That first night, Cousin Mary and I went to the movies with Mae, a friend of Cousin Mary’s, while the other three went to visit two other cousins.
The theater was being repaired on front -- we sat on the second row from entrance to watch for the others should they come to join us before the movie ended.
Someone came in and sat down in the end seat next to me, on the aisle. I began to put my rain coat on, as a damp mist was blowing in through the open doors. I couldn’t find my left sleeve, and this person beside be reached behind me and lifted it up for me. As he did this, his hand touched my shoulder and the sensation was like an electric shock.
As I turned to thank whoever t was, I saw he was a nice looking, clean-featured, dark-haired young man. I thanked him, but during the movie, I gave him no further thought. Unknown to me, at this time, this young man was Sammy, and he was known to Cousin Mary, his mother being a friend of hers.
After the movie ended, and as we came out of the movies, we started on in the rain for Cousin Mary’s home. After we arrived, and after the others had arrived, I told of my experience in the theater. No one thought much of it, and they “teased” me about the young man, saying maybe it wasn’t a “shock,” but a “love-bug” bite.
Vashti chatted on about their day, but I took in nothing of what she said; for, an awful feeling had suddenly swept over me. It was so overwhelming that I said, “I feel something terrible is wrong,” and I began worrying about home.
All through the evening, I could not shake off the dreadful feeling, but I remarked on it no further. I didn’t want to spoil everyone’s visit with Cousin Mary.
The next morning, we four went downtown and stopped at Gulicks drug store for a Coke, leaving Cousin Mary behind. As I stepped off the side walk to the street,I saw a glass-sided hearse was coming toward us.
I stepped back on the walk, and remarked that it was bad luck for a hearse to cross in front of one.
As it passed by, I received a double shock. The first was just like what I had experienced in the theater . . . like electricity . . . so severe that I had to grab my chest and bend over in order to breathe.
The second made my blood run cold. Laying out in the hearse, and in full view of anyone on the street, was the young man who had assisted me with my coat the evening before.
Vashti asked what on earth was wrong with me. “You are as white as a ghost!” she exclaimed.
I told her about seeing the young man and about receiving the same “electric” shock I had experienced at the theater the night before.
We then went in the drugstore. Everyone else ordered “Coke,” but I asked for a strong ammonia. I felt so bad for the young man and wondered whatever could have happened to him.
Later, though my heart wasn’t in it, we went to the wharf and watched the boats come in, and eventually we sent home.
Everyone began telling Cousin Mary about my experience, but she interrupted them saying, “. . . Louisa! I have bad news! It’s about the young man who sat beside you in the theater last night. his name is Sammy, and after the movie last night, he caught up with me, as we left the theater last night, and asked me if he could come over tonight and meet you . . . said he knew a nice girl when he met one. I was to say nothing to you about it, but was to surprise you tonight.
‘Well, apparently, after we left the theater, he dropped dead right on the street. His mother called me, today, after you all went downtown, and gave me the sad news. She said that they were bringing his body home from the undertaker today.”
I was struck dumb and couldn’t say anything.
Vashti stared at me as if she had never seen me before.
I’ve often wondered about Sammy and about that terrible “feeling” I’d had about something being wrong . . . and about the electric “shocks” I felt just prior to his death and the day after.
Years later, Sammy’s spirit came to me, but that’s another story. I’ll have to tell you about it
. . . sometime . . .