Short Story: Boy In The Shadows

Short Story: Boy In The Shadows

My hair’s plastered to my head and my teeth are beginning to chatter. As well as the rain, it’s really foggy now. I’ve been watching this boy across the road - he just ducked back into the shadows when he caught me watching him.

My friend Ginny’s actually leaning against the chippie, completely oblivious to all this wetness, eating a fish supper.

I nudged her. “That lad’s been looking at us for ages now.”

“Don‘t be soft, Eileen. He‘s probably waiting for someone. “She said, and carried on eating her soggy chips.

I wiped my face with a damp hankie, thinking that Ginny has no imagination.

I sneaked another look at the boy who was now standing in the doorway of the library. Between the dark, the fog, and the drizzle it was getting harder to get a good look at him. A car passed and he got caught in headlights. I could have sworn he looked like a miner, which is crazy because the mines around here have been closed for years. He looks about fourteen. Maybe it’s the fog - but he looks grimy…

Ginny and I have been to see Jaws. I’m a bit jumpy. It’s getting darker and the boy’s still standing there. It’s really creepy the way he doesn’t move.

The town clock clanged out eight o’clock.

I jumped as Ginny elbowed me in the ribs. “Eileen, you’re right, he is staring at us. I don’t think he’s from our school though.”

I looked at her in disbelief. “H-e-l-l-o! Of course he’s not from our school! Don’t you see how he’s dressed?”

She licked her fingers and threw the chip wrapper in the bin. “Well, Halloween’s next week. Maybe he got the dates wrong,” A worried look crossed her face. “If my mum would listen to me, we wouldn‘t be hanging around on creepy nights like this. I‘ve told her I need a mobile.”

Maybe Ginny did have an imagination after all.

I sighed. Everything was wet - even my knickers. I’d have settled for an umbrella never mind a phone. I couldn’t resist another look at the boy. My heart almost stopped as he stepped towards us. Mesmerized, I stared as he held out his hand.

I grabbed Ginny’s arm and tried to tell her what was happening, but the words wouldn’t come out. Just then our bus pulled up and I couldn’t see the boy anymore. Ginny jumped on, but I couldn’t - I had to find out who he was. When I ran around to the back of the bus he was gone and Ginny was making faces in the back window. I ran over to the library but he’d disappeared.

It’s hard to explain how I felt. I wanted to shout out. I wanted him to come back. After a few minutes I realized I’d missed my bus. Now I was really in for it. The only reason my mum lets me go to the pictures is because the bus stops right outside the door of the cinema. I was in so much trouble. Mum would keep me in for weeks.

I started walking. I should have gone to the call box and phoned home, but I wanted some time on my own to think. Funny thing. Even with all the rain I could have sworn I smelled soot! And I felt as though someone was walking beside me all the way home.

I pushed open our gate and almost jumped out of my skin when I heard a voice. I thought it said. “Tell your da’ thank you.”

Creeping into the house I could hear hushed voices. Mum had a lovely big fire on in the sitting room. I waited for the shouting to start, but my dad barely noticed I’d come in. He’d a funny look on his face. He looked tired. Dad’s a builder and works all hours.

Mum sat, looking a bit stunned, clasping a cup of tea.

There was I looking like I’d been dragged behind a horse and they didn’t give me a second look! Stranger still, I didn’t get the first degree about where I was and who I’d been with. I wanted to tell them about the boy, but they didn’t notice me, standing dripping water all over the Axminster.

“Saddest thing you ever saw, Katherine,” Dad said. “Poor wee lad, likely never had a chance in life.”

I felt the hair standing up on the back of my neck. “What’s happened, Dad?”

Mum shooshed me and guided me into the kitchen.

“You’re soaked through, Eileen. Honestly! Now get those things off - I’ll make you some hot chocolate. Then it’s off to bed with you.”

“Mum, it’s only half past eight. And what’s wrong with Dad?”

Still looking a bit dazed she sat down heavily and poured herself another cup of tea. “Your Dad was working at the library today.”

My fingertips started to tingle.

She sniffed into one of Dad‘s big hankies. “It was a little lad - they were tearing down an old chimney and found his body.”

I went cold all over. “But what was he doing in a chimney?”

“They think he was a little chimney sweep. Dad says his body might’ve been there for over a hundred years… seems the fireplace had been boarded up. Dad was told that even when the boys grew too big they still sent them into the chimneys. Imagine just leaving him there to die.”

My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my body. “Do they know the boy’s name?”

“I don’t think they’ll ever know that, love.”

I choked down a sob. I know the boy in the shadows was the ghost of the little chimney sweep. I think he stayed by my side all the way home to watch over me, because my dad had set him free to go on to his proper resting place…