Meet Me At The Lamp Post Read online

Meet Me At The Lamp Post

  Michaelyn Cortez

  Meet Me At The Lamp Post

  By Michaelyn Cortez

  Copyright 2012 Michaelyn Cortez

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Discover other titles by this author at www.michaelyncortez.com

  Meet Me At The Lamp Post

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 7:38PM

  what’s up?

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 7:40PM

  watching baseball

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 7:41PM

  oh

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 7:41PM

  txt u back soon

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 7:42PM

  k

  The lamp post was hungry. So, so hungry. Its light was fading fast and if it couldn’t find a source of light it would fade away. Fading was not acceptable. Using the energy it had left it searched the messages flowing through its core. A housewife texting her husband to bring home milk would not provide enough energy. Toddlers had boundless energy but they did not know enough of the world to be easily controlled. Teenagers. They were the perfect meal for a dying light. They were young enough yet easily molded. The lamp post kept tabs on the teenagers that passed by on their way to and from school and, in the summer, as they went to and from their friend’s houses. It needed light soon and two would do much better than one. Time to search those whose hands have touched the lamp post.

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 7:50PM

  if I don’t text back right away it’s because I have a low battery. gotta re-charge!

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 8:12PM

  missed your txt. try u later.

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 8:52PM

  charged up now. game still on?

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 8:53PM

  yeah.

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 8:53PM

  txt me when it’s over. k?

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 8:54PM

  :)

  The lamp post saw the smiley face sent from Jason to Mary and knew it had a source of light worth having. Young love was a worthy meal. If it was new love, even better. The more energy the lamp post could take in, the more it could mold the young couple. The lamp post searched the airwaves and began “texting” its own message to the two teens. Each would believe the other had sent the messages. The lamp post would have all the energy it needed very soon.

  The Lamp Post pretends to be Jason…

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:05PM

  hey. the game is still on but I don’t wanna watch anymore.

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:06PM

  U ok? LOL u NEVER miss a game.

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:06PM

  will u meet me 2night?

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:07PM

  rlly? guess I could get away.

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:07PM

  come on! pleeeeez?

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:08PM

  k. where/when?

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:09PM

  the lamp post in the park at 9:30

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:09PM

  K

  The lamp post pretends to be Mary…

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:09PM

  Srry to bother you but I neeeeeed to see you

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:10PM

  Rght now?? game still on

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:10PM

  its rlly important :(

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:11PM

  k. where?

  To: Jason

  July 5, 2012 9:11PM

  the lamp post in the park…9:30

  To: Mary

  July 5, 2012 9:12PM

  be there as soon as I can

  If the lamp post could smile it would have. Both teens would be here soon. With the last of its light the lamp post turned off the teens cell phones and waited for the two to show up.

  Mary was in luck. Her dad was working late, which meant he wouldn’t be home until around 11PM and her mother was in her bedroom reading a new book which meant she wouldn’t be paying any attention to Mary. Mary told her mother she was going to sit on the back porch swing and read by porch light. Her mother believed her. And so Mary left the house and headed to the park down the street. It was only a 5 minute walk. Jason’s text was worrisome. He never, ever missed a game and here he was, needing to see her. Had his parents finally decided to divorce? Had he finally come to his senses and want to tell he loved her.? Doubtful, but she could dream, right?

  Jason’s dad barely acknowledged his son as he left the house. What else was new? Mary was his best friend and if he had to leave the game to see her, he would. He wondered if she would finally admit she liked him. But, would that really mean seeing him in person? Right now? During a game? He already knew she liked him more than a friend and he didn’t want to hear her say it. He might lose her as a best friend if she told him she really liked him. He just wasn’t interested in her like that. He wasn’t interested in anyone like that. What could be the problem?

  Mary reached the lamp post before Jason and went to sit on the bench under it. She saw Jason’s figure heading her way and ran her fingers through her hair trying to flatten it down. Her unruly curls were not attractive but who was she kidding? If he liked her he wouldn’t care what she looked like.

  Jason saw Mary fussing with her curls. He knew she wasn’t fond of her hair but he thought it was adorable. All that time girls spent straightening thei hair he thought was a waste. Why not be happy with the way it looks normally? He was glad Mary was not like that.

  The lamp post wished it could move. When Mary had passed by it hoped she would lean upon it instead of sitting down but it wasn’t to be so. The lamp post hoped Jason would lean on it so it could begin pulling in the light that kept Jason alive. As Jason approached, with concern for Mary on his face, he reached out his hand to hold on to the lamp post.

