Photo Copyright – Björn Rudberg
“Why do you play your song?” I asked the old man.
“Somebody has to keep the demons at bay.” He nodded at the guitar beside me. “You can take over for awhile if you’d like.”
I laughed, thought I’d humor him. I picked up the instrument and strummed a few chords of his song. He stood up and walked away without another word.
I tried to put the guitar down, figuring I’d take my chances with his demons, but my hands seem to have gained a mind of their own.
It’s been three cursed days since I’ve seen the old bastard.
—
This story was written for Friday Fictioneers. Go forth, minions, and read the many other interpretations of the prompt.
Adam Ickes 
April 23rd, 2014 at 4:42 PM
ah. tricked by grandpa:) very nice.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:25 PM
You’ve got to watch out for those old men. They’re always up to something.
April 23rd, 2014 at 4:52 PM
Be a perfect Twilight Zone episode.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:26 PM
Know any directors? Maybe we can resurrect the show.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:36 PM
It always seems to come back every now and then.
April 23rd, 2014 at 5:13 PM
haha, I can just see the old man, all casual in his comment and setting a trap for your narrator. Was he old when he began playing, I wonder?
April 24th, 2014 at 8:28 PM
I’m sure it took the old guy quite a few attempts to get his spiel just right so as to convince someone to unwittingly take over. I wonder how many tries it’ll take this guy now.
April 23rd, 2014 at 5:58 PM
Oh Adam. The old man is not coming back. Very Clever.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:29 PM
He certainly isn’t, and I can’t say I blame him.
April 23rd, 2014 at 8:08 PM
Adam, I really like the pacing of this one! It has a softer tone to it, but somehow that comes across as even more chilling. I like the way you took what seem like a friendly guitar session, and brought in whole other elements. Really nice job!
April 24th, 2014 at 3:24 PM
I agree. Understated is often more.
janet
April 28th, 2014 at 9:55 AM
I agree with you both and knowing Adam, there just had to be some spooky, creepy ending. Well done
Dee
April 23rd, 2014 at 10:35 PM
I saw the trick coming but laughed when it appeared. I want to know more – when does he get to go home?
April 24th, 2014 at 8:30 PM
He gets to go home when someone else takes over. Thus is the curse.
April 23rd, 2014 at 10:40 PM
Pass the torch! Nice story and I like the touch of the uncanny.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:30 PM
Thanks. Poor guy didn’t even know what he was getting himself into.
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:14 PM
Good story as usual, Adam. Poor guy. 😦 Now he has to sit there and wait for the next musical person to take over. That could be a while. He might be old also by the times that happens. Well done. 🙂
April 24th, 2014 at 8:32 PM
Perhaps he’ll get lucky and another tourist as foolish as himself will stumble by and get talked into taking over.
April 24th, 2014 at 4:45 AM
Adam – I hope he will be able to pass on the buck ! may be in time 😀
April 24th, 2014 at 8:33 PM
I’ll sure he’ll eventually trick someone else into taking over. It’s a no win scenario though. Either he’s stuck playing or stuck feeling guilty for tricking another into playing.
April 24th, 2014 at 5:12 AM
Oy, them old men and their tricky ways!! You never know when you’ll be trapped playing a cursed guitar forever. Last line was a great clincher!
April 24th, 2014 at 8:33 PM
The moral of the story: never trust an old man.
April 24th, 2014 at 12:33 PM
well, he fell for it. he can’t blame anybody else but himself.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:35 PM
I disagree. The blame lies solely on the old man’s shoulders. The old man knew what he was doing. This guy had no reason to expect he’d be trapped there playing the song. Only when he tricks another into playing–and he will–does the blame shift to him.
April 24th, 2014 at 1:16 PM
Uh oh! He better start looking for the next poor sap, or he’ll be stuck there!
April 24th, 2014 at 8:36 PM
True, but then he has to live with the knowledge that he trapped someone else there.
April 24th, 2014 at 4:43 PM
Perfectly written. Love the last paragraph. Made me chuckle
April 24th, 2014 at 9:51 PM
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
April 24th, 2014 at 6:59 PM
It was time for the old one to rest and pass the spirit of a warrior to another.
April 24th, 2014 at 9:52 PM
I’m sure he’s looking forward to passing it on already as well.
April 24th, 2014 at 7:34 PM
I see it’s already been mentioned but that’s Twilight Zoney. Stop playing the guitar and the forces of Satan emerge. Sorry you’re stuck now.
April 24th, 2014 at 9:53 PM
Could I interest you in playing a tune, Perry? No experience necessary.
April 25th, 2014 at 12:52 AM
I really enjoyed your take on the prompt! Fantastic final line.
April 28th, 2014 at 9:55 PM
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
April 25th, 2014 at 1:32 AM
liked this a lot, Adam! it’s so Twilight Zone!
April 28th, 2014 at 9:55 PM
Thanks, K.Z.
April 28th, 2014 at 11:02 PM
i saw your review. thanks so much, Adam 🙂
April 25th, 2014 at 4:23 PM
Clever, highly imaginative and nicely written 🙂
April 28th, 2014 at 9:56 PM
Exactly as I planned it. Or maybe I just got lucky, but I won’t admit that.
April 26th, 2014 at 4:48 AM
Dear Adam,
It all seems to have been said, but I’ll say it anyway. I can feel this poor guitar player’s desperation. Yea, I could see it as a TZ. Now if only we could resurrect Rod Serling. Good story. Subtle horror that sinks in long after the reader is finished.
shalom,
Rochelle
April 28th, 2014 at 9:57 PM
Thanks, Rochelle.
April 26th, 2014 at 6:11 AM
Another great story from you. Creepy without being obvious. Good job.
April 28th, 2014 at 9:57 PM
Thanks. I appreciate the kind words.
April 26th, 2014 at 2:50 PM
He could be there some time. Just needs to find him a stooge! Nice idea for the story. 🙂
April 28th, 2014 at 9:58 PM
Perhaps he can find three stooges? That would be entertaining.
April 27th, 2014 at 12:19 AM
Dear Adam, you took the bait and now it has you. What you need to do is get that $100 bill in your pocket and tell someone that if they play for your break, they can have it. Wait a minute – this is insane – creepy too! Good story Adam! Nan 🙂
April 28th, 2014 at 10:00 PM
I’m going to be stuck here for a long time I bet.
Glad you enjoyed it, Nan.
April 27th, 2014 at 7:41 PM
It IS very Twilight Zone…which I love!
April 28th, 2014 at 10:02 PM
I love it too. Being compared to Twilight Zone is a good feeling.
April 28th, 2014 at 10:08 PM
Yes, I can imagine it is.
April 28th, 2014 at 3:09 PM
That was a devilishly good story 😉
April 28th, 2014 at 10:02 PM
Thanks, Helen. Wasn’t exactly easy to pull darkness from that photo, but I gave it my best shot.
April 29th, 2014 at 9:04 AM
Poor old man needed a break. Forever. I agree with some of the others, it’s very Twilight Zone. I wonder how the he will eat, go to the bathroom, etc. with that cursed guitar attached to him. I think about the weirdest things sometimes.
April 29th, 2014 at 5:08 PM
That’s what you get when you don’t take old folks seriously!
May 2nd, 2014 at 9:14 AM
Ha, he’s passed the torch on to the next generation! Good one.
(Sorry for the late comment, I don’t know how I missed this in my inbox.)
May 2nd, 2014 at 9:14 PM
No worries. I just now posted my story for this week. I’m a bit late this time around.