Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Guest Writer: Coraline J. Thompson

Tears of Regret


Anna Marie Kimball
Jan 12, 1846 – Aug 23, 1855
Beloved Daughter



A statue of the child was carved and presented as a gift by a local stone mason, Jackson Hulet, on the anniversary of Anna Marie’s death. The statue’s face depicted that of Anna Marie almost to perfection. It was the face that had been ingrained into Jackson’s mind on the morn that Anna Marie buried both her parents along with her younger brother, all who had died of scarlet fever. Jackson, having promised a sick Benjamin Kimball that he would look after his daughter, Anna Marie, had offered to give her a home with him and his family, but she had refused and instead he found her trying to accomplish the labors of a grown man and woman combined.
It was after a series of late night Indian raids when the body of nine year old Anna Marie was found. She had been beaten, raped, partially scalped and her tongue had been cut out. She had seemingly fought back, a rifle with empty shells littered the ground and amongst the signs of violent confrontation a blood trail accompanied the horse tracks back into the hills. The raid Anna Marie had been killed in had been the fiercest, and the ones that followed almost seemed relieving. Mostly children were either killed or stolen and sold across the border to the Mexican brothel owners.
Raids came and went for about six months before finally settling down and allowing life to go back to its slower pace.
Horrified and feeling the weight of his promise to her father, Jackson took it upon himself to make something that could grace Anna Marie’s grave—maybe as way of apologizing.
It was written in journals by Jackson’s wife and children that they would often times overhear their Pa talking to Anna Marie—telling her he was so sorry—begging her to find the courage to wake up and promise to forgive him. Mrs. Hulet noted that oftentimes she and the children walked past and heard his raking sobs from behind the walls of his workshop.
Jackson poured his heart and soul into making the remarkable statue. Within the few weeks that followed its placement at the head of her grave, Jackson was found dead, hanging from a beam in his workshop.
The newspaper clippings, journal entries, and letters found that followed the statue’s placement have told of many strange and odd encounters with the paranormal near the location of her grave. Most often recorded stories include sightings that on the sunniest of days, Anna’s statue would be shedding tears. It later became known that the statue only shed tears whenever a child was buried.
No one knew how or why she cried. Recently, the statue was brought to the attention of The Ghost Hunters, who came to see what kind of encounters they would experience. It was perfect timing on their behalf that during the week they were visiting, one of the locals had a child who died and had to be buried in the same cemetery where Anna Marie’s statue stood. Having taken the time earlier in the day to scan her, they were surprised to find her crying when there could be no working mechanics found within to cause her to shed the tears that she did.
A local Native American, when interviewed, told a story about an old relative who had been partial to the raids in this particular area:
With a promise of over 200 children to send to Mexico within a few moon cycles, they had been stealing as many children as they possibly could. One girl child, an obvious target, confounded him, because when he tried to take her, an invisible wall seemingly kept her at a safe distance from him.

***

My encounter with the paranormal at the location of Anna Marie Kimball’s grave was a tad more chilling—and I know chilling…
I deal with the Paranormal on a regular basis, I’m a medium, or psychic if you prefer. I enjoy traveling, and coincidentally enough I always travel to places that I seem to be prompted to go to. This visit was going to be no different than any of the others… or so I thought.
Stepping out of the car when I first arrived in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, I wondered out loud to myself, “Why here?”
The first few days the locals stared at me, giving me the “who are you and what the hell do you want” look as I ate in their diners and drank in their bars trying to get a feel for the area.
It was after a tip from a waitress on the fourth day that I found my car pulling into the cemetery under what seemed like its own free will. Getting out of my car, I was instantly rooted to the spot. Appearing before me were children dancing and playing with each other like leaves floating in the wind. I smiled as I watched them play tag and wrestle with each other, and listened to their infectious giggles.
One small girl began to beckon to me – I always find it unsettling when they acknowledge my existence– in all honesty, it scares the crap out of me. She was dressed in attire from the mid-nineteenth century, with honey-colored locks that hung in curls around her shoulders, as if it had recently been taken out of braids.
More curious than not, I began to follow her, weaving around the various headstones—some dating as early as the 1820s. She led me directly to an exact replica of herself only made out of stone. I could tell she wanted me to touch it, but my hands wouldn’t budge.
She became insistent that I follow her again, and leading me in another direction she took me directly to a weathered headstone that was almost unreadable. Taking my time, I was able to decipher the name as Jackson Hulet. Turning towards her with a questioning look in my eye I found she was no longer there. Turning back to the headstone, I discovered—to my amazement—that the inscription that I had just spent time reading had completely disappeared. Heavily laden with thoughts and questions, I meandered back towards my car on the other side of the cemetery.
The next two days were spent sifting through newspaper articles looking for information on both Anna Marie Kimball and Jackson Hulet. I came across an article dated over a hundred years ago mentioning an unnamed headstone/statue that cried. I also uncovered one dated more recently that included a partial interview with one of the ghost hunters and their take on the statue I had been taken to. I took a copy of the featured episode of Ghost Hunters and watched it in its entirety twice while at the library.
I was haunted with more questions as the day drew towards an end. Sleep deprived, I found myself at the location of the statue early the next morning. No children greeted me. I slowly forced my hand forward, inches seemed to take hours to cross until finally my fingertips brushed the child’s face. A flood of memories filled my mind.
I watched memories of the child, Anna Marie, as she buried her family, as she worked dutifully in and around her home trying to make things work, then I watched and experienced her graphic death. Suddenly the images shifted. I was no longer looking through the eyes of a child at a harsh and cruel world, but through the eyes of a man who was carving stone.
Horror filled my mind as I heard his confession over and over again to the stone, begging for forgiveness he felt he didn’t deserve. I watched as he and another man shook hands with the old Mexican from across the border, and the Indian chief from the other side of the hills. The next image was of him telling the other man, “Kimball, I will always make sure to look after Anna Marie, just the same as if she were my own.”
The final scene burned into my eyes was that of a funeral where a small coffin was being carefully lowered into the earth.
Clearing my mind I saw the girl reflected in the light before me. With tears, I watched her wave then fade away into nothing.
I wiped a tear from the statue’s cheek and walking away, I thought I heard, like a whisper on the wind, Thank you for listening, I just wanted someone to know the truth…

