True Ghost Tales

Silence Please

OK, for the record,I will say that I have tried to post this story many times beforeand every time something has happened to keep me from doing so.The first time, I was half way through writing it when mycomputer shut down. Just like that. I was typing and then BOOM,the screen was dark. The second time, I was writing it there wasa power outage, ZAP (I like sound effects, ok?), the whole housewas dark. And I was trapped down here in the dark!! (In theBOTTOM FLOOR study/family room where, once the power is out, theplace it pitch black, period.) That was fun. The third time Itried to post this, I was not yet finished typing the story (itwas about 1/2 way done)and was doing some editing, using themouse to get to problem areas, when a loud bang from the boilerroom got my attention. I looked back, not taking my hand off themouse, and accidentally clicked the 'Submit Your Story' botton.So, I never got to the end of the story. I never found out whatcaus! ! ed the bang either, come to think of it. I don't know ifit's me, but I think Great Great Grandma doesn't want thispublished. But, I'm going to try this again, anyway!!

Silence Please

(that's the title, I'm not asking for quiet for dramatic effect,though it WOULD fit the story I'm about to relate.)

Ok, my name is Nikki and this story really has nothing to do withme (unless you count the mysterious attempts by Great GreatGrandma to keep me from telling this), but it does have to dowith my family. Grandma, or Nanny as myself and my sister caller,however IS involved. As is Great Great Grandma, Nanny's grandma.I am writing this as it was told to me.

Nanny lived in a large house. I've never been there, but by heraccouts it was fairly large. With 2 floors and an attic, 3 floorsin all, it wasa big attic. On this night, Great Great Grandma wasdying. Lying downstairs, her daughter(s) by her side. Nanny knewsomehting was going on, but she was too young to understand orknow what it was. So, she was upstairs, with her young cousin,playing (loudly). They had no idea what was happeneing, rightbelow their feet, as they played their games and, in turn, feltno urge to bring down their clatter, since there had been nocomplaints by the grown-ups downstairs.

Then, Nanny said, there was a chill in the air. Nothingsignificant, just enough to be noticed. Nothing proceeded it, sothe girls continued their playing. Then, a few minutes later, awhite flash, a translucent whisp of bright light (yes, bright andtranslucent at the same time) swept through the room and into thecieling. Where, Nanny assumes, it went through the attic and intothe night, since it was never seen again by either of the girls,ever. The girls were silent now. Neither moved, neither made asound. They were too stunned to. The next thing they knew,Nanny's mother came up the stairs and into the room, bearing thenews that Grandma had just died.

"I guess she wanted us to be quiet for when she died."

(***note!!*** Just as I wrote that quote, a very loud bang camefrom the boiler room! I am NOT going to see what it was, I hope Ican finish this!!)

Nanny said those words as she finished the story. She never spokeof it again, but the story always stayed in my mind. Now, I haveeven more reasons for it to stay with me. My attempts to publishthis before, and the bang that just sent my heart pounding not 2minutes ago. I'm going to submit this now, while I still can, Ijust pray something doesn't startle me and I hit the 'reset'button by mistake.