The Zen of Ghostly Tales:
Ghostlore grabs the attention of reluctant listeners, teaches us to live with fear more comfortably, gives us an edge for surviving a scary world. These spooky multicultural legends capture imaginations, frighten us in a more controlled situation, expose us to values about good and evil--while they instruct and lead to critical thinking about ourselves and our place in the world.
She was sitting at home, cold, lonely, and frightened. She had goosebumps. Herheart was racing in fright. Her house was chilled, as if she was sitting in anice chest. She said to herself, "I wish someone was here." Thenøsomeoneøstartedrubbing her back.
The Doll
Once upon a time, there was a girl who was bad to her parents. Her parents gaveher everything. One day her mom got her a doll. She didn¢t like it, so she threwit away. The next day, the girl was dead. They found the doll laying right ontop of her.
Hsssssssssss
In the darkest corner of her closet, the amber eyes glowed above the deadlyfangs and darting tongue of the cobra. Poised, coiled, ready. Amy franticallywaived her arm, blindly feeling for her last shoe. She was late. No other pairwould do. Agh! Slowly her soul sailed away . . .
Air
She was walking down the dimly lit hallway of her house, smiling as she imaginedwhat tomorrow would bring. No one, save herself, was home yet. As she roundedthe corner, passing by the open doorway, she felt the whisper of a touch on herneck. She swung aroundøto find nothingøbut heavy air.
Lockdown
"Boom!" She heard noises coming from outside and decided to check them out.Perhaps her cat fell from the tree. She left the patio door open and steppedoutside. The cat was safely resting in its tree, as usual. Turning to go backinsideøshe couldn¢t; the door had been padlocked . . .
You've Got Mail
The e-mail materialized at midnight. From my twin, so unlike him.Happy, he wrote. At last.
The phone call came at six. I'm sorry, the man said. Your twin. Motorcycle accident. Killed instantly.When, I ask. Midnight, he says. Exactly.
I head back to the computer. Click open his e-mail. I hit "reply."
The Phantom Hand
He lost his right arm, below the elbow, many years ago. He thought he had become accustomed to its absence-until the cold and stormy night he leaned his stub against the window to steady himself while he slipped on his shoe. There, on a foggy pane, was the perfect imprint of a hand.
Who's There?
The house is completely black. The only light is from the flashes of lightning that blaze down from the sky, as her house shakes from the thunder. She hears a knock at the door. She slowly walks forward to see the door is already open. A warm breeze brushes her neck and whispers,
Sabrina Thind, Student, Milpitas High School
Evil
On Wednesday afternoons, shadows grow wings and fly about town in search of lost souls. Unaware, Larry napped beneath a wickedly emaciated birch. The brisk autumn air was his pillow, the looming sheep above, his blankets. The chill soon faded into heat, as screeching grabbed Larry's throat. He spoke nothing. But the shadows sang . . .
The Seance
Five beings form a bonded circle. Eyes closed, silence fills the room as they summon their ancestor. The veiled leader peers into a shiny ball, illuminated as the ambiance thickens. A presence is felt. Heads rise to find the figure before them. The ghosts absorb the denim-wearing, backpack-toting human ancestor rising and vanishing before them.
The Babysitter
I have always gotten the same babysitter for my daughter. One trip when I returned, I realized I never really said thank you-because by the time I was home, the babysitter had gone. So I called the baby sitter's house. A man answered. He told me she had been dead for twenty years.
Bad Reception
The radio is blaring when I start the Buick. A menacing, yet familiar, voice makes the speakers crackle.
Sheets
Exhausted. Working till midnight was expected on John's new high tech job. He was dying to get some serious sleep. Crawling between the cool, white sheets on his bed, John heard low, agonizing moans. He gasped, then groaned-what had always been his sheets suddenly squeezed him frightfully-and he became one of them.
The Mirror
Laura mourned a picture of her mother, who had been dead for ten years. She fell asleep. She awoke and saw her mother appear in the mirror. She touched the mirror-and suddenly was inside it. She looked out. Heard her mom say, "I can't believe Laura has been dead for ten years."
The Hitchhiker
Driving cross country, I almost hit a hitchhiker outside Yellowstone. Scared me half to death. I saw the same fellow outside Denver, and then Columbus. Outside Philadelphia I finally gave him a lift. He handed me a newspaper dated the week before. The headline read: "CAR CRASH OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE. DRIVER AND HITCHHIKER KILLED INSTANTLY."
Final Awakening
A stale, sickly aroma enveloped me as time painfully halted. I glimpsed white linen before waking fully to a quiet darkness. Melting comfortably into satin pillows, I turned on my side. My hand caught on the satin
Return
She woke up at home after a party. Her family acted strange around her. They didn't respond to her questions, or even look her way. A phone call came from the police. Her family rushed to the hospital. She followed. Found herself, lying in the morgue. She didn't know she was dead.
The End
12:01 a.m., 2000: The doomsayers were right, the world was shaking and spewing fire and brimstone. In my terror I reverted to childhood, crawling under my bed. I immediately sensed another presence."Who are You?"
"I am the Holy Ghost."
"Thank God, I'm saved! But why are you here?"
"Because I'm you."
BOOM!
The Alley
She walks alone in the dark. Slowly and quietly something follows her-but what? Does she know; can she hear it? She looks around-behind-side-to-side, but she sees-nothing. She walks again. Faster than before.
Monster Mistake
Once there was a boy who thought there were monsters in his closet. How absurd! One night he dropped his book under his bed.