’t for that I would have been here on time.”

Haha- Bob laughs. And his laugh is so annoying. The shrieking sound makes everyone uncomfortable.

“We’re going to get along just fine, Tommy”

“It’s umm To…”

“Okay I gotta go Tommy, the dead don’t like to wait,” he says laughing and walking away.

Tom squints his eyes. The laugh is painful to his ears. Especially at eight in the morning.

“Good morning, Tim,” Beth his new secretary said.

“It’s Tom, Beth. And I hear you’re really organized.”

“That I am Tim. You have a busy day look at your calendar on your desk. It will contain all the scheduled times of funerals. Body preps, meetings, etc.”

“Thanks, and I’d appreciate it if you call me, Tom”

“Sure thing (pause) Tom,” she looks at him while she stated his name. She turns and slams the door behind her. Causing a picture to fall off the wall, closest to his new desk.

Tom walks over to the area of the floor where the picture is resting face done. He bends down and pick-it up.

“Top funeral home five years, 1995-2000,” he reads out loud.

He lightly brushed the dust off the plaque. A picture is mounted in the Plexiglas frame around above the green marble written etching. He looks over the picture and only recognizes Beth in the picture of workers. He places the picture on the wall and gazes out his window.

Just beyond the nicely manicure window hedges and over the first six rows of headstones he sees an attractive woman sitting a top one of the granite stones. She must have felt his gaze because she looked up at him and smiled.

“Come see me,” he hears in his head.

Tom is shaken up. He doesn’t know what to make of what he just heard. He just shockingly looks out the window.

Was Elmer real- he thought?

I like Elmer- the voice said.

“You’re talking to me aren’t you,” he said.

Yes. Come see me- the attractive woman said. Infiltrating Toms mind with her telekinesis.  

“Holy shit. This is real,” Tom said.



To read Secrets of the Cemetery, part III, click here. 


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