It was back in 57' I still recall like it was yesterday. Our friends and once neighbors for 25 years Nick and Wendy Barret were at home on their farm with their twin 10-year-old children, Johnny & Martha.

Nick was having a problem making ends meet. The farm was struggling and the banks were not very helpful in those days. Nick was a lanky guy about 6'6" and only 170 pounds.

Wendy on the other hand was quite small although she had a force about her that matched anyone twice her size. Nick and Wendy often felt for years, that the cards they were dealt left them a hand short.

30 years earlier Nick and Wendy had a son named Charlie. This was many years before they moved on their farm in a rural area of West Virginia in a small community called Ridgeway.

Prior to this Nick and Wendy lived in upstate New York where they were both employed at a hospital. Wendy had completed her classes and got her degree in Nursing. Nick was well respected Doctor.

They met each other at a local party with employees of the hospital. It was definitely love at first site for Nick and Wendy. It was not long afterwards that they were married. They wasted no time before starting a family. Charlie the bright eyed and very smart son was born.

Nick and Wendy just adored their son. He was everything to them. He grew up and it became apparent that the Medical Science trade was going to become his choice in life. By the time Charlie was 15, he was studying specialized information in health and how the body works. It was obvious that he was walking in Nick's footsteps. Charlie loved to help people. Mom and Dad always called him Johnny on the spot.

He had a unique concern for his fellow man. He would always assist when people were in trouble. One day Charlie was at school and during Physical Education, during exercise events Charlie noticed the house across the street was on fire. Without thinking he jumped the school fence and ran across the road and went into the burning house.

All the kids at school were cheering him on as they said in unison, there's Charlie at it again. They awaited anxiously at the fence at the end of the school yard for Charlie to come out of the house. They began to scream for any teacher that was in listening range because they began to fear that something was wrong.

"Someone Help, Charlie went into that house on fire over there, someone please help."

Two of the teachers became frantic when they learned what had occurred. One went back inside to call for help, the other teacher went across the street to see if there was anything that he could do to help.

Before the teacher had made it to the burning home which was now fully enflamed. Charlie came out with a cat in his right arm while holding the only occupant in the house, a little old lady.

All the kids across the way began to cheer. "CHARLIE, CHARLIE, CHARLIE..."

As the teacher approached Charlie and before he could barely get the words out of his mouth, "Charlie, what the heck were you thinki..."

Charlie said, don't worry Mr. Morrison, there is no one else in there. Charlie was not concerned about what he had done he was only concerned about saving anyone that might have been in the burning house.

Although Charlie was severely reprimanded by the Fire Department, telling him that was not his job, that there are skilled people who are trained to do this. They told him, you could have been killed. Nevertheless, Charlie was given an award for courage under distress and was credited for saving Old Alice Bailey from the flames as well as Kinters the cat!

Charlie was not concerned about the accolades; he was only doing what he does best. He loved to help people.

Sadly on Charlie's 16th birthday a tragedy struck Nick and Wendy with a blow in the heart that would change their life.

Charlie was at a friend's house to celebrate his 16th Birthday. Her name was Martha. Martha had a crush on Charlie and although Charlie was fond of Martha he felt she was no more than a sister type.

It was about the time when Nick and Wendy were supposed to pick Charlie up. It was shortly after 7pm when they were probably 2 blocks away when a huge explosion rocked the ground and the car they were driving. Nick was unaware of what was happening. Wendy however was screaming and crying for she was able to see that the explosion came from the house her son was visiting.

Nick because of the force of the explosion had stopped the car, before he could get it back into gear Wendy was out of the car running with all her might to try to save her son.

Charlie was killed that day. For some odd reason the gas stove was turned on and there was apparently no flame, this of course was from the investigators of the fire department that were on the scene. They theorized that the gas was filling the house without the knowledge of any of the kids or Martha's parents, one of which did survive.

