Hunterdon County, New Jersey (27 March 2025) – One of two locations in the short story titled “Davidson House Spirits” is a train station of ghosts at various stages of fading away. They arrive when forgotten by family and friends and must wait for a train to carry them elsewhere.
This contrasts with the story’s original location, headquarters of the Tri-county Investigative Association for Research on Beings of Otherworldly Origins, a ghost debunking society whose human members travel about freely.
Beyond the above differences, what would the railroad station look, or feel, like? It is inspired by the rural setting of Hunterdon County in New Jersey; there would be farms and fields of produce, as well as, highways for transporting to local markets. It would have traces of a country vibe.
Also, the lighting would be uneven—some fixtures burned out and others flickering—with a scratchy overhead speaker announcing updates on arrivals and departures. And the train everyone is waiting for is sitting in front of them but hasn’t moved in decades.
Anything else? Only the final version knows.
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“Davidson House Spirits” is one of eight short stories being written and developed for release in 2025. Other titles include:
- “Freaks from Another Planet”: Two friends reflect on parenting and grandparenting as if they were discussing alien life forms.
- “Just One More”: Stranded in a blizzard, an individual learns the most wanted is not always the most needed.
- “Paper Placemats at the Stack’em Up Diner”: An eighth grader gets a job to buy Christmas gifts but receives more than a paycheck.
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About the author:
William E. Spear, Jr., born in the Midwest and raised on the East Coast, is influenced by classical music, the Temptations, and Bob Seger. He writes quiet stories; the ones that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Clay Track Press 