It was a dark and stormy night. In the doorway of the cabin on the little hill in the big woods, I smoked a cigarette and watched the tempest. Lightning flickered and danced over the trees. Rain fell in great black sheets, and the wind howled around the cabin. I'd come here to find peaceful solitude, and this was not it. &quot;Strange weather, isn't it, son?&quot; My heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice. I turned to find my father standing behind me, looking over my shoulder out the door at the swirling storm. The yellow light of the gas lantern on the table by the door fell across his face, casting his wrinkled features into sharp relief. &quot;Strange, indeed,&quot; I said. &quot;Would you say the wind or the rain is the strangest?&quot; he asked. I looked out at the blustering storm, then back into his wizened face. &quot;Neither,&quot; I said. &quot;The strangest part of the storm is you, here.&quot; Lightning flashed in his eyes, and the shadows on his face twisted into a smile. &quot;After all,&quot; I continued, &quot;you've been dead ten years.&quot; 2007-09-16T15:51:57Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/9474 <p>Awesome. Love the atmosphere you created.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/9474?basename=12427 2007-09-16T15:51:57Z Batak Beatrix http://ficlets.com/authors/batakbeatrix <p>you never fail to amaze,, i liked it</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/9474?basename=12423 2007-09-16T15:41:03Z jinn http://ficlets.com/authors/user_32654 <p>wow, what an ending! didnt think it was a ghost story. you gave that tired, trite opening line new life.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/9474?basename=12416 2007-09-16T14:57:20Z SKermitgorf http://ficlets.com/authors/kermitgorf <p>Terrific ending and great writing. You made great use of that famous opening line too! There are some very well written descriptions in this. A tale well told.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/9474?basename=12400 2007-09-16T12:36:23Z YodaOnCrack http://ficlets.com/authors/yodaoncrack