Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens. Oh, My! Book III

By Stephen Lay

Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens, Oh My! Book III; continues with a third installment of nine easy read, character driven stories. In this volume, the writer introduces Bo Pinet. A ghost hunter with a very special friend. His character will return with new adventures in future Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens. Oh, My! books. The author has kept the Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens. Oh, My! tradition of writing stories from around the world, throughout the universe and a few places of his own special making.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen Lay
• Release date: Sep 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9780986219559

Book preview

Strangers, Neighbors

And Aliens,

Oh, My!

Book III

A collection of Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Short Stories

By

Stephen A. Lay

Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens, Oh, My. Book III ™

Stephen Anthony Lay

2014 Theonoread

Lay Entertainment LLC

2014 Lay Trust

First Edition

ISBN 978-0-9862195-5-9

All Rights Reserved Under International and Pam American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens. Oh, My! - Is a registered trademark

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens, Oh, My!, series should be considered fictional and any resemblance to individuals living or deceased is purely accidental.

Strangers, Neighbors and Aliens, Oh My! Book III; continues with a third installment of easy read, character driven stories. In this volume, the writer introduces Bo Pinet. A ghost hunter with a very special friend. His character will return with new adventures in future SNA books.

Acknowledgements

Writing in itself can be very difficult. Writing a story that entertains the reader can be even more challenging. If it were not for the support of my wife, my daughter Keri, my son Justin and my good friend Willy, the stories within this book would not be possible. Thank you everyone.

- Stories -

Biscuits and Gravy and the Orb

Food could lead to the heart of your soul.

Pretty Boys

Looks can be dangerous

Ghost Hunter

Asking for help from the spirit kind, could lead to a death sentence

White Candle

Come to the light

The Seed

Intelligence may derive from a garden

Hard Port

Lucid dreams may not be so lucid

Public Announcement

Danger, do not touch

The Gavel

Judgement from another world

Mr. Sing

Making friends can cause friction

- Biscuits and Gravy, and the Orb -

My day started craving a simple pleasure of biscuits and gravy, but I would be denied my desires because a main ingredient had disappeared. Little did I know, this lack of this ingredient would be the beginning of a day that would change my life forever. The ingredient, milk. I found myself pushing aside eggs, containers of leftovers and bags of salad in search of a recently procured half gallon. Bewildered as to where it could have gone, since I had just made its purchase the day before, I closed the refrigerator and began a search of my kitchen thinking I may have put it elsewhere. I had misplaced such things before. Cupboards and cabinets were opened and closed without any evidence that the half gallon had ever existed. I finally rummaged through the trashcan and found the paper bag I had used to carry the milk home from the store with the receipt inside, enforcing the fact, I wasn’t imagining things. I had indeed actually purchased the milk. Suddenly I had a frightful thought and began checking the security of my home. A careful and thorough inspection of every lock attached to doors and windows convinced me, that no one had broken into my home. The missing milk anomaly, unbeknownst to me, was the first of many oddities to come.

Resigning myself to the fact that I would need to replace the milk, I returned to my bedroom to get dressed. The moment I opened the door, I jumped back and yelped. Already lying across my bed was a light yellow summer dress and a pair of sandals. The windows and doors I already knew were locked, so my next search consisted of any area deemed to be a hiding spot for an intruder which wasn’t many in my small two bedroom house. Everything was where it should be and nothing, excepting the dress and sandals, were out of place. I took this as an omen. I got dressed and headed down the road to Louise’s Market.

My neighborhood was old, built in the 1920’s. To most outsiders it may appear blighted but upon a closer look, one would fail to see any garbage, overgrown lawns or broken down cars prop up on cinder blocks. It was just an old neighborhood and I, as with my neighbors, were happy to live here. It wasn’t without its problems but the problems that did exist, were more inline connected to family issues and not truly a neighborhood problem.

Walking along the sidewalk, I became aware of an unsettling feeling as I was about to encounter my second anomaly. It was late morning Saturday, in the low eighties and the humidity was comfortable. Folks in Louisiana were used to weather such as todays and even still, my neighbors could usually be seen perched on their front porch, fanning themselves, sipping cold drinks and eating breakfast or lunch. Today, every porch was empty. In fact, the whole street was devoid of any human activity. Not even a dog was barking. The only living creature that made its presence known, were the cicadas and they were singing loudly. It was just then I noticed I hadn’t seen a car drive by. Plenty of cars were parked along the street and in the driveways which, to me, suggested folks were home but they weren’t outside. I would soon learn just how wrong I was.

