Rick returned from the hardware store looking a bit haggard, but that wasn’t what made Ruth feel uneasy, there was something about his demeanor, a manner that she had come to recognize. She felt a chill go up her spine, they had been married for more than twenty years now, and she could read her husband like a book. She walked over to where he was getting ready to paint the thirty foot boat that he had just finished building. “who is it this time Rick”, she asked laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. Rick paused for just a few seconds, knowing that he could never hide these things from Ruth. “Uncle John Piercey”, he said softly, “ he was at the store picking up some nails for that shed he’s building for Luke”. As he looked at Ruth, she could see the anguish in his eyes, “I wonder if there is any chance it could be wrong this time, but it’s never been before” A sigh escaped his lips and Ruth spoke quietly, “let’s go in the house” she said, “it’s almost lunch time anyway”.

Rick couldn’t remember when he had developed the ability to tell when another was close to death but he felt now that he may have been born with the knowledge. As a child he had no idea that he had such a gift, if indeed it could be called that. His maternal grandmother had lived with them for as long as Rick could remember and had died when he was fourteen. He remembered telling his mother the day before her death that nan’s face looked grey, but his mom hadn’t noticed it, not did anyone else in the family and he soon forgot the incident. It was not until three years later when some of his friends were going swimming in Roger’s pond, a local swimming hole about a twenty minute walk from the small town, that the phenomena raised it’s head again. As the young men were passing Rick’s house they asked if he wanted to join them, but being busy at the time he was forced to decline. As they chatted Rick found himself staring at David Barkley, one of the group, and wondered why his face looked grey instead of it’s natural colour . David however, was his usual jovial self and none of the others seemed to notice anything wrong. About an hour later the news swept through the small community that David Barkley had drowned in Roger’s pond! This time Rick didn’t forget, he kept remembering David’s grey face.