Sunday, September 1974

I'm gonna have to date the events now, because these were the things that proved Vincent's existence.

The air felt cold. I could almost feel the snow coming. Its like a monster who loves to tease upon us poor people.

This is the time of the year my family and I dreaded the most. Our house is far better than the rest, but it's too small, and the walls are thin. Just a square shaped encasement with a roof, wide enough to fit our few belongings. It is divided into three by a curtain. A fourth of it served as the kitchen, another fourth as our bathroom and the remaining portion served as our living room/bedroom.

I was lucky enough to have my own bed. It was probably the only big thing I ever got in that chapter of my life.

My dad insisted buying me one. Despite us, not having the luxury to do so. He argued that I was getting older and a girl too. I needed to have my own space, I can't very well sleep with them forever right?

The bed protected me during the winter months. But still, life felt miserable. I always felt cold and wet. Include hunger in that, and you finally have the perfect portrait of a pathetic life! That's what we had though.

It is the main reason why I accepted Mr. Saturnino's job offer. The money will help me buy a few ply woods to reinforce our thin wall. It could help elevate the atmosphere inside our home. Reduce our shivering when December comes.

So, let's begin with the first day of my part time job.

The Cemetery is located 3 kilometers outside the city. It will take around two and and a half hours to get there. Mr. Saturnino agreed to pick me up at lew Street. Thesame place were I waited for the school bus to arrive.

We agreed to meet at 8 in the morning. It will give us enough time to reach the cemetery, clean up and come back before night fall.

I stood under the lamp post in lew. Suddenly, a breeze whipped through the street, it knocked me down to my knees. Luckily, someone grabbed me by the arm. The person pulled me up and wrapped a thick shawl over my shoulder. I have to note that while everything was happening, I had my eyes closed, I feared that the wind will send some pebble through the air and hit me in the eye.

The arm steadied my stance and remained holding on to me, up until the breeze dissipated. When everything calmed down. I felt the hand release me. I immediately opened my eyes to thank the person, but.... No one was there. I craned my neck to every direction just to get a glimpse of any retreating figure. But there was none.

Weird wasn't it? I thought so too!

But I didn't have enough time to brood over what happened because Mr. Saturnino suddenly arrived with the school bus.

I was thankful he brought the school bus. He maybe a nice man, but what normal girl would want to be inside a cramped and small car, with an adult male she barely knew?

Your probably thingking, then why did you agree to get the job in the first place? What difference will a bus make?

The answer is simple. Desperation! And a bus will give me more space to run. Talk about the numerous windows, a limitless escape route!

Let's fast forward...
Besides, nothing significant happened during our trip. He drove, I sat. That was it!

We arrived in an isolated area, it is surrounded with dense vegetation.

As we proceeded further, we arrived in the cemetery. It was eerily quite I tell you! The atmosphere gave chills down my spine. I barely had the mind to get out of the bus.

The cemetery is old, as per Mr. Saturnino. He said the first tomb erected was probably from a hundred years ago. Long before the city was built.

He said it was first a burial site for cherokees, but when the war broke between the white and the red skins, the place became a joined burial site for both.

The cemetery is huge, there was about 1300 bungalow type tombs, which served as a resting place for aristocratic families. Some are laid on the ground with just a headstone to commemorate their existence, while others, well according to Saturnino the ground in the cemetery is littered with tombs, its just unknown were they are exactly.

Why?

Because their headstones was removed, probably toyed with or simply destroyed by time.

While looking around, I had to ask Saturnino how he plans to accomplish cleaning such a wide area.

What he said made me jump with joy. We are tasked to clean just four of the bungalow type tombs. It was the dead's keen who paid for the services.

Mr. Saturnino recounted that some of the aristocratic families who laid rest inside that cemetery still have keens living!

My jaw dropped, must be an old and rich family tree, if they still have living keens continuing their lineage.

Anyway, Saturnino asked me to start cleaning the tomb nearest the exit.

The bungalow housed atleast thirty headstones. Some of them died during the 18hundreds..

I started sweeping the floor, and the dust which accumulated over time, told me, that the tomb hasn't been cleaned for a long time. The names on the headstones are also covered with dust, I could barely read what was written. So I polished them too, using the small rag and pail of water Mr. Saturnino provided for me.

It took me about an hour to finish, and when I did, my nose started to itch. I can feel dust stuffed inside my nose trills. Luckily, Mr. Saturnino noticed my predicament and asked me to take a break.

I chose a tree near the exit, don't want to be away from exit! I think you know what I mean. It's mid day but... A cemetery is still a cemetery and I do believe in ghosts!

So, there was no way I'm straying from the exit point.

The tree was huge, its trunk was wide and the branches are thick. I don't know what tree it was, but it looks like an umbrella. The way its branches spread high perpendicular to ground and each other, was trully magnificent.

Later in my life I find out its an evergreen tree called Holly Oak. Quite fitting to be in a cemetery if I may so myself.

Anyway, I leand on the trunk and drank from the water bottle which Mr. Saturnino provided yet again.

I don't know how long, but I dozed off. When I woke up, I was already inside the bus, on our way back to the city.

Mr. Saturnino dropped me off at lew Street, under the lamppost. I bid him goodbye and just before he left. He said, good for you!

I didn't know what he meant at that time, but I'm thankful he didn't say anything more, it would have freaked me out!

Anyway, when I turned to walk away, I saw a brown paper bag under the lamppost. It had Jenny written on it.

I looked around, and when I saw no one. I picked it up and opened the bag. Inside was a flu medicine called (Biogesic and something called antihistamine) there was an energy drink called (Redbull and some crackers)

There was an envelope inside, sealed with a red wax. The wax was stamped with something round shaped, and has the symbol of an Eagle.

I opened the envelope, and inside was a 50 dollar bill and a small note.

Can you guess what's in the note?

I think you already know right?

(Vincent S)

You're probably thinking, how did you know it was for you?

Well, I was the only Jenny who always stood under that lamppost, the only Jenny who actually lived in that neighborhood and the only Jenny who needed 50 dollars.

What's with the 50 dollars you say?

50 dollars was the exact amount I needed to buy four thick Ply woods that will reinforce the walls of our worn out house.