An old friend of mine once told me never to go to Necro town. I asked him why but he just never gave me the answer. Looking far from my home town, Necro town looked abandoned and was never owned by anybody nearby. Whenever I look out into that town, I wonder about it. The unknown and its many mysteries.
My old friend seems to have lived in that place but he never did. It's as if he was making up a horror story about Necro town. But, I did what he told me to. Never go there. Ever.
I asked my parents about that place. They never knew anything about it except it's just a wasteland. Grandpa never knew about it either. Such a mystery as to why would my old friend prohibit me from entering but my dad said otherwise. "If you want to go there and explore the place, I guess you can. But you better be careful from strangers alright kid."
By the time I turned 14, the bully in my school keeps getting worse on me. I get slammed into a locker, get my head knocked out, and even beaten up. I really don't want to go back to school but how am I supposed to convince my parents that?
The reason I don't have any friends at school was mostly because they don't like me as a person. I expressed myself for who I am and yet I get mocked by them all the time. calling me many names like freak, loser, norm, or even Melvin the idiot. Was it because I'm different? I have no clue about them at all.
I tried to fight back but they just keep winning every time. So then, I run away from school in the middle of classes, lunch breaks, and activities but every time I do, a teacher always caught me down and send me to the principles office. I lied to them and said "Because I wanna get candy." Or "I forgot my books back home.". I don't want to tell them the truth because I knew how much big trouble I'm going to have if I do.
I tried escaping all over again and finally I made it one day. And whenever I escaped, I always go to my old friends house. We go into the woods to go fishing in the pond. I love seeing those shiny blue fishes in the waters because they're just so beautiful when I look at them in the afternoon.
My old friend's name is Brandon West. He's of course much older than me because he's about 64 years old and for some reason he got so much energy to keep himself moving. He always have his brown firm cane with him everywhere he goes. He tells me tales of ancient beings, heavens and hells, the Sturgeon, and the blue turbo.
I've asked about the blue turbo and all he said was. "He's a sad man." Sad man sounds like he's been through a lot.
The blue turbo was born in a world where flame people live. They all have special powers depending on their shape and colors of their bodies. Green flame, blue flame, red flame, etc. He grew up with lovely parents who have similar powers to his. His power is both his parents powers. In his childhood, he grew fond of his friends and family that he devoted his life to protect the good in life.
In his teenage years, he became an officer. Protecting the people who are in danger. It was starting to get dangerous for him, but that never means he won't give up.
In his late 20s, he became a well devoted guardian, fighting against the evil dark powers from beneath the world's surface. He loved everything that is good in life. He had a wife and son while being a guardian. Their relationship was strong and they did whatever it takes to enjoy life. But then one day, the world around them turned into a warfare. The evil dark powers are killing people whilst they fight back. He fought hard and won. But it was at a huge cost. He lost his wife and child right in front of his eyes. Lost what's left in the world. He fell to a deep depression, which he quit being a guardian and was never to be seen again.
Brandon always looked sad whenever he told me the blue turbo. It's as if that felt real and it did happen. But, it is compelling. I asked him about where did the blue turbo go. He said. "Don't know. But wherever he is, he'll still devote himself in life."
One day when I was 16, I escaped school again and this time it didn't go well. By the time I walked behind the basketball court, I was caught by the bully and his gang. "Well oh well. Looks like Melvin the idiot is trying to leave the school all by himself. You're really going to leave again just so that you'll get away from us? That ain't happening norm." They were going to beat me up badly, so I didn't waste anymore time as I ran away from them. I didn't know how fast I was at this point.
They kept following me as I ran on the sidewalk. I didn't want to look back because I knew very well that if I did, I'll slow down. The running footsteps behind me kept pacing towards me. I can hear the loud steps as if they're like the golem's foot. My breath is getting shallow the more I keep running and my legs began to grow numb and sore. But I never slowed down nor stop. I just kept running until I finally lost them.
"Get back here you freak!!"
"We're going to kill you loser!!"
Then, a road towards Necro Town appeared before me. The words from Brandon echoed inside my mind not to go in there. My heart beats in fear. The bully and his gang chasing behind me like I'm their food to eat. My legs are about to surrender to my exhaustion and I can feel every pain coming from my muscles.
I can hear the footsteps behind me as I think of any other options. There are no other ways to go except into Necro town. I don't want to be beaten up or killed. Then, every memory of myself being bullied by them flashes into my mind, making me very angry. I'm sick and tired of being their punching bag. It's time for me to fight back!
I stopped at my tracks and turned to face them. Face to face. They stood on their grounds before me. Laughing at me with mockery. I stood my grounds and prepared myself for the worst. "I'm tired of being your punching bag! It's time for me to stand up for myself! I'm not afraid of you!!" But I lied. I'm still scared of getting beaten up. All I want is for them to stop bullying me forever.
The bully rushes towards me and I was ready to punch him at any moment given. By the time he's in front of me, I missed my shot. The punishment for my failed attempt to punch him was getting knocked out by getting punched in the face. I fell to the ground, knocking my head against it. My body passed through the limits of entering Necro town. My head and shoulders lay on the Necro town grounds.
I was then slowly dragged into Necro town by the bully's gang. I can feel the painful sting on my back as I get dragged. Suddenly, before I went to sleep mode, I heard screams. The bully's scream fades far away and his gang gets slowly decreasing. My arms are dropped down. The hands that held me tight are loosened from my arms so fast. I can hear each of them screaming in fear as piece by piece they disappear. Then I blacked out.
I woke up to find myself in an empty dark room. While my vision was getting clear, I slowly stand back up. When I got back my conscious, I gagged from the awful stench that just came from inside this room. I looked around to see where's the door for my escape and there, I see the shining golden knob reflecting my sight. I ran and grab hold of it, then twist it to open the door. To my very eyes, I've witnessed the most insane horror I've ever had in my life.
The sources aren't just in the room I was in. It was also in the living room because there are 5 dead bodies hanging like pig meat. Their flesh cut and sliced so disgustingly brutal that I can see their organs and tissues beginning to slip out of the sockets. Blood and bones are spread around the floor, shining the cold light that shines through the curtains of the outside. When I look at the top of their corpses, there are eyes looking directly at me with fear. Then I realize that they're still alive.
They suddenly screamed everywhere with the pain they share. I blocked my ears with my palm as I felt the twist in my stomach getting worse. Tears rapidly escapes out of my eyes that I shut my eyes tight. I quickly ran out of there and arrived to a room that is full of random colors. The colors are wrong. They're all wrong in many different ways that I can't describe so well about it. The screams and the colors made me vomit all over the floor. I nearly fell to the ground but I kept myself back up in hopes of leaving this place. I want to go home. I want to see Brandon again and tell him I'm sorry for entering this nightmare. I wished I'd rather get beaten up than coming here to lead my bully and his crew to their unholy demise.
I spun around in a frenzy and saw the bright and weird door before me. I quickly opened it and I was met with a freezing atmosphere. The world turned into some sort of hell. There are large stone spikes all over Necro town, crushing through the houses. The sky all grey and the sun is smiling at me with an empty mouth. Its eyes glaring at me in those sockets. The Sockets are too big for the eye balls that I thought it'll fall to the ground but it didn't.
I don't see anybody else outside. There's only the deformed flesh like trees and broken homes. My heart begins to panic. The world is making me crazy and horrified at the same time that I froze in place.
Something was walking behind me. They felt wrong, all wrong like it's not human. I turned around to see nothing. Literally nothing. There's no room filled with colors and the screaming stopped. Far away from myself is the darkest room I've ever seen. All dark. No light. Nothing.
I closed the door behind me and checked the room that was hanging my bully and his colleagues but they're all gone and the wall is stained with blood. The writing gave me enough chills and fear that drives me mad. There is no god to save you, Hermit
I spun around in a frenzy as if someones looking at me. I can feel the eyes are at me and I don't know where it is until a stomp noise can be heard right in the room I woke up in. At first, there were loud footsteps, and now it's banging on the door like a maniac. I didn't wait for it to come out of course. So I ran away, outside in the hellish Necro town.
I'm running on the road now and something is coming for me. Thoughts popping inside my head about whatever is coming for me, it won't lose my tracks as it can smell my very soul. Until I was very far away from the house I was in, a loud scream booms from that house. The scream is like the thousand souls tormented in hell for all eternity. I can feel its gaze at me with its hellish intentions.
I didn't stop to look back. I just kept running until I get into my home. How far is this town? Because I've been running for much longer and the town shouldn't be so far. The footsteps are getting closer as my heart beats faster with every second of its footsteps getting closer.
My legs became so sore and numb, and my lungs became so shallow from the burning air. I suddenly coughed so much that I fell to the ground, hitting my elbow. I tried to crawl away but it was already too late as the thing behind me has already come to get me. I rolled on my back and looked forward to see a tall hideous figure.
It was a tall humanoid with coal like skin. Its skin tightens its bones and I can see its red blood veins pulse around its deflated muscles. Its legs are of a goat's legs, resembling the creature to be something demonic like the devil. The arms are so long that its length is from shoulder to feet. Snd its fingers are way too long that it's like a monstrous claw. Its head is not human, more like a hood connecting to its shoulders. It's not the long and impossible stretched jaw that made me scream. The eyes are because there's nothing in them. Nothing but darkness of Sheol.
It's reaching me with those hideous claws while screaming like a wild demonic animal ready to pounce on their prey. Is this really how I was going to die. To be brutally mauled by its claws and jaw. Will I share the same fate as the bully and his comrades? I don't want to know and I never want to live like this. I'm scared. I don't want to die.
By the time it reaches me, something bright hits it. It's like I'm looking at a fireball? It was big. Bigger than my torso. I looked upwards to see a bright blue figure approaching me. It's like I'm looking at someone from the afterlife because its whole body is in flames except for a recognizable coat, pants, and a cane.
"It's been so long since I've fought these creatures." It was a voice of an old man I recognize clearly. But this doesn't make any sense at all. It's so strange for this guy to sound like Brandon but his voice matches him.
The creature growled at him like a dog and I didn't waste anytime to get away from it. But the smoking smell in my lungs prohibit me to get away. It's like I was dying. But my eyes are alright.
The creature jumps over me, attacking the savior of my life. He shot another fire ball at it and that makes the creature soar back. The creature stands back up wildly before the stranger appeared before it as if he teleported in a blink of an eye. He wack his cane at its head which rips off from its neck. This stranger killed that creature like its nothing but when he turned around I can see fear on his face.
His face, I can see his eyes and mouth. There's also 2 triangular scar at the sides of his chin and they're not burning in flames. "Melvin. I can explain later but right now we have to leave." He said my name just like Brandon does. This is insane, I don't know if I was dreaming or it's real because everything is going mad.
"Let me help you up." He held me by the arm, pulling me up from the ground as I tried to take a breath. My legs are too tired for me to walk. But when he pulled me from the ground, I felt a great sensation of cleansing in my lungs and my legs and muscles began to relax. His hands doesn't hurt nor burn me as if it's a regular hand with no effect on me. I look at him and still he's in fear. Why would he be scared too?
"Brandon?" I said with fear and question in my voice. He looked at me with defeat as if he can't hide that away anymore. That's how I knew he's Brandon. "Well. Looks like you got it right. But come on. Lets move now. You don't want the fish and chips cold." As he ran, I followed in pursuit. My legs felt reborn and my lungs have increased somehow. This felt so real. Everything does. I'm not dreaming at all. It's really happening. I kept asking Brandon with many questions from my head. "You're the blue turbo?"
"Yes. I am."
"Where were you after you quit being a -"
"Melvin. Now is not the time. We have to go. I'll answer them until we reach home ok."
We were suddenly blocked by 5 more of these creatures. They're just like the one I met before when I was being chased. I hid behind Brandon for safety as the creatures screams. I stepped far back from them, not wanting to turn into their puppet or something worse. I looked around to see more of them approaching us with hungry mouths. We're surrounded.
We stand with our backs facing each other. I'm horrified to see more of these demonic creatures all around us, ready to pounce at any moment. When I turn to see Brandon I thought he would be scared but he looks like he knew this would happen. "Melvin, when I say go, run away and don't look back. Keep running no matter what."
"What? But I don't want to leave you."
"I know. But this is the least I can do for you to live. You know my story Melvin. You know why."
My heart sank from the message. Leaving him here with all these creatures, I don't even know if he'll live on after this. But what can I do against these creatures. I'm just a human. I felt so much fear and guilt. After for what I've done to myself and Brandon. I wished I never come here ever.
The monsters are creeping in. I can hear the chatters from their jaws and the footsteps around us. The creatures are ready to kill us because their backs are lifting up as a sign of predatory nature. Then suddenly when Brandon pierces his cane to the ground a loud boom vibrated around us as blue circular waves from the cane emerges out. The waves created a gravitational force that the creatures started floating in the air. Except we weren't floating. "GO!!"
And with that, I ran away as fast as I can, far away from this hell, far away from the only friend I have in my life. I can hear the sounds of vibration turned shut quiet and the screams of the demonic creatures so loud I ran even more faster. Tears are falling from my cheek with the guilt squeezing my heart with pain.
When I finally escaped and was on the clear road, I cried. I cried so much that I can feel everything around me started to fall. I've lost my best friend in Necro town and it's all my fault. I've lost him. I was lying on the ground with the deepest depression in my soul hurting me. I can't bare to lose my friend. I just can't. What am I even supposed to do? I can't save him. I'm not strong enough. I'm just scared.
I'm now sitting at the front porch of Brandon's home. Waiting for him to come back for days. I haven't eaten anything nor come back home or school. I just stayed there waiting for him to come back. I'm alone and scared.
I kept being bothered by random people. They ask why I'm still outside. I never did answer until they called the hospital or the cops. I told them there's nothing to worry about but they don't believe me. If I tell them the truth, they'll die in Necro town and I don't want that for them. I don't believe the cops would understand.
From every hospital or cops I went through, I just kept coming back. Even my parents told me to stay home, I snuck out in the night waiting for my old friend. I did eat sometimes but not really much. I just went to my room until night time arrives.
Then, one day, at midnight, he's back. He's really back. I was so happy and glad he's alive just the way he is. But when I approached to hug him, he collapsed down to his knees. I was exploded with fear and worry. I helped him up and asked him what just happened. "I don't have much time Melvin. Lets go inside, we have a visitor I think you would like to meet. Meet Judith Wednesday." Behind him was a girl who's the same age as me. Her hair is black and she wore a grey hoodie with a logo I've never seen in my whole life. She was covered in dark red blood. The blood that is definitely from the creatures in Necro town.
We all went in and I gave Brandon a seat on the couch. Judith sat next to his left. And me, I sat next to his right. "Brandon, what happened?"
He looked at me with a smile on his face as he begins to change form in front of my eyes. His body changed like he was glowing and the flames form around him. His form now just like the form I saw while at Necro city. "Well. With the help of this young lady, we've defeated all the monsters. But, for me, it didn't go well for me. I'm slowly dying you see. I'm not going to have much time in this world."
"But you can't die. You're like spiritual aren't you?"
"Yes. But that doesn't mean death can't happen to me. I don't know where people like me go when they die. Nobody does."
I can feel my heart race as the tears slides on my face. I can't help myself but to cry before him.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have go to Necro town. I shouldn't have."
"Melvin. It's not your fault. I saved you because I wanted you to live a life I protected. It's my choice. And I'm glad I did. Now. Lets go fishing together. One last time."
I wiped my tears away, trying my best not to ruin this very moment but I just couldn't help myself. He reached out his arms and I took it. I hugged him tightly whilst crying so deeply that I don't want to let go. We've stayed like this for couple of minutes until I finally let go with my soul finally relaxing but with small sadness. My guilt is free.
We grabbed our fishing equipment and went to the river in the forest. Judith follows us with a fishing rod in hand. I don't feel anything like talking to her but at least we both have company. To share the moment together I guess. But this is for Brandon and I hope she knew that too.
When we arrived at the jetty and started placing worm food at the hooks. Brandon was the first to throw his fishing hook. The fishing hook was glowing blue, just like his flames. The pond glowed so bright like a lantern. It was beautiful. The fishes shine so bright from the light. It's as if the world around us is gone and all that matters was this very moment before death.
Judith was struggling to put the worm food at the hook. I went to help her but she said. "It's ok. I got it." By the time her finger was nearly stabbed by the hook, the tip of her finger turned into metal. But that didn't bother me because at this moment, it felt like home. We just laughed. I don't know why we were laughing and it's like being a kid again.
We threw our fishing hooks in the pond, waiting for a fish to bite. The shiny blue fishes. They're more beautiful than I'd remembered. The stains of my tears fades away. "Melvin. You promise me that you'll stay strong?"
I heard Brandon said and I didn't believe it at first. How can I be strong for those that really need help or even myself? "I'm not strong."
"You are. You're strong the way you are. It's ok to be scared because that's a part of how we live. You're a good man Melvin. You just got to believe in yourself."
"How?"
With a smile on his face, he replied. "You find ways to make yourself better. Achieve your goals. And enjoy life." His words are so convincing that I begin to believe that. My eyes caught my attention to Judith with a warm and sad smile on her face. For some reason, that helped me believe too. I think I can be strong if that's what he said. "Ok. I'll be strong."
"Good. Remember Melvin, you're not alone." And with a sad and free smile on his face, he faded away before my very eyes. His body evaporated into nothing as the last bits of his flames disappear. The tears in my eyes slowly fell as I look into the the pond and the sun beginning to rise.
"I know how it feels." I heard Judith said.
"Really?'
"I've lost my mom and dad to cancer. My mom died when I turned 8. My dad died when I'm at the age of 16. I felt so depressed when my parents die right in front of me. I can't do anything except watch."
"I guess we both got the same moment then. I wish I could just get him back." She looked at me with sad eyes. This very moment makes us feel so calmly sad like its a funeral or somewhere quiet.
"I know. But there's nothing we can do. We just have to move forward with the memories."
It was nice to have someone with me who had similar stories like mine. She was right, we can't do anything about it. We can't get them back. It was hard for me, I know well. Like she said, I had to move forward and keep the memories I had with Brandon. I looked at the sky and prayed that wherever Brandon is now, he's at peace with his wife and son. In a good life he deserved.
It's been a few weeks. I stopped trying to escape school because my bully's are gone. But that didn't make me feel better at all nor felt good. Their parents looked everywhere for them, even the cops but they're not found. Some of the cops went into Necro town and was never heard of again. I wished I could warn them but they don't believe me when I did.
Judith came to visit me every now and then whenever I left school. We exchange stories of our past lives and other stories shared by others. We became close as friends as we kept hanging out with each other. I'm very glad and happy to have a new friend. She's not like any other teenager I've ever met. She's really good with cutting wood. She even shot an arrow directly at the fish in the river.
She's really cool but also depressing. She doesn't have any other friends and doesn't even go to school. Her mom died first, which is the reason she stopped going to school. So that she'll spend more time with her dad just like with her mom. She didn't want any friends. She only wanted her mom and dad and they're enough for her. Until she lost them. They were everything to her. But as time goes, she moved on and came here.
I knew how she fought the creatures with Brandon. At first I thought she was lost like me too but she's much stronger than I'd think. She told me she got a robot spirit within her spirit. A fusion. She can form into the form of her spiritual companion. Her name was Athena and in every single dream she kept coming over in her dreams, babbling random stuff. She's inside of her head, which means she's the everyday annoying voice in her mind that she cannot get away from. I felt bad for her at first but she shrugged it off, saying. "But hey, we got along with each other. Even that I don't like her at first, she's a person too."
One day, we went to the woods at night with our flash lights. It was horrifying for me because we could get lost so easily here. Sweat poured down on my forehead as we kept walking into the woods. Until suddenly, a bright blue light in front of us glows in the night. When we approached the light, it was the pond.
The pond was glowing the same light as Brandon's. This never happened ever in every night or day. Unless he did something or he somehow resides there. But I don't feel like he's there. But I can feel something else.
We walked to the jetty until we stopped near the edge. The pond is as beautiful as I remember with the blue shiny fishes swimming around it. I wonder what happens if I put my hand in the pond. Will I feel something warm or something else. Maybe my arm will glow. I don't know. But then something grew within my soul. A connection. As if the pond wants me to put my hand in. It felt amusing.
So I did it without hesitation. It felt warm as I swim my right hand in the water. The water suddenly jumped on my arm. I thought I was going to panic but I didn't flinch. Instead I let it do what it does. Judith tried to pull me away but I told her not to. She then watched as the glow of the pond gathered around the water that is holding my arm. I felt a great sensation of warmth and heat. I felt a stinging pain all over my arm but it quickly turned into a cold feeling.
All of the glow of the blue flame from the pond is now on my arm, glowing as small flames flew up from my arm, just like Brandon's head of flames. As the glow fades away, I can see clearly that my arm is stained with bright blue.
The pond is now empty of normal water and the fish swims peacefully. We were both shocked as to what happened. Did the glow of Brandon's flames just fused with my arm? I can definitely feel the power from my arm coursing with my soul. "How did it feel?"
"It felt like, painful at first but went normal. I don't know." A realization hit me that I forgot where my flashlight was. I looked to find nothing. Judith helped me out by lighting around the place but it wasn't enough. Suddenly, I felt something in my arm. I lift my hand up and gripped tight, making a bold fist. When I opened my hand, a bright blue flame appeared before me. A bright orb of blue flame glowing our surroundings.
It's as if I knew what I was doing. It's like my soul is connected to this power. When I looked at Judith, her face was a surprised look. I'm surprised as well. So I think I have Brandons powers now. I think I know the reason the glow came tonight. Brandon gave me his powers because what's the point in keeping them when he's living in a peaceful life. I understand now.
I looked around and found my flashlight dropped in the pond. I was frightened that it could've electrocuted the fishes but it didn't. I wasn't paying any attention to it. Accidentally dropping my flashlight. But it looked to be drained off somehow. When I was grabbing in for it, the pond created a vortex beneath the touch of my right palm.
It was shockingly beautiful to watch. The vortex flows so smoothly. I then put my foot on the ground and the pond made space for me to be able to move around. The fish swims all around the pond as I stepped on the ground of the pond beneath me. It was dry. All dry. I grabbed my flashlight and looked up to the jetty. To Judith. With a smile on her face, she said. "This is so cool."
I smiled back as the pond begins to glow and my right hand glows with blue the blue flames. I stand on the ground of the pond my old friend and I loved going to. I have the gift from Brandon and now, I think I'll use this power for good.
I looked up into the night sky, watching the stars shine above whilst a shooting star appeared with them.
I'll be strong Brandon. I'll overcome every obstacle I come across and overcome the suffering. I'll be strong for who I am. And no one is going to stand in my way of doing that.

