To live again

 To live again

I died again. How did this happen you ask? If I knew I would tell you. The only thing I know is that I don’t really die. How does it work again? I am born, through accident, illness or design I die.

The only thing I’ve truly learned is the lengths people would go to live again. So many souls have begged me to help them remain; but I can’t help them I can only help myself live again.

“How does it work again?”

Scientists that claim when you die 21 grams leave the body that is your soul, that soul is what I’ve been taking to other lives. You’d think that I wouldn’t remember any of the lives, but I do. In fact, I also remember the time before I entered their lives and yet these souls have abandoned the ship.

So, here I am again, looking for a empty shell to take on a new life and I ask yet again why me? What is it I have to learn that my soul goes on and on? But the answer never comes.

I enter the life of the newborn baby; I see the joy of the parents. I hear their thanksgiving prayers and I know why I was reborn. These are good people who have suffered greatly and wanted only one thing a living child. I will be the child they so desired. I will do good by them, for I know now this was always my destiny.

Copyright 2023 © Sheilagh G. Lee

I won An HM for #Thursthreads for this story ~The Barrington Curse

The Barrington Curse

I had married young, at eighteen years of age to Philip Barrington the third, the heir to the Barrington fortune. His grandfather and father had died in the early forties, but not before siring an heir. So Philip felt the need to get that heir and a spare too. Even though I was finishing university Philip thought I should drop everything and pop out a couple of babies. I thought differently, I wasn’t ready. We had a big bust up and I’d left going out with my girlfriends. I’d had a good time, dancing with other men and drinking with my friends. In fact I’d decided that I wanted a divorce. I’d just come into our bedroom and undressed planning on confronting Philip in the morning when I noticed him sitting in the dark in a chair in our bedroom.

“Waiting for me?” I asked.

He ignored me sitting motionless in the chair.

“Why don’t you answer?” I asked.

“I don’t appreciate this Philip. All I did was go out for the evening with my friends.”

He continued to stare blankly at the wall not answering.

  Turning on the light I saw that he was cold and lifeless. The police announced he died from unknown natural causes. The headlines screamed the Barrington curse had struck again. Only I knew an untraceable poison had killed him. Unfortunately he’s not really gone; every night I come home and every night, he sits not saying a word, just staring at me.

©Sheilagh Lee March 2 ,2017

ThursThreads Story Winner Week 255- Mommy

Week 255

Mommy

       My mother opened the small space at the back of the closet and I slid through then she slid it shut. Whenever my mother’s male friend came I was consigned to the secret room a small space with no windows, barely 5 by 6 feet. It held a battery powered candle, a bucket, an air mattress, a pillow, and a blanket. Laying down I fell asleep. Anger filled me as I heard voices and laughter. In the morning I expected the knock; but no sound came. I tried to slide the wall back myself and exit but it would not budge this time. Time went by and I fell asleep again; but still mother did not come. Hearing voices in the other room, I began to shout and cry hoping someone would rescue me. The wall opened and I squirmed out into the surprised arms of a policeman.

I ran to mommy.

    “I’m sorry young man. Your mother’s gone,” the policeman insisted pulling me away from my mother’s and her lover’s body.

Years have passed and still they have no discovered my mother and her lover’s killer and this hospital is cold. I didn’t understand then what I do now, that the man hadn’t hurt you.  I have controlled my anger better since then. Please forgive me mommy, I am a good boy now, mommy. I will never kill again I cry, but you don’t answer. Why don’t you answer? I need you to do this. Please come back mommy.

 ©Sheilagh Lee February 23 ,2016

ThursThreads Winner Week 254

Week 254

Angie’s Protector

She whispers and I fight her. I will not do her bidding.

“Don’t keep me waiting,” she cries.

But I do not follow her down the rabbit hole for a second time. She wants me to do something; I know she does. I must fight her she cannot take over my life again I won’t let her. The last time was the worst; she came when I was sleeping and I had to do what she wanted.

“Angelica,” she whispers and I try to block out the sound but it echoes in my brain.

“Come and take your place Angel. I need you,” she calls and I almost follow the voice. However I know she’s luring me. I will fight. She cannot win.

She moves things around like chess pieces and I watch and wonder what she’s about? I won’t trust her. Trust must be earned.

She waits patiently and I hear her soft words from a far off place.

“Angelica, that’s it open your eyes and really see me,” she cries and I find myself truly seeing her. For she is me, and I am her. We exist in the same space but only one is allowed to play at the same time. So I was in the darkness sleeping; but I will follow her now and take my place. She is at her greatest need and I will protect her, protect us. For no one will be allowed to harm us again. I am reborn again as Angie’s protector.

