The Cemetary Curve

A true ending from a false beginning

Driving south to exit town, there is a cemetary on the right and a curve in the road just past it. About this moment is when the speed limit changes from forty to fifty-five miles per hour. This started out as some made-up story that, in some way, became a reality.

A few decades ago, my uncle Jim and his friend Ernie were coming to visit for a family get-together. Jim was, more or less, the one who is usually late. Well, of course, he and Ernie were late, and everyone was getting concerned, being that it was getting dark outside. Deer ran amok in the area, so no one didn’t want to have them hit one in their car or run off the road to crash into a tree. Then everyone heard them pull up outside, and everyone had a sigh of relief that they made it. When they came into the house, Jim and Ernie looked absolutely terrified. Everyone is thinking…

what is wrong?

Jim said, “We saw.. something.. very strange.”

Ernie stood quietly nodding his head yes.

“Well, what did you see?” everyone asked.

Jim then proceeded, “We were driving along, then we put the brights on in case a deer ran out. Then, coming around the curve heading into town by the cemetary, we noticed two people walking on the opposite side of the road.”

Ernie still quietly nodding his head, yes.

Jim continued, “I mean no one walks there, and we slowed down to see who it might be, when we noticed it was a young couple, a groom and his bride. They were just holding hands and walking along, then with no reason, they SCREAMED! very loudly, their faces melted, revealing their skulls, and then they disappeared down into a flash of fire on the roadside.”

Jim and Ernie still claim to despise driving in that area due to the image they saw. Jim turns away when he does take that path. Thankfully, the bypass around town was built a few years ago for those who don’t want to witness the damned matrimony. Who knows, maybe someone else will take their place, freeing the couple from their roadside purgatory.

As I finish with that story, my friend Edgar looks at me with a real fear in his eyes.

“Damn man, so this happened past the cemetary!?” asked Edgar.

“Man it’s just a scary story my uncle told everyone years ago, probably drunk or on drugs.” I said.

My brother laughs, “I don’t remember the screaming, face melting and disappearing in fire part, Jim only said they saw a groom and bride walking on the roadside.”

I was thinking otherwise, but accepting that I might’ve added some flair to it. “Well, it’s been years since I’ve heard the story.”

Then my brother says “Well, Jim did say the married couple looked at him with confusion, screamed and then disappeared as they drove past them.”

I laughed and added, “I think the screams were Jim and Ernie. I mean, Jim did piss his pants if I remember right.”

My brother smiled with agreement. Edgar, though, looks even more in fear of this whole story by just sitting there when he is usually cutting up with some added bullshit by now.

A few days pass by, and I see Edgar at school. He tells me that the story really got to him, like he just pictured the whole moment and how terrifying that would be to witness it. Especially since he lives down around the south area of town.

Edgar punches me in the arm, “I will now turn away through there for now on. Why did you tell me that dumb story.”

I reassured him with humor that it is just a dumb story, “It’s October, I am just telling a mere ghost story. It’s probably originally an excuse told by my uncle to cover his own ass for being late all the time. Heck, he probably got high and watched Beetlejuice the night before or something.”

Later on, he stopped by my house for a visit. We’re just playing some video games and enjoying some snacks. When the sun started to go down, Edgar started demanding to go home. Well, since he walked to my house from another friend of his, Paul. I decided to drive him home.

“Alright, man, I’ll take you home chill out.” Then Edgar gratefully, “Thanks man, I appreciate it. I don’t want my parents to worry about where I’m at.”

I also gave my opinion on his friend, “By the way, why are you hanging out with Paul anyways. That guy will get you in jail or the morgue.”

“Nah, he’s cool.” Edgar sides his friend

As we start towards his house, which is south outside of town, the fastest, most productive way is to head south past the cemetary around the curve.

Edgar immediately says, “Hey, uh..can we stop at the Mill gas station. I need to get uh.. loaf a bread and I few bucks for fuel.”

I just glance at him, “Sure, wish you mentioned that when we left, being I now have to journey to the eastside, but I guess I can use some fuel.”

When we headed towards the station, Edgar looked at the clock on the radio,

“Man, sorry I didn’t know it was this late, never mind the bread I need to get home.”

I glance at him again, wanting to say something shitty, but I said,

“Alright, no problem, we’ll just take the bypass up here and I’ll take your five bucks as well.”

Edgar gave a sigh of relief. He then handed me his five bills, and I noticed he was shaking a little. I knew exactly what was going on here.

“Hey man, either you’re on something, or you’re having me avoid the cemetary route?”

Edgar, just looking out his window, replied in irritation, “Uh, what do you mean cemetary. The hell are you talking about.”

I looked over at him, “You’re scared of that damn curve now aren’t you?”

Edgar still looking out his window, “Just shut up and take me back home, man. Your stupid story doesn’t scare me.”

Yes, that is exactly what it is, a stupid story.

With it being October, it was time for cheap thrills with cheap soap and toilet paper dispersement. One Friday night, I was finishing up some homework and went outside to put my backpack in the car when I heard my name being called out. It sounded like Edgar. Sure enough, as I turned around, there he is with three others walking down the dark street towards me. I can already assume they were out doing their own halloween decorating.

