This falls under the heading of can't believe it happened, but it truly did. I had returned to my old hometown, a tiny little wide spot in the woods in Indiana, after a few years of running around and discovering the world and my place in it.
My parents had recently passed away and I was there to handle their affairs and sell there little cottage in the trees. My name is Jester Wright, but just call me Jess. It was late October, well almost the end, just a few days til Halloween, and the weather had already started to make it's turn for the worst.
I spent my days in the cottage, packing and getting everything ready for a sale, an auction actually to help me take care of everything at once. The old place sat on about 30 acres and had a wonderful herb garden in the back of the cottage. It was just to far back in the woods for my tastes and beside I didn't want to be trapped back in this lonely old place for very long.
My nights we taken up at a local bar just on the outside of the town, not much action there but it was the only place even open much after dark. There were a few locals that stopped by, but most of the people I had known were already gone to greener pastures. So there weren't a lot of people to talk to or help pass the time. Time moved really slow in this little burg.
One night about three days before the auction, Halloween night to be exact, when I was getting farther behind in organizing the items in the house, I had decided to give up for the night and drown my sorrows so I headed down to the bar, finding my little corner of the world in a booth near the back.
While emptying another bottle of cheap tequila I hear a voice from behind me, "Hello, care to share a little of that with a stranger?"
Looking back I see a vision, a petite brunette in a long flowing dress and a lacy scarf around her shoulders. Looking around the room it is as empty as I have always seen it, the bartender Jeff is even sleeping at the bar with his head down on his arms. I stand and say, Of course, I didn't even see you come in, sure have a seat I'll get you another glass.
She slips into the booth and I go to the bar, not wanting to wake Jeff, I just reach back and find another glass and head back to the booth. Sliding in beside her I pour her a shot and turn to her, "I am Jess, nice to meet you, are you a local?"
She looks up from my pouring and answers, "Yes, I am Brandy, Brandy Manchester, I live in the old house at the top of the hill. I am happy to meet you also." She takes the glass and throws back the shot of cactus juice and then smiles my way.
She is small as I said and the prettiest, curly brunette hair and the most amazing light grey eyes I have ever seen. Her skin is white as ivory, and when I take her hand for a shake it is as cold as you would expect ivory to be on such a cold night. We sit for a long time and talk, her listening to my tales of travel and the exploration of life that I had recently been on.