Weekend with Bernie | Poetry and Prose

Vacationing with the Departed...

Once upon a breezy summer weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, two best friends, Lea and Rae, embarked on a much-needed vacation. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing, and the boardwalk was bustling with energy. Little did they know that their weekend would take an unexpected turn into the realm of the supernatural.

Lea and Rae had rented a charming beachfront cottage for their getaway. As they settled in, they noticed a peculiar old photograph on the wall featuring a man named Bernie. The owner of the cottage had mentioned that Bernie was the previous owner and that he had passed away peacefully in the house. However, what the owner failed to mention was that Bernie's spirit lingered on, still attached to the place he once called home.

The first night of their vacation, as Lea and Rae enjoyed a beachside bonfire, they heard mysterious laughter carried by the wind. Unfazed, they dismissed it as the carefree ambiance of the lively beach town. Little did they know, Bernie's ghost was watching them from the shadows, curious about the living souls occupying his former abode.

The next morning, Lea and Rae decided to explore the some local towns and stumbled upon an Maggie's Antiques. As they browsed through dusty shelves, a peculiar-looking Ouija board caught their attention. Intrigued, they purchased it, thinking it would add an amusing touch to their beach weekend.

That evening, as they played with the Ouija board in the cottage, the planchette began to move on its own accord. Startled but curious, they asked, "Is someone here with us?" The planchette spelled out, "B-E-R-N-I-E." Suddenly, the room chilled, and a faint figure materialized in the corner – it was Bernie's ghost.

Lea and Rae, initially terrified, soon realized that Bernie was not a vengeful spirit. In fact, he seemed quite friendly. Through a series of Ouija board messages, they discovered that Bernie missed the joys of the living and wanted to experience a vacation once more.

Being the adventurous duo they were, Lea and Rae decided to help Bernie enjoy his afterlife vacation. They dressed him in sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt, and a straw hat – the quintessential beach vacation attire. To everyone else, Bernie was invisible, but to Lea and Rae, he was the ultimate ghostly travel companion.

Throughout the weekend, Lea and Rae took Bernie on a whirlwind of beach activities – sunbathing, paddleboarding, and even dancing on the boardwalk. The sight of seemingly floating beach gear and spontaneous salsa moves puzzled the onlookers, but the three friends reveled in the joy of Bernie's spectral adventure.

As the weekend came to an end, Lea and Rae bid farewell to Bernie, knowing that his spirit had found peace through their shared escapades. They left the beach cottage with memories, a tale to share with friends, and a newfound appreciation for the unexpected magic that a weekend in Rehoboth Beach could bring and anticipate their next visit.

The Ghostly Detective the sequel, Lea and Rae, on a month-long vacation in a beach cottage, uncover the haunting truth of Bernie's murder by his homophobic neighbor.