[Nufsay]

It was Halloween night and just for the fun of it, Candace and her mom, April, were going to a séance. They were both skeptics who didn't believe in ghosts but thought it would be fun to experience one.

When they told friends about their plan, they were, in turn, told all sorts of stories. Some warned them against it, saying that it was dangerous to play with the dead, that demons might come out, that bad luck would befall them, etc.

Others said it was simple harmless fun thereby encouraging them in their spooky endeavor.

When Candace and April arrived at their destination, they discovered it to be an old mansion going back to Civil War times. It was getting dark and there were no street lights in the deserted country area. They looked at each other as if to question going ahead with it.

April: Honey, you sure you want to do this?

Candace: Yeah, are you getting scared or something?

April: Well, no. But. geez, this looks like something out of a horror movie.

Candace: I think that makes it more fun. It can be fun to be scared, you know. (Candace was hoping to major in psychology one day.)

April: Did you read that in one of your psychology books?

Candace: Yeah, I think so. I heard it somewhere, too. People kind of like to be scared ... sometimes.

April: Like being scared? Well, we came this far. Are we going in or not?

Candace: (Getting out of the car). Yeah, mom, we're going in, unless you're chickening out on me.

April: What me? Lead the way, smartie pants.

The two women rang the bell and an ugly looking tall and gaunt butler answered the door. He let them in and walked ahead of them slowly and somberly. Candace poked her mom gently in the arm saying, "just like in a movie, hey, mom?" April replied: "Maybe we are in a movie."

There were a few people in the room with a long table covered by a wide hanging over tablecloth. Incense was burning, lights were low, and it was very quiet. They were told by the butler that silence was necessary so as not to frighten away the ghosts. April and Candace laughed nervously (and quietly). April whispered to Candace: "Since when are ghosts frightened? Seems like it should be the other way around." Candace agreed with one word: "Yeah," as if she were afraid to say any more.

After they were seated at the table, they were served a delicate red wine and were told it would help them to relax. This might make them more opened minded and comfortable about any possible spirit communication that night. Both agreed to have a glass. Even though both women considered themselves non-believers, they still felt a bit of anticipatory dread. After all, neither really knew if ghosts were real or not. Maybe there was a slim chance a real one would appear.

The Séance began. The reader was silent but an attendant nearby narrated. He explained thusly:

Narrator: Greetings and good evening, ladies. As you know, we are here tonight in an effort to reach the dead, to perhaps speak with them, to receive messages from them, to ask them to help us in our lives, to answer our questions, etc. The other side of this communication may be that they seek help from us depending on whether they are happy or lost. Some spirits wander the earth with restless anxiety impossibly wanting to return to life. We must be wary of them. Be strong, do not fear for weakened states may invite them in.

At this, April interrupted the Narrator asking how likely it was that spirits would try to "possess" them. The narrator simply answered: "If you fear the risk of possession, you must leave the premises immediately." This was said in a warning tone of voice.

Candace signaled to her mom to stay by whispering to her: "This is not real anyway. There's no such thing as spirit possession. That's just superstitious stuff."

April then told the Narrator that she and her daughter did not fear the risk of demonic possession and would remain for the duration of the Séance.

They were then asked to maintain perfect silence as the Reader entered into a trance.

It seemed like forever. Was the Reader ever going to speak? The two ladies were growing impatient.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise at the front door. Both April and Candace were startled and looked at the Butler standing nearby. Wasn't he going to answer it?

The Reader then spoke: "They are here!!"

The Narrator explained to the ladies that no one would answer the front door because it was spirits who knocked and had already entered the room.

April and Candace were looking wide-eyed at each other. They didn't believe in any of this but there was something very scary about the proceedings, even if faked. It's like in a dream when you know it's not real but still feel scared.

The Reader again spoke: "They were lovers." Then, nothing, dead silence.

Both ladies were again feeling like less was happening for their money than they had hoped for. At this rate, the Séance could last all night before anything meaningful might happen.

Then Candace made an odd sound while clearing her throat loudly. Her mom, April, looked at her in astonishment. Candace suddenly became rigid, her eyes staring ahead. She looked as though she wasn't breathing as there was not a visible quiver from her.

April spoke out loud: "Candace, are you okay?"

The Reader then shouted: "Silence, Madame. A spirit has entered into her."