The Castaway

The man on the raft had only hope to keep him alive now. The bones showed through his thin face. An endless moan escaped his trembling mouth. His eyes were bright with fever. He had been clinging to life for more than a month now on this wretched collection of planks.

All at once a new sound reached his enfeebled brain: a buzzing noise imagined in his delirium no doubt. But it wasn't —it really was a helicopter approaching slowly, flying over the raft. Saved! He was saved! The castaway danced about clumsily.
In the meantime a rope-ladder had been lowered from the helicopter. A man dressed in rags, his emaciated face overgrown with a coarse beard, was pushed brutally on to the top rungs.
The helicopter turned away and disappeared.
Now there were two castaways on the raft.

Happy Are Those, Like Ulysses...

Some people feel an unhealthy attachment to their native town; and if circumstances force them to settle down away from home they cannot bear the thought of dying so far from their birthplace. Alas, things are not always easily remedied. In the past, many unfortunates realized, too late, that they would breathe their last many miles from the consolations of home.
Fortunately, progress has changed all this. Nowadays, the dying are conveyed to their home towns by express train. A miracle of devotion and organization now makes it possible for them to die at the very spot where they were born; but few are aware of the altruism and self-sacrifice required to enable the near-defunct to make this last journey.
Let us make a brief survey. The dying are collected from hospitals and homes and loaded into an ambulance coach. As the departure time approaches, the coach is taken from its siding and coupled to the train. Old people brought in by van keep arriving. At last the whistle goes and the train starts.
This marks the beginning of a period of real torment for the ambulance men. The express runs at full speed. The ambulance coach is connected fore and aft to other coaches and its weight, together with that of its contents, reduces the cushioning effect of the springs so that it waltzes madly with each piston-stroke of the engine. Despite all this jolting and bumping, the ambulance team have to complete the sorting which was only partly done before departure. Their job is to arrange and classify the bodies into compartments, each carrying the name of a station. Crowded together and almost unable to move their arms and legs because of the obstructing stretchers, the unfortunate ambulance workers forage in the enormous heap of the moribund, feverishly classifying them, breathing air that is wholly noxious.
During the seven-hour run from Paris to Bordeaux each ambulance clerk must sort, on average, fourteen thousand old people without a break. Since most of these special trains run at night, the work has to be done in the smoky flickering light of wretched oil-lamps. New coaches lit by electricity have been put into service but the bulbs often prove defective. Only last September a team making the return run to Paris in one of these coaches had to use candles fixed on syringes.
And sorting is not all they have to do! The bodies for each station have to be put into sacks, tied and put aside. There's not a minute to lose. The hands of the clock turn relentlessly, the thermometer mounts inexorably, the end of the journey approaches. Furthermore, an express does not stop at every station along the line, so when it passes through a station the sack or stretcher must be thrown out of the coach. Two or three minutes before the expected time an ambulance man pressed against a door peers questioningly into the distance. Opposite him a delivery man stands doubled over against another door, clutching a bulging sack to his chest, ready to throw it out at the word of command. 'Now!' shouts the first man, and the sack is catapulted into the darkness on to the platform or track where it is soon collected by employees of the local funeral service.
This expeditious method of delivery is not free from its dangers and risks. Accidents are still common. Only recently a policeman on duty on a station platform was knocked down by an old man falling on top of him. Another time, at the spot between Abbeville and Calais, where the train runs over a series of bridges only a few miles from the sea, the ambulance man, misled by the darkness, tumbled a stretcher into the mouth of a river. This only came to light the next day when the stretcher was recovered floating in the open Channel several miles away, ripped open with three-quarters of its contents pillaged.

-- Roland Topor [Tr by Margaret Crosland and David LeVay]. Published in Stories and Drawings (Peter Owen, 1968.) See also: "Feeding the Hungry"

Sorry if this doesn't go here, mods please delete if inappropriate.
Recently my elderly father passed, so I quit my job and came to stay with my elderly mum for a few months (to relieve my brother as he'd recently taken weeks off work to do the same when mum and then later dad was in hospital). The car's in dad's name and the tax, MOT, and service are due around now. Mum was really worried as dad had zero charge road tax for being disabled, and she thought she couldn't drive it until it was sorted - as the log book part can't be found it would be up to 4 weeks to get it in her name and taxed properly. First thing I did was call 111 and speak with them about the situation; after a long chat with experienced officers they said because we're trying to sort it we'd not be charged if found driving on dad's road tax. I had to go to a couple of post offices as it's more complicated and the process took nearly a week, but now the road tax is paid fully and the car should be in mum's name in a few weeks.
While we were out the other day, another visit to a PO being one of the reasons, we parked up as mum wanted to pop into Greggs for a couple of sausage rolls. She fell last December and broke her hip and had a replacement fitted, so I parked as close as possible which meant it was on a business's drive and she walked over with her stick. I sat in the car in case the business needed me to move, and saw a guy bend down in front of the car and pick something up then walk off. As he walked off, he had a big red thing in his hand which looked suspiciously like my mum's purse. Took me longer to process than it should've but after a few seconds I got out to see what he'd picked up, by then mum had come back and said she'd left her purse in the car. I ran in the direction the guy had gone and there was a big DIY independent place there followed by a row of houses, so went in and asked the 'keepeowner if he'd seen a guy with a big red purse. Mum followed and as (they said) he hadn't entered the place I went out to see if I could see him.
By the time I got back, the shopkeeper was leading mum to the CCTV screens in the back while she was explaining dad's funeral expenses were in her purse - in cash. I called 999 and they spent at least 10 minutes on the phone with me and then mum, telling her 2 cars and several 'spotters' are in the general location now. The CCTV showed the guy walking past, then walking back with a red thing in his hand. After we'd gone through everything we could, we got in the car to go home for a coffee but the Police called again for questions so we pulled over. After a few minutes they called again and said they'd got her purse - we were only 2 minutes away and headed straight back. As we were pulling up outside the DIY place the police car was too, the (very!) young officer handed over mum's purse and it had everything inside it - completely untouched. Apparently the owner of the DIY place found it in the alley next to the building, even though he'd taken mum there earlier to look to see if the thief had dropped it. Mum went in to the DIY place to thank the guy, and I had a little cry as her luck has been so shitty for the last year.
First time I've called the police since the Bradford Manningham riots back in the 90s, when I witnessed from my flat a police van crash and topple over late at night. Very helpful and kind people!