Edgar approached, “Hey man, me, Paul, Wats and Johns were wandering if you were up for driving us all home.”

While Edgar was talking, I was holding my hand out, rubbing my index and thumb together.

Edgar looks at Paul next to him, “Paul’s got some cash, probably a full tank worth.”

Paul is standing there smiling, holding cash out.I look at everyone thinking to myself.. no, besides, I didn’t care much for Paul, nor did he care much for me.

Well, cash is king. So I grab the cash and while counting it, “Sure, is everyone going to the same place or what.”

Paul replied sarcastically, “Nah, we’re all going to sleep together in your car. Of course, we’re all going to our own homes except I’m going to my grandpas. So you driving or what.”

Me sighing with lack of enthusiasm,

“Yea, sure, hop on in.”

We first went to the Mill Station to fuel up. I dropped off Wats to his house, cruised around a bit, gassing it from stop sign to stop sign. Paul commented on wanting to drive, with me saying, “NO!”

Then we went driving through some leaf piles and jumped out soaping a few vehicles. Then decided Edgar should be getting home, so we head south to past the cemetary. Edgar was riding up front. He was turned around, talking away to Paul and Johns, who were sitting in the back seat. I didn’t want to say a word, I wanted to get everyone home quick and get to bed. But it didn’t matter.

Edgar turned immediately, looking at me and said, “The cemetary curve! Why this way, man!”

Edgar then hid down in the floor board covering his face. Paul and Johns are busting out laughing, wandering what the hell Edgar was doing.

I mildly laughing, “Come on, good grief, get up off the floor, we’re past the curve now.”

Edgar shaking, mumbling to himself about not looking, not wanting to see it anymore. He didn’t sit back up until a little ways down the road. He sat quietly until we got to his house. He got out, then Paul climbed out from the backseat to ride shotgun, still laughing,

“Ha, what is up, Edgar? You see a ghost or something, go cover up in your sheets bitch. Ha.”

Edgar just went inside his house. I felt bad, I didn’t think he was going to really act out like that embarrassing himself. I also pondered on what he meant about not wanting to see something anymore. As I drive away, Paul again bothers me with wanting to drive my car.

“Come on, you need to let me drive this badass car.”

I loudly reply, “Dude it’s an old buick coupe. Besides, the brake boosters vacuum line isn’t in great shape.”

Paul sounding irritated, “Whatever, the brakes have been working fine this whole time. I bought you a full tank man, at least let me drive it a little bit.”

Well, he had a point on giving up his money to fill the tank. So, on our way back to town, I turn at the cemetary and head up an old camp road that leads towards a river camp.

John’s asked, “Uh, where are we going?”

I then drive to a quiet, open road with no trees within forty feet or more on each side. I park the car in the middle of the road.

“Okay, listen up. I’ll let you drive up the road, down to the camp and back to here, slowly mind you. Then that’s it, no more joyride, everyone goes home. Got it!”

Paul is just ear to ear smiling, “Hell ya!”

We then switch seats, Paul takes the wheel, and I take the passenger side. He drives, carefully, down the road, to the camp, and coming back to where we started. Paul then apparently..loses his mind,

“This is boring.Let’s see what this beast can do!”

He gasses it up to around seventy-five, I start yelling,

“Hey! No! We aren’t doing this shit!”

Paul yelling, “Whoohoo, yea, we are boys!”

He then goes off the road into a nearby bean field and then starts cutting donuts at high speed. Me and Johns are literally telling him to stop the damn car. “PAUL! What in the hell man! Stop the damn car!”

I am trying my best to grab the wheel or do something to stop him, but he is in a wreck less mode acting like a maniac. Each move is risky, being the speed taken, grabbing the wheel might tip us over. Then Paul floors it towards the edge of the bean field and goes to cut left to realize the brakes are stiff.

“NO BRAKES BOYS!” Paul yells

Then, he proceeds to crash us into a dirt embankment, sending the cars rear up in the air. None of us wearing seat belts; Paul took the steering wheel to the chest, Johns flew head first from the back seat to hit the dash, and I smacked the windshield. As the car fell back down, dirt and dust shot out everywhere. The engine stalls and dies. I turn to my left and give Paul a left hook to his jaw, then I lose it,

“What the fuck man! You’re a damn lunatic! Get the hell out of the damn car! Both of you”

I grabbed the keys from the ignition and got out of the car. Head lights are still working miraculously, I see the cars front bumper, and most front suspension is buried in the dirt mound. I go to the trunk and get the tire tool out.I looked at both of them while I controlled myself, not to beat Paul with it. “Hey, you two morons better start walking back to the camp for help.”

Paul looking at me, grabbing his jaw, “What do you mean? It’s dark, and the river camp is like two miles away.”

I immediately turn to him pointing the tire tool to his chest, “I DON’T GIVE A SHIT! GET WALKING!”

Johns calmly asked what I’m going to do.