The parent that survived said that everyone waited for the cake until the end. Charlie for some strange reason wanted to eat the cake at the end when it was time to go home. If they had not waited possibly this disaster could have been avoided. It was possible that someone in the house accidentally hit the stove knob and it began to excrete gas into the home without anyone knowing what had occurred.

Charlie was buried on December 2nd 1943, three weeks before his favorite holiday Christmas.

Charlie loved to go from house to house sharing small gifts like candy and gifts socks. There is no doubt Charlie was special. His love endured for all to see.

Nick and Wendy became very distraught. It was beyond them how such a thing could happen to such a wonderful lad. As the months went forward Wendy often missed work. Nick would go to the hospital by himself.

Both of them became rather quiet, they spoke very little to anyone or each other. Little by little their heart was being ripped out from them and slowly they were collapsing into deep dark depression.

Neither one of them was ever very religious, but this occurrence made that avenue even less glamorous. Wendy when asked if she would go to church from friends, her response was, "God didn't care about me, so I don't care about God!"

This went on until about 45' when Wendy completely failed to return to the hospital for her duties. She was then permanently let go by the hospital. She would just sit in her favorite rocker staring our her front window almost in a mindless trance.

Nick loved Wendy very much, by this time he was started to get over the pain but he was losing his love for being a doctor. It was then that Nick asked Wendy if she would like to move. He thought that maybe a complete change would help her.

To his surprise Wendy jolted out of her seat and said, "tell me when, and let's go!"

Nick was not prepared for that, but sat down and began talking to her about possible locations. Wendy kept insisting to go to a small farm town, as that is where she was raised when she was a little girl.

Nick was not so apt to completely eradicate his business like that. She assured him even in a small town they need doctoring, and he could build a house to house business.

It was then Nick and Wendy moved to West Virginia and they bought a rural farmhouse. Little did Nick realize how much work was involved in owning a farm? Just keeping up the land took all of Nick's time.

This was not what he was really bargaining for, but he noticed that Wendy was doing better, and his sacrifice was worth it for him.

It was now 1946 when Nick and Wendy were thinking about having another child. It had been three years since the death of Charlie, and Nick began thinking that another child just might do the trick.

Wendy began becoming more involved in day to day activities. She would often go to neighbor's houses and talk the afternoon away. Of course as the neighbors recalled, the conversation was usually about Charlie.

By the summer of 46 Wendy began realizing she was pregnant after some bouts with sickness. March of 47' Wendy gave birth to not one child but two. She had twins, one boy and one girl.

This was a shock; Wendy had no knowledge that she was carrying twins. They both had what they felt was the perfect name for their new child. They were convinced it would be a boy. So they chose the name Johnny. This was more Nick's idea because they always called Charlie Johnny on the spot. They felt this was a way to keep his memory alive while having a unique and separate name for their new son.

They were not prepared for twins. Financially Nick was still doing fine because he was able to save from his former trade. But having twins was not something they considered. Neither one of them had twins in their family lines.

They spent a week trying to figure out what to name the girl. Finally it hit Nick, "Why don't we name her Martha after the girl that liked Charlie and died with him."

Charlie and Martha were buried right next to each other, so it almost seemed fitting to name their little girl Martha in somewhat of a tribute.

It would seem that Nick and Wendy were getting their life back together. Actually nothing could have been further from the truth. Nick was having problems with the farm. He was unable to establish any sort of personal business as a doctor because most of the town's people were satisfied with the doctor they already had and who had been their doctor for years.

Of course at times Nick was able to assist Dr. Jarvis, the local town doctor whenever the need arose. But it was without pay and only during times that Dr. Jarvis was overburdened.

Wendy on the other hand was starting to get worse. Her depression had come back and left Nick raising two small children on his own. Wendy was angry and often let the neighbors know that she was not in any mood to be sociable. Her small demeanor and size was not about to stop her from making anyone around her curl with fear. She was no doubt upset with the world.

