look2sky

This hub will be set aside for short stories. This first story is one that is entered into a Writers Digest contest and the entry due date is March 31. It is entered into the Ghost/Horror story category. I don't think it is actually what they had in mind but here goes. As soon as the results are in I'll post them. Wish me luck, or better yet pray for the good people that are living without Jesus, and that they would take the time to find out who He really is. Enjoy the story. May the God of peace be with you.

                              Sincerely,

                                         W.

                                                 Mr. M's Final Days

       It was a Friday night. The lights in the home were darkened. The only things that were illuminating the six anxious face’s surrounding the table were the candles. There were fifteen candles organized into the number 70 upon the cake. The light from the flames pushed the darkness around and created dancing shadows upon the walls, the ceiling and the faces of the expectant family members. “C’mon Grandpa! Make a wish!” exclaimed Sally as she knelt on the chair with the rest of her body squirming towards the cake. “Go ahead Paw-Paw. Blow’em out!” Joey added. And so it was, Harry Merkowski; “Mr. M.”, had turned seventy.

       Harry Merkowski had retired after turning over his successful printing shop to his only son. His wife had been killed in an automobile accident before Harry retired and, after burying his wife, Harry seemed to have lost interest in the business. Harry had a genuine love for people. With his wide smile and sparkling blue eyes, Harry had a kind word for everyone. He and his family had attended the same church for thirty years and since Harry’s wife died, he had gotten involved with plenty of the good works that the church did. These things made Harry feel good.

      The early morning light peered through the curtains in Harry’s bedroom as the birds began to greet the day. Harry stretched his arms toward the headboard and his toes pushed past the edge of the bed and pointed down the upstairs hallway. “Arrrr-Ahhh!!” he sounded as Harry opened his sleepy blue eyes. He stared at the ceiling and contemplated the coming day. The charity car wash was to begin at 10:00 a.m. and the girls’ softball game was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. “I hope the game finishes in time for me to make it to the scout awards.” he whispered while walking to the bathroom.

      Harry walked out to the driveway to retrieve the morning newspaper. With a short sleeved, light blue shirt with a collar, and his Hush-Puppies, white socks and khaki shorts on, Harry appeared to be stylish and comfortable.

      “Good morning, Mr. M.”, nine year old Jerry greeted Harry. Jerry had his tackle box in one hand and his fishing rod in the other. “Good morning to you, Jerry. The lake’s that way.” Harry replied. “My line is all knotted up. Think you could help me Mr. M.?” “Well let’s see. It looks like we’ll have to cut it.

      “Shucks Mr. M. Now I can’t go.” Jerry said. “I don’t have any more line.” Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out five dollars. “Here. Go get yourself some line.” “Oh! Cool, Mr. M.! You’re the best!” Jerry exclaimed.

      “Kids.” Harry said to himself. He found Jerry’s filet knife and began to remove the line. Just then the phone rang. As Mr. M. began to retrieve the phone, a car pulled up and stopped. Joey, quickly opened the mailbox, placed in an envelope and hollered, “Thanks a bunch, Mr. M.!!” Harry scurried into the house and answered the phone. “Hello?” “Hi! Harry? It’s Johnny . Your help with the baseball team was awesome. We just love the new uniforms. I wanted to say thank you, from all of us.” “Well, you’re welcome Johnny. I love baseball and the kids. We’ll win like we did last year!” “Oh, I hope so Mr. M. Thanks again.” “Okay, Johnny. You’re welcome. Bye.”

      Harry continued to remove the old fishing line from Jerry’s reel. He heard Jerry. “I’ve got it! I’ve got it Mr. M.!” Jerry proclaimed. “It’s supposed to be the best! Thank you Mr. M. I know those fish are bitin’.” “Well, Jerry. What good timing. I just finished getting the line off your reel. Would you go out to my mailbox, and get my mail please?” Harry said. “Sure thing Mr. M.”

      As Harry watched Jerry walked towards the lake. He picked up the envelope that Joey had dropped off in the mailbox. Upon opening it, Harry found $370 dollars and a note that read, “Mr. M. Thank you for your help. I just couldn’t have made it without you. You’re the greatest!! Thanks, Joey.” “Oh, Joey. Gosh, you didn’t have to pay me back so soon…. Turkey!” Harry mumbled.

      Oh crap! It’s 9:30! I’d better get moving.” Harry continued to talk with himself. After collecting his things, out the door he went and after the garage door had swung open he, opened the car door and slid into the seat and behind the wheel of his one year old Cadillac. “Mmmm, I love this car.” he said as he turned the key.

      While pulling his car into the parking lot, Harry saw Donna Winters, a younger gal that Harry had known for years. “Hello Donna, how can I help?” “Well, hello Mr. M.  It’s sure nice to see you. How are you, sir?” “I’m just fine, Donna, where can I be of service?” “How about helping those youngsters over there get their signs put together.”

      Harry paid the cashier for his lunch and then got behind the wheel of his nice, recently washed car and checked his watch. It was 1:48 and Harry had just enough time to get to the baseball field.

