By Bernie Bates
I remember this story well because my Dad would never let me forget what happens to liars. To this very day when the weather turns colder and the leaves begin to wither and die- I recall my Dad saying how little Gordy Issac could lie to the devil and swear to God in the same breath. But all of Gordy’s lying came to an end one dark halloween night … and he was never seen again.
I was about ten years old; school had just started when Gordy disappeared. Everyone knew everyone in our town, but no one knew what happened to Gordy. His family hoped that he had just walked away. But most people figured that Gordy slept with the fishes.
Gorgeous Gordy, as he was known in Westbank, was slim but very strong for his size. He had jet black hair and these piercing blue eyes that could look straight through a person. All the girls were drawn to his bad boy image, and young Gordy played the part to perfection. It was kind of weird how I used to admire him, and at the same time I was scared of him.
The one and only time that I had any contact with Gordy, was the same day that he vanished. Some of my friends and I were playing hide and go seek. I was running around a corner when I ran smack into Gordy. We both went for a tumble, and in a flash he grabbed my by my coat and jerked me to my feet. He glared into my eyes, then he threw me into a bush and ran away. I was unhurt but I couldn’t move. It was as if I were frozen stiff. Two heart beats later two men came running around the corner and just as quickly they too were gone.
Suddenly the school bell rang and it seemed to bring me back to my senses. As I crawled out of the bushes I came face to face with the two big men. One of them growled at me, “Did you see Gordy?” “No, sir,” I stuttered. They were much bigger and scarier than Gordy, but I keep my mouth shut. I think it was the way Gordy looked into my eyes. It was as if he told me all that I needed to know with just one look.
Later that night as I was putting on my Halloween costume I found two scraps of paper in my coat pocket. One of them read, “ I can’t take it any more.” All of my lying will end here tonight on this bridge. Signed, Gorden Issac. The other note read, “My dear Briget. When I announced that I didn’t love you, I was lying. And when I said that I wouldn’t marry you today, next year, or even in ten years, that was also a lie. The truth is, I’ll love you for eternity Briget. P.S. Please don’t tell your two brothers of these circumstances. Unfortunately my destiny and my fate is our fortune.
I too kept a secret that Halloween night, and I also told a lie. Or is it a lie if you don’t say the truth out loud? While I was out trick or treating with my friends that night, I played a trick on them. I told them “My tummy hurts, I’m going home.” But I didn’t go home. I went to the bridge and I taped one of the notes to the railing.
Winter came and went with no sign of Gordy. Halloweens came and went. Then years flew by and still no sign of old Gorgeous Gordy. Eventually I grew up and moved away.
Tonight is the first time that I’ve been back to this bridge in ten long years. It’s another dark Halloween night. And at the stroke of midnight I find myself standing at the end of the bridge. In the middle of the bridge is the silhouette of a woman leaning over the railing. She’s crying out into the darkness, “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
Then out of the fog a huge yacht appears and a slight man yells, “Jump! Jump! I’ll catch you in my arms.” Then the silhouette slipped over the edge into the darkness … never to be seen again.
THE END
