As all true Dark Shadows fans know, the ghost of Sarah Collins' favorite song is "London Bridge." When she appeared in her ghostly form, she sang it often, played it on her flute and, on one occasion, possibly played it on the piano in the Collinwood drawing room. However, during the 1795 flashback, she was never heard to sing it even once. Years ago, some resourceful fans discovered that the song "London Bridge" did not exist in the in the year 1795. According to Wikipedia, although there were earlier tunes and lyrics, the song as we it know it today was first recorded in the year 1879. So how did Sarah Collins learn this song? The following story is your humble author's explanation, under the supposition that even a ghost can learn a new song.
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A cool breeze broke through the sluggish heat of a summer day in the Brownsville area of Brooklyn, New York. In the distance, the familiar twang of the trolley bell sounded over the shouts and squeals of a group of boys playing stickball on nearby Betsy Head Playground. The smell of two freshly baked blueberry pies cooling on a cluttered back porch had attracted an unshaven young man in a tattered suit. Minutes after negotiating with the elderly, silver-haired baker of the pies, the young man licked some blueberry filling from his lips as he pushed a squeaky manual lawn mower across the lady's lawn.
This is late August 1935. The Great Depression continues to take its toll on millions of lives across the country. Yet, in each community, as in this one, life goes on and the laughter of children at play slowly contributes to the healing of the struggling populace.
From an open window on the second floor of a modest house, the vibrant melody of "Sheep May Safely Graze" is shared with the fortunate neighbors and passersby. Inside the window, striking the keys of a well-tuned upright piano is a young boy, diligently studying the music before him and ably adapting it into a near perfect interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's sublime cantata.
Lying at the foot of his talented master is the boy's beloved pup, enjoying a nap despite the rapturous
music being played above him. The boy's long legs were able to reach the pedals of the piano, tapping them lightly with his Keds sneakers. He wore a white shirt and brown knickers.
On each summer day, like this day, the boy practiced his piano faithfully, entertaining any stranger who happened to be within earshot. An hour before, the boy had returned from a game of stick ball with his buddies. Now, he was hard at work, practicing and perfecting his technique.
Abruptly, the boy stopped mid-song and squinted at the music. He took out a pencil and marked an area of the music where he decided to stress some higher notes. He placed his fingers on the keys to take up the song where he had left off when he suddenly stopped and looked towards the window. He then noticed his dog had awakened and was also staring towards the window.
"Did you hear it too, Prince?" he asked.
The dog let out a slight whine.
Then, they both heard it again. A giggle. A child's giggle. Not from outside of the window, but from inside the room. Prince was now steadfastly staring at the corner opposite the piano. Suddenly, another giggle came from that corner.
The boy's eyes widened and he stood up from the piano bench. He glanced at the door to the hall, readying himself to bolt towards it and to the safety of his mother, who was likely in the kitchen. He had taken two steps in that direction when a voice from directly behind him caused him to freeze in his tracks.
"Please don't leave! I was enjoying your playing very much!"
The boy turned slowly to see a young girl standing by the piano. She was smiling at him below heavily freckled cheeks.
"How…how did you get in here? Who are you?" the boy asked in astonishment.
"My name is Sarah," she answered with an even wider smile. "I was passing by and heard the lovely music. I wanted to see where it was coming from."
"Well," said the boy, noting her odd-looking clothes, "Who let you in here? My grandparents live downstairs, but they're not there right now."
"Oh, I let myself in," she replied nonchalantly. "I'm sorry if I startled you."
"Well, as a matter of fact," the boy said, "you did give me and my dog a bit of a fright." The boy pointed towards his pup.
"What a pretty dog," Sarah exclaimed. "What's her name?"
"HIS name is Prince," the boy replied proudly. "He's named that because his mother's name is Queenie."