  The moment Jason’s hand touched the lamp post he felt unbelievably tired. He thought he might fall asleep right where he was standing. And was the light of the lamp post getting brighter? It was hurting his eyes. Jason looked over to Mary who didn’t seem to notice how bright the light was. She stood up and walked over to him.

  Touch him, touch him, the lamp post was thinking. Jason’s light was so full of energy but it wanted more and the way Mary was looking at Jason! The lamp post knew that her feelings toward the boy would make it even stronger.

  Mary watched Jason’s face grow pale. She saw sweat form on his forehead. He looked like he was going to puke!

  “Jason! Are you okay?” Mary said as she quickly walked to him. He seemed to be holding on to the lamp post to stay upright. “Here!” She said. “Lean on me and I will take you to sit down.”

  No, the lamp post thought, I am not done. Mary did not touch the lamp post; instead, she pulled Jason away from it and led him to sit on the bench. Jason’s eyes looked up to the lamp post’s light source. Jason was obviously confused.

  “What happened?” Jason asked.

  “Are you sick?” Mary asked with concern.

  “Maybe. I felt fine but then all of a sudden, I didn’t.”

  “You are looking better now, though.
”

  “What was up with that light?” Jason asked.

  Mary looked over to the light of the lamp post not understanding Jason’s question.

  “Nothing. It’s still on. Seriously, are you ok?”

  “You didn’t see it get really bright?”

  “No. I heard that bright lights can hurt if you have a headache. Do you have a headache?” Mary asked.

  “Nuh uh.” Jason shook his head.

  The lamp post noticed Jason was feeling better because IT started feeling worse. It had to take all of Jason’s light before it faded. It would NOT fade. It had lived too long on this planet to die away.

  “So, what’s up?” Mary asked.

  “I don’t know. I just felt weird.”

  “No. I mean, why did you need to see me?”

  “Huh?” Jason looked confused. “You wanted to see me you goofball!”

  “Well, of course I always want to hang out with you but you wanted to see me! Here, I have your text right here.” Mary said. She pulled out her phone at the same time Jason did. Both teens noticed their phones’ batteries were dead.

  “What the…?” They said at the same time.

  Jason and Mary searched each other’s eyes looking for some sense of a lie. Again, they both looked at their phones.

  “This is just too weird.” Jason said. “Seriously, you didn’t ask me to meet you here?”

  “Seriously, no, I didn’t.” Mary pushed the button on her phone hoping it would turn back on. “Do you think someone sent us the messages to get us out here?” She whispered looking around.

  Jason didn’t think there was danger. It was probably his friend Mike pulling a stunt. Now Mike was known to pull a few pranks and it wouldn’t surprise him if he found a way to set this up. Just in case it wasn’t a joke he looked around the park squinting his eyes for any sign of trouble.

  “I think we should get out of here. Why don’t I walk you home?”

  The lamp post was desperate for the touch of the two teens. There wasn’t time or energy to call anyone else near so it did the only thing it could. The lamp post allowed all of its light to fade. There was no other light nearby and when it let its light fade away the teens were plunged into darkness.

  “Aah!” Mary screamed grabbing onto Jason’s arm. He put his arm around her to guide her along. He knew this park like the back of his hand and reaching out to steady them both he grabbed hold of the lamp post.

  The second his fingers wrapped around the lamp post its light flared to life. Jason’s hold on Mary was tightened. The teens could feel their life force leaving their bodies but for some unknown reason Jason could not take his hand off of the lamp post. As much as Mary enjoyed holding onto Jason she tried to let go. Instinctively she knew she had to let go.

  They couldn’t.

  As the light from the teens entered the lamp post the energy from the lamp post entered Mary’s body. Its essence felt like a girl so it chose the female form. Jason’s useless body slumped to the ground and the revived “Mary” walked to her new home.

  Inside the lamp post the light that was Mary and Jason shifted like candlelight. They were bodies no more but two lights entwined. Mary might have thought this romantic had her thoughts remained human but as the light of Mary’s human body had transformed so did the light. No longer two beings, the light of the teens became one. One thought, one mind, one light to cast over the people on the park.

  Thanks for reading and supporting indie authors!

  I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment on the website where you read this story and on michaelyncortez.com as well.

  Also on my website you will find links to other free short stories. My novel “The Acworth Following” is my first REAL novel. It is a story in 2 parts full of magical beings and a little blood and guts. Great read for young adults into urban fantasy.

  If you enjoy Vampire Academy novels and the House of Night Series you would enjoy reading The Acworth Following!

  Thanks again!

  Michaelyn