THE 12TH STEP

0liver T. Harrison III, an anthropologist/ author/philosopher/ retired college professor, lived on Oak Street in the small city of Clarksville.

When Thaddeus (Thad) Robert Carter II was young, he was thrilled by Oliver T. Harrison’s beautifully-built nineteenth century house.

At fifteen, Thad got his wish: he was a paperboy whose paper route included Oliver T. Harrison (thrill).

During many months of delivering the Clarksville Journal to Mr. Harrison, Thad had been the perfect paperboy, and Mr. Harrison the perfect customer.

They formed a friendship. Mr. Harrison recognized Thad’s above-average intellect. He became his mentor (thrill).

One day Mr. Harrison decided he would let Thad see the house, not just the room downstairs where mentoring took place.

Thad had to walk up a steep, solid wood staircase. Only when he reached the staircase’s twelfth step was Thad’s body struck by a haunting, a force.

He trembled.

What just happened to me! —Thad thought. Suddenly, though, Thad felt spiritually connected to the apparition’s secrets, the spiritual world she held onto. Secrets about the house one day; he would learn.