Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring authors posting excerpts from works in progress based on word and picture prompts. I’m pleased you stopped by today. This week’s word prompt is dance. Enjoy the other talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
The boy had startled me, coming over the hill so unexpectedly. It took a minute before I finally unwrapped my tongue. I didn’t extend a hand but held on tight to my phone. “Hello there. I’m Peri Lightner. I…drove out to take a look at this old cemetery.”
He didn’t say anything but glanced up at the sun and then squinted at me.
I tried again. “You live around here?”
He tossed a look down the hill. “Yeah. Not far from the old mill.”
“Gotta name?”
He blinked a few times, and his face cleared of suspicion. A bit of a grin formed. “Toby Shaw. I reckon you’re not a haint.”
Now it was my turn to stare. “A ghost?” I smiled. “Nope. Far from it. Why would you think so?”
“Granny says it’s mostly haints around these old burial grounds. Never saw one in the broad daylight though.”
“But you’ve seen them after dark—in this cemetery?”
“Yeah, sure. Me and Granny both. She says it’s haints setting up to dance and best give them a wide berth lest we want to be taken.”
His granny sounded like a historian’s treasure trove, and I had a sudden thought. She’d be a perfect candidate for a segment of an old timer’s series I had in mind. “I’d love to talk to your granny sometime—about the old days. What’s her name, Toby?”
His eyes were squinting again, and I could read suspicion seeping back in. “I probably shouldn’t tell it, or gave you mine neither.”
“Why not?”
“Once a demon knows your name, they have say-so over you.”
“Toby, I’m not a haint or a demon, just a history buff from over Glisten way.” I stuck out my hand, palm down, for him to inspect. “See?”
He extended a tentative forefinger to lightly touch my hand. “I guess.”
I slid a business card from a jean pocket and handed it to him. “Here’s my phone number. If you could ask your granny about talking to me sometime, I’d appreciate it. Ya’ll got a phone?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I have to go now, but I’ll be back tomorrow.” I tried for a sincere smile. “A friend and I are going to take some pictures of the headstones and talk a little about the old settlement.”
He twisted his lips and nodded, turning the card over between his fingers.
I headed toward the SUV.
“Miss–”
I turned around. “Peri. Peri Lightner.”
“My granny’s name – it’s Adela Shaw.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt dance. Thanks for stopping by. Read the other amazing excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2020 Flossie Benton Rogers
Love the boy’s quaint superstitions. Well done.
I’m glad you like his superstitions. Thanks!
This is so good! I’m intrigued!
Thanks for the intrigue comment!
I love the way she won him over. And now, I need to know who the haints are and did they really see them and what secrets is she going to tell Peri? Love your stories!
I’m glad you liked their interaction. Thanks for stopping by, Jean.
I love how innocent he is to hold so tight to his superstitions. I can’t wait to hear from granny. Great job!
I do like his innocent demeanor. Glad you do as well, Tricia.
As someone who spends a lot of time in old cemeteries, you know I can’t wait to read more!
GREAT job working the word prompt in there! I loved it.
I love old cemeteries, too, Trisha!