The Doll by Littlewing1957
When the physical body experiences a horrible trauma that results in death, the soul may become trapped on Earth, often taking up residence in an inanimate object.
Rich was lucky to be alive. He was home when the rednecks stormed their little house, dragging poor Earl out, kicking and screaming, and then torturing him to death. Earl fought his attackers like a madman, but he insisted that Rich hide in the little alcove under the stairs. Rich would be safe there. Earl loved Rich more than life itself, and refused to allow any harm to come to him. Besides, it was not Rich that they wanted. Earl was the tough old bird who talked back to those uneducated, inbred idiots. He didn’t back down when he heard the taunts, “queer, queen, sissy boy!” He even bloodied a few noses. But Rich was more mild mannered, shy and unassuming. The mob didn’t want him.
After Earl’s death, Rich couldn’t stand, nor could he afford to be in the house they shared. He put it on the market and rented a little place in Cody just by the railroad tracks. He took a job in the post office sorting mail. His life was normal, by all accounts, but he would forever be haunted by the love of his life’s cruel fate.
Rich was paid every two weeks. He earned a modest salary, but made more than enough to get by. He had a little nephew that he was fond of, saw often, and liked to spoil. One Friday after he got his check, Rich decided to buy his 3 year old nephew a toy. He walked to Sears and took the elevator to the toy department. He inspected toy trucks, baseball bats, stuffed animals. Nothing struck his fancy until he noticed a doll: a cowboy doll all appointed with chaps, spurs, gun, and hat. Rich picked up the doll, which was larger than any doll he had ever seen and gave it the once over. There was something very familiar about the face. He was drawn to the brown eyes, the heavy, busy eyebrows, and the perpetual grin. The doll reminded him of someone. He had to have it. No, it was for his nephew!!?? Rich wasn’t sure anymore, but he paid for the doll and took it home.
When he reached his place, Rich fetched the doll from the shopping bag and sat it on the sofa in his tiny living room. He studied it a bit more, and satisfied that he picked the right gift for little Clark, walked into the kitchen to fix something for supper. Rich’s appetite had diminished considerably since the death of his lover, and most nights all he really wanted was soup, crackers and a drink. This night was no different. Rich placed his soup and cola on a tray and carried it into the living room to eat and watch a little TV. But when he reached the sofa, the doll was gone. Rich almost dropped his tray, but collected himself enough to put his food down and go look for the toy. He searched under the couch, his table and chair, looked in the bathroom, no doll. Rich was trying hard to retain his composure, but he was coming unglued. Nowhere else left to look but the bedroom. Rich’s bedroom was furnished with a full sized bed and not much else. The bedroom was pitch dark, and when he turned on the light, he almost fell in a swoon. For on the bed was the doll, naked, laying provocatively on Rich’s pillow. Rich looked on in wonder at the doll’s rubber manhood – outsized and perfectly lifelike! One look into the doll’s eyes, now moist, and Rich was no longer afraid.
“Earl!” Rich croaked, as he took a tentative step toward the bed. Silent tears streamed down his craggy face as he thought he heard the doll say,
“It’s okay, Rich!” It’s okay. I’m here with you now, and I’ll never leave you. Come to me, baby. Come to me now!” Rich turned off the light and approached his bed.
Rich’s nephew never got the doll, but was presented with a shiny red fire truck instead. Rich’s neighbors didn’t know what to make of a grown man who carried around a cowboy doll with him wherever he went. One day Mrs. Miller, Rich’s next door neighbor, passed him sitting out on his stoop with his doll on his lap. Mrs. Miller was used to the sight of Rich with his doll, but his time, there was something different. She could have sworn the doll was sitting on Rich’s lap with a wicked grin on its face, a slight bulge protruding from its pants…
Topic: Introducing the "Jack with Ennis" Fan Fic Game - the BetterMost Edition (Read 2170252 times)