supernatural

TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Here A Ghost, There A Ghost…

Donna L

 

 

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I know there are people out in the world who do not believe in ghosts. 

I’m not one of them.

While I don’t claim to have been visited by E.T. or little green men from outer space, I HAVE seen evidence of spirits in the house both my parents died in. This week I’ll share the story that happened to me when I was about ten years old.

The house we lived in at the time was actually the oldest house built in Gueydan. At almost 100 years old, the house had a front parlor converted into an extra bedroom. It shared a pass through closet which connected to my bedroom just on the other side of the closet door.

One winter, I woke up in the middle of the night, chilled because I had forgotten to throw another blanket on my bed. Our house had no heating or air conditioning. One space heater sat in the living room and one window unit hung in the dining room window. Throwing back the covers, I sat up and prepared to make a mad dash to my closet for a blanket when I saw the closet slowly open and my winter coat slowly float towards me. It was hovering near the ceiling almost over me when I let out a loud “NO”, and I watched it fly backwards into my closet and the door slam shut.

Chilliness forgotten, I buried myself back under my covers and didn’t come back out until the sun came out and the shadows left my room.

I’ve told this story to my sister before as we shared weird stories of us living in that house. I’ve always hesitated sharing some of these stories with others though. I know I will be looked at differently after the telling of my brush with a ghost.

That wasn’t my only encounter with the supernatural while living in that house, and I began to think someone…or something…was watching over us. Why else would there be a coat floating through the air in an attempt to cover a shivering child?

 

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Donna's Books

Books always make a great gift! There’s everything from inspirational essay journals to picture books…young adult fantasy novels to historical fiction chapter books. Something for everyone on sale now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other retailers. HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams can also be found at the Titanic Museums in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri.

 

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Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book One, Ship of Dreams, is available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers. Also, coming to the Titanic Museums in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Book Two, A Chocolate Train Wreck, was released in November.

 

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: The Storyteller

Donna L

 

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The crackling sound of the fire filled the silence as they waited in anticipation for the evening’s story. Dry leaves crunched under shuffling feet as the last  few hurriedly found a seat near the storyteller and squeezed in as close to him as they could get.

Slowly, as if every move caused him great pain, the storyteller gently lowered himself onto the sacred stone and gestured for their attention. He needn’t have worried. Every set of eyes were trained on him and every breath hushed as they waited for him to speak.

“What story shall I tell you tonight?” the storyteller half whispered into the dark. “Shall I tell you once again of how we began?”

One look at the faces crowded around the fire told him what he needed to know.

“I can see this is a story which must be told again so the old can remember it, and the young can learn to never forget it.

Many moons ago…on such a night not unlike this one…the great Creator came to us. He was known as the first of our kind. The first born with the ability to shapeshift.

The elders of his time feared his coming for it was foretold one such as he might bring with him the dark times. So they tried to end a life before it had a chance to begin. But the love of a mother was far greater than any threat to one born of her body.”

The storyteller paused to catch his breath. Feeling a faint stirring beginning deep within him, the storyteller paused a moment to savor the moon’s calling before forcing himself to turn back to the faces so patiently waiting.

His whispered voice reached out to caress the group as he continued, “A mother’s blood was the sacrifice given in order that the baby might live. And with her last breath, the Creator’s mother cursed the people of the village, swearing there would come a day when our race would rule this land. From that day forward, the elders swore to hunt down and kill the thing they now called a monster.”

“But what ever happened to the Creator?” One of the youngest in the group howled.

He could feel the calling rising stronger within him. It had been many moons since he felt it heat his blood.

Many moons since he ran through these woods to keep ahead of the hate chasing him. Ignorance of the unknown too often led some to strike out at him in fear. If only they had given him a chance to prove the prophecy wrong. If only they hadn’t torn the most treasured thing from his life so long ago.

If only things had been different.

Giving into the calling now beginning to race through his veins, the storyteller slowly stood up and looked up at the full moon peaking through the treetops before answering, “That, my young friend, is a story for another time. But for now, it’s time to hunt!”

Okay, it’s your turn! What do you think happened to their Creator? Put your creative cap on and continue my story or start one of your own in the comments below…

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donna

 

International best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, LUNADAR: Homeward Bound (a YA fantasy), is now available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers.