Tue 26 Sep 2017
Down Portalville Way – Shady Groves
Posted by PJ under folklore, graveyards, play, portalville, spirits
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- Let me thread you a story… (1-16)
- Sam Hotchkiss is the caretaker down to Shady Groves Cemetery. Sam says as how he likes his job, walking through the quiet and peace,
- making sure the residents are happy. Most enjoy the peace as much as Sam. Any that don’t tend not to stay in Shady Groves.
- They get up and wander ‘round town and sometimes have to be dealt with by Madame Nimby and her son Rupert.
- Others just wander the streets taking in the sights, seeing what old friends and family are up to.
- Wanderin’ gets old after awhile—and takes a passel of energy. When they dissipate enough of that restless mojo they go back
- to Shady Groves and their sod beds, wrap their grass blankets back around themselves, and rest eternal.
- Sam takes particular care of the children there. He feels bad they got cut off so young and didn’t have a chance to live long and prosper.
- He likes to leave marbles by their graves so they can have a game now and then. Used to leave stuffed animals, too,
- but they tended to get soggy when it rained and the kids didn’t care for ‘em much after that.
- Electronic games don’t work for similar reasons. ‘Sides, it’s difficult for the kids to maintain corporeal fingers long enough to swipe and tap.
- They do enjoy a nice game of hide n’ seek, sometimes with Sam, sometimes with each other.
- Ain’t rightly fair when they play with Sam, though. If he gets too close to finding them, they can just go invisible.
- That trick don’t work with each other—spirits can always see other spirits—but Sam is a mere mortal, after all.
- Them kids laugh and laugh when Sam seeks and seeks and never finds. “Play fair, you kids!†he’ll call out to them.
- But mostly he’s laughing when he says it. Can’t blame kids for having a good time.
This tale can also be found on Twitter @downportalville.
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