"Hello, Prince," Sarah said as she held out her hand towards the pup. The dog's tail began to wag furiously and he walked towards her to give her hand a lick. Imperceptibly, Sarah willed her hand to solidify, allowing Prince to enthusiastically kiss it.
"Wow," said the boy. "He really doesn't make up to people that quickly. Consider yourself lucky!"
"Oh, I love dogs! I had a little puppy once too. But…" She hesitated. "But, she died."
"What was her name?" the boy asked.
"Doodle," Sarah replied quietly.
"I'm sorry," the boy said.
"That's alright," she replied, and then looked at the boy. He was tall and thin, with brown hair and blue eyes. "What's your name?" she inquired.
"Bobby," he answered.
"How old are you, Bobby?"
"I'm nine."
Sarah's eyes brightened. "I'm nine, too!"
Bobby smiled back at her. Noting her long white dress and silver slippers and strange little cap, he mustered another question. "How come you're wearing your nightgown?"
Sarah giggled loudly. "Nightgown?" she laughed. "This is my best dress!"
"I'm sorry," he replied. "None of the girls around here wear dresses like that."
"Well," she said, "I'm not from around here. I'm from far, far away."
"Well, then," replied Bobby. "Where are your parents? You can't be traveling alone."
Bobby noticed that the girl's bright smile had suddenly disappeared. She hung her head and, with closed eyes, held back a flood of tears.
"What's wrong, Sarah? What did I say?"
The girl struggled to reply. "I…I am alone," she whispered. "I'm looking for my parents…my mother…my father. I've been looking for them for ever so long!"
Bobby didn't know what to say. The girl was so distraught, and he had no idea how to help her. Prince looked up at Sarah, let out a brief, sympathetic whine and laid down at her feet. Bobby was relieved to see her smile at this.
"He really likes you, Sarah," Bobby said.
"And I like him, too," she answered.
"Sarah, where did you last see your parents?"
"Oh, far, far from here. In my home in the commonwealth of Massachusetts."
"Massachusetts!" Bobby exclaimed. "If you last saw your parents in Massachusetts then why are you here in Brooklyn?"
"Well," Sarah answered, "I've already searched in Boston. My father enjoyed traveling to Boston and also to New York for Independence Day festivals. I remember my mother told me that, when I was very small, my parents took me to a festival in New York. My mother told me that we stayed at an inn in Brooklyn. I was hoping to find that inn."
"Wow," Bobby whispered. "You've been all over." He thought for a moment. "I don't know of any inn around here. But, say! There's a library a few blocks over! It's a library just for kids! Maybe you could ask about that inn there?" He noticed a tear trickle down the girl's cheek and suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to help her. "You're very sad, aren't you, Sarah?"
"Yes," she replied, sniffling. "I feel so alone most of the time. I wish I had a friend. Bobby, will you be my friend?"
"Of course," the boy answered. He glanced at the piano. "Would you like me to play you something, Sarah?"
"Oh, yes," she exclaimed. "That would be ever so wonderful!"
Bobby sat down on the piano bench and motioned for her to sit beside him. In an instant, the pale girl seemed to float to his side. Prince, letting out a brief squeak, joined them at the piano.
"Now," said Bobby. "Let's see. What would you like to hear? Do you have any favorites?"
"Oh," she replied, looking thoughtful. "My Aunt Abigail taught me some church hymns. But, I've forgotten most of them."
"Well," Bobby sighed, "I don't know many hymns." He studied the girl with her freckled face, long golden brown hair and odd, old-fashioned clothes. "How about starting with something old and simple? Here is a song that I learned a long time ago." He put his hands on the piano keys and started playing a quaint but familiar tune. It had been a song known to him since he was three years old. "Do you know this song, Sarah?"
"No," Sarah answered. "I don't believe I do."
"Well, listen to this," he whispered.
