Children’s laughter tumbled out of open half windows as the yellow school bus neared the corner of Bitteroot Way and Sunflower Lane; rumbling to a stop, it’s trifold door opened, freeing the girls and boys from Feldspar Elementary onto the side walk in a neighborhood only recently host to a summer full of kids without the demands of adults.
Father Lazarus gracefully dodged an abandoned tricycle, the caboose from a toy train set and various other toys spilled over from the community playground; walking down the row of townhouses, an occasional furtive glance behind him, he arrived at number 8711.
“I cannot sanction it, nor does the Holy See, regardless of fanciful media reports of an increase in so called demonic possessions; in spite of the evidence you’ve provided Father Lazarus, the answer remains an emphatic no.”
“Pardon my objection to your decision, Your Grace, but I have been pastor at St. Damien’s for the last 13 years and know my parishioners and many of their friends, Catholic and otherwise; the family that brings me here, seeking your and the Church’s support, I know very well and I would not be pleading my case if I did not believe in the legitimacy of the family’s claim.”
The red front door of 8711 Harmony Court flew open just as Father Lazarus reached for the bronze, hand shaped knocker (the significance representing a religious family resided within, did not go unnoticed); Maria D’Aletandre greeted the priest with a voice as soft as the early fall afternoon breeze whispering in the trees, “God bless you for coming”.
From somewhere on the second floor, piercing the hushed silence as Father Lazarus stepped through the threshold of the home, came the sound of furniture scraping hardwood floors and a guttural noise as if from a wounded animal so loud it was followed by the peal of shattering glass – the grip on his small duffle bag secure, he followed his parishioner up the stairs.
Tubular Bells is forever linked with that movie which is too scary to watch and so I was quite relieved that you ran out of sentences (Ha! Six, no more no less) but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t drip with suspense and foreboding, this Six, throughout.
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I know! Agreed. Have never sat through an entire showing of it.
Saved by the Six, lol
Thanks, D. Glad you enjoyed 🙂
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What D. said. Excellent work, Denise. Isn’t it wierd that a word like ‘train’ can generate so much dark thinking. 😉
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Thanks so much, Doug. Makes you wonder, eh? 😁
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Very suspenseful especially with Father Lazarus not being sanctioned to perform the exorcism but doing so anyway.
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Indeed, Frank. Father Lazarus going rogue – not so sure there won’t be “hell” to pay.
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I think we are in for a treat; dreadful and yet willingly witnessed…
Now if I may enhance musically the unleash of… Jocelyn Pook “Backwards Priests”.
Ps: Children’s Father I Pardon The (red) From…
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Yes, if all goes as “not planned” 😉
Please do, sir. (And the hair on the back of my neck…still raised.) A most awesome augmentation.
…from?
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Answer to …from? Well, I guess we have to wait for your next installment! The ps was comprised from the first words of your Six.
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Aha! Never touch the keyboard without sufficient morning caffeination, lol
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This is indeed quite suspenseful and dark. I don’t think I fully comprehend it, but then again I haven’t seen that movie at all.
I love how you make use of semicolons to generate more room within your Six. I will have to learn to use those too.
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The semicolon is the sixers’ best friend!
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Thank you, Astrid. I haven’t seen the movie all the way through either. Bits and pieces.
Although not yet apparent, this Six ties in with the zombie story I’ve been writing as 6 sentence story installments.
They are a lifesaver. Tricky to use, but come in very handy!
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Wow, Denise, sharp intake of breath… 😱 that last sentence is stunning in its impact!
BTW I managed to get through The Exorcist (maybe because of the presence of Patrick Troughton (my first Doctor Who). It was The Ring which really gave me nightmares!
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Thank you, Chris!
Good for you. I have yet to sit and watch start to finish. The Ring! Now that was a freaky movie!
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Hi Chris, The Omen? Brilliant horror film and terrified me as a kid. I didn’t remember Troughton was in it as the priest until much later when I watched it again. Tom Baker was my first Doctor, but thanks to the BBC DVD collections I caught up on many of Troughton’s appearances, very likeable, love Pertwee too – again thanks to the DVDs.
Agree, the Ring was nightmarish!
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Oh yes, you’re right, Ford, it was The Omen I was thinking of. The Exorcist is the head spin and vomiting one, I think? I get my old horror movies mixed up.
I was actually very young when Troughton was on the screen and I remember Pertwee much better. Even though I’ve enjoyed the more recent incarnations, Tom Baker was absolutely the best Doctor.
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Same here with Tom Baker, I was very young when he was the Doctor, but as he stayed a long time in the role it was easy for me to ‘grow up’ with him. I have good memories of Peter Davison too, then watched it less after, up until the 00’s reboot which I loved.
Yes, The Exorcist is the vomit, blood, scarred words on skin, crucifix masturbation, swearing like a trooper, head spinning, whites of eyes, terrifyingly good family fun one 😁😎😱
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Yep, I remember it now. A quiet night in! 🤣
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Did someone mention The Omen… 😁
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😈
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And … the day started off so well! 😉
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LOL
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Love the atmospheres, D, the opening sentence of a late summer back to school, the flashback dialogue of the rogue priest, then his journey to N° 8711 Harmony Court (I wonder who lives at N° 7734 if it exists?), and then that final chilling sentence leaving us to imagine the horror which awaits upstairs.
I saw the The Exorcist on video before they banned it in the UK, then again at the special cimema release in the late 90s. One of my fave horror films.
Can’t wait to see how this connects with your zombie serial! 😎
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Thanks, V. Isn’t it a lovely time of year to embark on a mission of “biblical” implications 😉
What would history look like if it had no rogue priests? (Plugged in coordinate… *Twilight Zone theme begins playing*). Only the most frightening of horrors awaits our valiant priest.
You are a brave soul, lol. And viewing on a huge theater screen? Hell no 😆 They banned it? Why?!
😎
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You said it, D. ’tis the season, eh?
They banned The Exorcist in the UK because (basically one guy with a veto): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exorcist_(film)#Viewing_restrictions_in_UK
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Good six. I’ve never been into horror films. Thrillers, yes, horror nah! Good post and music
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Thanks, Paul. I don’t mind a good horror flick but I’m picky about the demonic possession ones 😉
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Talk about collective (cultural) subconscious! (Referring to most comments.)
We were there to see the movie (age marker), looking back now, “So, you’re thinking that disco has a good beat and easy to dance, so it might not be part of the necrotizing of popular entertainment?”
The composer, Gary Oldfield was 19 and the ‘song’ was on his debut album.
Sure! None of us, here in the ‘sphere, would be thinking, “Then it is possible! Back to the writing!!”
Good installment, yo
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Yeah, right? lol
Damn, had no idea. That “song” put him in the history books for sure.
Thanks, Clark.
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