Wendy was a special woman; she became a nurse for the love of helping others. Charlie received much of his spirit from Wendy. She would always have a smile on her face and a kind word to say. It was obvious to anyone that knew Wendy that her personality completely changed for the worse.

Johnny and Martha grew up with a very understanding father but a very angry mother. The twins would get away from the house any chance they could just to get away from mom. And although Wendy's depression was due to Charlies' death, the twins never heard about Charlie.

Nick was worrying privately about the situation. He knew that this could not go on any longer. It often was in Nick's mind that he would have to go back to being a doctor in a big city, but Wendy wanted nothing to do with it. She began to despise anyone that wanted to help others. In her mind to help anyone was a curse ready to be spawned upon the good.

It was now the summer of 57' I was living next door to Nick and Wendy. It was a god awful day; it had been cloudy all week. It was dreary and just seemed to be depressing all around. I remember looking out my window and saw Wendy sitting outside in her chair reading a book.

I noticed that the children had been playing over at the Harper's house to the North of where we all were located. Nick was in the field walking through the mud when all of a sudden an explosion occurred that rocked the entire foundation of the earth.

It was like everything was in slow motion. I ran outside and stood on my porch. I first glanced at Wendy who was now standing. Nick turned in the field looking off to the North. Wendy looked back at the house and then turned to the north and seemed paralyzed.

I then peered over to the North and realized that the explosion came from the Harper's house. It was engulfed in flames.

My heart sank lower than any time ever again. Wendy I noticed began walking slowly to the front door of her house and calling gently for Johnny.

Then she picked up her pace and started calling for Martha. She was unsure where they were but by her pace you could tell there was a fear building up within her that was about to take her over.

She ran inside their home! Nick was already running to the explosion, it never dawned on him that the Children were over there even though they went there often. He was only concerned about the Harpers and if there was anything he could do.

As Nick had entered the field approaching the Harper's house, Wendy came out of her house screaming and crying, saying "oh God not again not again." She ran frantically over to the Harper's house wailing and screaming. "Nick they're in there, they're in there, my god, I know they're in there."

Nick was thinking all along that she was referring to the Harpers. Nick turned around and noticed that the Vehicle that the Harper's drive was not there. That usually meant they were not home. However it was not unusual that they allowed the kids to be inside while they were gone.

Nick began to realize what Wendy was crying and screaming about. It was Johnny and Martha. When it dawned on him he just collapsed on to his knees realizing at this point nothing could be done. All of those years dealing with the pain which he so guarded and kept within began rolling out in a blast of wails.

It was then I saw Wendy run towards the Harper house and that it appeared that she was going to walk right into the flames. I then mustered all the speed I could and ran after her yelling, "Wendy it is too late there is nothing you can do!"

Nick got up and gained his composure and grabbed Wendy. She violently began to hit him trying to be released from his grip, Nick was trying to say softly, "baby there is nothing you can do, nothing". She then kicked him and he fell over in great agony. I then got there and grabbed Wendy. She put up a fight until she broke down and collapsed also.

Both Nick and Wendy were on the ground crying and wailing. I have never seen such a painful thing in my life. All of a sudden another explosion had occurred ripping part of the house off its foundation and literally threw it on to the ground in flames.

Finally other neighbors began to form around us as they were also watching this horrible disaster.

Some of the local women came to Wendy and lifted her up to her feet and wrapped their arms around her and slowly walked her away from the scene. I walked over to Nick and helped him up off the ground. He looked at me with eyes and expression of absolute confusion saying, "Why Bill? How could this happen? How could it happen again?"

His voice wavered off into a silence as they both walked away.

The women that gathered up Wendy took her back to the house and they sat on the steps. Nick pulled away from me as if he wanted to be alone. It was then that the most powerful exciting voice anyone could ever hear came out of the musty black sooted air, a sound that shook the foundation even greater than the explosion.

The voice out of the area where the house was burning simply said, "Mummy!"

At first no one could believe it, then the voice spoke again, "Daddy' Daddy"!