© Coraline J. Thompson 2010

Coraline J. Thompson, is a writing mother of two. Find more of her work online at Striking Writes.

35 comments:

  1. The story of Anna Marie is credible. It typifies injustice in many countries where police and government are currupt. For me, the spooky stuff moves against the grain since it places a fantasy beside a as a truth. In ireland "moving statues" brought mass hysteria to small towns in Ireland which the Church condemned. I have known of cases where priests confessed to other incidents. One caused "blood" to flow fromt he tear ducts of a statue. Thousands of people were duped, which is how I feel about this very well story.

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  2. The name Kimbell sent a shiver down my spine because I have come across a family by the name of Kemball who emigrated from Suffolk (Britain)to America in the mid 1600s from the village where my mother's family lived - and I have recently been in touch with some of their descendants ... it probably isn't connected but made the story more poignant.
    I do agree with Peter thought that the self-confessed 'paranormal' was a distraction insofar that professional and self-perpetuating too often goes together, I do not rule out individual sensitivity to such happenings though.

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  3. I read Nicole's story and enjoyed it immensely. Having read other stories this gifted writer has penned, I am not surprised. From the start of the story to its finish, she had me captured--riveted, in fact, to her plot.
    I don't think I will be walking through cemeteries (one of my favorite activities!) from now on without thinking of "Tears of Regret."

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  4. Beautiful story, Nicole. I wanted to hug Anna Marie.

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  5. terrific story concept.

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  6. Nicole - Sal and Illy sum this up the best. Great concept, and another perfect write from an author who deserves to continue to receive plaudits for her work.
    Great job!!

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  7. Nicole, this gave me the chills. I couldn't read it fast enough. You did Michael proud I'm sure.

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  8. Another touching, well written story. Great job, Nicole.

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  9. Nic, this is extremely affecting. Told initially in a straight journalistic style it allows the details to capture the reader's imagination, then descends into the world of psychism and its attendant emotions, great stuff.

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  10. Hi nicole!! =)
    congratulations!! your story is great, i love it, I think that your language is a little beat hard! but is ok, because sometimes people try to undertand all texts, yous sotory was a few scary but interesting and it ivitting you red more and more. Thanks for post tht story and I want to read more =) hacve a nice day.
    oooh!! Happy Birthday =)

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  11. Norberto
    Teacher the story is extremely sad, for me the girl is too young and too innocent to feel those horrible things, i think that the soul of the girl must be so sad that stays were she dies waiting for someone who can help her

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  12. ooooh teacher happy birthday eaea
    be happy and huggies

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  13. Jose pablo

    Is a interesting and horor history, is to sad wht happen with that girl and her spirit in the statue.

    I think that the spirit wnts revange and justice for its dead

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  14. Karla Gabriela


    Congratulations! (: I really like this story, but it's too sad what happened with Anne Marie.

    I enjoy reading this from beginnig to end ... :)

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  15. Thank You to each of you for taking the time to read this story. Originally I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the picture that I came across, but felt that the story of Anna Marie really needed telling. I have been asked privately by a few individuals who have wondered if Anna Marie was a real person, and the answer is No. This piece in its entirety is purely fiction.

    I hope to be asked back again to write for MUDJOB and look forward to seeing what each new guest writer brings.

    A special thanks to the students also for reading.

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  16. Oh! And thanks to each of you for the Happy Birthdays! I really appreciate it!

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  17. Ale P.
    Hi nicole, happy birthday, bit late but here we are:
    I liked this story, although is not exactly a love story, is strong and real and is something that reflects the situation of many children around the world, also the story, talks about how artists, or their works of art always has a motivation, sometimes a cruel or beautiful thing or a history of the real life and with that create something beautiful in the eyes of man.

