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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/book “The False Portrait” cc&d, v281 (the March 2018 issue) Order this as a 6"x9" paperback book:  |
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Phantom Hitchhiker
Richard Stevenson
Palavas-des-Flots, France,
May 20th, 1981, two couples
driving back from the beach
in their two-seat Renault
chance upon a young woman
wearing a white mack and headscarf
standing at the side of the road.
They stop to offer her a ride.
One passenger in the rear
steps out to let her in.
The driver says they᾿re heading
for Montpellier, to which
the hitchhiker says nothing,
merely nods her head in approval.
The car continues on its way
when they all near a sharp turn.
“Look out for the turn! You᾿re risking your life!”
the hitchhiker exclaims. The driver
slows down, and they make the turn
without incident. Then the couple in back
scream out, “The hitchhiker has disappeared!”
The two couples freak out, of course,
but a careful search of the car
and immediate environs reveal nothing.
Oddly, the police are not surprised
when they stop to file a report.
Seems our hitchhiker is the ghost
of a young car accident victim.
She had died on the very turn
and now appears to warn other
drivers to slow down. A revenant ghost
stuck in some sort of purgatory
twilight zone? Hold the phone!
My mind was blown too when I heard.
The very idea seems absurd.
But there you have it. Take it how you will.
At least she wasn᾿t a malevolent ghost...
More coffee? Are you sure you wouldn᾿t
like another piece of toast? I don᾿t know
what else I can tell you... You᾿re not the first
to see our phantom hitchhiker. Far from it.
We do have a book on the case for sale though.