Everyone including myself turned in disbelief to see little Martha standing there with charred clothes but with no seeming injuries.

Wendy jumped up as if she had been resurrected and Nick turned around and ran like the wind. They came upon Martha as Nick grabbed her and picked her up in his long lanky arms. And Wendy wrapped her arms around both of them. They were all crying with joy, kissing and hugging and crying.

All of a sudden there was a silence in the air and little Martha said the strangest words I have ever heard. She said Daddy, Charlie was able to do it this time.

Wendy said, "what do you mean baby, whose Charlie?"

Wendy replied, "you know mom, my brother, my friend."

"What do you mean baby, how do you know Charlie?"

Nick replied, "Honey how did you hear about Charlie?"

"Mummy, Charlie is my brother, my twin Brother." Nick and Wendy looked at each other totally perplexed.

"He told me that he would not let this fire hurt me again. He ran inside and pulled me out just before there was this big noise and everything was burning. He told me to tell, you mom, that you have to stop worrying about his loss, that sometimes-bad things happen to good people. He said, you have to get on with your life and continue to help people. He told me that he is all right that he came back for two reasons and that was to save you and pay a favor to me. He said it was his time to go, that nothing happened that was not supposed to happen. He said that he still loves helping people and that is why he made the sacrifice to come back again just to make sure I regained my life. He felt that it was his fault that my life was cut short because of his decision to eat the cake last. He insisted if he did not come over then none of this would have occurred."

"Daddy, Mummy, Charlie saved my life."

"But Martha", Wendy replied, "what happened to your brother Johnny?"

"Mummy, you know Charlie, he was always Johnny on the spot..." she then said, "Johnny was not to remain, that CHarlie needed to get back!"

No one within ear shot could believe what was being said. Later on Martha forgot most of what happened in the fire. She even forgot about her losing Johnny. But Martha never forgot about Charlie. It seems she always saw Johnny as her invisible friend. Martha believed all along that Johnny was Charlie. Although everyone knew Johnny was real, this had to be definitely one of the strangest stories I have ever heard.

Wendy always insisted that when carrying Johnny and Martha there was no way she could have had twins. She was very small and her girth was not represented of carrying twins.

Wendy and Nick picked up the pieces of their life and went back to New York, where Nick retired as being head of the hospital. Wendy went back to nursing but most of her work was in the area of the Hospice where she helps people in their dying moments to realize there is a greater reality beyond.

Although it was tough on Wendy and Nick to lose Johnny they seem to understand. Strangely no other body was ever found in the fire!

Often I had asked Nick and Wendy if they believed Johnny was actually Charlie? Wendy just looked at Nick with a tiny smile on her face and both of them began to grin as if to say, you bet we believe.

Nick and Wendy both passed away in 1982 at the age 66, they lived a good life and were happy people all the way home. Some swear on Wendy's death bed that they heard her say, "Hi Charlie, it's been awhile."

By 95' it was 13 years after the death of Nick and Wendy, and Martha was now a 48-year-old woman and a proud mother of her twin 11-year old children, Nicholas and Wendy!

Alas...

Copyright(C)2005PanellaPublishing All Rights Reserved!

John V Panella is the author of three books one of which is still in print today called, "The Gnostic Papers." He specializes in the metaphysics and spirituality, while approaching life in a special and unique way.

John has begun a series of helpful articles dedicated to sharing ideas that feed the heart and soul. Often all we need are simple mental reorientation's that enlighten and expose the mind to creativity and positive energy.

Begin to follow these unique expressions down the road to alternative realities that peer there way through the deepest crevices of the mind and that tug at the heart bringing tears of joy.

Although some of the stories which will be added from time to time are works of fiction, they are all based in truth from external accounts relating to the subject matter. Many of the concepts being revealed here are simple feel good approaches to life and beyond. All of the stories whether fact or fiction are from the mind of the Author! All Material is located at The Creativity Zone. http://TheFeelGoodShop.com

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