The Devil's Due

by M Purcell

us all. And yet all the people were slowly lulled into its grasp by the unassuming beauty it put before them. I would NOT be lulled such as they were. I saw the fall for what it was; death, the murder of Summer and the trees, the banishment of the animals to exile in their shelters. And what was left after those pretty little deceiving leaves had all fallen to the ground, baron and dead looking trees and bushes. A skeletal semblance of what they once were, now the air seems to put a malevolent chill in your bones, and the darkness sneaks in early upon us, in a wave of tacit intentions. Perhaps you also have felt this silent, yet palpable insidiousness that resides within the darkness of Fall; The Wave.

  The Wave would catch us all off guard, people still at work would now have to go home in the dark. It is an eerie thing, how it is only in the Fall, when we notice that dark, ominous rogue wind. It seems to come from out of nowhere, sending a cold chill down our spines. It spooks the people into looking over their shoulders before entering their vehicles, or their homes. The wave also affected students staying late at school. They would be more vigilant, keeping a wary eye out for child molesters and abductors of children, for whatever sinister reasons they might have. Children who were already at home from school, would be called to come in from play earlier now....all because of the wave. No one speaks of these feelings we have, but oh, how we do all feel them. That strange feeling, that something is just not right. That it is not as safe, as it were. That something lurks out there, in the darkness of Fall. Why do you think it is the time of Halloween, a time for Witches and Warlocks, Goblins and Ghouls, Demons and the Devil? It is a time when we celebrate.....Evil.

  This particular fall day was exactly that holiday...Halloween. It is a time of scary costumes of Vampires, Werewolves, Mummies, Skeletons, Witches and Ghouls. A time of Trick or Treat, and late-night parties for the adults, set in Gothic horror scenery. Aunt Mae did not care for the theme of the holiday, but she enjoyed giving out her homemade oatmeal cookies to the kids who came knocking at the door. "Donald, oh Donald dear, would you please come in here for a moment child!" A small sense of urgency could be detected in her voice. It was best to come quickly and not dawdle when she gets that tone, or you might find yourself on the receiving end of one of those, "Idle hands...blah...blah...blah..", speeches again. "Yes Aunt Mae, is everything OK?," Entering the kitchen, I could see she was baking and more likely than not, ran out of one of the ingredients again. "Well Donald, yes and no dear. I am baking cookies for the trick-or-treater's, and I'm almost completely out of flour." Turning to look at the boy, she says sweetly, "Would you be a sweetheart and run down to the corner store to get me a new bag?" The woman's face just radiated warm kindness.

  "Why sure Aunt Mae, I can do that, no problem ma'am!" His aunts face showing a little bit of concern, and guilt perhaps as she adds, "Now Donald, ordinarily I would never send you out after dark. However, today I know that there are lots of kids and their parents all over the streets, and I imagine a good supply of police also. And it is just on the corner, so no dilly-dallying young man" A little innocent smile draping her rosy red cheeks. "Yes ma'am, I'll be OK...I promise to be careful, and no dally-dillying either!" I ran to the corner store weaving my way through groups of children out trick-or-treating. Most of them were with their parents just like Aunt Mae said they would be, but some of the older ones were alone, but in groups. They wore costumes of Vampires and witches, zombies, the Frankenstein Monster. One was even dressed up as Casper the friendly ghost. I don't believe in any such thing as a ghost that is friendly, if it's a ghost..., you had better run, and fast because I guarantee you it's anything but friendly! As I dashed inside the store, I looked up at the next couple of blocks beyond the corner store. I noticed that the groups of kids thinned out quickly, with almost none at all on the second block up. It was probably because it was nearly the end of town, with a used car dealership and a pharmacy on the last block. There were a few houses, but none seemed to be as lit up as the ones on this block. No Halloween pumpkins lit up on the porch, or even a porch light left on to show a sign welcoming the trick-or-treaters. And the street lights seemed dimmer, in part since after the last block, there were no more street lights at all.

