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The Walk Home

by Bunbry 

Posted: 02 December 2008
Word Count: 175
Summary: For the Tall Tale challenge.


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The Walk Home

I don’t believe in ghosts, absolutely don’t believe in them but, well, you decide...

My daughter Sarah was just three years old and I was taking her home from nursery school one evening. It was too far for her to walk so she travelled in her forward facing buggy. I loved these trips home as she would chatter away telling me about her day, while I just enjoyed being with her.

This day, we were passing a large wall which separated the pavement from the local cemetery. Sarah of course had no idea that a cemetery was behind the wall, at her age she didn’t even know what one was. Immediately behind this wall grew some ancient trees which towered into the sky.

As we trundled by, Sarah went quiet and I looked down to check that she was ok. To my surprise her neck was craned right back and she was looking into the sky.
“What are you looking at Sarah?” I asked.
“All the children in the trees,” she replied.






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Comments by other Members



choille at 19:43 on 02 December 2008  Report this post
Sarah went quite
quiet - I think.

Great tall tale.

The forward facing prams now seem a bit of a no no.

Like her twisting round - could see that & her seeing all the kids in the graveyard trees - quite creepy.

Good one.
All the best
Caroline.


Elbowsnitch at 20:16 on 02 December 2008  Report this post
Wow, this is powerful Nick. I once wrote a story set in a strange landscape that included a tree with children sitting in the branches, talking in echoes of the world's conversations.

Frances

Prospero at 22:20 on 02 December 2008  Report this post
Fabulous, Nick.

If only everybody could see those in spirit. There would be no more fear of death and no one on either side of the veil would be lonely.

Best

John

Bunbry at 22:58 on 02 December 2008  Report this post
Thanks for the nit Caroline, will fix at once. Glad you enjoyed it.

Nick

Bunbry at 23:00 on 02 December 2008  Report this post
Thanks for the kind comment Frances. In the right settting children can have a spooky quality!

Nick

Bunbry at 23:01 on 02 December 2008  Report this post
Cheers John, I guessed this kind of thing would be right up your street!

Nick

tusker at 07:24 on 03 December 2008  Report this post
Great one, Nick.

Children and animals can see the other side.

Jennifer

Bunbry at 16:18 on 03 December 2008  Report this post
Thanks for the kind comment Jennifer. I didn't know animals could see Manchester City though...

Nick

tiger_bright at 16:40 on 03 December 2008  Report this post
Lovely nugget, Nick, thanks for sharing it. Coincidentally, I am Sarah and, when I was three or thereabouts, I asked my mother who "the grey lady" was "in the doorway". That freaked my poor mother out, horribly. Children are strange creatures sometimes, and you captured this very well. That last line had a real impact.

Thanks again,

Tiger

Jumbo at 18:12 on 03 December 2008  Report this post
Nick

Loved it - and, as tiger has already said, that last line really nails it.

This is an image I'll carry around for a few days, thanks for sharing it,

Regards

john

Dreamer at 00:54 on 04 December 2008  Report this post
Excellent Nick.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

B.

Forbes at 17:39 on 04 December 2008  Report this post
Spooky and the last line was spot on.

CHeers

AVis

Bunbry at 22:17 on 04 December 2008  Report this post
Thanks for commenting so kindly Tiger. It is a strange feeling when your child says something like this, so can fully see why your mum was upset.

Nick

Bunbry at 22:19 on 04 December 2008  Report this post
Thanks for the comment John. 14 years after the event I still think about it!

Nick

Bunbry at 22:21 on 04 December 2008  Report this post
Brian, Avis, thanks for commenting so kindly. This wee tale even found it's way into my local paper all those years ago.

Nick

crowspark at 12:47 on 08 December 2008  Report this post
Nice spooky twist. Great image to end on.
Well done
Bill


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