The store was an easy five minute walk from my house. ‘Louise’s Market,’ was a converted old gas station that no longer sold gas but the canopy above the pumps still remained. Louise and her late husband Petie had purchased the gas station when I was a little girl. Sadly, Petie passed away about twenty years ago and Louise has had to run the place on her own. She was a well-respected woman and protected by many.

As I rounded the last corner allowing a straight shot to the store, I was somewhat alarmed. Standing in a line on the edge of the road were my friends and neighbors and they all were facing the convenience store. My immediate thoughts were that something had happened at the store and people were told to stay back. I ran to the crowd and inquired if Louise was okay. Everyone I spoke to completely ignored me. Their expressions were blank. They appeared to be in a zombie like state.

Fear filled my soul. I broke through the line and trotted across the parking lot. I slowed when I saw four women working a bbq pit and a buffet line. They appeared normal and paid no attention to the line of people behind me. I was beginning to feel the joke-was-on-me but I wasn’t included in on the joke. I entered the store in hopes of gaining some answers and as I did, everyone in the store turned their attention toward me.

I saw Louise and she was just fine. She was at her usual spot sitting on a bar stood behind a large L shaped counter. Before I could get a word out, she spoke up.

There you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show. It’s almost time. She removed herself from the stool and leaned over the counter and peered down at my feet. I see you wore the clothes that were laid out for you.

A thick lump grew heavy in my throat as I was at lost for words. How did she know about the clothes. Returning to the stool, she pointed over to the coolers and said, Your milk is over there. When we’re done, you can take it home.

Part of me wanted to scream out, ‘what the hell is going on,’ but I was so stunned that I couldn’t move and I was having difficulty breathing. Louise seemed to understand what I was thinking and told to me ease up some or I would give myself a heart attack. I did ease up and noticed the customers in the store seemed to be acting normally. Not even a hint of being catatonic like those outside along the street.

Relax, Mae. I can see you’re all tense. No harm will come to you, honey. Louise gently smiled. Come on…, come around here and sit next to me. I have something I need to share with you.

I accepted Louise’s invitation but I did so with caution. There had always been two bar stools behind the counter. One was for Louise and the other was for Petie. Although Petie had been gone for many years, no one ever sat on his stool. To my surprise, she had me take her stool while she moved over to Petie’s.

Something magical is about to happen and from this day forward, I’d like you to be part of it. That’s if…, you accept your role.

It must have been the look on my face because after one glance at me, Louise felt she needed to add to her statement.

Let me get these customers out of here and we can talk. Louise was two years shy of ninety. Her bones were stiff and she more shuffled than walked and so she shuffled around the counter and went to the further most corner of the store."

Listen up everyone. I’m running a special today. Take whatever you have in your hands and accept it as my gift. I’m closing the store and needing to lock up. Louise, hands spread wide, guided the remaining customers to the front. Albert. She said, come get Miss Helen and make sure she gets a good place in line. Albert came running over and did as Miss Louise had asked. Bolting the door, Louise watched as the last of the customers joined the crowd. Mae, keep your eyes on these folks. Louise paused for a moment then looked over her shoulder at me. They’re about to change.

No sooner than Louise finished her sentence, the customers she had shoed out of her store went from normal to standing stiff and guided like the others. I see it every year and it never ceases to amaze me.

Louise, I broke in. What’s happening?

Louise let out a heavy sigh and leaned her shoulder against the door frame and peered out to the crowd. Every year on this date is the same. Nothing ever interferes with the event. No news team shows to record it, no protesters gather to deny it and the weather is always ideal. The only folks who know anything about it are the folks who live in our little town. Heck…, no strangers even drive through our town on this day. Louise admired the group forming a shield between the store and the road. There’s a good crowd out there. We’ll probably top three hundred. They stand there to protect the visitors from any outsiders. It’s a private ceremony meant to be experienced by a chosen few. She turned to address me. You know, you use to be one of them. Those that stand along the road.

A chill ran up my spine. I had no recollection of ever standing outside in a line completely unaware of my surroundings. I stood up to have a look through the front windows. The crowd was twice the size it had been when I arrived. I remembered thinking my entire neighborhood plus more must out there. The line was so thick, you couldn’t see past them to the road. Every one of them stood motionless and as soon as the last of the customers got into line, they too seemed to take on a catatonic state.

Over the years, I learned those in line have no idea what they’re doing. They come out from their homes, take off from work or rearrange their day to be here. The funny thing is, they’re never missed by their bosses, family or friends. They’re meant to be here. When the event is over, they all awake believing they had stood in line for the bbq.

Louise continued to speak in riddles and I still had no idea what she was referring to or why she wanted me to remain behind but my gut feeling was telling me I was about to learn of my fate soon.

