KilroywasNOTHere
"BEEP!"
Joseph put on his proper attire as he grew excited at the thought of visiting the place in which he grew up. "I wonder how the place has changed. Does Mrs. Pike still have her bakery next to the old fountain?"
Despite Joseph's giddiness, Mcready didn't seem near as enthused.
"What's wrong." Joseph asked.
Macready let out a long melancholy sigh as he place a frail hand on Joseph's shoulder. "I think you'll find a lot of things have changed around Blackwater and not for the better."
Joseph gave a slight grin. "What, did everyone become city slickers like me?"
"No, trust me city slickers I can deal with, remember when you were little your brothers use t call blackwater the city that never rained?"
Joseph nodded. "First time I ever saw rain was when I moved to the big city."
"Well, that changed recently; a few years ago there was a big pour, bought so much rain it nearly flooded the whole darn place. Got a pretty average rain cycle now."
"That's great, Maybe stuff can actually grow for once."
"Supposedly it was thanks to a rainmaker that came through town. Supposedly he talked to God to make it rain. When the first drops fell the town rejoiced, and the man established himself as essentially the town elder and minister."
Joseph's eyebrow lifted slightly. "No one else teaches?"
"some have, but it seems like of anyone says anything that this Rain man doesn’t approve of, he’s shunned by the people at large."
Macready let out another sigh. "I'll confess Brother. I've not stepped in God's house since the Rain Man took over."
Joseph put his arm around Macready’s shoulder. A sad but assuring look stayed on his face. "hoping I’d bring some reason to the town?"
Macready nodded. "Pray for my soul also if you can. I’ve not stepped in God’s house in over five years, Not since the Rain Man came. We’re not on speaking terms”
Joseph nodded and bowed his head.
Joseph proceeded to strap on a gold watch. Macready grinned as he took notice.
"Struck it rich boy?"
Joseph chuckled. "Admittedly yes, but this belonged to my Grandfather. Grandma passed it on to me before I headed out to the city. Said apparently old gramps got won it in an unsanctioned boxing match. While he was in New Orleans, Apparently he had a heck of a right hand. According to her, grandpa wanted me to have it the moment he held me in his arms, but he died before he had the chance to give it to me."
"In that case boy, you need to be extra careful. Some people care more for gold than sentimentalism."
"In Blackwater?" Joseph's face curled into a look of disgust and disbelief. "People I knew would give you the shirt off your back first."
"Like I said boy, things have changed. Truth is. Blackwater Creek maybe one of the safest places to be right now."
Joseph nodded but his face reeked of uncertainty. "Noted, in the meantime I'll go walk the path creek so that I'll know where to go for Sunday. Rather not get lost."
"Godspeed Joseph. Please.”
The winding path of woods seemed just as unnerving as joseph remembered. The trees seemed to contort in unnatural ways. The branches at times appeared to form long clawed hands while the knots and holes in trunks created facsimiles of faces, while the sounds of crickets gave the place a haunting presence He couldn’t help but shiver. He hated to feel like that nine year old child all over again, but as the old saying went. “Old habits die hard.”
The young man looked at the black bubbling tar creek that gave Blackwater its name. He couldn’t help but chuckle thinking what he might have been like as a child had he been told of the La Brea Tar Pits. Knowing him, he would have had nightmares about being sucked into the pits never to return. In truth, there might have been merit for such a fear. It was not hard to imagine a horse or a small child sinking to their doom, probably all the more reason why people didn't take horses through here. No doubt that a number of hogs had probably undoubtedly faced a black grave as well.
Joseph's thoughts however were interrupted by the sound of what could only be described as chopping wood. He followed the echo of the sound till between the cracks of several trees he saw what appeared to be a wooden cabin. On the doorstep were two ungodly large beast, both of them pure white in color. One Joseph could make out to be a Saint Bernard, the other one he wasn’t quite sure of.
his eyes widened once he saw a large figure splitting logs with a large iron hatchet. the figure was that of a woman with proportions that could only be described as that of the burliest of wild men, and a stature that would be fitting for a daughter of goliath.
For a split second, Joseph's eyes once again flashed before his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind that this was his ogress, and she was even bigger since they last met. Joseph felt himself tumble backwards as the ogress sharply turned her head in his direction. When he got up however the ogress was gone as were the dogs.
Had he just imagined things? No of course not. More than likely she had simply went inside. A thought came to his mind. Perhaps he should introduce himself formally. Perhaps ask a bit about her; maybe even ask what her side of the story was that faithful night?
He quickly talked himself out of it. In truth he wasn’t convinced she had the mental capacity to be social. After all, what kind of person would openly leave the carcasses of dead animals on someone’s doorstep except for someone who wasn’t all there upstairs? Besides, he had a task at hand.
