Ghost of a Child

From: Lisa Hernandez (lis_theboos77@yahoo.com)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Teacher's quarters
Source: Form Submission

It all happened last year, when I was working as a temporary teacher at a primary school in the rural area not far from my village. I live with another female teacher at a house near the hostel. It was a rather cozy house but a bit gloomy and cold. We didnt mind. The house looks nice enough.

After been leaving there for two days, my aunt asked me about the house. I said the house was lovely and cozy. Nothing had happened there? she asked again. I stared at my aunt. What do you mean? She shrugged her shoulders. What the hell was she talking about?

The other teachers asked us the same question. What are they talking about? my friend asked me. I shrugged. I dont know. The weird thing was, the other teachers never go to our house. They rather talked outside. Funny.

My mom used to call me a vampire because I like to sleep late, usually at 2 or 3 in the morning. Tonight is no exception. As I was checking the students books, I heard someone crying. I got up and looked out the window, at the hostel. Silent. Nothing. Thats funny. I thought I heard a child crying. I shrugged. Maybe my ears are playing tricks on me. I glanced at my watch. Nearly 1 in the morning. Maybe I was too tired thats why I thought I heard a child cried.

That morning, I asked my friend if she heard a child cried last night. She said no. Thats weird. I thought she heard it too. What about it? she asked. Nothing, was my only reply. Later, I asked the students whether anyone cried last night. They shook their heads. Weird.

That night, I slept late again. As I was reading a novel, I heard the sound of a child laughing. I got up from the bed and looked out the window. As before, the hostel was quiet. Thats weird.

After those incidents, I heard all sort of sounds in the house every night. Sometimes I could hear the sound of a tiny footsteps walking in the living room or running up and down the kitchen stairs. Not only that, the front door would open by itself in the middle of the night. In the morning, I would find my umbrella and shoes been misplaced. I didnt say anything because I didnt want to scare my friend but I think I knew what was happening in the house.

The teachers told me the house look scary and gloomy. I know that. Not only that, it was cold too even during the hottest day.

My dad used to say that Im the bravest in the family. Im never afraid of anything. But now Im not sure Im brave enough. Im not even sure what was I facing. Fear lurks inside of me.

It was a dark and silent night. I was busy checking the students books when I felt a warm breath on my nape. My heart beat faster. Was it my friend? But I didnt heard the door been opened. Slowly, I turned around but to my surprise theres nobody there! Im scared, really scared. Im not kidding and I dont like this one bit. I told myself theres nothing to be afraid of. I got back to my work and tried to ignore the fear I felt. Again, I felt the warm breath but this time on my left cheek. I was getting more scared than ever. I closed all the books and jumped to my bed. I pulled the blanket up to my head and left the lights on.

A month after that, my friend and me moved to another female teachers house that lives alone. My aunt told me that a ghost of four years old boy haunted the house we live in. Thats why I could hear the sound of a tiny footsteps walking or running inside the house. She told me that he means no harm. He just wants to be my friend. He wants to play with me. Thats why he left some of his toys in my room or on the rack so I could find them. Whatever. Hes a ghost and he scared the hell out of me.