True Ghost Tales

Saving Voice

When I was 19, Icame home from my first year of college for summer break. I wasliving with my mom and brother for the brief departure fromschool, and I had the most annoying habit (According to my mother.)I liked to go walking,with my headphones on, for hours at atime,in and around our neighborhood. Unfortunately for all of myolder siblings that worried about me, I liked to do this afterdark. Don't get me wrong, our neighborhood was safe (This wasabout 7 years ago) But these days, how safe is anything? Many anight I would be walking 2 miles from home after midnight, whenmy mother (Housecoat,curlers and all) Would pull up beside me onthe sidewalk and order me into the car. I guess I just liked thealone time. Anyway, we finally reached a compromise. I would walkshortly before sundown! ! (Around 7pm) And arrive home before 9.That was fine. Two days after we reached this agreement, Mymother told me she was going grocery shopping, and invited mealong. I said "Thanks, but it is already 6:45, I think I'lldo my walking now." She agreed, but reminded me to be homebefore 9. Off I went.

The sun began to go down, and after awhile I was getting prettytired. I had noticed the same white Sedan circling around me as Iwalked the various streets in and around my neighborhood, when Ifinally decided to offer directions to the driver the next timethe car came around. He(Or she) was obviously lost. As I beganwalking down an alleyway (Before you think anything seedy, thealleyway split up a 7-11 and a ritzy theater..so It was safe. Orso I thought.) I saw lights coming up from behind. I took off myheadphones and turned to see the White Sedan coming up behind me.I thought it odd, but had no fear..until it stopped directlybehind me. With the darkness, and the lights s! ! hining in myface,

I could not make out who was in the car, or how many people therewere. All of a sudden I heard my mother calling my name. Brightas day I heard it, and wasn't suprised..It was 9:15, and I wasn'thome (My house was less than 300 feet away at the point.) TheSedan took off, peeling rubber. Puzzled and nervous I walked therest of the way home, and went inside. No One was home..Mybrother was still at work and my mom's car wasn't there. Tryingto piece it together, I just figured my mom went looking for me.She arrived home 20 minutes later, and I met her on the walk toapologize. She asked why I was sorry, and I told her I didn'tmean to worry her. Laughing,she said that just because I was astubborn 18 year old, she wasn't worried...she knew I'd turn outok. When questioned later, she told me she never came home andcalled my name. She was just getting back from grocery shopping (Badconstruction in our area, and the market is 15 miles away.) Butwhoever cal! ! led my name that night saved my life. I am sure ofit.