Sarah stared intently as the boy's hands moved across the keys. He started out with the basic melody. Then, halfway into the song, his hands began to move more quickly, effortlessly plunking out the simple tune and embellishing it with multiple decorative flourishes. He ended the short song's last four notes with a dramatic, tickling ornamentation. He wasn't doing it to show off for the girl as much as he wanted to give her the best gift that he could deliver. He looked over at her glowing face.
"What do you think, Sarah?" he asked.
Sarah tried to muster some words of praise. She was nearly speechless. "Oh," she whispered. "That was the most beautiful piece that I've ever heard! It was wonderful! I loved it!"
"Well, then," Bobby said enthusiastically. "It's yours! This is your song now, Sarah!"
"My song? Oh, thank you," she gushed. "But Bobby, what is the song called?"
"Well, some call the song London Bridge Is Falling Down. Others have called it My Fair Lady. If I could name it…let's see…I think I'd call it My Friend Sarah. Just for you, Sarah!" He gazed into the girl's face and was astonished to see it actually glowing with a golden hue. Her smile was literally radiant. "Sarah, would you like me to teach you the words to your song?"
Sarah nodded. For the next hour, Bobby taught his friend the words to the simple tune. Sarah sang joyfully as the boy accompanied her on the piano. Prince even joined in once with a long, loud howl, which caused them both to laugh uncontrollably. Bobby even taught Sarah how to play the tune herself not only on the piano, but on an old toy flute that he gave her to keep.
The children had been so caught up in their musical interlude that they did not notice the sunny afternoon had waned to a cool, golden evening. Bobby smelled the hearty aroma of his mother's supper and could hear his father and mother conversing in the kitchen.
"Oh, Bobby," Sarah said happily, "I've had such a wonderful time with you today. You've made me so happy with your music! How can I ever thank you?"
Bobby was very pleased. It felt good to have made someone so happy simply by using the musical talents that seemed to come so naturally to him. "Always remember, Sarah," he answered. "If you feel that bad, sad feeling inside of you again, remember your song and sing it as loud as you can. Let everyone know that this is your song, your theme. Everyone should have their own theme. And this is yours, for sure."
"Oh, I will. I will!" she replied enthusiastically. She stood up from the piano bench, walked toward the window, and then turned and looked back at Bobby, her smile large and fixed on her pretty face. It was then that Bobby noticed something fantastically odd. With the sun lowering behind her, Sarah was silhouetted in the light coming through the window. Yet, to his amazement, the boy noticed that not only were the rays of the sun passing around the girl standing before him, but also, some of the light seemed to be partially passing through Sarah herself, causing her again to glow with that same bright golden hue. Incredulously, he realized that he could actually see through her now translucent form, the sun a brilliant orange-red ball seeming to radiate from the area where her heart would be. "I have to go now, Bobby," she said, with slight loss of her smile. "But, I'll come back to see you again someday. I promise."
Bobby was still gaping in astonishment. After several long moments, he was able to form some words. "Sa..Sarah. Are you…are you…a…a…ghost?"
"Good-bye, Bobby," she said. "Thank you for the music and thank you for my song. I'll never forget it. And I'll never forget you, Bobby." With those words, the small form of the girl faded completely, leaving the boy staring at the open window. With Prince following behind him, he ran to the window sill and looked down, expecting to see the girl outside, not believing that she had vanished before his eyes. Prince let out several sad whimpers. Then Bobby heard a faint humming, that of a young girl, humming a familiar tune that was fading into the cool evening air. He hummed along as long as he could hear her and then whispered the last four notes of the song, "My fair la-dy!" He blinked back a tear, smiling to himself. "My friend, Sar-ah!"
Many, many years later, the ghost of Sarah Collins appeared in a darkened bedroom, quietly mouthing the words of her forever song. A warm breeze outside moved the fronds of a small palm tree, casting moving shadows across the bed of a white-haired man who laid in a restless, fitful sleep. Sarah walked around the bed and looked down at the man's face. She smiled and suppressed a giggle, having not seen her friend in more than 80 years, but instantly recognizing him.
