Calvin, that was his name.
The old security guard at the downtown church was friendly and had no problem with me bringing my group into the graveyard as long as we didn't overstay our welcome. However, we had to be out of the grounds at a particular hour. I remember asking him why we had to be out at a specific time. He said that between 9:30 pm and 10:00pm is when the queen arrives. This is during a time not too long ago when many errant Hawaiian groups claimed to have a legitimate Queen or King. So, I had to ask Calvin which queen he might have been referring to?"There's only one queen," he scoffed. "Queen Lili'uokalani. Her carriage arrives during that time from Washington place,"
"Is that why I see the church doors open while driving by after my tour?" I asked.
"Yes," Calvin nodded. "But please don't say anything, the church will get mad, but I cannot refuse the queen when she wants to enter. You can understand, right?"
"I completely understand," I nodded.
I never asked Calvin to let me stay so I could see the phantom of our last reigning queen arriving in her private carriage. It was not for me to know, but on those particular evenings driving by, I would see the large double doors to the church wide open. No lights were on, no organ music, but one could somehow sense that someone or something was in there. One evening, while going through our routine at the church entrance, a new security guard appeared and told us that under no circumstances were we allowed on the grounds of the graveyard. I asked him what had happened to Calvin? He said that Calvin was found dead one night inside the church doors. It was between 9:30 pm and 10:00 pm at night.
"Yeah, Calvin was a crazy old fucker," the new security guard chuckled.
I grabbed him by his uniform and hissed in his face, "You show some respect for that old man! He was my friend!"
Needless to say, I never bothered going back to that church again, but I had to wonder, who was holding those doors open for the queen at the old church?
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