The twisted path finally seemed to break as a light pierced from the opening on the outside. The church building soon came into view. In truth it was hard to miss. the building was for all intents and purposes a miniature Cathedral with white marble walls, and gold leafed edges on the top of the building was the shape of three crosses and at the top of the door way underneath them was the an insignia of a snake wrapped around a staff. Joseph took a step back. When would Blackwater have had the money to pay for such an extravagant building? Many among the town were of religious Sprit true, but Catholicism in all its physical splendor had fell out of favor in the town during the War Between the States. Even then, nothing about the symbols screamed catholic. if anything the imagery was a bizarre amalgamation of Jewish, Christian, and who knew what else
On the steps of the mini Cathedral, an old man was hammering something on the entrance doors. Joseph cocked his head. His garb looked in a way that Joseph couldn’t describe. It was a robe of purple and gold with scribbles of phrases, most likely holy scripture written and what mostly likely was Latin.
“Excuse me?” Joseph spoke in a timid tone.
There was no response.
“Excuse me” Joseph said louder.
the man turned around. His appearance was just as off-putting as his garb. His teeth were crooked and uneven sharp, his nose was sharp and hooked almost like that of a vulture. his eyes were blank and beady almost like that of a shark or a doll. His skin was somehow both simultaneously stretched and sagging with his cheekbones gaunt and ghoul-like. Again Joseph couldn’t help but shiver a bit.
“Ah, hello young man, have you come to pay your respects to the Lord?”
“Yes, I was originally going to go to Tipton, but my car broke down and so my friend directed me here. I wanted to scout the place so that I don’t get lost.”
“Well know the Lord will always welcome you my son.” the man gave a bony outstretched hand.
“My name is Father Ethel, but some people around here refer to me as The Rain Man.”
“Father Ethel?”
“Is something wrong my son?”
“Nothing, it’s just nobody here has referred any Pastor as Father or even Reverend since the Civil War. But I haven’t been here and years. Perhaps things have changed. Why do they call you the rain man?”
Ethel smiled. “Five years ago the Lord gave me a vision of a town in need. On his command and lo I learned that you needed rain. So I prayed. I prayed for three days and three nights, and lo the rain came. The Lord gave me a vision telling me that the town needed a Shepard and that he chose me to be the vessel of that Shepard. So I am here.”
“I see. Well I am glad to hear that the rain has come. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ethel.”
Ethel’s face twisted into a slight frown, but Joseph paid no heed and turned around toward Blackwater Creek. Ethel then gave a warning. “Be careful when venturing into the woods my son. Ruffians lurk, and a demon inhabits it.
Joseph turned his head slightly and stopped. “A demon you say?”
“Yes, it inhabits the body of a woman. It gives her inhuman strength and makes her much larger than any woman should. She reacts with the mind of the dog. Be warned, less you fall into her horrible clutches.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”
With that, Joseph walked off. “Demon woman my foot.”
Despite Joseph's giddiness, Mcready didn't seem near as enthused.
"What's wrong." Joseph asked.
Macready let out a long melancholy sigh as he place a frail hand on Joseph's shoulder. "I think you'll find a lot of things have changed around Blackwater and not for the better."
Joseph gave a slight grin. "What, did everyone become city slickers like me?"
"No, trust me city slickers I can deal with, remember when you were little your brothers use t call blackwater the city that never rained?"
Joseph nodded. "First time I ever saw rain was when I moved to the big city."
"Well, that changed recently; a few years ago there was a big pour, bought so much rain it nearly flooded the whole darn place. Got a pretty average rain cycle now."
"That's great, Maybe stuff can actually grow for once."
"Supposedly it was thanks to a rainmaker that came through town. Supposedly he talked to God to make it rain. When the first drops fell the town rejoiced, and the man established himself as essentially the town elder and minister."
Joseph's eyebrow lifted slightly. "No one else teaches?"
"some have, but it seems like of anyone says anything that this Rain man doesn’t approve of, he’s shunned by the people at large."
Macready let out another sigh. "I'll confess Brother. I've not stepped in God's house since the Rain Man took over."
Joseph put his arm around Macready’s shoulder. A sad but assuring look stayed on his face. "hoping I’d bring some reason to the town?"
Macready nodded. "Pray for my soul also if you can. I’ve not stepped in God’s house in over five years, Not since the Rain Man came. We’re not on speaking terms”
Joseph nodded and bowed his head.
Father who art in heaven.
Holy is thy name
We ask for grace as we confess our failings
and we pray that so that you may deliver us from sin and Temptation
These things we pray in the holy name of Jesus
Amen,
Holy is thy name
We ask for grace as we confess our failings
and we pray that so that you may deliver us from sin and Temptation
These things we pray in the holy name of Jesus
Amen,
Joseph proceeded to strap on a gold watch. Macready grinned as he took notice.
"Struck it rich boy?"
Joseph chuckled. "Admittedly yes, but this belonged to my Grandfather. Grandma passed it on to me before I headed out to the city. Said apparently old gramps got won it in an unsanctioned boxing match. While he was in New Orleans, Apparently he had a heck of a right hand. According to her, grandpa wanted me to have it the moment he held me in his arms, but he died before he had the chance to give it to me."
"In that case boy, you need to be extra careful. Some people care more for gold than sentimentalism."
"In Blackwater?" Joseph's face curled into a look of disgust and disbelief. "People I knew would give you the shirt off your back first."
"Like I said boy, things have changed. Truth is. Blackwater Creek maybe one of the safest places to be right now."
