The Dark Side of Life

By Lon Kellenberger

Unexpected events happen in people's lives. Some are helpful, but often these events can be so frightening or devastating that one's life does not remain the same or even may come to an end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638812241

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The Dark Side of Life

Lon Kellenberger

Copyright © 2021 Lon Kellenberger

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-63881-223-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63881-224-1 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Witch of the Woods

Burials

The Dress

Rising from Below

Don’t Tell Me That

Peace and Quiet

The Black Coat

The Return

Stranger

Someone Is Watching

Stay with Me

Scratching at the Window

Into the Depths of Life

Where Am I Going?

A Change in Life

Night Creatures

Give Me Rest

Contents

Witch of the Woods

I bet you’re afraid to go in there.

I bet I’m not.

I bet you are.

Am not!

Are too!

Finally, there was silence between the two young boys. Both afraid, but neither would admit it, especially to each other—a trait of both eight-year-old boys. The only sound was heavy breathing and the barking of the big dog down the street. Standing there on the sidewalk, the two boys stared into each other’s eyes, neither daring to move.

Then a loud, shrill voice brought the standoff to a sudden halt.

Bobby!

It was his older sister Alice.

Bobby turned in her direction. What do you want?

Bobby hated it when his sister called him. He also did not like the idea of her taking care of him all day during the summer while their parents worked.

Bobby, lunchtime.

Bobby turned and started to slowly walk up the street toward home. The two boys parted but would be together again soon.

Kent called out, Come down to my house when you’re through.

Okay, replied Bobby.

The two went their separate ways, if only for a short interlude.

After Bobby ate his gooey, delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich and downed a large cold glass of milk, he jumped up and rushed to the front door.

I’m going to Kent’s, he yelled over his shoulder as he darted through the living room and out the front door.

Bobby ran down the sidewalk to Kent’s house. Just then, Kent came out the door as Bobby arrived.

You know a witch lives there. Kent pointed to the wooded area across the street.

How do you know?

Kent explained in a hushed, serious voice, Lulubelle told me, referring to the older girl who lives next door. She said if you go in there, the witch will scratch your head with poison.

Maybe she also lives in that house next to the woods, Bobby said as he peered with suspicious eyes at the small house across the street.

The house at one time was white. But now much of the paint had peeled, so the color appeared blotchy gray with brown tones, almost as if the house was constantly in shadows. All the kids in the neighborhood were suspicious of the house. The house appeared to be unoccupied to the boys because they didn’t remember seeing anyone come or go from the house. On occasion, however, they had seen a dim light from one of the windows.

A small creek ran next to Kent’s house then under the street and into the wooded area across the street. Tall trees protruded along with smaller trees, various large bushes, and large mounds of wild berry briars five or six feet high.

See that place next to the creek? It’s like a tunnel in the woods, said Kent. That’s where the trail starts.

It’s not much of a trail. What do you do, crawl all the way? Bobby asked.

Well, no, but people say you can go through the woods there, along the creek all the way to the next street.

Yes, but you said, if you go in there, the witch might get you.

Maybe if we both go in, she won’t bother us, Kent encouraged.

You think?

I bet you’re afraid, challenged Kent.

Am not!

I bet you are.

Am not.

Well then, let’s go.

Silence followed the challenge as the boys considered entering that dark, scary place where everyone knew the witch lived. Neither boy really wanted to go into the place with the prospect of the witch scratching their head with poison. Pushed on by the challenge, the two young boys started to slowly cross the street to the other side. The street had no curbing or sidewalk—more like a country road. Once across, the boys stopped at the edge of the pavement and looked at each other. Both were oblivious to the brown dirt beneath their feet where an occasional weed or blades of grass seemed to be the remnants of the hardiest of their species grasping at any dampness available to continue their survival. The boys, too, felt the urge to become the hardiest of their kind if they braved the woods where the witch lived.

Slowly, with hesitation, they moved into the cave-like opening, squatting down to take a good look. Kent moved first into the opening. Watching Kent’s slow, deliberate movement, Bobby then entered close behind. Now both boys were in the cave-like structure of brambles. The small creek flowed through the woods on the right side of the trail, at times hidden by piles of leaves or ferns growing out of the ever-wet ditch. The thick tangle of brush and briars created a tunnel. On both sides and above the boys, they could see branches covered with leaves, crooked stalks of wild berry vines, and the ever-present thorns on the vines. Crouched over, almost crawling, they moved through the tunnel of vegetation, watching where each step would land. Both kept silent in case they heard something or someone—or the witch, who might be ahead.

