Jim Smiley: A Short Story

(Here Simon Wheeler heard his name called from the front yard, and got up to see what was wanted.) And turning to mas as he moved away, he said: “Just set where you are, stranger, and rest easy – I ain’t going to be gone a second.” I did not for a moment contemplate that any of these strange tales were true. I wanted to hear of Jim Smiley anyways, not The Reverend Lenidas W. Smiley which, for all I knew, was a creation Wheeler’s imagination. Not wanting to appear rude, I sat and waited for his return. Having determined I would not wait too long, as I preparing to leave in came Wheeler with an old man that I had not seen before. "Well, Smiley'll tell ya the rest." said Wheeler as he slid into a chair close by. Could this really