St. Augustus Cemetery in 1955 WC 272

St. Augustus Cemetery Circa 1955

The ancient Plymouth breathed its last at the entrance to the old St. Augustus Cemetery on the edge of town.

Andy and Blanche Grimm sat in the car 'discussing' the situation.

“Well, what’s wrong anyway?”

"The battery's dead, Blanche. What do you propose I do?"

"Fix it! I don't want to be stranded next to an abandoned cemetery on Halloween night!"

"I don't have jumper cables. And even if I did, there's not another car in sight."

"So?"

Andy's wife knew nothing about cars; most women didn't, back in 1955.

"So, we will have to find a service station," Andy said as he exited the car.

"You mean walk?"

"Do you see a phone booth, honey?"

"It's dark. And foggy."

"You can wait here if you’d rather. I should be back within the hour.”

"Stay here, in this car, alone? Next to a cemetery? On Halloween night?"

"Safest place ever. Everyone's dead, Blanche," Andy said. “Lock all the doors.”

Andy's wife buttoned her coat and pulled on her gloves. "I'm coming with you," she said, picked up her handbag, and got out of the car.


They picked their way along the boundary of St. Augustus. Blanche clung to her husband's arm.

"Do you believe in ghosts, Andy?"

"I think the spirit world is very active on Halloween," he said. "Why? Do you sense a presence?"

"I don't know. Maybe…" Blanche said as she pressed against her husband's body for safety. "Do you, Andy?" she asked, eyes like saucers.

Andy had not felt this close to his wife in years...

"I think I do, Blanche. I think I do!"

Blanche snuggled closer; Andy smiled.