  I ran to the aisle with the flour Aunt Mae needed, I knew every aisle by heart after so many years of running to the store for her when she ran out of one of her baking needs. "Woe now little feller! What's the big rush? You got one of them there monsters on your tail or what Donny boy!" Mr. Perkins the store owner asked me as I nearly slammed into the counter where he stood. "Sorry Mr. Perkins, Aunt Mae is baking cookies for the kids, and she ran out of flour!" my cheeks flushed red with embarrassment for the tender scolding he gave me. "Oh, well that explains it then, we had better not keep your aunt waiting, or we'll both end up getting a lecture, huh son?" Mr. Perkins winked at me as he gave me my change, to show no harm was done, and that I could calm down and not feel bad about running in his store. I walked as slowly as I could force myself until I reached the door, then I hit high gear and was off like a shot. I left the store running so fast that I ran straight into a man wearing a long black coat. I got scared, but relaxed when I looked up and saw that white collar standing out in the streetlights, it was a priest.

  "Sorry father, my aunt ran out of flour for her cookies. She gives them to the trick-or-treater's every year." Once again, rosy red cheeks adorned my face. "Oh, I see...and you have come to save the day. Well, then I say bravo for you, young man." Still embarrassed over this second clumsy mishap due to my reckless running. "Thank you sir." I said, slowly looking up at the man whom I nearly sent flying through the air, as if he were the head pin on a bowling alley. I could see that he was middle aged, with mostly gray hair, which was tucked neatly under a fine dress hat of black. It seemed a bit too large around the brim, reminding me of the old hats the Pilgrims wore. "So, tell me young man, aren't you afraid to be out here alone in the dark. Is it that you fear no evil because God walks with you?" He had a warm and friendly face, and I felt very calm in his presence. I found it hard to answer his question, knowing he would be disappointed in me. However, I was taught not to lie, and I was not going to start now, especially to a priest. Regardless of my inner feelings, there was a matter of respect involved here. "Well sir...umm...your a priest and I was taught never to lie to anyone, let alone a man of the cloth as Aunt Mae sometimes says." My eyes were now looking down, at the ground. "That sounds like fair enough advice to me son, what is it, what troubles you my boy?" The priest reached down and gently touched my chin with his thumb and forefinger, raising my eyes to meet his own.

  "My parents were killed sir...murdered in cold blood. And they were good and honest church going people sir." The priest's eyes studied my own before he spoke again. "I see, and is there more you wish to tell me but are afraid? Have no fear of me young man, I am not here to judge you, that is not my job. You should not be afraid to speak what is in your heart, particularly if it is something that you feel very strongly about." Adding, "Especially not to one such as me, speak your mind son, it will be good for your soul." The priest gave me a warm reassuring smile as he tilted his head slightly upward, signaling me to finish my statement."Yes sir, I mean no disrespect toward you sir, but I don't believe in god anymore. God would not have let that happen to them if he really was god, if he truly did exist, he would have stopped it."I met the priest's eyes firmly now with my own, full of conviction and defiance of all the things this man held true.

  Still smiling down at me, he said, " Ahhh, I can understand your thinking that way, but don't you think that perhaps in the future you may have a change of heart?" He was studying my eyes again, and I snapped out a quick reply. "No sir, I'm sorry but no sir....never." The priest now moved his thumb and forefinger up to his own chin, in a gesture, as if he were contemplating something to himself. "Let me ask you this then son. What about the devil, don't you fear he may move in on you, now that you have lost your faith?" He was once again studying my eyes. "Well sir, I don't believe in the devil e
ither. I think that there is good and that there is evil, but there is no god and no devil." As the priest tilted his head from side to side and looked upward for a fleeting moment. "Hmm...well that is an interesting point of view, and I must say that I surely will not try to change your mind right now."

  Placing a hand on my shoulder he asked, "What is your name son, if I may be so bold as to ask?" He gave me that warm face again. Looking at him dead in the eyes with all the pride I could muster, I replied, "Donald Frederick Lemore, sir." The priest put his other hand out as if to shake hands, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance Mr. Donald Frederick Lemore, and a fine and noble name you have there, I might add." The priest straightened himself and put out his chest to show his sincerity. I reached out and grabbed his hand and shook it as firmly as I could. Suddenly, I felt myself smiling from ear to ear with pride. I felt a small glow of strength inside of me, as if I had made a new friend who was strong and respected me. "Thank you sir, it's nice to meet you too