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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN# / ISBN# issue/book “Some Things Are Universal” Down in the Dirt v208 (6/23)  Order the paperback book: 
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Night of the Banshee
John Ragusa
“There’s not much hope for Gail,” Brendan Fockney told his brother, Harve. “The cancer is killing her slowly and painfully. The poor woman isn’t long for this world.”
“Well, Brendan, it goes that way sometimes,” Harve said. “Think of it this way: She’ll soon be in a better place.”
Brendan looked anguished. “But where will I be? I’ll remain here on Earth, separated from my precious Gail. How can I live without her?”
Harve knew that he couldn’t live without money, so he was glad Gail was leaving all of her dough to Brendan. You see, Harve had a plan. He had persuaded Brendan to name him as his beneficiary before Gail died. That way, Harve would inherit Brendan’s fortune after he went to his reward. That was the first part of his scheme.
The second part involved a horror film he once saw long ago. It involved a banshee, a supernatural creature that lurks outside the house of someone who’s dying. When the banshee’s cry is heard, it’s an omen that the dying person will finally push up daisies. Harve had seen the film with Brendan, so his brother was also familiar with the legend of the banshee. Harve would use it to get his hands on Brendan’s money.
One night, when Gail was extremely ill, Harve visited her and Brendan. After a while, he told them he had to use the bathroom. This was an excuse for him to be away from Brendan so he could imitate a banshee’s cry as he had recalled it in the movie. Then he returned to Gail’s room and informed Brendan that what they had all just heard was the cry of a banshee, which meant that Gail would succumb to her terminal cancer very soon. Brendan went into the den and shot himself to death because he didn’t want to live without Gail. Harve figured his brother would do this; that was why he mentioned the banshee. With Brendan already deceased, Harve then smothered Gail with a pillow. She was dead now, so her money would go to Brendan. But because he was dead, also, his fortune would be passed on to Harve. He was in the driver’s seat, wealthy enough to live happily ever after.
However, when Harve went home afterward, he heard a real banshee’s cry, and, knowing he would soon croak, he dropped dead of a heart attack.
