Ailanthus on Patchin Place

by Claude Chabot

About the Author: Claude Chabot writes literary fiction and ghost stories.

Excerpt

The people know.

I have to be careful—they listen, they hear …

… and I’m afraid for the little girl. And Charlie.   

They keep me here, but I flee often only to return. Their voices guide me—but they are wicked guides, hateful voices, they protect me, but only for their own ends.

I close my eyes and to keep out the sounds I don’t want to hear. I put down my pen because I have to listen …

They don’t like me at the market when I call they say it’s her again they cup their hands on the receiver but I hear them say it’s her again it’s her again. Charlie told me last week he was coming today to bring me tomatoes fine lovely, late summer ones that’s all I want but when I call they say it’s her again. They make me sad that they think I’m loony but I’m not but now I hear her I hear her I hear the little girl crying so sad I think they have the little girl she’s crying now for days oh what to do what to do. It’s the people again the people.

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