April: (unable to repress her speech) : Candace, what are you doing? She grabbed Candace by the arms and shoulders but there was no response. And then,

Candace: (Turning slowly to April): Darling, I've waited so long. I've missed you so much.

April: (now feeling very spooked): Candace, what ... what are you saying? You've never called me darling before.

Candace: I want you so badly, ma cherie. You are all I've ever desired. We must marry before the sun rises. Let's not miss our chance again.

April: (utterly shaken): Candace, c'mon on now. If this is your idea of a joke, I don't think it's very funny. You want to marry me? C'mon on now. That's a sick joke. Please, Candace.

The Narrator (interrupting): Madame, please remain silent. The Reader will explain to me why your daughter is acting this way.

A few minutes later, he explained: "Madame, your daughter has been possessed by a man who was murdered about a hundred years ago. He was about to marry the woman he dearly loved. But, before he was to do so, he and she were killed by a jealous suitor."

April: Wow! What a story. But it can't be true that Candace is possessed by him. She's not like that. She's not gullible or suggestible. (turning to Candace): Why are you doing this, hon? This isn't funny.

But then, Candace suddenly grabbed her mom and held her tightly. Please, darling, please marry me now! She (turning to the Reader) will marry us. At last, we will be betrothed.

April was again wide-eyed. She was starting to believe it was true.

The narrator again spoke: Mrs. April, this man who now occupies your daughter's body believes you to be his beloved whom he wishes to now wed. If he could do this, he may find everlasting peace.

April: But (to the Narrator), but I'm not her. Why does he think I'm her?

Narrator: There are a number of possibilities. You may look like her. You may be her reincarnate.

When he said this, April froze. She felt something stir within her. Maybe a trace of recognition, a forgotten memory.

April: I ... I feel so strange. There's something about this. Oh my God. John, it's you. You've come back to me.

At this point, both the Reader and the Narrator looked startled. They were witnessing a rare phenomenon, a reunion of lovers long dead.

April: John, I've waited so long. I didn't know that it would end for us the way it did. Oh, John, I need you so much.

The Narrator said to the Reader: "Quickly, Madame, we must act quickly!"

April was at this point totally oblivious to the fact that the man she called John, her long lost and long dead lover was presently fully alive in the body of her daughter in this, her present life. All she saw when she looked at Candace was John and all Candace saw when she looked at her mom was the woman she once loved and desired to wed when she once walked the earth as a man.

April: Yes, I will marry you, John. Now, please, we mustn't wait any longer. (She said this as if fearing being murdered again.)

At this, the Reader and Narrator conducted a mock wedding ceremony asking each of them all the usual questions of "do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife" "to have and to hold until death do you part (ironically so), etc."

When both April and Candace said "I do," the Reader invited them to kiss to solidify their union. The most passionate and deeply held mouth to mouth kiss ensued with the tightest arms-around-each other embrace. A mother and daughter had just married each other in a traditional manner as do countless men and women every day of the year all over the world.

After the kiss ended, the two women collapsed. They both sighed in mutual contentment.

After a while, both reawakened. "What happened?"

The narrator replied: It seems you both got sleepy and just nodded off together. I guess our séances can be kind of boring at times.

April: (seeming relieved): Well, you know we are skeptics about this kind of stuff. We just wanted to see if something really would happen spook wise, you know.

Candace: Well, what will we tell our friends? We went to a Séance and nothing happened.

The Narrator thought silently to himself: "The two of you gave two sorrowful spirits peace and release from a long search for each other. But, you'd never believe it if I told you."

The Reader suddenly spoke. You may have your money back, if you wish, Dears. You know we're not like that here. We're not frauds who want to take your money.

April: Oh no, we got what we paid for. We don't believe in anything and that's what we got.

Candace: Mom, I know it seems strange but let's give them a tip. Hmmmm, maybe for their honesty or something.

April: You know, I feel the same way. Yeah, we'll give them something extra. I don't really know why, but we will. For some reason, I feel really good right now.

Candace: Me, too, mom. This is the best I've ever felt in my whole life.

April: That's odd, I wonder why we're both feeling that way.

Candace: Well, I guess we better go. Hey, mom! Your lipstick's all smeared.

April: I must have been rubbing my lips out of nervousness or something. Hey, yours is smeared, too.

