Starting today and continuing most weeks, space permitting, the Benicia Herald will be printing a “letter” from an unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More.”
He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald.
The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Letter 1: Ghostly Love

Mr. Garrett,
I have love for the ghost of a young woman I see on the second floor of Building Number 7, the Silas Casey Building, at the Benicia Historical Museum. I met her years ago when I volunteered to help out by using a pair of strong arms which have since gotten weaker.
I was alone, I thought. Something made me turn around, because I knew I would talk with someone. When I turned, she was standing there. Neither of us said a word. The talk between us came from our eyes.
That person was a head shorter than me. She had blond hair which descended to the bottom of her neck. It had a little curl to it. She was wearing a dress like I’ve seen in some Western movies and television series and photographs. She smiled without her lips parting. It was as if she said to me, “Here I am. I’ve waited for you. It’s good to see you again.”
Somehow I knew she and I had been together before in another time but in the same setting. The mistake I made at that moment was in walking towards her. When I had taken two steps, she disappeared. I’ve gone to the same spot a number of times over the years. I’ve never seen her again, but I feel her presence. It is the pleasure of something longed for, but just out of reach. I speak to her, but there is no answer. Yet, I know she hears me. I don’t know how I know, but I know.
I wonder if we were friends. I wonder if we were lovers. I wonder why we parted, if we were either or both.
I can only guess that she was the daughter of someone stationed at the Benicia Arsenal, once known as “The Benicia Barracks”, in the late 1800s. From what I know of myself, at the time I was probably an enlisted man in the Army, or a local lad hired to work at and around the Camel Barns. Somewhere, somehow, chemistry made a connection and we were joined in spirit, even if our lips never met.
The second floor of the building is the only place I’ve ever seen her, or felt her presence. I don’t think there was anything wrong about our meeting there, or that if we did meet there we did anything morally wrong by anyone’s judgment.
In my heart I know I spent many fond moments with a beautiful young girl long ago in a place near where I now sit, but as a different person. Part of that person is in me now. I often wonder if part of the beautiful young girl I knew in another time is in another person around me now. I wonder if we have grown within each other, though at a physical distance. It is one of those “wonder” questions which will probably never have an answer. She is as real to me now as she was that one time I saw her and took the two steps. I wish I hadn’t taken those two steps. I wish I had just stood and talked with my eyes, as she did. Perhaps I would not have lost her, and perhaps today I would speak with her. Questions would be asked and answered.
That young lady haunts me.

Rick

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love”, “The Mansion Stories”, “Chief Salt”, and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work entitled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments”. He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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