Suddenly, Kent’s right foot slipped on some damp leaves—his body falling away from the creek toward the heavy growth of the cave. Startled by Kent’s sudden movement, Bobby rose up and then let out a shrill scream, no doubt heard for at least a block away. The silence, now broken, startled a dog along the street and began loud barking. Birds let out eerie screeches as they flew from the trees above.

Ouch! screamed Bobby again.

Let’s get out of here, yelled Kent.

Bobby already turned and, in a crouched position, moved quickly back toward the cave’s entrance. They didn’t stop until they crossed the street to the safety of Kent’s front porch. Both boys panted from the run. Bobby was crying and held his hands over the top of his head.

What happened? asked Kent with a panicked voice.

The witch got me! She scratched me with poison! I’m going to die!

Bobby pulled one hand away from the top of his head. Sure enough, they saw blood on his hand.

Let’s see, demanded Kent.

He pulled Bobby’s hand down and parted clumps of hair to see the damage. Oh no! You’ve got a big scratch on your head.

Bobby was hardly able to get the words out through his sobs. I need to get help!

Because parents of both boys were not home, Kent offered a solution. Let’s run to your house and show your sister. Maybe she will know what to do.

The boys scurried up the street to Bobby’s house. As soon as they got on the porch, Kent hesitated as Bobby threw open the front door.

Hey, watch it! screamed his sister from where she sat on the couch reading a magazine.

Even though he sobbed and panted from the run, Bobby managed to yell, The witch got me! I’m going to die!

Kent added, He’s right! We went into the woods where the witch lives, and he got scratched with her poison.

Let’s see! demanded Alice as she jumped up from the couch to examine him.

Bobby shook from his sobs and heavy breathing as he bent his head down.

Hold still! she demanded.

I am.

Alice examined the top of his head, noting a thorn stuck in his hair. Yeah, she scratched you good. You’ve got some blood in your hair.

So? pleaded Bobby.

Yes, you might die! Then she gave orders. Kent, you go home, and Bobby, you go lie down on your bed. Be quiet and don’t move. There’s nothing else to do now.

The boys looked at each other with startled eyes then at Alice, and with panic in their eyes, they moved toward their assigned place.

With the boys now out of sight, Alice sat down once again on the couch, letting out a deep sigh. She picked up her magazine and relaxed for a peaceful, uninterrupted, and quiet time all to herself.

Burials

Ted looked at the papers on his desk. Anyone passing by would say it was somewhat in disarray. But to Ted, it was organized, and he knew the exact location of everything. The inbox at the top corner of his desk was empty. The outbox had two items that he would send out, but there was no immediate deadline.

What am I going to do? he thought to himself. What am I going to do?

He was facing retirement after many years. This secure place, even though a small office space, was the part of his world he felt most comfortable and a space where he felt in charge. This space he considered his private place was what most people call a cubicle. It was always a good feeling to him if there were papers in the inbox at the end of a day. That meant there was something needing his attention the next day. He was needed! Today the inbox was empty. This caused him to have a very lonely feeling as he sat in his chair staring at it.

What am I going to do? Without realizing, his voice clearly projected so others could hear.

Doug, a fellow officemate in the next cubicle, heard him. Well, for starters, you’re going to get to sleep in any day you want.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that, Ted responded.

Feel lucky, Ted. You can do whatever you want now.

Ted looked up and saw Doug peering over the partition. Yeah, wait till you have to retire. You might think differently.

Doug added, You sound real down about retiring. Don’t you have some plans? Aren’t you and Ruth going to travel?

No, I don’t have plans. And I don’t really want to go on some long trip with Ruth. I guess I’ll spend time working in the yard.

With that exchange, they both settled at their desks.

That night at dinner, Ted just sat staring at his food and taking a bite occasionally. He knew his wife, Ruth, was talking; but whatever she was saying didn’t seem to register in his mind.

Ted, Ruth said in a loud voice.

Yes, dear.

Are you listening to me?

Yeah.

I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said. I don’t know why I even bother to talk to you if you don’t listen to me.

I don’t know what I’m going to do was Ted’s only response.

Oh, Ted, she added, "there’s plenty to do. You’ll have a lot of time to work in the yard. You know how you love to work in the yard. And we can go on some nice trips. I’ve got a lot of places I want to see now that you’re not tied down