Louise turned the open/close sign over to display, ‘Closed.’ As she shuffled back, she commented, I really don’t need to do that. Just a habit.

Maybe there something I should have asked but nothing was making any sense to me and I couldn’t come up with a suitable question so I felt it was best just to remain quiet.

Gingerly, Louise walked past me and as she did, she patted me on the knee. I know you’re hungry and I took the liberty to cook up something for you. Stepping into the back room, Louise returned with two plates. She handed one to me. On the plate, two fluffy biscuits covered with thick creamy sausage gravy, sprinkled with cracked black pepper. Oh, I forgot the salt. She disappeared to the back room speaking as she walked away. Louise looked the clock at the back of the store. Five minutes to one, She said. Soon they’ll all come. How they arrive, I never learned. No cars, no cabs, no motorhomes or buses are ever seen. People, they just walk through the line and take a spot in the parking lot, stand there and wait. How they know which area of the asphalt to stand on is beyond me, but somehow those folks know. They always know. And, each year, it’s always different folks. When it’s all said and done, they leave the same way they came and where they go, honey, I couldn’t tell you. Louise set the salt on the counter, closed her eyes, lightly shook her head and smiled.

Something wonderful is about to happen. You’ll see it this time.

I don’t understand. I finally spoke.

Do you believe in magic, my dear?

I shook my head indicating that I didn’t. To me, magic was a fairy tale, a myth, an over active imagination but I had to step back and when I thought about the milk and the clothes and the people. I was beginning to believe I had somehow missed a part of life.

Magic or miracles, they exist. It’s all around us. We never see it because we chose not to. When it happens, we’re made to believe it’s a natural thing. Louise paused to eat some of her meal. She chewed some, then continued. Twenty eight years ago, my husband passed away. It was a very difficult time for me. He was my everything. I came close to selling this store and if I couldn’t’ sell it, I was just going to close it down but a very strange thing happen that kept me going.

Miss Louise, not to be rude, I cut in, please tell me about these strange events. They’re frightening me.

In due time. She answered. Eat your biscuits before they get cold. It’ll be more than an hour before we can get to the buffet. Louise then quickly told me I had nothing to worry about then cut into a biscuit with her fork. I’m going to tell you a story and just like you, I had a difficult time understanding all that was swirling about me. She took another bite of her food and peered out over the counter. I could only assume she had drifted off to a time long ago and when she spoke again, I knew I was correct.

Addressing the distance, she continued her story. I apologize for not makin’ sense. After all these years, even I don’t have all the answers. Maybe it’s best if I start from the beginnin’. Maybe that’ll help make sense of it all. She looked at me with apologetic eyes. After Petie died, word got out I wanted to sell this store so when I saw this stranger hangin’ outside, my first thoughts were he was a potential buyer. He was a small white man, maybe Italian, could have been Greek. He was much older than I was and he seemed extremely nervous. He kept stroking his mustache like he was worried. The clothes he wore didn’t make him seem to be of money but I’ve known some wealthy folks who don’t dress expensive to protect themselves. You know, if you flaunt your wealth, you stand a better chance of being robbed. Anyways, this man, he slowly paces back and forth in front of the store. Anytime he saw a customer come, he made sure he stayed away from the entrance. My thoughts were, he didn’t know this was an all-black neighborhood and being old and frail like he was, he was afraid. I kept my eye on him and he kept checking his watch. Of course, I thought he was supposed to meet someone and I wanted to put him at ease by going outside and invitin’ him in but the store was gettin’ busy and I couldn’t leave the register. Louise placed her plate on the counter and just shook her head. I took the opportunity to ask her what was wrong.

I had five customers in the store that day. One of them, Yvonne, brought her items to the counter. She paid for them and I placed them in a bag. She didn’t notice the concern in my eyes. The young pretty thing just picked up the bag and headed for the door. She stopped dead cold in her feet when she saw the stranger stepping up from the other side. Her first reaction was to look for Jessie. I saw fear in her face through the reflection in the window. Jessie was in the back of the store and makin’ his way to the counter. I know it now. I didn’t then, but Jessie was the reason the man was waitin’. The stranger steps around Yvonne, enters the store and quickly steps behind Alvin who was at the counter. Alvin puts down a dollar and takes his soda and wasted no time stepping away from the counter. Heck, the man never even took his change he left so fast. The stranger leans on the counter and with nervous eyes, says hello. He had a real nice voice. Like nothing I’ve heard before. It was a very strange accent. ‘Bout that time, Jessie makes it to the counter. I say to the stranger, what can I do for you? Louise chuckled. "He asked me if I knew what time it was. Damn! The man had a watch on his arm and he