SOON
The
Adventures of Edwin D Ferretti, Author
Part two.
The
next day I visited the local newspaper and looked up articles concerning
Cindy's strange disappearance. I had to find out more, and my notebook was
beginning to fill up. She was last seen alive on a Thursday evening seven years
ago. Friday morning the library failed to open and the sheriff was contacted.
He put out a state alert then expanded it nationally. Cindy had simply vanished
along with her black cat called Bast. The secretary placed another file box beside
me. I noted the faded label; The Ghost of
Cindy Crawl, keep the legend alive.
"Ya
see Mr. Ferretti, Cindy's disappearance and reported ghostly sightings are a
big tourist attraction around these parts." She smiled at me with a blasé
expression. An hour later I'd consumed the contents of the box; coming away
with three names of witnesses who reported they had seen and spoken to Cindy:
Phyllis Wheeler the local tailor, Bill Cruthers the milkman and Cheryl Snide,
the town's new librarian.
I
decided to talk to them in order of closeness. Phyllis' shop was on the corner
of Main Street and Victor Avenue, only two blocks from the newspaper office. The
door chime announced me as I entered the business. Phyllis was in her mid
forties, had a short build and walked with a walking stick; result of an auto
accident several years back.
"Good
morning David, I didn't know that you had anything that needed sewing, you
always look so dapper." I grinned at her and thanked her for the
compliment.
"I
would like to ask you some questions concerning your ghostly encounter with
Cindy Crawl."
"I'd
be glad to answer your questions. How about some coffee and one of my famous
scones? We can talk in my office." I nodded my head and followed her to
the back of the store.
"Now
what is it that you want to ask me?"
"Would
you relate every detail that you can remember about your encounter? I can
record it on my tape recorder." I turned it on and placed it on the table.
"Well
let me see...oh yes, it was three years ago this month and I was just closing
the shop when I heard the door chime ring. Cindy was standing there in her red
dress, looking like a fashion queen. My mouth fell open then she spoke; not
directly to me, but I understood every word. 'Is my new black evening dress altered yet?' She left it here to be
taken in you see. I asked her where she has been for the past four years but
she didn't answer. She turned and began to dissolve away in front of the door.
She spoke one more time before vanishing. 'Don't
sell it; I'll be back for it someday.' I almost had a heart attack. What do
you suppose she meant by don't sell it; I'll be back..." I hunched my
shoulders.
"Is
that all that you can remember? What time was it in the evening?"
"The
same time every night, six PM. I do remember it was fogy like last night and
chilly when the wind blew." I picked up the tape recorder and turned it
off.
"Do
you still have the dress?" She walked to the back of the store and
returned with a black dress inside a protective plastic cover.
"After
my encounter with her I had the dress dry-cleaned and keep it in the back. Just
in case mind you."
"Thank
you for your time."
"Oh,
will I be in your next book?" I assured her if I used the name Phyllis: it
would be her I was referring to. My next stop was at the local Milk Factory
behind the fire station. Bill Cruthers had delivered milk for as long as he
could remember. His father and grandfather were both in the same delivery
business. His answers surprised me.
"Cindy
stood there in her red dress and I was dumbfounded. She didn't answer any of my
questions concerning her disappearance, only wanted to tell me to stop delivering
her milk; said she'd be back someday and simply dissolved away into thin air.
It was a night like last night, foggy and cold." My head lifted, foggy and cold, like last night, that's the
second time I've heard that. I thanked him and walked over to the library.
Cheryl
Snide was in her mid thirties and dressed like the librarians of the 30/40's.
Long sleeved blouse, ruffles in front with buttons up to her neck, brown skirt
and Chelsea flats. A pair of large spectacles covered her eyes.
"I
can't wait until your book comes out. Why, I've a list of readers a mile long
waiting to read it. Now what can I do for our towns famous author?"
"Would
you tell me of your encounter with Cindy Crawl?"
"I'd
be glad to...it's happened more than one you know. The first time scared me
most to death; I mean seeing someone you know just disappear in front of you
eyes. After
Cindy vanished I was called in to take over her duties. A year later, the town
hired me full time. We're now in the computer age and we're the only library
for miles that checks out digital books to library members. Now
where was I, Cindy first appeared shortly after I took over, about six years
ago. It was late and I was shutting off the lights when I caught something out
of the corner of my eye. Cindy stood by the main door in a red dress, almost as
if she was going out on a date. I didn't know what to say or think; just stood
staring at her. She spoke... 'How is my
library? Are there any new fantasy books; especially ones about the origin of
magic' I was frozen in place and at a loss of speech. My mouth moved but nothing
came out. Cindy asked the same questions a second time then I found my voice. I
assured her that we were ordering new books in all the time, told her about you
and the fantasy books that you were writing and she smiled then dissolved away into
thin air. Come to think about it, I see her every time there is fog in the air.
She was here last night and went to look at the fantasy and magical occult
books. I told her I was locking up for the night and she had charge of her
library. I swear, sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it is really
happening."
"What
you are saying is that every time there is fog in town, Cindy appears."
She nodded her head.
"Would you permit me to stay past closing the next
time we have a foggy day?"
"Of
course," she reached over to her counter and retrieved her card.
"Call me when you want to come over and I'll lock you in. Of course you'll
have to remain the entire night because we have a burglar alarm connected to
the Sheriff's office." I nodded my head, thanked her and returned home.
To be continued
