DEVON and Cindy walked slowly home. It was nearing midnight, and they held hands as they strolled along. It was a bit chilly because there had been almost three days of persistent rain. Most areas had suffered some amount of flooding. They were accustomed to this, so paid little attention to the water on the road.The couple huddled closer together, enjoying each other’s company. Part of their journey took them through a cemetery. This, too, was nothing new; they had done this for years.

It was dark when they entered the cemetery. They paused and kissed tenderly, then resumed their journey. Up ahead a figure was moving. As they drew closer, a man was walking slowly along in front of them. It was just past midnight, so they both thought it funny that anyone so old would be moving around. When they got close enough to see clearly, they both halted in shock. The old man was carrying a casket on his back.

Devon was nineteen and full of life. He lived two houses away from his girlfriend Cindy. They had been together for more than six years. His mother, father and sister liked Cindy, so she became a favourite of his family.

Cindy was an only child brought up by a single-parent, her mom. Her mother had sacrificed a great lot so as to ensure that her daughter receive the best education. When she found out about the relationship, she had objected, but later on she came to accept it. Her first priority was her little girl’s happiness. If Devon made her happy and whole, then they both had her support.

The village of Prosperity lay in a savannah with a lake nearby. The community was well populated, with approximately 65 houses. There were two churches, a market place, two grocery shops, a Chinese shop, a post office and a cemetery. It was a fairly large burial ground, with a road running through it.

The old man’s presence so late at night caused curiosity to get the better of the young lovers. It was Devon who made the first move.
“Is where you going dis late night wid dat coffin, uncle?”

The old man stopped, put the coffin down and mopped his sweating brow.
“Boy, I moving out!”
Both of them looked at each other, and Devon could feel in the pit of his stomach that something was definitely wrong.

“How yo mean moving out? Whey yo gon go?”
Cindy piped in before he could respond.

“Where yo used to live, uncle?”
The old man pointed towards the burial ground, but the two thought he was indicating the house beyond the tomb.

Devon pushed for clarity. “Why you moving out, and where you gon live now?”

The old shoulders sagged. “I going over there, because where they bury me flood out.”

His words hit the two fast flies like a tidal wave. In panic mode they both took off running. Now, Cindy was champion girl in secondary school, and she was a very good athlete. Devon played rugby for the national squad and was extremely fit. The two were making good speed away from the cemetery.

Plop!
Scrape!
Plop!
Scrape!

Something was coming along at a rapid pace! They both glanced back at the same time and saw the only thing they hoped never to see again. The old boy was running swiftly after them, carrying the large casket on his shoulder. He was now within touching distance of them.

“Eeeeaaah!” Cindy made her feelings clear.
“Oh Lawd!” Devon took a similar approach.
Both of them climbed into overdrive. They were now moving at a terrific speed.

Plip!
Plop!
Scrape!

The man was keeping up effortlessly. They both knew that they were in big trouble. There was no chance of outrunning him, but they raced on. A deep voice came from over Cindy’s right shoulder.

“A could come by yo all?”
It was Cindy’s quick thinking that saved the day.
“Sorry, uncle, we living down by de koker, and dat place flood worse dan hey!”

“Struups!”
The long suck teeth was followed by another set of noises.

Creak!
Drag!
Scrape!
Drag!

When they looked back, the old man was heading in the opposite direction. This time he was walking reluctantly with the coffin dragging along behind him.

The two kept running until they reached home.

Meanwhile, on the dark road leading to the cemetery, a tottering figure was heading unsteadily home. Drunk man Fenton was drunker than ever tonight. His extra-long binge came about because it was his birthday.

As he staggered towards the light of home, he noticed a man heading towards him. The man seemed angry and he was pulling something big in his wake. When the man got closer, Fenton made out the dark form of a coffin.
“But…But, is wea you going wid dat thing?!” he asked.
He was about to find out.