This summer vacation rosy and her family went to their ancestral home in New Jersey their was rumors that the house was built by her ancestors for hiding their black magic in 1896 many children were went missing near the house but one day a person saw one of the people who lived their murrding 2 children and performing a spell the person ran to the village and told every people and the village people went to the house and saw blood dripping from. The house 2nd floor the killed many family members the beeged for forgiveness but the village people didn't show mercy so the family gave them a curse that no one will never come to this house if someone comes they will die so many years no one came but rosy grand father bought this home but his grand father died very soon after he bought the house he left the house to rosy but rosy didn't believe in this story he and her husband went to the house and stayed they planned to stay there for a long time but rosy husband went for a business trip so rosy was alone in the house but one day rosy heard some thing in the 2nd floor she slowly went to 2nd floor and opens the door and some energy pulls her from Bhiend and claws her throat and kills her her husband attends her funeral she was buried under the houses back yard the ghost smiles and leaves for his home killing one more person.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE PLEASE HELP I AM SO SCARED. I’m a 17 year old lightweight female on 200mg of Zoloft daily for about 2 years. My grandfather recently passed away and I left home for his funeral. We’re staying here for 5 days and it’s about 250 miles from my house. I left my zoloft at home and I am scared. My grandpa lived in the middle of nowhere and there’s no pharmacy with my healthcare within 50 miles of here. I got here yesterday and have gone two nights without my prescription. I don’t know what to do. Please give me advice literally anything. I’ve already messaged my doctor and psychiatrist. But they might not be able to get back to me until after the trip. I have weed and access to stores so I can go buy something. Please give me ideas on what to do. Really anything at all please please please let me know. I’m so scared.

My grandmother passed away late November. My sister (now 18soon to be 19) was her golden grandchild child and lived with her for about 2 years soon before she passed but moved to the city a few months before the passing to get away from our aunt while grandma was away in the hospital. Our GM(grandmother) told her she would be leaving her car and some sentimental affects to her as she knew she was near the end of her life (in cancer remission but weaker and feeling her age more than ever).
GM passed and A(aunty) said she had the car towed and all of grandmother's things thrown away including the personal items sister left. The thing is someone who knows S(sister) said they saw aunty breaking the windows of the car a month ago and there's glass all over but no one looked into the trailer to check for the items being thrown away as A just told her that. A says nothing was left to S in the will and that S is nasty to contact her about this and not to connect with her. A didn't even let S know GM passed, one of GMs good friends let her know. Didn't tell her any funeral details and S had to find out via online posts and confirm with GMs friends. A is bitter that S didn't take on more responsibility with my GMs dogs.
We are young and poor and have no idea what to even do. I don't think I'll get anything as my GM and I had a tense relationship but her and S were extremely close, unsure about other grandchildren as one sibling was close with her but not as close as S and the other had a relationship that was marginally better than mine. S deserves her childhood instruments and toys and personal items she left and sentimental items from GM. A says she was fully left out of the will and is refusing to let her see the will at all. What can we do, where do we go? Can we formally request to see the will? What if one wasn't left?
If there is a will is there any way we can see it even if A doesn't want us to?
Some maybe irrelevant background: The summer of a huge surgery for my GM, S had a military boot camp for 6 weeks then another 3or4 week camp that was extremely difficult to get into. My GM had multiple dogs and S took care of them while she was in and out of the hospital in the year before the surgery. After the huge surgery GM came back home but then fell and went back to hospital soon before S's camp and A had to look after the dogs. GM was very frail and had to stay in the hospital indefinitely. When S returned after 6 weeks A was furious that S wasnt taking care of GM's home or dogs while she was in the hospital and called her selfish for leaving to do her own thing. A lives in the same neighborhood but the dogs were quite old and required lots of care and A is retired. She made it so S couldn't go to her second more important camp and was controlling the internet in my grandmothers home(small town and limited public wifi and no cell service) and coming over to yell at my sister about chores (nothing nasty just not spick and span like grandma used to punish her kids and us grandkids before she softened). S moved out to the big city away from A and A is super bitter towards S for not taking responsibility and running away. GM said S could leave things when she moved as she didn't have a moving truck rental just a family friend with a truck who drove her 6+ hours and so obviously could only do one trip.A hasn't talked to her since GMs passing and says everything was chucked and that S is evil for even bringing this up after GMs death

As we finish divorce we split weeks, I have sunday-tuesday, she has Thursday-saturday (kinda). She has moved out to live with her new bf (it's complicated, no direct slut bashing, we were in loveless marriage for three years).
However, level of not caring is just wow.
Kids stay with me at home every night, one of kids is special needs and often needs help over night. I do all school mornings, she comes over 330-5pm on school days I as finish up work to be with kids, we switch Wednesdays, on her nights she sticks around until 8pm (her guy works nights, she needs to get back by 830 to say goodbye to him--she says). (They are unwisely trying to have a kid three months after meeting).
Stbx didn't come over on Monday, which okay, not her day, but was a holiday and kids home all day. since I was off and Monday is one of her guys off days, and then when she decided to tell me Monday night maybe she had really messed things up with him and I told her off that I wasn't one to talk to about that (she was catastrophiizing) I then didn't have her come over on Tuesday and took off early from work, then was over yesterday from 330-8, then today was over 330-5pm, but apparently had a lot of drama going on and wasn't feeling mentally great, including being sad I took down all the art she had put up (even though she doesn't live here anymore), so I offered to take over, she said she felt bad to have to have me take more time with kids, but I told her frankly I have no interest being in same building with her while she is not in a good space mentally which she accepted. Oh, and then as I'm having best friend and his wife over for dinner on Friday, she will only be over here from 330-5pm to a funeral in hometown on Saturday so she won't take that day with kids, then Sunday is my day again.
So between Saturday at 7pm (when she left an hour early to fuck) to next Monday at 330 she will have seen the kids 7.5 hours.
Where as, not counting school hours (where I am still primary contact as I work from home and school is five minutes away but she is living 20-30 away) I will have spent 170 hours within 30ft of them (expect when I take them to a park or something).
Idk, I get why she went to find someone else, but God damn, are you lost in lust.

hello, im gonna be vulnerable here and i understand this may get some hate. my boyfriend has a friend that he went to highschool with we will call Giana. Giana is a high achiever, very smart and makes a lot of money and goes to a very fancy med school, been on TV, etc. i met my boyfriend a few months ago, and his parents are nice enough. they do want him to be with Giana though, and I know that. im going to a trade school to get my licensing to be a mortician and I work at a funeral home now. my school is small, cheap, and a community college. ive never done anything respectable, or high achieving like she has. The other day at dinner his parents brought her up and showed each other what she posted for my boyfriends birthday and how much they loved her. they never usually address or talk to me. she’s very pretty and has a good body too, the more I think about all the ways she’s better than me the more sick I feel. i have never told my boyfriend because im scared of being vulnerable with him and it’s embarrassing to admit that I’m having a problem. i wish i wasn’t like this and my boyfriend always tells me how much he loves me, and reassures me often. i don’t know why i have such a hard time with it.

