It was late August.

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I was playing darts at Alice's Pub. We had formed a rough dart league through the summer.

I had never played darts before, but with Bobby and Jessie's help, I learned the game and I also learned that I loved it. It was an amazing feeling, getting together on a Friday night, with so many others from the community. So many people were in the league that we had to move the actual playing to the gymnasium.

We had 24 dartboards hung along one wall of the gymnasium and three times a week, the boards were all in use. There was a man's league on Monday's. A woman's league on Tuesday's and a mixed league on Friday.

I played in the man's and mixed league and kept stats for the women's league.

I loved it.

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Whisper, of course, was there every night and she loved watching the games and she would yell and scream when I won a game, which wasn't very often.

She offered to 'help' me play better, but I reminded her that would be unfair and besides, I just loved the community feeling that came with the get together.

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Over the course of the summer, Whisper developed a friendship with Franklin Murphy, who was always at the Pub. Since they were the only two Spirits in the Rock, it was a natural thing.

They would sit on the stage of the gymnasium and watch the games for most of the night, but often they would disappear.

I was concerned at first, but Whisper reminded me that there was nothing that could happen to her and that she and Franklin would just go and visit, 'friends'.

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At the end of the night, I hung around for a couple beers and then walked home. Bobby offered to drive me, but Jessie reminded him that if he did, she would have to go to, just to make sure he made it back.

I assured them I would be okay.

Besides, not that I told them, but I had Whisper to accompany me and most nights, Franklin would walk along with us.

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As we passed the cemetery, Whisper and Franklin stopped.

.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

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"Youse kno dere be more of us, Will."

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I looked at Franklin.

"More of you?"

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He pointed to the cemetery.

"In dere, me son."

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I took a deep breath, as I pulled my smokes out of my pocket. I lit one, despite Whisper standing there, hands on her hips, glaring at me.

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"Just one," I assured her.

I stared into the cemetery. I could see some faint images.

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"They get lonely too, Daddy."

She turned to Franklin.

"That's why me and Franklin come here once in a while. Many of them have not been outside in a long, long time."

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"Outside?"

I almost regretted asking.

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"In the real world, Daddy. Many did not know how to get out."

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Franklin puffed on his pipe.

"Little Missy, 'ere, been helpin' dem. Dey be most grateful to 'er."

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One by one, the images disappeared.

"Where did they go?"

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"They are not ready for contact yet, Daddy."

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I was a little relieved.

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Whisper laughed.

"Daddy? Since when do you worry about Spirits?"

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I shrugged.

"I am not, hun. Just don't know how others will react to more Spirits in the community."

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Franklin patted me on the back.

"Dey knows be us, Will, me son. Dey jest don't be talkin' much 'bout us. But dey still knows wese dere."

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I stepped on my cigarette butt and lit another cigarette.

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"Daddy?"

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I looked at Franklin.

"Does she bug you about smoking the pipe, Franklin?"

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Franklin laughed heartily, slapping me on the back.

"Ise be dead, Will. What's it gonna do to me.

Kill me."

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I started walking away.

"Youse two be funny as 'ell."

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Now both of them were laughing.

"Youse still 'ave a terrible accent. Will, me son."

He appeared in front of me.

"But, youse be gittin' better."

He patted my shoulder.

"Nite Will, me son."

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"Nite, Franklin."

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He disappeared.

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I reached my hand out to Whisper.

"Come on, hun."

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She took my hand and we walked home.

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~~~~~

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"Daddy? Daddy, wake up."

I awoke to see Whisper a few inches from my face.

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"What's wrong, sweetie?" I asked, sleepily.

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"There is someone in the garden," she said, a concerned look on her face.

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I looked at the time. It was 7am.

"Probably just one of the village people."

I smiled at the reference, to the old disco band, but Whisper didn't get it.

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She continued to stare at me.

"It's a stranger Daddy."

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"Hun, its probably nothing."

I pulled the blankets up over my shoulder.

"Now let Daddy sleep, just a couple more hours."