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  18. Thank you, CJT, for a beautifully told and moving story of loss and the desire for redemption. You've been a good friend to MuDJoB nearly since its beginning, and we appreciate your contribution to this new incarnation. You will certainly be invited back in the near future to share your unique point of view and creativity in this venue.
    I would like to take this opportunity to hint at a surprise in store for fans of this writer, but like any promoter worth his salt will only say you all have to stay tuned to discover what it is.

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  19. CONGRATULATIONS! =)

    It´s a good story,in some parts is very sad but the plot is interesting,i like it because it talks about the sitution of the children all over the world and the motivation!

    I really like it! =)

    Mariana López!

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  20. That's a very sad history, Probably it describes reality at this moment in some parts in the world. Some parts of the history is extremely sad, but some others can be beautiful how people can be useful for others.

    The language is a little bit difficult because they use a hard vocabulary, but it is good.

    Probably you read about Paulette, and this case came to my mind when I was reading this histoy; thats hard to say but seriusly it is real.

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  21. Hi:

    This lecture "Tears of regret" is a view of injustice, like those things that happen in many countries in the hold world.

    It is sad and i didn't like about what happened with Anna Marie Kimball. By the way it's nice.

    Geraldin Prats :D

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  22. Stephanie Jiménez GutiérrezApril 13, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    I like the story, it was very interesting
    Someone know is this story is true?
    Because its kind of mistery right?
    The story told us about a women who die because someone rapted and hurt her. Then a boy was making the statue and he put it on the tumb of the woman,but is a mistery because the statue cry.
    I think that this statue was created with the feelings that the woman has. Also I infered tha the statue cry becuase someone die or has a problem, maybe the statue cry becuase the material that is made have a flutuation of water.

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  23. ALEJANDRA LOPEZ RAMIREZApril 13, 2010 at 12:34 PM

    Alejandra López ....

    This is a very sad story and it has a lot of mistery, "tears od regret" that statue cry everytime that a people is going to dy and tell the story about a girl that has a very sad life with a lot of tragedies but with all that she can over come everytihing.

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  24. The tragedy full the history around that girl. I really can't believe yet how it still crying when someone is close to die. The feelings of this history are too sad, but this is the main propose, in mexico we almost have many dies in too violent situations, ciudad Juarez for example, and nobody make a statue in hers honor. The society is in panic for the weather of violence, specially the students

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  25. It is one of the most beautiful things that I have already read, the way that you expose the tragedy are awsome, I just hope you hadn't been inspired by a true story, You have gotten another fan.

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  26. Juan José Godínez GarcíaApril 14, 2010 at 11:51 AM

    Ohh... it is an impactant history... I really like it and i were very impresionaded when i read that the statue cry. I don´t know if it is a real history but i know that it is very interesting!! =)

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  27. Creepy tales usually leave me a little cold with an 'oh well' reaction. This one was very different. Writing was outstanding, Nicole. The unfolding story accelerated the pace of my curiosity and reading! Forgive the birthday wish being belated, but no less sincere. Please keep contributing wherever I can read you ;)

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  28. I think it is a very interesting story, at the start it seems to be a case of detectives and criminals but it started to became to be more like horror story about ghosts and things like that
    David Hernandez
    A01170560

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  29. Mirna Ochoa.
    This story around that girl.The feelings of this are too sad but I think this is the main purpose, in mexico we can find many dies in violent ways, for example the case of Paulette. I can´t believe it how people can do it. Cry is the best way for show your feelings.

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  30. ELena Corzo
    I love the story.! was interesting. The way you wrote the story was amazing, the mistery that I had to read "Tears of regret"...I was shocked.

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  31. I also loved this story Nicole and while you say it is a work of fiction I'm inclined to believe the souls of silmilar victims rejoiced at your well crafted telling. Inspired. Debbie

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  32. Waoo...
    I don't like the mistery stories but this was so interesting, the picture of this story is fenomenal because the tear do the history more real and even that this statue was great because not only is beutiful but also it cry.
    Ana Maria was a little child, she had no guilt but she paid by the ambition of others. Mexico have a great problem with cases like this.

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  33. I do not usually read these kinds of stories, but curiously I really liked it.
    Is amazing how paranormal forces act to be heard, and howthe truth sooner or later is known, thank God that I am not in that situation, cause if i had been in the place of that man i would have been more scared

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  34. i wonder what the foreiger saw? and what really happend?..

    Irving Perez Molina 1170105

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  35. Grace Meza Toledo =)April 21, 2010 at 1:41 PM

    Its a very sad story... Is frustrating that in the world exist this type of tragedies and taht exist this people who only hurt us... I am agree with my companion Daniel, because he mentioned that Juarez is a City where there are many tragedies like this...
    Its a very sad and precious story...!!!

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