Saturday, 20 June 2009
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The Mis-Placed Spirit
By Randy Van Otterloo
The misty figure walked slowly; as though wounded, through the streets of the small town, on the second day of every July.
“Who will fight for Master Robert?” Again, even louder, “Who will fight for Master Robert?”
Just as twilight descended upon the little town of Gettysburg, people came to see this incredible sight. He wore the tattered and bloody uniform of a Confederate soldier. His Sharps rifle leaned awkwardly against his left shoulder and a blood stained bandage wrapped around his head.
People were either frightened or amazed. Some even chuckled. He was first seen on July, 2, 1903--forty years after the battle. Every year since then it was the same thing.
“Who will fight for Master Robert?”
The spirit seemed to get more anxious each year. As though he were frustrated at the lack of response received from his eternal pleas. There were times that he looked right into the eyes of the passersby; a sight that many found to be frightening.
“His eyes,” they would say, “It’s as though you were looking straight into the abyss.”
The arrival of the town specter became an annual event. Local shopkeepers had t-shirts made up that said things like, “The Lost Ghost of Gettysburg.” Or “The Mis-placed Spirit.”
The local café had menu items such as, “cannon burgers,” and “spirit potato pie.”
Every year the same questions were asked. “Why does he come here?”
“Is he really lost?”
Gettysburg, after all, is a small town not known for much of anything. Oh, some people come here to hunt each year. Even the vice-president himself has hunted here.
Other than folks that hunt pheasants in the fall, not much ever happens in Gettysburg; that is, until the arrival of the “mis-placed spirit.”
Every year, at midnight, on July, 2, the spirit disappears, not to be seen again until near sundown the following July, 2nd.
He fades out of sight every time, right over the large sign that welcomes visitors to the small town.
“Welcome to Gettysburg, South Dakota, Where the Battle Wasn’t.”
© 2009 Randy Van Otterloo All Rights Reserved
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Comments (17)
ha! very clever .. poor guy has the wrong place.
good job with this one, randy.
j.
Talk about directionally challenged! That is one ghost that needs mapquest. Love the ending.
Ohmygosh! That was a dandy! lol
Good job, mr. randy. ;)
Who will rec mr. randy? I will! :)
t
this is the best thing I've read all day, Randy. I love play with town names, especially those in the Dakotas. Faith, Devil's Tower, Gettysburg. Rich Rich Rich.
@MooncatBlue - Thank you Miss Cat!! I am honored!
Well written! I like it =)
@jupiter312 - Thank You!!!
Excellent!!!!!!!!!
"His eyes,” they would say, “It’s as though you were looking straight into the abyss.”...sort of like looking into ohbummer's eyes when he is smiling for the camera , ever notice? his eyes never smile....
Excellent! Love it!
@tialoca_talks - I have noticed. It's a bit troubling.
PS: Last portion of Proverbs is what has been on my mind a lot lately and bad dreams that are keeping me awake. Plus...M put up a full time position and received a no thank you from F. I'm really beginning to have questions. Was I not meant to go west?