My friendship of 8 years is going downhill. I don’t know if I just ghost completely or say something. I fear if I say anything it’s going to be an argument. I spent almost 6 years in a emotional and mental abusive relationship. She had to deal with the constant venting. But she had her fair share. An ED, miserable home life, stress of school, bad breakup. I was there for that. She always hated my ex. But when I was moving on I met my husband. We got married extremely fast and she didn’t seem supportive til the day of the wedding. I let that go. She’s in a relationship that she says is completely normal. But it’s constant complaining of plans ruined, getting ignored, no time together. It’s her relationship but she vents to me about it. I tell her straight up what I think. She doesn’t listen but it’s okay because I did the same thing. It’s her life. Nothing is a normal conversation anymore. I tell her my car took a shit worried about getting to work or losing my job. I get “oop” or “wack” when she vents I send paragraphs of how important, loved, cared for she is, etc. this week a friend in her boyfriends friend group took her life. Extremely upsetting. Everyone’s feelings is valid of course. But I feel like she’s projecting too much of her own issues into this. It’s always hard when you know someone that passes. We haven’t talked in two days because I told her while we were having a somewhat rare casual conversation that I was going to call my OB the next day because I was a couple days late in my period (for someone that’s had two miscarriages back to back I was a little spooked ). She replied “Ok”. We haven’t talked in a few days she tells me it’s hard getting ready for the funeral. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open it. When I finally did she brought up it was a very hard day and that her boyfriends ex was there… why is that something that would cross your mind at a funeral. Who cares? A friend took their life. You are surrounded by grieving people. Then said sorry it must be triggering since I lost someone to suicide. But I feel like being in a intimate relationship with someone that takes their life is completely different kind of hurt then your boyfriend’s friend ex girlfriend that for some reason she compares hers mental breakdown to her own. Or saying this is the worst death you experienced when you have attended close family funerals. They hung out in groups but never one on one. But I could be wrong? I just feel like she’s lost all touch of reality. That she only cares about what’s going on with her. She has friends she goes out with to have fun I’m the friend that gets the left overs and issues. But the second I say anything it’s dismissed. She’s apologized in the past for being a bad friend but keeps repeating.

I’ve had a rough couple days. Yesterday we took a 4 hour road trip to my cousin’s funeral, was there for 4 hours, then a 4 hour road trip back. The whole time I drank only one regular water bottle and other than that a coffee, a soda, and a burger. I had a headache from crying at the funeral and just overall exhaustion from being on the road. I got home at around midnight but didn’t fall asleep until later (and didn’t have the greatest sleep) and this morning I woke up early for work and felt nauseous. I’ve been slightly nauseated all day, but still able to eat and work. I took a Zofran at around 1:30pm and that helped for a few hours but then it came back. I have no stomachache and the nausea isn’t terrible, just kinda lingering & annoying. I’m also really tired. Does anyone else feel queasy when they haven’t slept well? The logical side of me wants to think it’s a combination of yesterdays crying, lack of water, headache, and then not sleeping well. But then the other side of me wants to spiral, and I don’t want to go there because my anxiety makes everything worse.

Throwaway account, I keep going back and forth from "I'm on top of the world" and "Why the fuck haven't I killed myself yet" as two of the main emotions I feel.
Doctors won't tell me I'm bipolar or that I have anything more than a bit of anxiety. It would be such a relief to know that there is a simple chemical imbalance that is causing this... Something explainable.
My parents won't accept that the feelings I have are anything more than the normal confusion surrounding a young person finding their way in the world. They are the main reason I'm still here, but every day makes it harder to cling to that sole reason.
I moved to an area where I knew nobody, I got promoted multiple times and I often receive awards for my work. But going home is a roulette wheel. Tonight my roommates decided to make fun of me for liking the Miami Heat to the point where they made plans without me my texting each other in front of my face. I can't defend myself without getting worked up, so I sat there in silence while they all backed each other up. I know that I need to leave this house one way or another.
But I'll guarantee that in two days they'll ask me to help them with something or to grab a beer with them - even though I've been trying to go sober for 3 months now. It's like everybody wants me to be their best friend or a new obituary depending on the day. Nobody asks me how I'm doing unless I ask first, and even then it's because of the unspoken obligation.
I don't know what I want to gain from killing myself. I know for a fact that the amount of people that will post a picture of me on their Instagram story or exaggerate a conversation they had with me will be unbearable. I've only considered myself able to open up to 6 people in my life, and none of them are included with the fake ass "Oh I knew him soooooo well" people.
I truly cannot even force myself to envision a life past this year. Because every friend group I've had has either grown apart, ganged up on me for being too nice/passive, or walked away from me because "I can't hang on their level"
I'm fucking lost, I don't want to kill myself but at this point I don't know what else will help the pain.

