True Ghost Tales

Silence Please

OK, for the record, I will say that I have tried to post this story many times before and every time something has happened to keep me from doing so. The first time, I was half way through writing it when my computer shut down. Just like that. I was typing and then BOOM, the screen was dark. The second time, I was writing it there was a power outage, ZAP (I like sound effects, ok?), the whole house was dark. And I was trapped down here in the dark!! (In the BOTTOM FLOOR study/family room where, once the power is out, the place it pitch black, period.) That was fun. The third time I tried to post this, I was not yet finished typing the story (it was about 1/2 way done)and was doing some editing, using the mouse to get to problem areas, when a loud bang from the boiler room got my attention. I looked back, not taking my hand off the mouse, and accidentally clicked the 'Submit Your Story' botton. So, I never got to the end of the story. I never found out what caus! ! ed the bang either, come to think of it. I don't know if it's me, but I think Great Great Grandma doesn't want this published. 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 with me (unless you count the mysterious attempts by Great Great Grandma to keep me from telling this), but it does have to do with 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 her accouts it was fairly large. With 2 floors and an attic, 3 floors in all, it wasa big attic. On this night, Great Great Grandma was dying. Lying downstairs, her daughter(s) by her side. Nanny knew somehting was going on, but she was too young to understand or know what it was. So, she was upstairs, with her young cousin, playing (loudly). They had no idea what was happeneing, right below their feet, as they played their games and, in turn, felt no urge to bring down their clatter, since there had been no complaints by the grown-ups downstairs.

Then, Nanny said, there was a chill in the air. Nothing significant, just enough to be noticed. Nothing proceeded it, so the girls continued their playing. Then, a few minutes later, a white flash, a translucent whisp of bright light (yes, bright and translucent at the same time) swept through the room and into the cieling. Where, Nanny assumes, it went through the attic and into the night, since it was never seen again by either of the girls, ever. The girls were silent now. Neither moved, neither made a sound. They were too stunned to. The next thing they knew, Nanny's mother came up the stairs and into the room, bearing the news 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 came from the boiler room! I am NOT going to see what it was, I hope I can finish this!!)

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