It was about 1am and I was still nursing my second scotch and lime at my favorite watering hole; McCluskies. I was about to leave to have my usual smoke outside before going home. I sat for one last minute before challenging the darkness. It was an awful night . Looking out into the drizzle and fog, I saw the shape of a man starting to appear through the sweeping mists. He was an older man and he walked with a noticeable limp. I did not recognize him, which was strange because I thought I knew everyone in the neighborhood. Having lived here all my life seeing this face was unfamiliar to me. His face had little color, probably cold and clothes were very old and worn. He lacked umbrella or rain coat but there was no sign he was bothered by this. He just kept purposely plodding on as if he were in a hurry.
As he hobbled into the bar I was surprised to see him head directly towards my booth by the window. Now I could see his face clearly as He sat down across from me and spoke, "How are you tonight son, care to buy an old man something to warm his soul?" I said "sure what will you have". He breathed a deep sigh and said "just about anything will do for me, how about the same thing you are having?"
" Fine", I said, "Bill, set us up with another". "You are a fine young man as I have been told. May I ask you the time? I have only so long you know" .
I told him the time which was a little after 1:oo as the bartender appeared with his drink. "Thank you young Tyler ", he replied, "it'll only be a minor interruption".
Tlyer was what my father called me, it was my grandfathers name. How did you know it?".
" I knew your grandfather, he sent me here to speak with you today".
I thought I was dealing with a full blown nut case. " That is where you have slipped up, next time research your story better. My grandfather has been dead for twenty years. The old man laughed and then paused for a moment and said " Oh I can assure you that what I say is true. It is important that you believe me." "It is vital that I have a few minutes of your time, just a few more minutes, can I get a smoke". I gave him the last in my pack and offered him a light but he refused it saying, " I'll smoke it later thank you." What time is it now?" "About 2 minutes since you first asked" I said angrily.
" Just a few more minutes of your time" he continued "it'll only be a short time more". " You are a sailing man perhaps?" " No" I replied " Never been on a boat. You really need to get your facts straight the next time you decide to con someone for a drink."
" No matter. You will learn." " There is something your mother has been keeping for you. Tell her Nathan said that "it is time". She will understand
" Once more what is time exactly?" I looked again at the time and when I told him he said "well I can see I have delayed you long enough" he quickly downed his drink and stood to leave . Looking at the feeble old man I said " it is horrible outside let me call you a cab " Oh, that won't be necessary but thank you. I am just down the ways a bit I can make it there fine, just remember what I said."
" And don't smoke these things they can kill you" and with that he left the same as he had come, pausing only long enough to crumble the cigarette and toss it by the door. Minutes after he had gone I heard a loud crash. I ran to the door to see that a taxi had crashed into the bus stop. The driver looked to be fine and standing outside the car but the bench was in shambles. I always had a smoke underneath that covered stop every night after the bar...
That next morning I walked to my moms house and sat with her in the kitchen. She was making breakfast and poured me a cup of coffee while I related to her the weird events of the night before. At some point she stopped and started crying and left the room. When she returned she was carrying an old strong box. She opened it and handed me some old papers and a letter. "They are for you. They are from your grandfather, he wrote them long ago, I have never read them. He said they were for you to read only." When your father did not return from his last voyage he went searching for him and never returned. Later we learned he had been killed when his boat capsized". What did grandfather look like?" I asked. She rose and went to her room and returned in a short time with a small jewelry box. "Here, these are the only pictures I have of them both, it was taken on return from one of their fishing trips. There they are, proud of their catch. The young man stared at the worn old photograph and recognized the man immediately. Even though it was badly weathered, he was positive it was the man he had met at the tavern.
The Man-Wolf
The Harvesting
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