©Sheilagh Lee February 16 ,2016

Alexei

“I can’t take you anywhere.”
“I’m sorry,” I blurted.
“I was joking. I’m so proud of you,” Alexei stated.
I looked at him in astonishment I’d just took down two armed assailants.
“You really don’t care?”
“I’m not insecure. Besides I told you my mother was a soldier, until she gave all up for her six kids, my five older sisters and I.”
“Detective Popov?” the patrol officer asked interrupting I stepped away with him.
“I’m Detective Diana Popov.”

The cop took my statement and then took the perps away.

I turned back to Alexei sure that I was mistaken and he’d now walk away. The head of a security firm wealthy.. good looking and now accepting of me? Instead he dropped to one knee on the cold wet pavement, held out a diamond ring in a lovely blue box and said,” I love you with all my heart my warrior woman. Will you marry me?”
I was stunned words escaped me. I nodded.
He spun me around and kissed me soundly then he took me to dinner and the home to bed.
Six months later we were married. Three years later after the birth of our twins a boy and girl, he was murdered and I apprehended the murderer. Alexei left me an insurance policy that provides a nanny and comforts. Alexei lives on in our children who will now be as open and accepting of people as their father was as long as I have breath to breathe.

Hallowe’en House

Hallowe’en House

It was Hallowe’en night and the weather reminded of that night forty years ago when Bobby Winters had invited me to a secret Hallowe’en dance. Sixteen and beyond excited that my crush had asked me. I had dressed carefully as a wraith, a silk white floor length dress covered by a white torn sheet and a silk white scarf covering my head. I remembered how Bobby had looked in his pirate suit.

I stepped across the threshold of the old house and in my mind I shivered. It was older and more decrepit then I remembered. I heard the front floorboards creak, waiting as I had every Hallowe’en night for Bobby to come and join me. Tonight Bobby answered my invitation.

Bobby came closer wielding a flashlight, I heard him gasp. I pulled my silk scarf closer to my head.

 “You said you deserve to be paid and then you and your friends lured me, raped me and killed me,” I uttered as I reached in and grabbed Bobby’s still beating heart.

Bobby’s body was found by some children a few days later. The town talked about pulling the old house down but nothing has been done… yet. There have been mysteriously deaths in the old house, a rash of heart attacks the coroner claims. People are afraid of the house, but they need not be; there’s only one person left that need fear the Hallowe’en house, all the rest of my murderers are dead.  

Happy Hallowe’en!!

©Sheilagh Lee October 21, 2016

Thursthreads- Honourable Mention Week187- Wedding

I received an Honourable mention for this story. from #ThursThreads week 187

Wedding 

“Hurry now, dear,” my mother said fussing with and smoothing out my wedding attire.

“Why?” I asked glumly.

“We’re already late. The ceremony starts soon,” my mother replied.

I hated this tradition and had vowed to never get trapped in a loveless arranged marriage, but here I was being led to the slaughter.  My father had recently died and there were many debts. Yesterday my family announced to me that I would marry today, I wanted to know the name of my spouse, meet them, but that was denied to me. Heartbroken that I would be denied my true love I accepted my fate.

So here I was meeting my spouse at the altar. I turned to my soon-to-be spouse; we said our vows and the veil was lifted. I couldn’t contain my surprise. My spouse was none other than my true love, Gisele.

“Frederick?” she blurted.

I kissed her passionately thanking the gods who had allowed us to be together.

Later meeting my uncle at the reception I asked him how he had chosen Giselle. “Frederick, I was denied my true love because of family honour could I allow you to suffer the same fate?”

I thanked him profusely and vowed that my children would choose their own mates. I have great grandchildren now and they are all happily married. Giselle and I are celebrate our sixtieth anniversary may you be so truly blessed.

©Sheilagh Lee October 1, 2015

Honourable Mention Thursthreads- Bluebell Thursday August 20, 2015

   For a few plates of food Bluebell the feral kitten entered my heart saving me from a humdrum life. Bluebell disliked my husband and clawed him often... the smart cat, for my husband soon left me for my best friend. Bluebell celebrated with me and then comforted me when my husband and best friend tragically died from faulty brakes.

   Grief for my dead cat, Bluebell had laid me low. I had decided to end it all and join her. People had said silly things to me like they deserved to die, they’re only animals or what did you expect? They don’t live long! I still expected Bluebell to greet me at the door, purring around my feet and talking to me in her high-pitched meows; which only made the grief worse.

  Continuing walking towards the pier that I planned to jump from; I heard high-pitched meows, I followed the sound and there in front of my stunned eyes was a kitten that looked like Bluebell. I bent down to pick it up and it scratched me. I smiled, for so had Bluebell when we met. Taking it to the vet, I was stunned to find out that vet believed it related to Bluebell. I named him Beau and kept him. I will always miss Bluebell, but Bluebell had saved my life yet again by directing me to Beau. Beau greets me every night now when I get home from work and I am happy again.  I have family again.