“I don’t know! Guess I’m going to dig out as much as I can with this tool or at least try. Now get out of here, go find help.”

Paul then says, “Man, I’m tired, and hurting let’s just all go home. Who is going to help anyway?”

I grab Paul’s shirt from his aching chest, “This is YOUR DAMN FAULT! I don’t care HOW you feel you’re going to get help. Go find some redneck with a truck and chain, I don’t care. If you walk home I’ll beat your ass to death when I find you tomorrow.”

So off they went.

As the dust settled, I thought I heard a distant noise sounding like.. a scream. I left the headlights on so I could see what I was doing. On the other side of this dirt mound was a deep, deadly ravine full of trees. As I start peering through the trees across ravine, my headlights emit only as far as they can. I noticed something, so I turned off the headlights to see moonlight has revealed a road straight across the ravine.

Figuring in my mind where our location could be. I then realized that fool Paul had driven through this field to end up crashing us on the opposite side of the cemetary curve. The sound was probably just in my head. I need to get this car out and get out of here.

After digging a bit, I tried starting the engine, and with luck, it started. I hear a sucking sound under the hood. I pop the hood to see the brake booster vacuum line had fallen off. That explains why the brakes went stiff on Paul. I connect it back up the best I can. I try in reverse to get the car out of the dirt mound with no luck.

Paul and Johns returned, finding only a ride back to town. From there, I got back home and had to call my dad from work on third shift. We had to call a 24-hour tow, police showed up as well. I thought, what a damn mess and how we thankfully survived. My dad was royally pissed off and made a statement on how lucky we were to not end up as three crosses on a roadside.

Edgar came over a few nights later to hang out. We sat down at some old bleechers by the schools tennis court, staring up at a clear sky full of stars, smoking a few joints, drinking vodka, and OJ. He had heard what happened after we dropped him off that night. He was glad no one got severely hurt but also didn’t have much to say, especially when I told him we were on the flip side of the cemetary curve. He then opened up with his fear of that area.

“Man, you might think I’m crazy with how I act about that curve, but I had a vision of some sort.”

Me thinking it’s the pot and beverage talking, Edgar then continues.

“I envisioned driving through the curve, and that ghost couple appearing, causing me to swerve and crash into a tree or something. Then, I would be stuck there forever with those ghosts, haunting other drivers. I mean man, how fucked up would that be, right.”

I take my final hit of the joint and pass it to Edgar,

“That is a heck of a vision. But a deer would more than likely jump out there than anything. It’s a dangerous curve, cause the speed limit changes too soon. Besides, I don’t see you crashing there, now Paul on the other hand.”

We both chuckle and cough, then I continue,

“Here take this joint, chill out, and stop thinking so damn negative all the time. The one thing I can say though is don’t ever let Paul drive your car or, hell, even drive, period. He will get you killed.”

Edgar then nodded with agreement.

As years passed by, things went on in life. Edgar and Paul got jobs together at a McDonald’s in the city, which is south of town. Edgar met a beautiful girl named Anne at work whom he fell in love with. One night they went to a party here in town. As the night progressed and it got late, Anne needed to get home. Anne lived in the city south of town, which is a twelve mile haul. Edgar was going to take her home until Paul insisted on driving because he claimed Edgar drives too slow.

Edgar didn’t want him to, but didn’t want to argue about it and decided to let Paul drive. So they all leave town heading south for the city. Paul decides that the best way anywhere is fast. So Paul drives nearly twice the speed limit heading south to exit the town. He passes the cemetary, and when the curve arrives, Paul evidently couldn’t handle the speed through the turn, so inertia ends with the car slamming into a tree.

The crash was very violent, breaking the car into three pieces and brutally killing Paul, Edgar, and Anne. They weren’t discovered until the following morning by a local resident who spotted the disaster at the bottom of the ravine when driving down the old camp road. The road south of town was shut down until all the pieces were picked and cleared from the area. Their bodies were dismembered, midly decapitated, and partially unidentifable, according to a report.

Many people had always wandered how it had happened?

Did Paul lose control due to taking the curve at an estimated hundred and ten miles per hour, according to the investigation? Did a deer jump out right at the moment, causing them to swerve into the tree? Or did the apparition of the bride and groom present themselves, making Paul swerve or worst did Edgar grab the wheel out of fear? No one will ever know.

I ponder on the false story of that location told to me by my uncle years before I shared with Edgar just for fun. With how Paul crashed my vehicle across the ravine from the curve or how Edgar ended up dying with Anne, whom he loved dearly, it’s clear that it seems like a foreshadowing event.

When I now take the south route out of town, I turn my eyes as Edgar would when he feared what he had envisioned. I fear mine as well. That is to see the three in ghostly appearances walking the roadside and then stand there staring at me in a mangled, disfigured form, confused as to what has happened and why. The crosses are placed as an example of the wrecklessness but mainly as a memorial for their unfortunate demise. While not buried physically there, that was their final moment.

To this day, their names rest peacefully on those three crosses at the very spot of their tragic end, the cemetary curve.