The Twilight Zone

“We may think of freedom, not as the right thing to do, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” ~~Peter Marshall~~ "Need I say this was inspired by the television program, the Twilight Zone? Each episode began with this introduction, prior to the story." ~~The Poet~~ There is a 6th dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadows and science and superstition. It lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. An area that might be called the twilight Zone. You are about to take an excursion into the odd and very, very different 6th dimension and unlock a key to imagination beyond the dimension of sound, site and mind. A land of imagination, of shadow and substance of things and ideas. You have now crossed over to the Twilight Zone. Jack woods was to be locked up in this jail for two more years and would have done just about anything to get out and be free. One day in the exercise yard he started to talk to old Smithy. Smithy was what was called a trustee. He had been in jail for sixty years and had another two years to serve. He had been refused parole more times than he could count. He had killed his wife and was glad he did. Smith told Jack that he had a load of cash stashed in a safe place on the outside and needed someone to get it to his Granddaughter. Jack reminded Smithy that they both had two years left on their sentence, and would be out at the same time. Smithy told Jack he had a way of getting him out next week. Smithy was in charge of a burial site being prepared when an inmate died. He would take a strong young prisoner with him to the small cemetery outside the prison walls, under the watchful eye of a guard. He told Jack that he would supervise the plot being dug, arrange the coffin to be brought out, wait til the prison Chaplain said a few words and give the order for the grave to be filled in. Jack immediately said “I wanna be ALIVE when I get out thanks.” “Its OK” said Smithy I used to be a medic. I visit the infirmary bay regularly with my various ailments. I have procured an amount of a medicine they use to induce a coma on a patient. I can give you just enough to make it look like you are not alive for an hour, and then I will dig you up as soon as they clear out. It takes an hour at most”. Jack asked, “Why would you do all this for me? “ Smithy answered “ My granddaughter needs the money.” Next day Smithy brought Jack a small vile with a few drops of liquid in it. “The old doctor likes a drop of the Warden’s whiskey in the afternoons. Take a couple of drops of this and the doctor being tipsy at my suggestion will pronounce you dead.” said Smithy. He continued “I will get you buried and come back later to dig you up and you will be free. You can keep half the money, that you retrieve for me and find my Granddaughter and give her the other half.” The plan worked like clockwork. Jack took the drops of serum. The old drunk doc pronounced him dead. Smith had him put in a king-sized coffin and he supervised the burial. Jack came to awareness, feeling groggy but quite well. He had room to shuffle around in the coffin so he could get comfortable. Soon he heard voices. “Ah” He thought “here was Smithy to dig me up.” He could hear digging and he heard people talking. They were talking about Smithy. It was a service for Smithy, he was dead. He could hear the voices fading as they moved away. He screamed but no one heard him, they had all gone. Jack had entered the Twilight Zone.