©Sheilagh Lee August 19, 2015

#Flashmob winning story- Never a dull moment

I won #Flashmob writes for Friday May 22 here is my story

 Never a dull moment 

“I had a date,” I whined as I met Doctor Franklin Brackenridge, my boss.

“You’re on call twenty-four seven.”

“I should quit,” I protested.

I walked in and saw him sitting cross-legged on the floor reading a book.

“Good evening, Sheryl. They called you huh?”

“Sir, I can’t believe you’re reading Bukowski in your underwear, again!”

“When the world is cold and dark and the light begins to fade; to be youthful again and follow your path you must breathe. Then you can find your way.”

“Thank you Pablo Neruda, but I don’t think that means you should wear no pants.”

 “Sorry the captain is out to lunch. I have a tough job you know.”

“No one disputes that, sir, but we don’t want the sailors to take over the ship.”

“Ha ha, I knew you secretly read Bukowski. Will you come with me to this shindig, Sheryl?”

“Yes, if you want me to,” I answered. I mean if the president of the United States asks you to accompany him you do it. Right?

“The dress I want you to wear is in your room,” he continued.

The man grieved and my job was to see him through this term and to help his mental state so he would be elected again.  Bukowski was the link to his late wife, also named Sheryl. I had been hired to nurse her, many doctors tried to keep her alive but she succumbed. All the public knew as that his wife was ill; no one knew she was dead. He hadn’t wanted to tell anyone so close to the election, but the strain of his grief had taken its toll, these incidences were happening more frequently. It became harder as he started to fixate on me.

I turned to live the room and go put on the dress and overheard my boss on his cell phone in the corridor.

“Yes, she’s in there. We told him, how she talked about a date.”

The president knew about my date? How did he find out? Duh, he’s the president. I put on my dress and went back in. He was dressed.

“Let’s go Sheryl,” he said taking my arm, “Now you remember you have to pretend to be my wife.”

“I remember the drill,” I answered.

The night was over and he brought me back to the White House since it was late I went to my designated room.

I heard the president talking to my boss outside my room, “Do you think Sheryl will ever remember Doctor Brackenridge? She was so lovely tonight almost herself at the dinner.”

“I’m sorry Mr. President, we just don’t know.”

“It’s my fault; if she hadn’t stepped in front of me...”

“Then you’d be dead.”

Who were they talking about? I decided I didn’t care I was tired and my head hurt, time to sleep. I woke up this morning starting my nursing career again, as I found him again in his underwear reading Bukowski. Never a dull moment.

 ©Sheilagh Lee  May 22, 2015

On Juno Beach

On Juno Beach

        The old man stood on the beach tears in his eyes, as he thought of the past it rolled back in his mind like he was there again.

“I don’t want to do this,” he cried as a young soldier.

 “Look around you what do you see? Bodies of good men who gave their lives; so we could continue the fight. We need to take this beach, the whole world counts on it. Besides they’d never think we’d come across in this weather.”

“Those paratroopers missed their targets, as did our R-boats. This is a disaster.”

“It’s not for you to say. We’re the 9th Canadian infantry brigade, we can take them. Join me, jump into the water and start swimming to the shore. Let’s do this,” Sarge answered.

     The boy soldier jumped into the choppy cold sea, swimming past dead soldiers, cannon fire and explosions exploding around him in the water.  He marched on past more bodies, past exploding shells, until late in the afternoon when they advanced on Carpiquet Airport. Low on ammunition they dug in for a night, that lasted a month, while bodies still fell around him.   

    The old man pulled himself back from the memories wiping his eyes, he looked towards the memorial. Seventy years ago passed since that fifteen year old boy fought and Sarge had died. Those dying boys, men and survivors were owed a duty. He would be there for the memorial every year to honour them, until he couldn’t  do anymore.

©Sheilagh Lee  June 5, 2014

Astronaut

"Let's get this over with."

“I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You have to. The Majority decided it must be done. It’s the only way to go to their world with no suspicion.”

“The creature is so ugly and to make me look like them...”

“You volunteered for the astronaut program Sheera.”

“I know. I just never thought I would have to change myself into an alien.”

“It’s only temporary.’

“Don’t lie to me. There is no cure right now. I know the risks doctor.”

“Sheera you told the Majority you’d do this. Are we going ahead with this, or should I find a more willing astronaut perhaps Aidru ?”

“Aidru are you kidding me? He barely passed the training.”

“So you agree?”

“Yes okay I’ll do it. You had better be working on a way to make me better.”