Joseph nodded but his face reeked of uncertainty. "Noted, in the meantime I'll go walk the path creek so that I'll know where to go for Sunday. Rather not get lost."
"Godspeed Joseph. Please.”
The winding path of woods seemed just as unnerving as joseph remembered. The trees seemed to contort in unnatural ways. The branches at times appeared to form long clawed hands while the knots and holes in trunks created facsimiles of faces, while the sounds of crickets gave the place a haunting presence He couldn’t help but shiver. He hated to feel like that nine year old child all over again, but as the old saying went. “Old habits die hard.”
The young man looked at the black bubbling tar creek that gave Blackwater its name. He couldn’t help but chuckle thinking what he might have been like as a child had he been told of the La Brea Tar Pits. Knowing him, he would have had nightmares about being sucked into the pits never to return. In truth, there might have been merit for such a fear. It was not hard to imagine a horse or a small child sinking to their doom, probably all the more reason why people didn't take horses through here. No doubt that a number of hogs had probably undoubtedly faced a black grave as well.
Joseph's thoughts however were interrupted by the sound of what could only be described as chopping wood. He followed the echo of the sound till between the cracks of several trees he saw what appeared to be a wooden cabin. On the doorstep were two ungodly large beast, both of them pure white in color. One Joseph could make out to be a Saint Bernard, the other one he wasn’t quite sure of.
his eyes widened once he saw a large figure splitting logs with a large iron hatchet. the figure was that of a woman with proportions that could only be described as that of the burliest of wild men, and a stature that would be fitting for a daughter of goliath.
For a split second, Joseph's eyes once again flashed before his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind that this was his ogress, and she was even bigger since they last met. Joseph felt himself tumble backwards as the ogress sharply turned her head in his direction. When he got up however the ogress was gone as were the dogs.
Had he just imagined things? No of course not. More than likely she had simply went inside. A thought came to his mind. Perhaps he should introduce himself formally. Perhaps ask a bit about her; maybe even ask what her side of the story was that faithful night?
He quickly talked himself out of it. In truth he wasn’t convinced she had the mental capacity to be social. After all, what kind of person would openly leave the carcasses of dead animals on someone’s doorstep except for someone who wasn’t all there upstairs? Besides, he had a task at hand.
The twisted path finally seemed to break as a light pierced from the opening on the outside. The church building soon came into view. In truth it was hard to miss. the building was for all intents and purposes a miniature Cathedral with white marble walls, and gold leafed edges on the top of the building was the shape of three crosses and at the top of the door way underneath them was the an insignia of a snake wrapped around a staff. Joseph took a step back. When would Blackwater have had the money to pay for such an extravagant building? Many among the town were of religious Sprit true, but Catholicism in all its physical splendor had fell out of favor in the town during the War Between the States. Even then, nothing about the symbols screamed catholic. if anything the imagery was a bizarre amalgamation of Jewish, Christian, and who knew what else
On the steps of the mini Cathedral, an old man was hammering something on the entrance doors. Joseph cocked his head. His garb looked in a way that Joseph couldn’t describe. It was a robe of purple and gold with scribbles of phrases, most likely holy scripture written and what mostly likely was Latin.
“Excuse me?” Joseph spoke in a timid tone.
There was no response.
“Excuse me” Joseph said louder.
the man turned around. His appearance was just as off-putting as his garb. His teeth were crooked and uneven sharp, his nose was sharp and hooked almost like that of a vulture. his eyes were blank and beady almost like that of a shark or a doll. His skin was somehow both simultaneously stretched and sagging with his cheekbones gaunt and ghoul-like. Again Joseph couldn’t help but shiver a bit.
“Ah, hello young man, have you come to pay your respects to the Lord?”
“Yes, I was originally going to go to Tipton, but my car broke down and so my friend directed me here. I wanted to scout the place so that I don’t get lost.”
“Well know the Lord will always welcome you my son.” the man gave a bony outstretched hand.
“My name is Father Ethel, but some people around here refer to me as The Rain Man.”
“Father Ethel?”
“Is something wrong my son?”
“Nothing, it’s just nobody here has referred any Pastor as Father or even Reverend since the Civil War. But I haven’t been here and years. Perhaps things have changed. Why do they call you the rain man?”
Ethel smiled. “Five years ago the Lord gave me a vision of a town in need. On his command and lo I learned that you needed rain. So I prayed. I prayed for three days and three nights, and lo the rain came. The Lord gave me a vision telling me that the town needed a Shepard and that he chose me to be the vessel of that Shepard. So I am here.”
“I see. Well I am glad to hear that the rain has come. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ethel.”
Ethel’s face twisted into a slight frown, but Joseph paid no heed and turned around toward Blackwater Creek. Ethel then gave a warning. “Be careful when venturing into the woods my son. Ruffians lurk, and a demon inhabits it.
Joseph turned his head slightly and stopped. “A demon you say?”
“Yes, it inhabits the body of a woman. It gives her inhuman strength and makes her much larger than any woman should. She reacts with the mind of the dog. Be warned, less you fall into her horrible clutches.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”
With that, Joseph walked off. “Demon woman my foot.”