Patrick George Callaghan

Episode 69… Rebecca’s Spell (Part Three)… The Woods Memories of a lifestyle in Bayswater had fled from Esme’s mind, as if being mystically replaced by surroundings she now found herself in. She could not imagine any other existent lifestyle. This was where she belonged. This felt very natural to her. Here were her friends and here she was. There was simply nothing else. After twenty minutes they came to a hilltop clearing that overlooked some disused and overgrown workings, long thought by the many locals of Mill Hill to be the ancient diggings of charcoal burners. ‘Disturbances of the ground would have created this vale,’ remarked Charles coldly. ‘They would be digging out trees, large ones.’ ‘I don’t like this place,’ added Celia. ‘Please lets move on.’ The boys had introduced themselves firstly as friends of Charles and then gave their names as Barney and Toby. For a strange moment Esme felt they were familiar to her, ...

Episode 68… Rebecca’s Spell (Part Two)… Friends Bridget Moynihan’s Irish parentage had given her the gift of wonderful and imaginative story telling and soon the three of them were plunged into another of her spellbinding tales of mystery and intrigue. They passed the plump butcher’s boy who waved from his delivery bike. ‘Do people really want meat at this time in the morning,’ remarked Celia, with a somewhat narrowed eye. Bridget continued her tale of the secret sisters convent order that existed deep within the woods they were now heading for. ‘There are stories,’ she said: Of ritual sacrifice and other pagan practises.’ ‘Come on,’ stated Celia ‘For goodness sake. These are Christian Nuns. ‘They have taken their vows.’ ‘Taking to the order, does not mean they don’t have dark and foreboding secrets,’ replied Bridget with some sincere determination. ‘Ok.. Ok’ Celia gave way with a sigh. Ahead of them and walking quite slowly, almost sauntering pu...

Episode 67…Rebecca’s Spell (Part One)…Awakening Esme awoke that morning to the sound of her mother’s voice calling from downstairs. ‘Esme darling, your breakfast, it’s tea and toast, your favourite. You will be late for school if you don’t hurry. Would you also like some Porridge? Hurry now my sleepy.’ She wiped sleep from her eyes, stretched, and threw the bed covers back. She sat for moments on the edge of the bed, her feet just dangling near to the floor. Somehow, she felt this was unreal, that in her mind, she was looking through a veil that formed a mist inside her head. Her mother called again, the same strange message, to get up and dress. Dress for what she asked herself. Where is Charles. I should not be here, at home with my mother. No, this is all wrong. Something was very amiss. This must be a dream. It can’t be so.’ “It is so, for the present, Esme.” Rebecca’s gentle voice whispered inside her mind. This is my gift to you. I have given my gift to Charles, n...

Episode 66… The Farewell  (Part Two) ‘Father!…Mother!’ Tears began to well up within Charles. He rushed forward and hugged them both as they stood up to greet him. They were just how he remembered them…. Pictured exactly, those long ago years. ‘Son, it’s wonderful to see you again.’ Frank Hepworth stood back, then shook his son’s hand vigorously. He was a slightly rounded man of medium height, nearing his early fifties. A man who sported a magnificent handle-bar moustache. He looked at his father. It was inside his mind what he would say. He had struggled to recite it to himself, over and over. Now, the words, just would not come. Charles garbled something, then suddenly his confusion was gone. He realised in that moment, he was being supported by Rebecca once more. He sat beside them on that ornate seat. The feeling of joy was overwhelming. They talked and talked and smiled together, over so much that ha...

Episode 65…Rebecca’s Spell… The Farewell (Part One) The blackness began to clear. He found himself in the park. The green park he had seen from his bedroom window. He felt Rebecca was with him, but could not see her and yet her gentle voice was inside his mind. Sunshine, now spread down upon him and wrapped his body and face with pleasing warmth. “Just walk Charles, until you reach the Garden of Remembrance, soon to be within your view.” Rebecca’s voice guided his footsteps forward. “You will know, when you have reached it. Your parents will be there. Just waiting for you. Waiting to give you their love. They will listen to your thoughts.” He walked on, quickening his step. Then, apprehension filled his head. “What would he say to them. How should he greet them. What could he say. “No! He would be himself. That’s how Rebecca would want him to be.”  Her voice now inside his mind. “Yes, he would be himself. That’s what they would expect of him...

Episode 64 …Rebecca’s Spell…. ‘An adventure?’ Charles echoed the thoughts of the others. ‘That really sounds grand. I think we all can do with a sense, now of purpose.’ They grinned enthusiastically and Rebecca beamed, as if with a fortified new energy and life. ‘I shall take you into an adventure, such as you have never known’, she said. That will be my gift to you all, each and everyone sat around this table. It will be your alternative path that you may wish to tread in order to reach your dreams. I will give you those thoughts of your past and I will give you a sense of your futures. We will embark on our voyage in the morning. Today, I want to hear all about you. Your lives, your loves, and above all… Your dreams.’ The remaining day was spent first in idle chatter, then of personality, of likes and dislikes, and as the day wore-on to mid afternoon, talk became more honest and more serried. Charles… And Rebecca’s Spell ...

Episode 63… Rebecca’s Tale… Part Two Toby looked across to Charles, somewhat helplessly. Then said warily: ‘The connection… The thoughts… Are with Esme, that’s where we are now Charles, believe me. Esme is the connection, the joining with Rebecca…Just remember.’ Rebecca chose to sit close to them, almost in some confidential manner, as if wanting to be accepted into their little gathering. She was stunningly very beautiful, perhaps in her early twenties, with long flowing golden hair that reached down to her finely shaped shoulders. Charles studied her sea blue eyes and thought to himself: “How could any man reject such beauty.” She was dressed now, in the clothes Esme had carefully selected for her, gone was the smoke ridden dress that she had worn earlier. Here was a refreshed Rebecca, of Lilac fragrance, a relaxed spirit, perhaps. She spoke gently, and yet, with some small determination. ‘You have been my rescuers and I thank you a...