Purgatory's Letter

By LD Killjoy

The story begins in rural America with a few nice teenagers just out to have fun. The new kids in town Kevin and Beth are leading everyone down a path that will ultimately lead them crossing paths with the supernatural and making believers out of everyone. The town soon comes to realize that not only is there a heaven and hell but also a limbo called purgatory that souls are trapped in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483504506

Book preview

Purgatory’s Letter

LD Killjoy

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 1

Tall, muscular, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, Kevin Videl was a head turner and a charmer. Most of the teachers at Amberwood High School, as well as most of the student body, nodded in agreement the night Kevin was crowned Amberwood’s King of Christmas at Amberwood High’s annual Christmas Jubilee...

That night on the stage, which was decorated with hundreds of red poinsettias and thousands of twinkling white lights, he and his Queen of Christmas, Sarah Reed, made quite the beautiful couple.

Sarah, petite, dark hair, and green eyes, had a dark complexion that was near flawless, saving one tiny scar, a small nicked place near her right eyebrow she had—the result of roller blading at a break-neck speed during her freshman year in high school. Sarah had, for the past two years, been dating, Brian Green, who was now a freshman at North State University, where he was making a name for himself in student government, having recently been elected to the student Senate as freshman representative, and, as the treasurer of his fraternity’s pledge class.

Most folks in Amberwood predicted that Brian was on his way to a bright future.

He was a hometown darling, as was Sarah, and when the two attended church services together, as they frequently did at Amberwood Congregational Church, many eyes of the older lady parishioners misted over at the sight of such young beauty.

They were both descended from founding families of Amberwood... Brian’s grandfather established the local bank in the early part of the 20th Century... Amberwood Merchant and Trust Co., and his father, who was well into his forties when Brian was born, still carried on the proud tradition of the family..

Brian’s dear mother, Mary Elizabeth, died shortly after Brian was born... and, in this respect he and Sarah shared another commonality...

Sarah’s own mother, Laura, had lost her husband, her beloved Edward, in a fatal car crash on the turnpike, as he was coming home from a regional meeting of certified public accountants in the capital city... Sarah had been just four years old and Laura Reed had, kneeling at the altar of Amberwood Congregational Church, to devote the remainder of her life to her daughter... She worked hard in her job as an elementary guidance counselor at Amberwood Elementary, held an office in the local chapter of the DAR, and she was always taking up tickets at the admission gate for each home football and basketball game at which her daughter cheered on the Amberwood Raiders Cheering team.

As handsome as everyone agreed Kevin Videl was, and there was no doubt about that, the jury as to his character was out.... He worked part-time doing hand work for Norman Thelspot, a local nursery owner, and helped Norm tidy up some at a run down farm he owned near Amberwood... Norm complained that, at times, Kevin did not show up for work and sometimes did not call and let him know he wasn’t going to be at work.

Most of Amberwood paid Norm little mind about his loud complaints which could be hear each afternoon after five at Walker’s Bar and Pub, a local watering hole where Norm held court amid a cloud of cigarette smoke with other loud talkers each afternoon.

There’s somethin that’s not quite right about that boy, Kevin, shouted Norm to the other three or four regulars who sat with him each afternoon.

What ya mean, not right, responded Sally Withers, the longtime bar maid at Walker’s...

From what I see, everything’s right about that boy.... I am old, but I ain’t blind... That is one good lookin young man. If I was just thirty years younger....

Try forty-five years younger, quipped Norm..’ You know where you can go, old Sport..., yelled Sally..

I’ll tell you. I was down at Miss Sissy’s Beauty Box a couple of weeks ago, right before the Christmas Jubilee out at the High School, and you shoulda heard all them young girls talking about Kevin Videl. I had to blush."

Norm took a deep drag off his cigarette and shouted.....

Well, I ain’t commentin on a man’s looks, but I can tell ya... He and that Mama of his and that little cousin, of his Beth Conner.. They are some strange folks.. Some nights when the moon is high, neighbors tell me they hear screamin from near the old Anderson place that I own.. The one with that old red barn, and that they hear somethin sounds like goats a bleatin... I ain’t never had a goat at that place. Used to have a few old milk cows, but that’s been a few years ago, and, they tell me that sometimes out at ole Man William Wiggs’ pasture off Wiggs Road, you can, on certain nights, hear some goings on that sounds like chantin.....

Sally wiped off the end of the bar, and, as she wiped, she said,

Well I think some people been drinkin or takin too damned many pills or somethin, because they ain’t been nothing out at the old Wiggs pasture since the late 60’s when ole man Wiggs died. Such a pretty place he had—all that pretty pasture and them beautiful black angus cattle, but, when he lost his boy, Andy, over in Vietnam, that was the end of the poor ole fella. He just gave up the will to live.... Now, a niece that lives up at the capital owns all that property. Some say she’s planning on sellin it to that developer Malcolm Sears, I don’t know.... I just know unless it’s crickets and frogs. I don’t think folks is hearin a thing... They just want to give folks the spooks like that old gypsy looking woman, Madame Flore, who has that litle house on the edge of town.

