Part of Waite’s short story collection, A Persistent and Growing Unease: 20 Tales of Terror (A Sequence of Waking Nightmares)
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An abandoned church of unusual architecture. A derelict teenager disliked by the townspeople. Outcasts attract. It was only a matter of time before person met place in “The Midnight Congregation of St. Null’s.” For the sake of a normally gregarious country doctor, it’s too bad it doesn’t happen on any other night of the year besides Christmas Eve. A 2 am knock on the door will ruin his holiday forever. But it will make your night, reader, a lot more fun,
As a seasoned horror story hunter, I know the bar that author T.H. Waite gave herself by naming this short story how she did. First off, formality is spooky. And what is more formal than a title like “The Midnight Congregation of St. Null’s.” I remember seeing its serpentine length slither across the table of contents. The phrase went so far across the page it felt like it was heading up my sleeve to come bite me.
More shiny objects for horror lovers in that same title- religious places and themes. Sure, houses are spooky. Churches are even spookier. Add on the religious contradiction of “St.” with “Null”, essentially meaning saints but not saints, along with the midnight hour of occurrences, and you have a treasure trove. What choice do you have but to open it up?
You’ll be glad you did. For me, the story matches the hype of the title. It also has the added benefit of rubbing off empathy on the reader. After reading, “The Midnight Congregation of St. Null’s” you’ll think twice before passing judgment on someone seeking spirits that are not spirits to survive the holiday. You’ll think, ‘maybe they’re reaching for the bottle for similar reasons as the good doctor stays home, closes his shutters and puts a pillow over his head.’ Maybe they’ve both heard enough screams.
With that in mind, be easy on your voice box. Enough folks at St. Nulls have lost theirs already.
Recommended Transient Visitors Stories by Dave O’Boyle (me) if you liked this self-published/independently published book by Brett Schumaker:
A poem I wrote that I thought synced with the stories:
David O’Boyle is a
Self-published Author
Lawyer
Mooncalf
Finboy
Friend from Other Flower Pot
Transient Visitor
Earthling
Pro-Pluto
Maybe someday a Martian
Lover of Giants and Leprechauns and elves
ambassador to mummies and vampires.
David’s works are available in the shop!