Here's my story from Writer's Digest's February prompt, which is the first sentence. Out of 640 entries only five were chosen, alas, not mine. Tell me what you think of it . . .
It was on a bright, starry night that the traveling circus rolled into town. They paraded down Main Street in grey silence, with neither the animals nor humans making a sound. Spooky in the extreme, macabre even.
Sneaking out of the house every evening had become the norm, it was better than listening to Mom cry. I knew I screwed up when I wrecked the car. But, geez, give a guy a break.
It was late, around ten o’clock, but like most small towns the sidewalks rolled-up around six and the one and only traffic light in town flashed yellow. I followed the silent entourage, not knowing exactly why, but something pulled me toward them.
Shoving my hands into my Levi’s, I stared at my feet as I walked along the cracked and weedy sidewalk. I didn’t expect to see anyone, which made it worse when I nearly plowed into the town’s certified nutjob. I didn’t realize I hit her until I heard her gasp. I turned to steady her. “I’m sorry, Miz Leticia, guess I should have been looking where I was headed.”
She turned, squinting through her glasses as she looked up at me. “Is that you, Luke Mathews?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I replied. “What brings you out this late?”
She nervously coughed and glanced at the circus walking down the street. “Oh, I was working late and I heard the circus arrive. I thought I’d watch.”
Miz Leticia Feral was considered the town kook because she ran a palm reading shop. She made all sorts of psychic claims, but no one believed her. Rumors had spread that sometimes she helped the big city cops when they were looking for a missing kid. I never saw any cops consulting her, but that didn’t mean she didn’t help. Most of the time, giggling girls frequented her establishment, because along with the palm reading she also made love potions.
“I wonder why no one else is out tonight. You woulda thought the circus rolling through would be a sight to see.”
Miz Leticia looked up at me. Her eyes seemed glassy and sad as if she had tears ready to fall. She laid her hand on my arm. “Oh, Luke,” she said, her voice catching in her throat. “Let’s follow them.”
Town was only about two blocks long, so it didn’t take long before the circus had reached the old fairgrounds. As silently as they trod down Main Street, they pitched their tents. Horses and elephants walked into the grassy paddocks and proceeded to eat the overgrown grass.
We stopped at the road turning into the fairgrounds. I leaned against the broken gate. “Why do you think they’re here, Miz Leticia? It don’t seem natural somehow.”
Leticia sniffed a little, pulled a tissue out from somewhere, and blew her nose. “Luke . . . honey, they’re here for you.”
I glanced at Miz Leticia, but she refused to look at me. “Now, that’s just crazy talk, Miz Leticia. I never wanted to join the circus. Why would they want me?”
“Luke, what do you remember about the accident?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Well, I know I dun wrong, Ma’am, but I survived. I learned my lesson. I’ll never text and drive again.” I thought for a minute, but my mind had grown foggy for some reason. “The accident was real close to here, wasn’t it? I know my truck was totaled. It was messed up something awful.”
A breeze picked up, carrying the faint scent of fresh mown hay fields. “Yes, Luke the accident was right where you’re standing.”
I looked at the broken gate, noticing for the first time the fresh streak of black paint along the whitewashed poles. On the ground, a white cross was planted in the dirt. Dead flowers, candles and stuffed animals were piled around the cross. “I-I don’t understand.”
“You didn’t make it, Luke,” said Leticia. “You died.”
I frowned as I shook my head. “No . . . n-no—“
“I’m afraid so, Luke. They’re waiting for you. It’s time for you to go.” Shadow figures walked out of the shadow tents and stood, waiting.
“But, Mom—“
“I’ll tell her you said good-bye.”
I felt a pull toward the shadow people. Miz Leticia was right. It was time for me to go. “Tell Momma that I love her.”
Later, Peeps!
