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Several years of my childhood I spent with my aunt and uncle
who lived in an old rectory in Northern Norway
It was a hard time, much work, little food never time for play or entertainment
My aunt and uncle were strict, we had to work for food

When I had some time to myself, I spent time at the old church yard
or in the woods close by - No other children to talk with
therefore I spoke loudly to myself
The old church yard was my secret world
Old gravestones that were far over a hundred years old
People who were forgotten long ago, no flowers on the graves
The man who we called "Gravedigger", was always serious and rarely smiled
but he was always kind and often had time for a little chat

Earth was sunk and often I found bones, buttons or needles on the ground
"Gravedigger" said always put them back in the ground and I did as he said
One day I found a shiny white incisor
I didnt put the the tooth back into the soil - I took it home with me
This happened in the fall and it was dark early
It was dark in the castle room at the rectory
I did not dare to light the candle
It was my work to rekindle the fire
As I fumbled my way after the wood I suddenly felt like a light stroke
on my head - looked around me and listening
I whispered "is there anyone here?" ..... No sound, no answer
In silence I sat ... suddenly felt someone stroking my hair through
Ice cold fingers which had a nasty smell
Now I was really scared
I hurried in from the woodshed with wood and fired up in the fireplace
Stuffed my hands in the pockets it was still so cold
There .... I felt the tooth from the cemetery
Looked at it from the fireplace light
A powerful knock on the windowpane I turned to see
You will not believe what I saw
A face pressed against the window, a face that I had never seen before
He had red hair and lots of beard
The face scared me ...
He started to laugh a scary laughter with open mouth
Now I could see ... he lacked an incisor
I walked a little closer to the window,
but then the face in the window diseappered

I felt I had done something wrong
Decided to go back to the graveyard with the tooth
The darkness and the fear took me as I approached the gate
The laughter came back, he stood there waiting for me 
I placed the tooth gently down at the gate
He just looked at me and laughed again the frightening laughter
It is many years since this happened to me
but I remember it like it was yesterday
One autumn night many years after I awoke with
a cold hand on my forehead
I heard the laughter, saw his face and red hair
long beard .... but he lacked no teeth



 - A story written by A-L Andresen 1973 :)
   (17.01.2015)
   Copyright © All Rights Reserved
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