Death DAY

I’m Robert and the girl beside me is my girl friend Margret. It is the second time in two days that we are walking along the forlorn, almost forbidden path to the dilapidated house. The chill breeze and the glitter of cold dew from the cold February night on the green leaves added to the mood.

Unlike yesterday, Margret came along silently and close at my heels. She is a bubbly girl, full of energy always chattering away but for today. Today, now, she’s walking silently by my side. Why? I’ll tell you as it happened:

‘Yesterday, as I was walking down this very same path for the first time, Margret who was trotting and humming beside me, stopped in her tracks, caught hold of my arm and turned me around to face her.

“That’s enough Robert.” She frowned at me. “You better break open your mind.” She said. I remained silent. “If you don’t spill your beans, I’m not taking another step.” She blasted out.

It was the umpteenth time she asked me, so I agreed to her demand irritably. “It begins with my grand uncle. I was around 15 then. He was 75 years old. He had called for a family get together so urgently, that all important appointments had to be cancelled and all the members of our vast family were all gathered in his house. But he refused to state his reason to anyone.

It was dinner. Dessert was yet to be served. That’s when grand uncle spoke up: “I called you all to share with you an adventure from my youth.” He began. “I was in my late teens or early twenties. I don’t remember my age correctly. There was a rumour about that deserted house by the corner of the country lane. If one calls out his name on 29th February when it comes on a Tuesday, they get to know the day and means of your death the following day. It was said that it works only if you call out your name at the instant when the hour, minute and seconds are identical as in 1′ o clock, 1 minute and 1 second. I became curious and wanted to check it out.

Fortunately, the following February 29th fell on a Tuesday. So I went to the house with two other friends. As we neared the house, my friend developed chills. They stepped back and tried to obstruct my way. Pushing past them, I went by the door step of the house and saw my watch read 08:08:08 AM. Without hesitating, I called out my name. Then I waited for something to happen but nothing occurred.