Tríona was cycling home from camogie practice. She came around the corner of Church St. and nearly collided with a man .He was dressed all in black leather, with a strange necklace with the letters M.J. intertwined on it around his neck. This was the second time in two days she had seen him hanging around doing nothing. Somehow, she didn't think he was a tourist.

When she got home she considered telling her parents. She decided not to because the man hadn't done anything to her yet and she did want to make a fuss over nothing. After that she forgot about the strange man and life went on as usual.

Then, about two weeks later while she was playing in a camogie match against St.Bridget's N.S., which was situated in a town about thirty miles down the road, she saw him staring through the crowd .He seemed to be looking for someone. After the match she went to find Ciarán.She told him all about how she'd seen the man while cycling home from camogie practice and in the crowd at the match."You should tell Mom and Dad," he advised her. That evening at dinner she told her parents exactly what she had told Ciarán.The reaction was not as bad as she had expected. Her mother told her to be careful when she was by herself and her father said much the same thing. However Shauna started whimpering about how scared she was of strange men. Since Clíona was on holidays, Tríona volunteered to walk Shauna to and from the bus stop. After dinner everyone except Oisín settled down to watch television. However, a jam and crisp sandwich soon pacified him.

In school the next morning Mrs.Cannon made a surprising announcment."Children," she said sternly,"a strange man has been spotted on several occasions lurking on the corner of this street. Those of you who walk, cycle or catch Barry Egan's bus at the corner must be extremely careful. Now please turn to page 65 in your readers."

When Tríona walked Shauna up to the bus stop (not something she was in the habit of doing, but Shauna was genuinely scared) she saw him again. He was standing among the shadows of a wall and since he was dressed in black he was hard to see. Tríona saw the same look in his eye she had seen while she was playing the camogie match. He was searching for someone, but he also looked confused. She told Ciarán who said, "Maybe someone in Ballybridge killed a close relation of his years ago and now he is seeking revenge". "Don't say things like that", said Tríona with a shudder.

The next day was Saturday and Shauna decided to cycle into the woods. Tríona, having nothing much else to do, went with her. They mounted their bikes, crossed the road and then sped down Mill Road together. When they got to the wood they slowed down and began to chat.

Suddenly Tríona noticed someone coming towards them. It was the man! Shauna screamed and they both turned around and peddled for their lives. They left the wood in record time, not daring to look around. They finally stopped when they came to a junction.

"I think we've lost him", panted Shauna.

Tríona didn't say anything. She felt sure that the man was after her. Tríona was as scared as Shauna now.

She told her mother about her encounter in Kildorka Woods. Teresa sat down and said in a voice that Tríona had often heard her use while humouring Oisín,

"Now Catríona, I want you to tell me everything you can remember about the man".

Tríona gave a brief account of the times and places she had seen the man and described him as best she could. "Well", her mother sighed, "I think it would be safer if Grandad drove you, Ciarán and Shauna to and from the school in the Volkswagen until all this odd business is cleared up". Tríona opened her mouth to argue, but she could tell by the look on her mother's face that the subject was closed.

That night in her bedroom Tríona tossed and turned under the covers. She felt sure that the mysterious man was watching the house. Everything looked different in the dark and outside the branches creaked eerily. When at last she got to sleep, men dressed in black, stalking her with daggers and climbing in through her bedroom window haunted her dreams. She woke many times during the night.

The next morning after mass, John announced that he needed to pick up a few things from the power station. "I'll walk the children then", said Teresa. "Wait a minute", said Tríona suddenly, "Mrs. Jennings wasn't at mass today and you know how much she hates missing the Parish Newsletter". Mrs. Jennings was a kindly widow who lived on Hill View. Her father offered to drop Tríona at Mrs. Jennings' house and to pick her up on his way back from the power station. So John and Tríona hopped into the silver Mondeo and drove up Hill View. Then Tríona jumped out at the second house and rang Mrs. Jennings' doorbell. Mrs. Jennings, who had a cold, welcomed her and thanked her for the newsletter. She insisted that Tríona sit down and have orange and cake.

"So Tríona", she asked, "What have you been up to lately?"

Tríona considered and then poured out everything she could remember about the mysterious man.

"Oh", exclaimed Mrs. Jennings. "That must be Mark."

"What? You mean you know him", cried Tríona.

"Yes, I do", she said as the tears welled up in her eyes. "I'd better tell you the whole story. Mr. Jennnings and I had two children, Mark and Sarah. Mark was twelve years older than Sarah was but they were very close and loved each other dearly. At this time Sarah was in third class in Ballybridge N. S. and Mark would wait for her at the corner of Church Street every day and walk her home. One day towards the end of the year Mark and I had a huge row, which resulted in him leaving home. I haven't heard from him since. Shortly after this Sarah and my husband were killed in a car crash. That was almost three years ago. Mark must think that Sarah is still alive and he is waiting for her at the corner like he always did in the past. Sarah was a good camogie player and she also loved to cycle her bike in Kildorka Woods."

"Oh how sad ", said Tríona. "Everything makes sense now."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. When Mrs., Jennnings opened it she found Mark standing there. No words passed between them. They paused for a moment and then threw their arms around each other. They were both crying.

Tríona heard her Dad's car and slipped silently away. Back in the car her father said,"Hey, is that the man you were talking about? Why is he hugging Mrs. Jennings? "It's okay Dad", said Tríona, "I'll explain when I get home." Tríona sat back and smiled. She knew she wasn't going to have to worry about the mysterious man any more.