The Sexton House

Episode 5

I walked over to the front door with my
phone in hand and unlocked the door. I
pulled it open to be met with a young
man looking to be around my age, he’s
dressed all in black -a bit too dressed,
might I add. His brown hair is gelled
back, away from his face and he’s tall –
but not as tall as I am.

“Hello.” He greets me.
“Hey.” I say back.
“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m Max Williams. I came to see the
house.” He said while looking around the
porch.

“I’m Harry Styles and what brings you to
see my house?” I wondered, he looks at
me a bit shocked.

“Your house?” He raises a brow.
“Yes, I just moved in this week.” I shifted
in my standing position.
“I see…” He seems a bit disappointed to
my answer.
“Here, please come in.” I offered, he
walked in and I showed him to the
couch.

“You weren’t here to look at the house to
buy, were you?” I asked hoping he
wasn’t.

“No, no. I just came to look around, an
old friend of mine used to live here.” He
said as he scanned the house.

“Oh, really?” I asked.
“Yes, A lovely friend.” He tells me.
“Well you are more than welcome to look
around if you want. It’s bit of a mess but
you can.” I offer.

“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to intrude plus, I
best be going. It was nice meeting you.

Harry Styles.” He stands from his seat
and is at the door before I can even get
up from the old wooden chair.

“You too-” I say but he already has the
door shut.

“Well that was weird.” I say walking over
to the door and locking it.

I look out the window expecting to see
him get in some kind of a car but there’s
nothing parked in the driveway other
than my old truck.

I decide I better start cleaning a bit since
my mother will unfortunately be coming
down in just a few days.

After dusting the living room and
washing what little dishes I had I put
away a few boxes and then vacuumed
the sitting room.

Once done I sat on my bed trying to
think of what I should do next. A thought
pops into my head when I hear what
sounds like a mower outside. I get up
and slip on my shoes heading towards
the back door which is located in the
kitchen. I open the sliding door -which
must be new since it doesn’t look like
something built over a hundred years
ago.

Once I’m on the back porch I see that
it’s screened in which must be new as
well along with a porch swing, patio
table and chairs. I open the screen door
and head out to the back yard which
isn’t much because the cemetery gates
run right through what little yard I have.

I see Charlie out on a mower cutting the
grass around tombstones, he doesn’t
seem to notice me even though we’re
standing hardly ten feet away. I turn
around to go back inside but right when
I do the mower cuts off and I hear a
raspy old voice call my name.

“Harry!” I turn back around to see
Charlie off the mower and walking to
the gate.

He unlocks it -which is really him just
sliding a metal board over. I just laugh,
hoping he doesn’t think that little thing
locks people out.

“It’s to keep the ‘coons out so quit your
laughin’.” He tells me as he walks
towards me.

“I see you’ve come to see me.”

“Not really you but more the back yard.”

I say not trying to be rude.

“Well I’m prettier to look at than this
shitty old yard.” I laugh at his remark,
liking this less creepy side of him.

“I don’t know about that.” I chuckle.

“I’m needing a bit of help, you up for the
job?” Charlie asks me randomly.

“Well… I-” I fumble with my words
asking my self if I really want to help
him or not -as bad as that sounds.

“Come on, boy. Spit it out, I ain’t getting
any younger.”

“Sure, what do you need help with?” I
finally say.

“Well, I need you to put these flags in
the ground for anyone in there that
served for our country. Just stick them in
front of the grave.” He told me.

“So you want me to go through everyone
in there and just put flags on the military
ones?” All I was thinking is this will take
forever, the cemetery is huge!
“That’s correct and of course I’ll pay you
for the trouble.” He said turning around
and heading to a small building in the
grave yard.

I followed behind, smiling from the fact
I’ll be getting paid for doing this.

“Here are the flags, try to get them all
out before sundown.” He told me while
handing me the American flags.

“And if I don’t get them all down before
sundown?”
“Then you’re walking around in a grave
yard, alone. At night.” He told me
bluntly.

I take the flags and start at the opening
of the grave and start reading off names.

I learn quickly that the tombstones that
are made flat on the ground have served
as well as the plain simple white ones.

After getting half the flags put into the
ground I’m tired and regretting doing
this even though I am getting paid.

I read the last tombstone, the name
catching my attention.

‘Daniel Sexton
Our joyful, loving son.

May you rest in peace.’