The Man Who Lives Down The Track

By Paul McCann 

.Somewhere near West Virginia, down a windy track the mist lay thick over a little cabin in the woods. Outside the cabin door, a man with a long Hillbilly beard was chopping up some firewood for the winter ahead. He was singing to the cow nearby, who would moo along at times as he sang. . 
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, (Mooh Emmoo) it’s a long way to go. It’s a long long way to Tipperary, to the sweetest girl I know.” 
A man appeared from nowhere with a backpack and called out to Peter. 
“Good morning. “, 
Bill couldn’t hear and kept singing. 

“Good bye Piccadilly “ 
The stranger walked over and stood directly in front of Peter who stopped singing and chopping wood. 
“What can I do for you? 
Peter asked. 

“Good morning sir, my name is Bill. My truck broke down on the track a few miles back and I’ve been walking for hours and made my way to this track. I’ve got to get back to West Virginia. Am I going the right way? ” 

“All depends “ 
Peter replied. 
“What do you mean by, it depends . On what?” . 

“It depends on how much you can pay me for that information Bill.” 
“My name is Peter by the way. Don’t often see many people around here. “ 
Bill smiled and took out his wallet and handed over ten dollars. “ 
Peter said 
“OK , well let me tell you Bill , you’re a long long way from West Virginia and you’re on my land , so if you don’t mind , I’d like you to get off my property .” 
Bill looked puzzled and said , 
“I just gave you ten dollars “ 

“I answered your question , so what's your problem ? Hi “ 
Peter replied and started singing. 

: It’s a long way to Tipperary, It’s a long way to go.” 
Bill walked away cursing under his breath. 
“Bloody stupid old miserable blank minded Hillbilly Bully. “ 

Peter shouted back. 
“You may be right stranger but I’m not the one who is lost!” 

Bill shouted back 
“I hope your stinkweed of a shack blows down in a storm and your cow runs out of milk. “ 
Peter again started singing 
“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, sure it’s like a morning spring. “ 

Bill walked off and Peter looked at Nellie and said. 
“He’ll be back “ 

About ten minutes later Bill came walking along the track from another direction to where Peter was still chopping wood.’ 

“Hey stranger you still trying to get back to West Virginia?” 

“What’s going on?” 
Bill asked. Peter put down the axe and replied. 
.  
“It’s a strange track that you’re on here and it’s not often I get to see people around here.” 

“I am a little confused. Have I just been walking in circles then?” 

“Bill the thing is, you really have no idea where you are do you? 

“Well I know I’m lost but I just want to get back to West Virginia. Could you please tell me what direction should I go in. “ 

“I keep mostly to myself here and the only company I have is Nellie over there. I’ve been living in these woods for a long time. So if anybody would know where West Virginia is its me and I’m telling you Bill you’ll never find your way there from here “. 

“Peter I have a wife there in West Virginia who must be worried about where I am. My radio stop working in the truck and I could send her a message .Would you have a mobile phone I I could borrow to call her? 

“Even if I did have a mobile phone Bill, there’s no service around here. These woods are too thick and maybe I should tell you there is no way out of these woods. “ 
Bill looked worried and said. 
“Peter, I have to get back to West Virginia, can you please help me?” 
Peter just smiled and said. 
“Have you never heard the story about the old man who lives down the track?” 
“What story?” 
Bill replied and Peter looked up at the sky and took a deep breath and said. 
“There’s a story about a man who lived with his Mother Elsie in a small wooden cabin in these woods. They say he went mad drinking Moonshine and eating strange mushrooms and one night under the full moon he took an axe and killed his mother and buried her in a shallow grave. Ever since that day they say a curse was on the land and anyone that would stray on that land would find a track where they would walk in circles for an eternity. ” 
There was a look of shock and terror on Bill’s face. 
“That’s nonsense, I don’t believe that?” 
Said Bill but Peter replied. 
“Ok, suit yourself. They say that Elsie’s ghost walks the track at night so just wait and see Bill. They say Elsie’s old cabin blew down in a storm and after it was rebuilt it was transported from place to place on a truck to different properties. They say the truck driver was a man called Bill who had a son called Peter who also came from West Virginia. Peter had many occupations in his life but he always wanted to be a country singer. His Father Bill wouldn’t let him pursue his career and sent him to work as a wood chopper. Bill drove his truck and hauled timber to the town and coal from the colliery. He also carted hay and brought some cows to the slaughter house. 
Bill was getting anxious and said. 
“That’s a lot of rubbish, now can you tell me the way to West Virginia please? 

“I’ll tell you what, if I was to bring you to West Virginia what would it be worth? 

“I’ll give you a thousand dollars “ 
Said Bill. The old Hillbilly ran his fingers through his beard and then walked over to an old shed beside the cabin and opened the doors. An old truck stood there. 

“So where’s the money then Bill.” 
Peter replied. 
“It’s in the bank, I’ll get it for you when we get to West Virginia.” 
Peter started the engine of the truck and shouted, 
“Ok then come on then, we better get you bask to West Virginia “ 
Bill rushed over and got inside the truck. A woman came to the door of the cabin. 
Peter waved and she waved back. 

Bill asked. 
“Who is that “ 

Peter replied, 
“That’s my Mother, Elsie. She was sent into an asylum three years ago but I went and broke her out and took her back home to live with me .“. 
Bill was horrified. 

Peter steered the old truck along the track through the woods singing his favourite song. 

“Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, 
Shenandoah River, life is old there, older than the trees 
Younger than the mountains, Blowing' like the breeze 
Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong. 

Eventually the truck pulled into West Virginia. He pulled over and looked into Bills eyes and said. 

“I want the thousand dollars before you go and when I’m gone you can tell people that you met the man who lives down the track. “ 

Bill paid Peter the thousand dollars and a few days later he returned to the woods with a mechanic to retrieve his broken down truck. He wanted to go and thank the strange old Hillbilly but somehow he couldn’t find that track to his old cabin. 
Since that day, Bill retold that story about the old Hillbilly in the woods but no one has ever seen or heard of him since. 

The End.