The doctor injected the serum into Sheera and she quickly transformed.

Sheera looked in a mirror and cried “I’m so ugly”.

“I’ll do everything in my power to find a cure so you can be beautiful again.” the doctor responded

“I’m holding you to that.  I’m off these aliens better be worth all the trouble.”

“I’m told we need them to continue our existence but they fear of us.”

“They are so primitive why would we need them?”

“They have something ingrained in them that makes them achieve, despite all odds.”

“And this planet is called?”

“Earth.”

© Sheilagh Lee   February 29, 2012

Happy Leap Day

Pictures of places I love

 Elora Gorge in Elora, Ontario

Bayfield Ontario

Amherstburg, Ontario 

 Castle Loma in Toronto, Ontario

Lepreau New Brunswick

Utica  Area New York State


Beautiful places in London, Ontario

Old Courthouse 

London Downtown ahead 





Forks of the Thames 





Convent Garden Market



St.Peter's Basilica 





Downtown where all the lights are bright.

                                      Westminster Ponds

© Sheilagh Lee   February 20, 2012

Short Story- Love’s Thanksgivings Bounties (Thanksgiving with the Blackstone's)

 my book Love's Labours Won- The Stone Chronicles - Book 1

Please enjoy my short story below based on the characters in my book,

Love’s Thanksgivings Bounties

        It was Thanksgiving and Sarah was grateful, after a couple of years of no one to share Thanksgiving with she had much to be thankful. The table looked magically, a turkey fresh out of the oven now sat in the middle of the table Darius’s contribution. Darius had insisted on not making the dressing inside the turkey. He said health regulations advised against that so he had made cornbread dressing in the oven along side the turkey. 
The dressing was something Sarah had never tasted before and Sarah wondered if she would like the unique flavours of it. She liked cornbread it was delicious so maybe as a dressing it too would be scrumptious. Dressing in the Dexler’s turkeys had been the standard dressing of bread with celery poultry seasoning onion and celery. The Dexler’s dressing for their turkeys was always delicious and Sarah had enjoyed every bite of those turkeys prepared by the Dexler’s housekeeper. Darius was an expert in cooking so surely Sarah would like this dressing as well?  It had something in common with that dressing she remembered having onions in it but there were also green onions in it and laden with turkey broth. The pies on the counter looked delicious too as they were hand made by Aunt Iva and Sarah herself. Sarah prided herself on her homemade crust which was flaky and delicious. No store bought frozen crust for this girl. Aunt Iva had even complimented Sarah on her crust. Then she had offered her preserves of strawberries, rhubarb, cherries and peaches for the pies. When Sarah had commented she had hoped to make apple pie Aunt Iva had supplied a bushel of apples from the root cellar.

        Sarah had wondered if she had overdone the pies as she looked at the side table laden with ten pies. There were after all only six people for dinner but Aunt Iva had said they would be lucky to have pie left over for tomorrow with three boys at the table. Sarah laughed at this Aunt Iva still called Darius and Demetrious’ boys. The table was beautifully decorated by Janelle, with the leaf lined table cloth and the beautiful horn of plenty in the middle of the table. Janelle had the eye of decorator when it came to details like these and made it look like something out of a magazine. Everything looked wonderful and Sarah felt a tear come to her eye when she recalled what she had gone through in the last year. She now had family, a home and a job. As she looked around and saw all the people she had become friends with and she now considered family sitting and laughing; she thought what more could a girl ask for? Sarah was truly thankful.

©Sheilagh Lee  November 14 ,2011

Southern Style Cornbread Turkey

In a large pot take cooked two turkey wings and giblets and season with salt pepper and boil until tender. Set aside broth

Take cornbread you have baked in oven in large skillet and crumble into bowl.

Bake cornbread in large black skillet breaking cornbread into large bowl. Add cut up green onions, round onions, celery, 2 to 3 beaten eggs, and 3 chopped boiled eggs. Add 1/2 loaf of cut up bread mixed with cooked onions and celery with poultry seasoning. Toss together then add as much broth (you may take some juices from baked turkey which you have set aside before making gravy.) Be careful not to make dry by adding juices (broth to keep wet ) Make sure it doesn’t get dry. Place in shallow baking dish (glass is good because it preserves heat.) serve warm to table with turkey.

Cornbread recipe baked in oven in skillet

1cup of cornmeal

2 cups of flour

1/2 cup of white sugar or 1/4 cup of molasses

Enough butter or and milk to moisten

Cook until slightly brown and cooked throughout (think cake like).

Thank you for visiting. Leave any comments below.

Hello and Welcome to Dead Write

This is my blog to promote my murder mysteries. I will post mystery short stories here and excerpts from my book(s)