"Hello, Bobby," she whispered, not wanting to wake him. "It's me, Sarah. I've come back to visit you, just like I promised. It took me a while to find you but here I am, at last." Even though decades had passed, Sarah felt as if she had just left Bobby moments before after having shared that special afternoon with him so long ago.
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She smiled as she recalled the compassion that he had shown her in her desperate trek though the dark shadows of death. She treasured the memory of his encouraging her to sing her own special song as she journeyed through the years in search of her
beloved parents. But now, despite her joy of beholding the kind, familiar face of her long-ago friend, she noticed some lines on his aged face that she realized had been caused by the cumulative pattern of loss throughout his own life. She surmised that although he had had a life full of happiness and fulfillment, life's hardships and trials had also taken their toll on him. She decided that, just as he had once helped her in her time of need, she now had to return the favor.
"Bobby," she whispered as she bent towards his ear, "Bobby, you won't wake up now to see me. But when you do wake up, you'll know that I have been here. And you will remember what I now have to tell you." She noticed a slight inquisitive look appear on his sleeping face. "Bobby, I wanted to tell you something wonderful. I found my parents at last! My mother and father, and even my puppy, Doodle! I am so happy; I'll never be separated from them again!" With eyes still shut, a smile formed on Bobby's face.
"But, that's not all," she continued. "Bobby, I know that you lost Prince many years ago. I know that you were very sad for a long time. I want to tell you, Bobby, that I found Prince. He is with me. I've brought him to see you." And with that, Sarah held out her hand and the glowing form of Bobby's beloved pup took shape beside the bed. Prince looked into the face of his master and, in his ethereal form, jumped onto the bed and joyfully licked his master's cheeks, his tail wagging wildly. "He's happy to see you, Bobby!" Sarah watched the dream-like reunion for another minute and then put her hand on Prince. The dog squealed slightly and sat back, still gazing at Bobby's face. Sarah noted the wind, now a cooler breeze, blowing through the bedroom window.
"Bobby," she whispered. "We have to go now. We may not be able to return soon. But, I just want to let you know that I will take care of Prince until you come to find him." She noticed a tear fall down her friend's rosy cheek. "Don't worry about us, or anyone else that you've lost, Bobby. When you are ready, come looking for us. If you can't find us at first, stop and listen. Listen hard; you'll hear me. I'll be singing this song. The song you gave me. My song."
As Sarah and Prince both started to slowly fade away, she again began to sing. "London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down…"
And, with a smile on his face, Bobby slept peacefully for the remainder of the night.
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Dedicated to our friend, Bob (Bobby) Cobert, in loving gratitude for the fantastic music that has tremendously enhanced our enjoyment of Dark Shadows for 50 years! The show would not have been the success it is without Bob and his enthusiasm and creativity. We love you, Bob! –G.H.
My Friend Sarah
By Guy Haines
Guy Haines was introduced to Barnabas Collins and Dr. Julia Hoffman at age 12 in August 1967. Julia, who became Guy’s favorite character, was wearing her white lab coat and Barnabas was adorned in his satin psychedelic robe as he ranted about his hatred for Burke Devlin. Guy stayed close to his fictional weekday friends for the next 3 1/2 years until the abrupt and unexpected end came on April 2, 1971. In 1978, Guy discovered Dark Shadows fandom when he saw an ad for a convention called “Shadowcon” in a Starlog magazine. Soon after, he found himself contributing artwork and short stories to DS fanzines, "The World of Dark Shadows" and “Inside the Old House." In 1983, he was drafted onto the committee of the Dark Shadows Festivals, serving as one of the two official Festival videographers. Having recorded most of the Festivals for the past 34 years, Guy prefers to be called the Festival Historian. He is grateful to have made many DS friends through those years. Guy’s favorite horror film is 1972’s “The Other” from which he has derived his occasionally used pen-name “Niles Holland”.