The Ghostly Stranger

The Ghostly Stranger

Do you people want to hear a true personal ghostly experience I had while living in Maryland? It was february 29, 1992 at 4:00 a.m. My sister had just arrived from N.J. and a friend went with me to the nearby GIANT supermarket to get something to eat for the next morning. When we went up to the checkout, there were about four people there including a black gentleman who looked out of place with his attire. He dressed with a long trenchlike coat with a paisley~like design vest. Very well dressed to be at a supermarket so early in the morning.

As we waited in line ,he began to ask if any of us could help him get to his wife who had just gave birth that night. Well my friend and I did better than that.We offered him a ride....... That would be the turning point for something I would never be able to comprehend or forget the rest of my life.

Almost immediately as we left the store, the unusually mild night changed suddenly to a brisk cold wind spiraling somewhat with cold rain coming from one direction, off to the side of the lot. As my friend and I opened the car the man said he would sit in the back. I felt strange about that and suggested I sit there. We introduced and found out his name was Fred. The car felt very cold from under the passenger seat and I later discovered that my friend felt very cold from the passenger side also. The air conditioning was not on. There was also a distinct musty smell in the air.

We asked where he had to go and he said "my wife is at the Erleigh Fire Department. She had our baby girl tonight." Being that it was February 29, my friend joked about this by saying,"Well, I guess you don't have to celebrate her birthday for another four years."

He answered,"What year is it?"

I immediately looked into the rear view mirror and saw my friend staring back at me wide~eyed. He barely spoke any words as we approached the firehouse which was about 1~2 miles away from the market. Then as we stopped at the last traffic light across the street from the firehouse, he became animated...so excited saying "there it is!!!!"

We pulled into the front parking lot (the lot completely surrounded this building with lights on all night....keep this in mind as you read on.....) and 'Fred' got out first and ran to the front door. My friend and I looked at each other strangely...he was repeatedly pushing the doorbell.......but there was no button......just hanging wires. And the firehouse was closed and dark for quite awhile. But he persisted pushing the doorbell until I suggested that we walk around to the back. Then the most unusual thing happened.....as I followed behind him and my friend drove alongside us both... Fred walked by the side of the building.... and actually slowly merged into the shadow that was against the building. I lunged out as my first reaction because I could not believe what I was seeing. He was not there.

My friend saw the same thing and immediately hit the gas and circled the whole building quite a few times. There was no trace of him. As we drove back, we were passed by an ambulance and saw through the back window a black woman's forehead and decided to follow them to the hospital. I asked one of the paramedics if anyone in the vicinity had an emergncy birth that night, and the paramedic was kind enough to check. There was none that night......

Later the next day ,obviously still shaken by what I had witnessed, I traveled back to the place where we first met Fred. Funny, there was a cross in the intersection right next to the GIANT where someone was killed .

Finally, I decided to try the OUIJA board for answers. This is not a game! I found out he really did have a child and was struck and killed on the corner of Americana Way. I did not know this at the time, but Americana Way is the street alongside Giant.
This honest to god was a true story........

~ John

Return to the READERS CONTRIBUTIONS page

Return to the main MAIN GHOST page

Recommended Books | FAQ

TAKE A LOOK AT MY SELECTION OF GREAT GHOSTLY LINKS!

The copyright to this story and any photos that appear on this page belong to the person that sent them to me. Despite the fact that some of them prefer to remain anonymous, they still retain all legal rights. They have graciously granted me permission to include their stories/photos on this page.
Jenny