August 18 marked a year since I first wrote about the ghost in my house. It all started when my son, Nathaniel, told me it threw a bottle cap at his head. That moment made me pause. Why do we live our daily lives like spirits aren’t living side by side with us? It’s so rude to ignore people. Maybe it just wanted to be acknowledged.
In the weeks that followed, I actually spoke to the ghost. Out loud. For a while I tried to communicate with whatever was here. But in the end, I realized it was pointless. So I stopped.
The house ghost hasn’t been a constant presence this past year, but it’s been around just enough that I can’t fully dismiss it. Two of my four kids have claimed to encounter it. At first, I chalked most of it up to imagination: shadows, car lights, coincidence, kids being kids.
For instance, Theodore said when everyone was asleep, the ghost was throwing toys at his head. If that’s true, the ghost apparently loves throwing things at people. I asked him how did he know it wasn’t of his brothers pranking him. He said because everyone was asleep. But the thing is, any of his brothers could’ve been fake sleeping. But a few weeks ago something happened that I couldn’t explain away.
Nathaniel was sitting at the computer when he said the ghost grabbed his shoulder. Not just a shadow, flicker of light, or playful brother. He said his shirt lifted up- pulled by nothing. That can’t be explained. He said he thought it was his little brother but when he turned around no one was there.
I asked him, “What did you do when it did that?”
He said, “I stood up and went in the other room to tell somebody what happened.”
I told him, “Next time, swing on it. Or at least give it some attitude.”
He laughed and said, “I can’t swing on a ghost. It’ll just phase right through me.”
“Then let it,” I said. “But don’t sit there and let it mess with you without pushing back. You see it never bothers me. It probably already knows the deal. And it probably knows you’re too nice, so it messes with you.”
He just nodded. “Okay.”
Before writing this, I asked if he’s had any new encounters with the ghost. He said no. If that changes, I’ll write an update.
With Love,
