In Our Words Canadians Reading Together

“Yes Cassey, I can next week.”

“Great, John.”

I went right to it, cleaning, dusting and putting new wall paper up to make the room nice. Saturday night I was finished, so I decided to make it my room. Oh excellent. Ready for my bed. Happy, excited and tired, I fell to sleep fast, and then it started. I had drunk too much water. Up every three hours. At 2:30 I was up. When I went back to the room, the wallpaper looked like it was covered with doves. One had a broken wing. It looked like it was in pain. I closed my eyes and opened them and the wallpaper was a floral pattern again. This went on for three nights.

When you feel the presence you aren’t afraid.

On the fourth night, by the dresser drawer there was a foggy haze, and it started to take the form of a person. I said, “What do you want?” The figure was a man I knew. It was old Seth MacGillicutty, the man who loved doves. Seth was trying to say, “Let the doves go, please hurry!”

Rumour has it that Seth had this room for his doves and would leave the window open so they could fly out. In 1967 Seth passed away; the house was left to his nephew Bryce. Bryce never looked after the doves; they all died of hunger when he left the window closed.

Seth pointed to the window. He said, “If you let the spirit of
doves go I can rest in peace.”
“Please open the window, lady, I beg you.”
My eyes grew large and I started to cry. I ran to the window and
tried to open it. The window was stuck. I tried with all of my
strength. No luck. I put my hands in my face. What was I going
to do?
“Come on Cassey, you’ve got to get that window open.”
I fell to my feet just then, the dove with the broken wing flew
down in front of me. It was like the bird was giving me the

strength I needed. The dove started to flap its wings and all of
the others started as well.
“Hurry lady, the window. Please, if you don’t open the window
all of the dove’s wings will break.”
“Hurry, hurry!”
I turned around, put my fingers under the sill, and with
everything I had, I lifted the window. All of the doves flew out.
I turned to my right to see Seth smiling and on his shoulder
was the dove with both wings flapping.
Seth said, “We are at peace now. Thank you.”
Just then the foggy haze appeared and they were gone.

It has been two years since that happened. I’m still there. Oh yes, I also have a new bar where I keep my new pets. My dove’s names are MacGilly and Chance. I love my big old house.