True Ghost Tales

Apartment Spirit

I used to live inSan Angelo. Went to college there. Those of you who follow myprevious posts know that, too. For those who don't most of thatdiscussion (on my part) is archived at Obiwan's FTP Site: FTP.netcom.com.

I had just moved into my new apartment. I was a senior, andfinally allowed to live off-campus. I was thrilled to have thefreedom at last.

After the usual move-in/invite friends over/consume massquantities shtick died down, life became fairly quiet at my place.Life settled to a moderate pace.

I guess the second or third week there, I decided I was hungry.Not that I wasn't ever hungry before that point, but oh well, youget the idea. :)

I decided that the All-American peanut butter sandwich would be afine repast. Taking peanut butter, a knife, bread and jelly inhand, I mar- ched to the edge of my counter and prepared to makelunch.

The peanut butter was spreading nicely, and then I looked up andsaw her.

There was a woman in my apartment. This would grow (unfortunately)to be an unusual event in and of itself. But there should havebeen no one else there with me.

I remember she was Hispanic and seemed to be darkly beautiful.This wasn't enough to stop me from being scared, but it helped.:)

She was wearing a red-colored sun dress. She smiled, a seeminglyknowing smile, and then quite literally vanished before my eyes.

Now, this was a few years back. I'd almost dismissed it.Forgotten it. Relegated it to the realm o' myth. A daydream,nothing more.

Here comes the aforementioned kicker.

A few weeks ago, I get a call from my good friend, Chad. He livesin the same complex just a few door away from my old apartment.

Those of you who've read the Angelo State University Posts knowChad, too. He's every bit as interested in Things That Bump Abouta Great Deal in the Hours of Darkness, so naturally I'd told himthe story.

Well, Chad stayed in San Angelo and I've moved to Stephenville (Joy!)to practice my chosen profession, journalism.

He calls me up and tells me he's hooked up with some psychic sens-itive babe (the jerk ;>). They were sitting in his apartmentone day when she gets a funny look on her face.

"There's a woman here," she says.

Chad, I'm sure, raised a characteristic eyebrow.

"Where?" he asked.

"She was here," she told him. "I get theimpression that she moves through some of the apartments on thisside of the building."

Chad said he had on occasion felt that sort of prickly, uncomfort-able why-the-hell-am-I-nervous fear that sometimes precedes thesupernatur- al. Not much more, though.

He mentioned this to her, and she said that was understandable.

She said she travels about, maybe lighting somewhere for a bit.Some places perhaps a bit longer.

She said her major sphere of influence included numerous apart-ments, going all the way up to the top corner apartment left ofChad's.

Apartment No. 17.

My old place.

And no, I've never met this girl.

Now, I'll admit that there were a few times I was frightened tobe alone in my apartment at night. Heck, I'll even admit therewere a few times I was scared to go in the place at some hours ofthe night. No expla- nation, just an irrational fear.

It sort of makes sense now.

And to think, that was a ghost I DIDN'T believe in.