Candace: Well, we're mom and daughter. I guess we react in similar ways, like rubbing our lips when we're nervous. Funny, I don't think I've ever done that before. Looking in the mirror, hmmm, that seems like a darker shade than I usually wear. It's more like yours.

April: Maybe we got them mixed up.

Candace: Maybe, but how's that likely? What? Did we go into each other's purses or something?

As April and Candace began to leave, they noticed the Reader and Narrator were smiling. Even the dreary looking "Munster-style" butler had a grin on his face.

After they were gone, the ghostly trio looked at each other with satisfaction. They had helped two restless spirits tonight. They would no longer have to wander the earth in sorrow and pain. They had found each other again. Two lovers were at last back together.

In the car, April and Candace each lit a cigarette. April was at the wheel and for some impulsive reason put her arm around her charming sweet daughter.

Candace: Mom, what are you doing?

April: Oh, I don't know. I'm just appreciating what a wonderful and beautiful daughter I am so blessed to have.

Candace: Thank you. You're making me feel really special. (Looking at the night sky): It's such a beautiful Halloween night, isn't it. The moon's in the sky.

April: Yes, honey, it is beautiful. But the most beautiful part of it all is you.

Candace: Oh, mom. If you were a guy, I think I'd start falling in love with you.

April: Wanna sit awhile under the stars?

Candace: Sure, sounds great. Hey, maybe we could even ...…

April: Even what, dear? (kissing her daughter lightly on the forehead).

Candace: That's what I meant exactly.

April: What? Hmmmm. Your hair is so pretty.

Candace: Mom?

April: Yes, honey.

Candace: May I call you, darling?

April: You can call me anything you want, dear - although that's kind of a strange thing to call your mom.

Candace: Mom, from now on that's what I want to call you.

April: Candy, that's so sweet. I guess you really are the love of my life.

Candace: Mom, there's something I need to tell you.

April: Sure, what is it?

Candace: I heard them talking, I mean the Séance people.

April: Yes, what did you hear?

Candace: They said you and I were lovers in a previous life.

April: (shocked) Lovers??!!

Candace: Mom, do you think maybe?

April: Honey, what do you think?

Candace: I .. don't know.

April: I don't know what to say.

Candace: Mom, don't say anything. Just ... kiss me.

There was silence now, pure silence - just like before in the Séance Room.

Candace and her mom gazed into each other's eyes. There was a look of recognition.

They had found each other!!

April: Honey, things are never going to be the same between us.

Candace: I know. (softly and slowly) I know.

April: What about your father?

Candace: I think he'll be okay, mom. He's pretty handsome and smart. He can take his pick of who he wants. Our divorced neighbor sure likes him.

April: Honey, if we kiss, we can't take it back.

Candace: I don't want to take anything back.

Quietly, the movie you have just seen fades to a close. There is soft music playing in the background. A silhouette of two lovely feminine profiled faces is shown almost joined together. The credits roll. People in the audience are saying: "What, the movie's over? Won't there be a sequel?" People are disappointed. Some want their money back. Others plan to write the director. They want to know how it ended. Critics will write bad reviews. But the movie screen eventually grows dark.

The End.

[Ichabod]

I liked this one. True, it didn't have the big sex scene most of the tales here do, but then again it wasn't really needed. You've written a very sweet and romantic little story, here.

[Nufsay]

Thanks, Ichabod. Your postive comment perked me up a bit. I've been feeling low all weekend.

I really wish I could make a movie like this with beautiful actresses willing to play the parts.

[jscott601]

Nufsay, on 01 November 2009 - 03:11 PM, said:

Thanks, Ichabod. Your postive comment perked me up a bit. I've been feeling low all weekend.

I really wish I could make a movie like this with beautiful actresses willing to play the parts.

[jscott601]

i thought it was very well written. keep up the good writing

[Nufsay]

Thanks, jscott. I really appreciate the compliment.

[Ichabod]

Oops!

I only just noticed that you forgot to put a story code on this one and so I decided to put it in. Unfortunately, that gave me quite a quandry.

The actual couple in your story who ends up together are both women, so this should get an "L". On the other hand, the couple who possess these two are a man and a woman, which means it should get a "B" since it has some romance between both a lesbian couple and a heterosexual couple. But does it really deserve a "B" since the hetero couple are never actually seen and all the actual action takes place between the mother and daughter?

It's enough to give little old me a headache!

As you can see though, I went with the "B".