Norm signaled to Sally to bring him another drink, and she poured the glass nearly full of bourbon and put just a drop of water in it....

Nice and strong... just the way you used to be Norm, giggled Sally....

Used to be..... Look at that arm, shouted Norm, as he drew his arm up into a muscle....

Yeah, yeah..... honey... most people dream at night, but you dream on...., laughed Sally..... The only thing strong about you is your breath.... it sure ain’t your mind.. Goats a bleatin, screams. You been watchin the Wizard of Oz too much, Norm... Maybe the flying monkeys is after you.

I don’t care what you, say, Sal... There’s somethin strange about that Kevin Videl and his little cousin, and, it ain’t none of my business, but I sure hope Sarah Reed don’t get mixed up with them... She’s a sweet little gal, and her Mama’s worked hard to raise her right, but I saw her ridin with that Beth Conner, Kevin’s cousin, a couple of days ago, and it kinda concerned me.

Well, said Sal Kids are gonna be kids.. You never know... Prolly just havin a good time. I know if I looked like Sarah Reed, and my boyfriend was up there at the college—I’d be galavanting some too, and I might be even slip around some, no, I would slip around some with that good looking Kevin Videl, and with that she laughed out loud..... Ah, to be young again, she shouted. Be Young, Be Foolish, but be Happy—the lyrics to an old R and B tune belted out of the CD player as Kevin Videl clipped the last of the dead foliage from the plants that would soon be on sale at Thelspot’s Nursery.

He was intent on what he was doing and concentrating and did not see when his cousin, Beth Conner, and her brand new best friend, Sarah Reed, walked up the path that led to the back of the nursery.

Dressed in tight fitting faded blue jeans and a blue chambray shirt, Kevin had his sleeves rolled up, and the pearl buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned down to his waist revealing a well toned chest and six pack abs...

Hello handsome, shouted his cousin, Beth.

Well Hello, Kitten, responded Kevin

Kitten?, asked Sarah, with a puzzled look on her face..

Yes, in the family, we’ve always called Beth, Kitten, because she always drew kittens, wanted kittens in pictures in her room..... and, even now, look at her t-shirt.

Sarah laughed as she noted that Beth had on a black t-shirt emblazoned with pink rhinestones with Hello Kitty on it.....

Ah I see, said Sarah....

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.... she called.....

You two are not right., laughed Beth....

It’s good to see my Miss Merry Christmas, again, said Kevin...

I haven’t seen you since the dance, and I only got to dance with you that one time, as your boyfriend, I guess he is your boyfriend, Brian Green, was practically watching our every move.

Yes, responded, Sarah, as she took in—the young man before her....

My word, she thought....Pastor Hallman says if we sin in word, thought or deed.. I sure am glad Kevin can’t see my thoughts.

Beth intently watched Sarah...

They may call me Kitten, but you, you old ho.... look like the cat who ate the canary...... you want to buy one of these shrubs for your Mama’s yard or do you see something else you like?

Why, Beth.... whatevuh do you mean dahhlin?, quipped Sarah, affecting a Southern accent....

Oh, don’t give Miss Merry Christmas a hard time, said Kevin, as he took a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped off his forehead and chest to deliberately give Sarah a better look at him...

Sarah, why don’t you come out to Wiggs Pasture tomorrow night with Beth. We are having a party, and I think you would like it. It is a full moon, and we will all have a good time.

Well, ummmmmm, I will try, said Sarah....What time will you all get started?

Probably around nine, responded Kevin....

Beth will pick you up.....Dress comfortably and in something warm..... We will have a bonfire, and if you want it.... a drink we call Devil’s Passion, because you will feel like the Devil if you drink too much of it.

Oh, alright, said Sarah.. And even as she said the words, she could not believe, she was saying them, but she could not get over how handsome Kevin Videl was either..... Oh, how she wanted him... She knew she shouldn’t have such thoughts..... In the old days of her childhood, the lady who kept her Miss Landingham would have said....If you don’t straighten up, the devil is going to get you.

Looking into Kevin Videl’s sparking blue eyes with long thick dark blonde lashes-lashes wasted on a boy— and watching him smile with those pearl white teeth... Perfectly formed lips.... She knew she didn’t care if the devil did get her. In fact, she hoped he would.

See ya tomorrow night then, said Kevin...

You bet, answered Sarah....A queen must have her king...

Chapter 2

Zita Adonay, known locally to citizens in and around Amberwood as Madame Flore parked her old silver gray van in front of the Brentwood Card and Stationery Store. She did not often make a trip downtown, but, in Brentwood, this was the only place that sold incense, and she needed a new supply for her business, Madame Flore’s Psychic Readings, which was located in her small green vine covered cottage just off Maple Street near the outskirts of town....

Madame Flore adjusted her long purple batik shirt and checked her image in the mirror of her compact before getting out of her vehicle... Her purple, red, and amber colored silver earrings sparkled in the sunlight, and her lipstick and eye shadow and eyeliner looked mysteriously exotic... The black turban covering her head was centered with a garnet brooch in the shape of a huge sunburst and completed her