      Mr. M!  Good to see you sir. My, that Cadillac is certainly looking good.” “Thanks, it’s good to see you, how’ve you been?” "Well, it’s been kind of a rough road for Barbara and I.” “Hey, how are things going down at the car lot?” Harry asked. “Well, it’s kind of slow.” “How bad is it Donny?” Harry asked. “Aaaagh, it’s pretty bad. The bank’s about to throw me out. If people in this town were working, maybe things would be a bit better.” Donny answered. “Let’s get together, I think that I may be able to help. Maybe we can talk over lunch at Charlie’s Diner? What do ya think?” Harry offered. “Gosh Harry, that would be great. Maybe on Tuesday, okay?” “Just fine.” Harry confirmed.

      After the game, Harry drove down the street saying, “I sure do love this car.” Harry went home and got into his scout uniform. He looked at himself in the mirror and said, “Harry, you get better looking each day.”

      Harry was responsible for the activities at the award dinner. He directed and helped pull it off without a hitch. While there, he ran into Jim who had been out of work for some time. His wife had passed away about the same time as Harry’s wife did and the two of them hadn’t really had the chance to talk since.

      Jim, how are you?” Jim explained how his situation was, him being out of work and all. Harry felt he should help in some way. Jim’s rent was past due along with the car note. “Jim. I’ve got some work to do around the house. Can you come by Monday in the morning and I’ll show you what I mean.” “Sure, Mr. M.!! I’d be glad to help you out. I really hope the job situation in this town picks up.”

      Harry was feeling pretty good about everything. He had a chance to help out several people today. Harry drifted off to sleep contented.

      The early morning sun and the sounds of Mother Nature woke Harry from a sound sleep. He stretched and pointed his toes toward the hallway once again. “Oh yes. What a beautiful day, and what a great day it will be.” Harry vocalized. As he put together and ate his breakfast, he couldn’t help but think of the folks that he had helped out the day before. Harry whistled a hymn that he knew he would be hearing at church that morning while he prepared his breakfast.

      After breakfast, Harry strolled to the curb to retrieve his newspaper. He glanced at the headlines and then pealed back the pages to the “around the town” section. There it was… his picture, along with a short article about how Harry had donated money to the local mission. Harry was ecstatic as he read the accolades and looked at his picture.

      When Harry got to church, he sat down in the second row pew after being welcomed by most of the town and congratulated on the fine work he had done for the mission. The pastor began his sermon and the whole thing was about, “laying up treasures in Heaven, not on Earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.” Harry loved this message because he knew that from all of his good works that he was putting up a stockpile in Heaven. It was then time for the alter call where folks have the opportunity to give their lives to Christ. Harry had never really done this. “As long as I do good,” Harry thought, “I’ll make it to Heaven.” This Sunday felt different though. The pastor said, “I stand at the door and knock.” Harry’s heart was about to pound out of his chest. “Let anyone who hears Me,” sweat began to form on Harry’s brow and upper lip. “Open the door and I will come in and eat with him.” His heart was still pounding as a couple of people made their way to the front. A few moments later the pastor said, “Is there anyone else? Anyone? I feel that there is one more person out there with whom the Lord is speaking. Please come now.” Harry thought, “I can’t go up there, oh God.” as his heart continued to pound in his chest.

      Harry and Joey were to meet at Charlie’s Diner for lunch. Harry started the engine of his Caddy. Charlie’s was just on the other side of SR50, the highway that connected the town with the rest of the world. Harry fussed with the radio and then glanced up to cross the road. ‘All clear.” he thought. Harry again looked up from the radio as he crossed the highway, just in time to see the huge bumper of the concrete truck that was moving at 60 miles an hour. Harry shouted, “Oh GOD!” as what seemed to be in slow motion, the bumper of the truck, which was just about eye level with Harry, came crashing through the drivers’ side window of Harry’s car. Harry watched as the glass began to break and the massive piece of steel move closer and closer to his head. As the noise of the metal bending and twisting, along with the breaking of the windshield and the sound of the cement trucks horn pierced Harry’s ears, he distinctly heard a voice say, “I knocked, Harry. I knocked.”

      Suddenly, all was black.

      After he regained consciousness, Harry found himself screaming in pain. His whole body felt like it was on fire. Every nerve ending that Harry had seemed as though it was being fried on the stove. Harry screamed louder and felt his lungs fill with the heat of a blow torch as he prepared to scream again. He could hear other anguished cries of pain. People were groaning and wailing all around him as he tried to make sense of it all. Harry tried to open his eyes to see as he cried out, “Oh God, oh God!”, but the searing heat was more than he could stand. From the soles of his feet all the way to the top of his head and everywhere in between, was on fire. Harry wished he were dead as he noticed that his body was not being consumed by the fire. “Oh God! Just kill me! Just KILL ME!! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Oh God! Please forgive me. Just let me die! AAAAHHHH!! Just let me die.” Harry hollered out and continued to scream, sucking in the scorching heat with each breath.

      Harry had only been burning for about a minute. Every second seemed like hours… The minute seemed like an eternity and Harry then realized… eternity was going to be a long… long… time… as he continued to scream for God.