So, I (20F) am a college student living in the dorms by myself this summer and have been ever since I came here. For some backstory, around three years ago when COVID hit, I was with my great-grandmother for spring break; then I got quarantined with her from there. I was very comfortable there because I was able to leave the house and hang out with friends (when quarantine was done) not be watched 24/7, had some sort of privacy, and I didn’t always have to watch my brother since I did that all the time when school was in-person because my mom (42F) did late hours (she now works at home after COVID). My mother and I already have a tipping relationship but back then it was awful. I felt happy with my GG, and she was mad, so she took me off the lease for staying with my GG.
So, I lived with my GG until I went to college in August 2021. So now fast-forward, we have a better relationship with each other, and my great-grandmother passed away in February this year and gave the house to my uncle. He has kids and a wife, so there wouldn’t be any room for me, and my grandma doesn’t really like having company at her house much (plus me living with her would remind her of how she didn’t get the house.) Anyway, that meant I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I had asked my mother if I could come back because and she had said in a snarky tone, “What’s home to you anyway?” I took that as a sign that she didn’t want me back home. Last week, I told her I didn’t start summer classes till the end of June, and she got mad asking why I didn’t just come home.
I told her about what she said about “what’s home to me”. She acted as if she didn’t recall it, then said it wasn’t meant to be taken “that way” and that I was being childish that I didn’t ask her about it. She then went on and on saying how I never want to be around her, how I don’t like her, and how I don’t respect her.
She kept bringing up things in the past how when were at my GG’s house for the funeral and we were supposed to room with each other, I had advocated we should be in separate rooms to avoid any conflict and I wanted to room with my brother since I hadn't seen him in awhile. I thought it was the only logical reason at the time, especially with everyone on edge. I got angry and started ranting about how I never said I didn’t like her but every time we are together that we argue, and it turns ugly so why even bother? Then we just started yelling at each other until she said she doesn’t want to talk to me anymore and she cut me off.
I don’t know if I’m the asshole for not giving it another chance and overthinking what she said but I honestly don’t want to move in if we still have heated arguments over the phone knowing it would be 10x worse in person.
A quick thing I do miss my brother and he understands what’s going on and why I don’t want to go back home. If anything, my mother, and him have a way closer bond.

Welcome to McReynold’s-Nave & Larson Funeral Home

For more than 100 years, McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home in Clarksville, TN has been serving the families of greater Montgomery and Houston county. We are one of the many funeral homes in Clarksville, TN who understand the importance of offering quality services. From start to finish, your family can trust that our caring and knowledgeable staff will be here to assist you every step of the way. We offer affordably priced funeral, cremation, and memorial services that are designed to meet your family’s needs and budget.
With two locations to serve you, our funeral homes in Clarksville, TN and Erin, TN can help you honor your loved one and say goodbye. Each year we help hundreds of families in the area say meaningful goodbyes to their departed loved ones.
Our staff is comprised of some the most experienced, knowledgeable, and caring funeral professionals in the industry. We understand that the loss of a loved one is a difficult time for a family. Our compassionate team will work hard to help you arrange a service that not only celebrates the legacy of your loved one but also provides your family with the closure and goodbye you need. From the first call to long after the service has ended, our team will be here to provide you with the resources and guidance you need.
We pledge to honor your loved one with dignity, respect, and personal attention to every detail. With two beautiful facilities, 24/7 service, and caring and knowledgeable staff; we are confident your family will have peace of mind in knowing that our family will be here for you when you need us.
To learn more about our funeral homes in Clarksville, TN and Erin, TN, please browse our site. Throughout it you will find helpful resources and information to help you cope with loss and say goodbye. If you have any questions about our services or how we can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can be reached by phone or email at any time.

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:

1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
2. Burial services and cremation options
3. Celebrant Services

Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.

Our Complete Funeral Service Package

In most cases, a family will choose to hold a complete funeral service to honor their loved one. This is commonly referred to as a traditional funeral service and includes a visitation, funeral service, committal, and reception.
For this funeral arrangement, guests will have the opportunity to host a visitation the evening prior to the service and up to the hour of service on the day of the funeral. After the visitation, a funeral service will be held at either the funeral home or a church the deceased held membership with. Immediately following the conclusion of the funeral service, the remains will be transported to a local cemetery for burial. Following the funeral service, guests are encouraged to stay for a reception where they can offer condolences and share memories of the deceased over refreshments and snacks.
Our affordable funeral service pricing for this package includes everything mentioned above. Please keep in mind that your family will be responsible for additional expenses like the casket, grave liner and monument. If you have any questions about our funeral service pricing or payment options, a member of our staff would be happy to assist you.
Our caring and professional staff would be happy to meet with you and discuss the different packages we have available. From there, we will work with you to personalize the funeral arrangements and pay tribute to the deceased with dignity and respect.
Our funeral service professionals can tailor services to suit any specific desires or needs of the families we serve. For further information or specific pricing, please consult with one of our funeral directors by visiting us or by calling us.
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Why Choose Burial?

One of the most common questions we get asked is “why choose burial over cremation?”. If you are undecided we have provided a list of benefits of choosing burial to help simplify your decision. There is a wide variety of reasons why someone would choose burial, however the reasons listed below are what we have found to be the most common.
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Affordable Cremation

Part of making funeral arrangements on behalf of a loved one involves choosing between burial of the body, or cremation. Certainly this is a big decision, based on any number of factors: religious or spiritual beliefs, finances, or ecological awareness are just some of the reasons we’ve heard for choosing cremation. Before you can make the choice, you need to know exactly what it is you’re considering. If you’re wondering “what is cremation?”, you can learn the basics below. If the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call. One of our cremation specialists will address any of your inquiries or concerns.
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Celebration of Life Services

More and more families are choosing to hold ceremonies that celebrate the life and personality of their loved one. A celebration of life ceremony acts as an alternative to a traditional funeral ceremony. It achieves the same purposes as a traditional funeral by gathering family and friends to pay tribute to the deceased. A celebration of life has a more uplifting atmosphere that reflects on positive stories and memories that involved your loved one. The major benefit of a celebration of life is that it allows you the freedom to best display your loved one’s personality, values, and passions, in whichever way you see fit.
The best way to start planning a celebration of life is to begin doing so while your loved one is still with you. This way you have the chance to ask them, “how do you want to be remembered?”, “what are you most passionate about?”, and “what would you like your celebration of life to include?”. This way you are not left guessing what your loved one would’ve wanted when it comes time to plan the celebration of life service.Contact Our Funeral Home in Clarksville, Tennessee
McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home
Address: 1209 Madison Street Clarksville, TN 37040 Phone: 931-647-3371
Fax: 931-647-3313
Email: [email protected]
Nave Funeral Home
Address: 4639 West Main St. Erin, TN 37061 Phone: 931-289-4277
Fax: 931-647-3313
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.navefuneralhomes.com/