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Would Ewe Believe It?


Would Ewe Believe It?

The sounds from the church tower announcing three o'clock spread across the Marsh that night, carried by the increasing wind.

It unsettled you and your friends even though sheep usually miss things. You and the rest of the flock in the field near the church were already awake. A few minutes earlier an unnatural chill had penetrated even your thick fleeces.

Two figures glided through the hedgerow and the muffled sound of voices moaned in the gusts of wind.

You all crouched low and used each other for cover. You were glad that you all looked alike and could disguise yourself as someone else.

The moon tore a hole in the clouds to look down on the events, pausing only to highlight the two people as they approached the church. Having seen it all on previous occasions, the moon withdrew behind the clouds to ensure privacy for everyone.

Two strangely dressed people, a man and a woman wearing clothes from another period in time, drifted into the churchyard and paused before the grave of a child.

They laid flowers and stood to read the inscription on the stone as they had done many times before in life and in death:

Here lies Clara Louise Summers

A Beloved Daughter

aged 8 years

A Victim of Misfortune

The sound of the wind increased to a gale force howl to cover the grief of the two mourners who were swept away as a cloud of dust across the Marsh.

The sheep relaxed in the quietness of the night as the sound of the wind died away and they soon fell asleep dreaming of lush grass.

Romney Marsh is full of ghosts and sheep and various misfortunes.


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Book: Reflection on the Important Things