The Apologetic Ghost

THE APOLOGETIC GHOST

Note: This story started out in my Guestbook. I replied via email to Ronald's story and he emailed back, keeping me informed of what was going on. I asked if he would mind if I put the entire story here (including the follow-ups) and I am delighted that he agreed! This story is an excellent one... and I think it has the potential to help a lot of folks. Enjoy!

From my Guestbook:

Oh god thank you someone who will believe me. I live in a haunted house and before you disregard this entry as rubbish PLEASE hear me out (I'm lucky to be typing this, anything could happen). I'm in a small room at the moment alone with my PC and its very late and I need help as to how to get rid of this spirit.

It all started 7 months ago in early February when me and my wife bought this old 18th century house. The first week was great, but after that things got crazy. We have a dog, and a big one at that. One night I was watching TV alone when my dog started barking at the living room door. I thought this was odd as he's usually a very quiet animal, but then I heard the front door open and close again. I presumed it was my wife coming home from work who works as an accountant across the town. She usually comes into the front room to say 'hi' or whatever but she didn't this time. I called out her name a few times but she didn't answer. I looked out into the but no one was there. I suddenly felt this huge overpowering cold come about me. I was petrified, there were no windows or anything open and the heating was on. I should have guessed it wasn't her as the dog never barks at her. I explained what had happened to my wife when she came home but she was skeptical.

A few days later though, I was watching TV at about 11 and my wife was upstairs making the bed. She came downstairs screaming saying that she saw 'something'. She was pure white. I was horrified. She managed to utter out the words 'big black thing'. I made her some tea and then we drove to my parent's house and stayed the night there. I immediately drove to the estate agents the next morning and proclaimed that my house was haunted. The woman looked at me as if I was mad. I tried to explain what had happened and that I wanted to move but she dismissed it.

Since then all sorts of things have happened, such as moans and screeches in the night, things crawling around on our bed, apparitions, doors opening and closing, chilling cold, footsteps...god help me. We usually spend most of our time at my parents. I'm at the house as I speak and for all I know some horrible thing could be watching me as I type this. Fortunately we are now moving away from this horrible hell house in a few weeks as both me and my wife's parents stepped in. Thank you for listening, this was my encounter with the paranormal and I never want to experience it again. You can publish this story if you want, I'm just glad I can tell someone who will believe me.

My response:

Wow! It sounds as if you have had quite an experience! Thank you so much for sharing it in my Guestbook.

Out of curiosity, have you checked out the history of the house? It would be interesting to find out what might have happened there.

As far as getting rid of the ghost(s) there, I would urge you to see if you can find someone in your area that deals with things of that nature... it is one thing to work with something first hand and entirely different to try to tell someone what to do. Each situation can be very different and just like people react differently to different situations, so do ghosts. I shy away from trying to tell people what to do for this very reason... someone who is there and knows what to do is much better (and safer).

I will add this though... one thing I have discovered is that often (not in all situations, but many), ghosts act up and try to scare people because they don't know what to expect from the people.

Let me try to explain... let's say you are living in a house and suddenly someone else moves into your home with you. You didn't invite them... you don't know them... you don't know what they are going to do (will they try to get you to leave YOUR home?)... etc. Now, chances are, you would call the police or a lawyer or something like that... but what if you can't? Now perhaps you can see how many ghosts perceive the people that move into THEIR home. Maybe you legally own the home, but they consider it theirs.

One thing that has worked for many people is to actually try talking to them. I know that sounds weird <g> but I have seen it make a big difference. For example... even when investigating ghosts, at times they don't know if the investigators are there to make them leave... it can make a difference to simply tell them that the purpose of the visit is to learn more, not to run them off.

Most ghosts are not the Hollywood variety of nasties that cause big problems... but those do exist. I always recommend that people try to talk to them AND that they try to get over their fear of them. I have been pleasantly surprised at the number that, once these two things have occurred, have decided that they like having the ghosts around!! Of course, this is not always the case... but I figure it is a good place to start.

