People are Odd

Jimmy looked up in awe at the ruined castle walls that towered above him. When you are eleven most things tower above you, and when you are eleven and ‘short for your age’, as his mother said, pretty much everything towered above you. Many children might find that intimidating, or frightening even, but Jimmy loved it. He loved the look of the huge building, the feel of the ancient rough stone under his hands. When he was in a castle he was in heaven. This one was particularly special because it was his hundredth castle. He had been obsessed with castles since he was three years old, whenever anyone asked him where he wanted to go, his only answer was ‘castle’. His mother used to say his first word was ‘castle’, although in reality it was probably ‘peepee’, or something equally as revolting, he was a boy after all. 

For his hundredth castle he had chosen Corfe Castle in Dorset, because he’d read about it in a book from school. He had done his research too, it was one of the earliest stone-built castles left standing in England, built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. He had bored his mum about it in the car on the way down.  Jimmy never understood how people could be bored with castles, they were incredibly fascinating and held such history. But people were odd, in Jimmy’s opinion. As he reached the top of the hill and passed through what was left of the gateway, he felt like he had stepped back in time. He could almost hear the sounds of castle life, the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, traders bringing supplies, soldiers marching, the sound of music coming from a troupe of minstrels. 

‘Don’t get lost now Jimmy.’ His mum called. ‘I’m going to sit out here in the sun while you do your thing. Don’t be long.’

He hardly heard her above the din going on in his head.  As he walked around the ruins, looking up at the windows, trying to imagine what they would have looked like all those centuries ago, he was lost in his own little world. He walked through door ways, climbed over ruined walls, ran his hands over the stonework, marveling at the way it was built, so long ago, before diggers and JCBs. 

‘Ere, mind where you’re going.’ Said a voice. Jimmy looked up and saw a man standing in the corner of the room. He was dressed funny, almost in rags, his shoes seemed to be made of bandages wrapped around his feet, he wore a hat pulled down tight over his head, and seemed to be measuring something with a stick.

‘Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.’ Jimmy said.

‘Well, you did. Can’t you see I’m busy? All you people traipsing through here, getting in the way. One of you will get hurt, then it will be my fault I suppose.’

‘What exactly are you doing?’ Jimmy asked.

‘What am I doing? I’m building a castle, aren’t I.’ The man rolled his eyes.

‘Umm, OK, didn’t it already get built?’

‘Well, it would have been if I hadn’t been interrupted so much. The King is due here soon, and if it’s not finished it’ll be my head on the block, won’t it.’

Jimmy starred at the man in disbelief. Could it be that after ninety-nine castles he had finally met his first ghost? 

‘Are you a ghost?’ he asked, just to check.

‘No of course not, silly boy.’ The man glared at him. ‘Do I look like a ghost?’

‘I don’t know, I’ve never seen one before.’ Jimmy replied. ‘How long have you been here?’

‘Fourteen weeks so far, we have another fourteen to go before the King arrives, and I’m never going to be finished in time.’ The man sat down on the grass, looking dejected. ‘I don’t know why I even agreed to work on this one. I’m a craftsman, I should be allowed to take my time, but seriously? Twenty-eight weeks to knock up a quick castle so His Royal Highness has somewhere to stay on his way north. He’ll probably only stay one night.’

‘And you’re absolutely sure you’re not a ghost?’ Jimmy asked again, just to be sure. ‘You know this castle was built in the 11th century?’

‘Of course I do boy, the year of our Lord ten thousand and seventy-five, to be precise.’ The man started to look a little unsure. 

‘Ok, and today is the 4th August, 2022.’ Jimmy said.

‘You know the devil will take you if you tell lies, boy. Didn’t your mother bring you up properly?’

‘Of course she did.’ Jimmy said, starting to get a little impatient. ‘And I’m not lying, its 2022. You have been here for nine hundred and forty-seven years, or thereabouts.’ Jimmy said, pleased with his arithmetic. Mr. Knowles, his maths teacher would have been impressed.

The man glared at him. ‘I don’t believe you.’

‘Well, I cant help that.’ Said Jimmy. ‘Anyway, you are definitely a ghost, no one lives that long. My great-granddad was ninety-seven and mum said that was very old. And you’re eight hundred and fifty years older than him.’ If only Mr. Knowles were here.

‘I’m thirty-seven, actually.’ The man said, uncertainty creeping into his voice now. He stood up and tried to clip Jimmy around the ear, but his hand passed straight through Jimmy’s head. ‘How did you do that?’ he demanded.

‘I didn’t do anything.’ Jimmy said. ‘See, you’re a ghost.’ The man sank down onto the floor again, tears welling up in his eyes. ‘What’s the last thing you remember?’ Jimmy asked.

‘Any annoying boy being insolent.’ The man said through tears.

‘I mean before. What do you remember this morning?’

‘Well, I got here at the crack of dawn, we were working on the doorway behind you. I was measuring the wooden beam, and then… well, there was a shout, and a creaking noise. And then you turned up.’ The man said.

‘I’m sorry to say that was probably the beam falling on your head.’ Said Jimmy. ‘How come you didn’t move on? My nan said my granddad moved on. That’s why we cant see him anymore. My teacher says when you die, you move on.’

‘I don’t know.’ The man said. ‘I don’t remember anything after the creaking noise. Maybe I don’t know how to move on?’

‘I don’t think you have to do anything. I think it just sort of happens.’ Jimmy said. ‘Maybe its because you don’t believe you died?’ he asked, trying to be helpful.

‘I…are you sure about all this?’ the man said. ‘You wouldn’t be lying to me now, would you?’ 

‘Why would I lie? I don’t care if you are dead or not.’ Jimmy replied.

‘Well, that’s a bit rude.’ The man said.

‘I didn’t mean that.’ Jimmy said. ‘I just meant what would I have to gain?’

‘You could be one of those Saxons, out to destroy the castle, maybe you are plotting against the King himself, I should have you arrested.’

Jimmy sighed. ‘I’m not, although my nan says I probably have Anglo-Saxon blood in my veins. I’m not really sure what she means. But I’m not about to kill a King. Besides, we have a Queen now.’

‘What rot!’ the man shouted, gesticulating wildly. ‘The very idea of a Queen ruling our land. Its ludicrous.’

‘I’m sorry to tell you this, but we have had a few since you died. Most have them have been pretty successful too. Queen Elizabeth defeated the Spanish, and Queen Victoria ruled an Empire, to name just two.’

The man looked crestfallen, he hung his head and began wringing his hands. ‘I don’t know if I believe you.’ He said, his voice a little quieter.

‘Look, whether you believe me or not is up to you, but if you don’t figure it out soon you will be here forever.’ Jimmy scolded.

‘Queens, you say? And 2022? I don’t know what to say.’ As Jimmy stared, he could swear the man began to fade a little.

‘I think you are moving on.’ Jimmy said.

‘That was an awfully loud noise I heard. And now I come to think of it, there was a pain in my head, briefly.’ Jimmy watched the man as the realization of his fate finally hit him. One minute he was there in front of Jimmy, the next he had faded to nothing. Jimmy smiled.

Jimmy made his way happily through the castle ruins back to where his mum waited for him. His hundredth castle and his first ghost, what a thrill!

‘There you are.’ His mum said, ‘I thought you had got lost.’

‘Oh no, I met a ghost and helped him move on actually.’ Jimmy said, pleased with himself.

‘Did you dear, that’s nice.’ His mum said. She either hadn’t heard him or didn’t believe him. People were odd, Jimmy thought.