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I felt the blankets being pulled off me. Luckily I now had the habit of at least wearing sleep pants to bed.

"Daddy, it is a stranger."

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I rolled over on my back, staring up at her, as she floated over me, staring right back.

"Do they have a knife?"

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"Ha, ha, Daddy."

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At least she got that reference.

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"Now get up," she insisted.

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I knew I was beaten. As much as I just wanted to sleep in, I knew that desire was now just a dream.

Whisper had a tendency to be very insistent.

I kicked her out of the bedroom and used the washroom, washed my face, put on a t-shirt with my sleep pants. I slipped on my slippers and slowly made my way to the kitchen, yawning.

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Whisper was waiting there for me, with a coffee.

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"Thank you sweetie."

It was perfect, as usual. Whisper was really getting quite good at coffee.

I took the coffee and looked out through the kitchen window. I could see someone near the edge of the cliff. It looked as though they were taking photographs.

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"You better go Daddy," Whisper insisted.

"What if they are a bad person?"

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I gave her a strange look.

"Honey, it's just someone taking pictures of the ocean."

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"But what if they plan to rob us?"

Whisper folded her arms and stared at me.

"What if they do have a knife?"

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Something was going on. This was so not like Whisper. I could feel her pushing me.

"What are you up to?"

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"Me? Up to?"

She huffed and puffed.

"Nothing at all. I just fear for our safety."

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I looked out the window. The person had not moved. Whoever it was, just stood near the gazebo, taking pictures.

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"Maybe they have a machete, hidden in the camera," I joked.

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Whisper pushed me.

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"Ok, ok. I am going," I laughed.

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I saw her smile, but then it faded as quickly as it had come. She stood there, hands now on her hips.

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I walked outside and to the veranda. I leaned against a post and lit a cigarette.

Whisper was by my side. I could feel her pushing me, literally.

"What is the problem little girl?"

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She pointed to the cliff. The figure was headed toward the house.

As it neared, I could see it was a woman.

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"Go, Daddy, go."

She pushed me off the veranda.

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"Ok," I laughed, as I caught my balance.

I had never seen Whisper so insistent.

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I walked toward the woman, Whisper by my side. I could not see her face clearly, because of the early morning sun, but I saw her raise her camera.

She began taking my picture. I put my hand in front of my face.

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"Are you allergic to photos?" She asked, sweetly.

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"Not the taking, just the end result," I joked.

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I saw her hand, held out to mine. I stepped slightly to the side, so I could get out of the sun's glare.

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"My name is Evangeline. My friends call me ..."

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"Eva?"

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"Yes," she said smiling, as she shook my hand.

"How did you know?"

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I smiled at her.

"Its me, Will."

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She stepped to the side, too.

"Oh my stars," she gasped.

"Will Templeton?"

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I nodded.

"Yea."

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She immediately hugged me.

"What are you doing here?"

She kissed my cheek, as she broke the hug.

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"I live here. This is my home."

I took her hand in mine. It was warm and soft as silk.

"What are you doing here?"

I gave her a suspicious look.

"Are you stalking me?"

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She shook her head.

"No."

Her voice was very serious.

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I let go her hand, the smile quickly leaving my face.

"I was just joking."

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She quickly took my picture, laughing as she did.

"So was I."

She took another picture and looked at the coffee in my hand.

"That coffee sure smells great."

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"It is."

I took a sip.

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She stood there, one hand on her hip. When I looked down, Whisper was doing the same.

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I had to laugh.

"Oh. Would you like a cup?"

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She shook her head and took my arm.

"Yes."

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We started walking toward the house.

"You have an amazing place here."

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"Thank you."

I helped her on the veranda.

"Have a seat. I will bring you a cup."

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As I walked inside, she called behind me, "Black please."

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I nodded. "Won't be but a sec."

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Whisper was waiting for me, in the kitchen. She already had a cup of coffee poured.

She was smiling, ear to ear.

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"Did you know who it was?"

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She looked shocked.

"I thought it was a burglar, Daddy."

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I took the coffee and went outside.