As I sit here at my computer typing this email to you, it is hard for me to even guess what you are dealing with. From what you have described, it sounds as if they have been very active and trying to scare you perhaps...but their actions seem to stop short of anything really dangerous (knives flying through the air, etc.). This is also why I suggest you find someone local that deals with this sort of thing (you might look into stories done by the news media around Halloween, sometimes they include "ghost hunters" in the area). There are too many unknown elements for me to try to guess how they would respond to any actions... especially ones that they would see as "threatening."

I hope this is at least somewhat helpful and I wish you good luck with the situation. Let me know how it goes.

Ronald's response:

Hi, thank you for the very helpful advice you gave me. Its been one hectic day. Let me explain.

I took a day off work to delve into the history of this house. I actually asked an old couple who lived around four houses down (my neighbor told me to go see them), and what they told me was astonishing. Although the house is old, the murder that was committed in the house was much more recent (!). Apparently around 1977 a young man named Hugh Morrison was fatally wounded by a burglar as he tried to apprehend him one night.

I came back to my house, and taking your advice, I started 'talking' to the ghost. It felt a bit strange shouting up the stairs when no one (alive) was in the house but me. I simply called out to Hugh that I wasn't here to harm him in any way and that I simply wanted to live in harmony. I also asked politely if he could stop scaring me.

Now comes the really weird part. You really don't have to believe this if you want, but all of a sudden I heard this huge bang somewhere upstairs. I nervously went up to see what had happened, and I found the word 'SORRY' engraved in my banister as if it had been scored out with a finger! It was red hot to touch but didn't set the wood alight (!).

I am now writing at 8:40 PM in Northern Irish time and that was at about 4. Nothing has happened since, the spirit seems to have calmed down immensely. I still want to run out of the house screaming, but something tells me not to. Who knows? As you said, maybe I will grow to like a ghost in the house. I'll see how things go for a couple of days and maybe I'll be able to reverse the decision to move house. I'll have to convince my wife as well lol. The house seems normal again for now. I just hope Hugh doesn't get irritated again. He's probably watching me now. Anyway thank you for the advice, you are a miracle worker! God bless you!

My response:

I was so glad to hear back from you and to hear that things have settled down a bit!! I was amazed at what happened! I would never have expected the word to have appeared. Amazing!!

I did have a thought on the situation and thought I would share it with you. As I thought about what you told me about the history of the house, it made me wonder if your ghost was continuing on doing what he had been done at the time he died... trying to protect the house from unwanted visitors. If this is the case, by continuing to talk to him, it might help to keep things calmed down. He might not have realized that you belong there... your statement of harmony sounds like it was the perfect thing!

In your initial letter in my Guestbook, you gave me permission to use your story. I am currently in the process of adding a new section - one that includes stories/photos that have been sent in by people that have visited my site. I wanted to ask you for permission to include the follow-up as well... it is a truly wonderful story - one I think that many people can benefit from.

Let me know if this is okay with you and let me know how things are going in the house. I really hope that things continue in a good way :-)

Ronald's response:

Hi! I would be delighted to see my story printed! Thank you so much for including it in your section! :-)

I am thrilled to say that everything is a-ok in the house now. However, its ironic that you say that he is wary of strangers because of what happened, because I brought my elder sister around to my house (she lives in England, and came over for a visit). However, as soon as she walked in the door, things started acting up again! My sister thought I was mad as I shouted up the stairs "Its okay, she won't harm you." lol.

When she asked what was going on, I replied "oh, its just the ghost". She had both a glint of fear and an 'are you insane?' look in her eye. I left the whole subject there as I knew she wouldn't believe me.

Apart from that the me and the ghost get on fine. I don't mind ghosts anymore, I used to be afraid of them because I saw all these horrible spirits on TV who attacked and scared people, but I have found that with a bit of understanding ghosts can be really neat. Even my wife is coming round to the idea lol. Still, to answer your question sure of course you can print my story, its the least I can do! Thank you!

A big "Thank You" to Ronald for letting me reprint the story and the updates here!

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Ronald