George Crocker had his faults but no one could call him dishonest. Like many in his day he was determined to “owe no man anything” and was always exact in paying his bills. George lived in a small town where everyone knew each other and it was common to purchase something on credit and pay the bill at the end of the month. It was a time when a man’s word was accepted to be as good as his signature. Now, nearly eighty years old and widowed, he lived with his youngest son Harry and daughter-in-law Sarah. That winter he developed flu symptoms but refused to see a doctor until his condition deteriorated to the extent that Harry insisted on taking him to the nearest hospital nearly sixty miles away. George had developed pneumonia and was immediately placed in the hospital’s intensive care unit. The doctors told Harry and Sarah that the next 48 hours were critical and advised them to remain at the hospital. They were able to see the patient for a few minutes every two hours, but he was too weak to talk. By the following day however, his condition had improved enough for him to converse with his son and daughter in law. Harry told his father that his daughter Mary would be there by noon and Harry’s brothers Sid and Don would arrive that evening. His father nodded, “ I’ll be here to see them” he said, “but my time is getting short and I’m not afraid to die, eighty years is a long life and my bills are paid, I wouldn’t want to die with a debt hanging over me, I’ve been an honest man Harry and I hope you’ll always be the same.” Harry left a little later to pick up his sister at the airport while Sarah remained at the hospital with her father-in-law. George was well enough to chat for a few minutes with his daughter when she arrived and also to speak with Sid and Don that evening. Later that night his condition was to worsen again and he passed away at 6:05 AM.

The next three days were busy making funeral arrangements and a large crowd had gathered at the local Anglican Church to say their final good-bye to one of the towns oldest residents. Mary, Sid and Don remained a few more days with their brother before returning home and settling back into their daily routine. It was a little more difficult for Harry and Sarah who often found herself setting the table for three. Then too, Harry was spending more and more time in his fish store down at the wharf preparing for next month’s Lobster fishery leaving Sarah alone in the house. He was surprised one morning when Sarah entered the store, her face pale. “I saw your father Harry” she said in a shaking voice, “ I passed by his bedroom and he was standing looking out the window”. Harry put his arm around his wife, “It’s okay”, he started to say, “dad was with us for — “ I’m not crazy Harry”, she interrupted him, “ I saw your father”. Harry looked at his wife, she’d been spending too much time alone in the house, he’d have to find something to do at home for awhile, maybe they would go visit Joe and Ethel for a few hours tonight, perhaps even play a game of cards. Everything went smoothly for the next couple of days, yet Sarah refused to stay in the house alone and Harry began to wonder how he was going to finish preparing for the fishery. Sarah suggested that they pack a lunch and she would spend the day at the store with him. By the following week Sarah was feeling much better and even suggested that it night have been her imagination. The next day she stayed at home, and the next and the next, Harry was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief. The following day was Sunday and they both went to church in the morning and spent a relaxing afternoon at home. Their troubles were not over though for Harry was at his fish store less than an hour on Monday morning when Sarah arrived frightened and crying, She had seen George again.