A Humdinger of a Ghost Story

/ roughwighting

Bing Co-Pilot Design, Humdinger“Why don’t you and I work together – starting with your mom’s first three chapters – and write the ghost’s story,” Harriet suggests. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a humdinger.”  https://roughwighting.net/2024/07/05/ghost-writer/ 

“A what?” Stephen asks. As a 36-year-old investment analyst with an appetite for math but none for words, he has no idea what his mom’s best friend is talking about. But she’s old, at least 60, so that’s par for the course.

Harriet rolls her eyes. “A humdinger,” she repeats. “With sex, lies, murder, and a reincarnation all wrapped into one bestseller.”

Stephen lowers his voice to almost a growl. “Let me get this straight. Mom left me her journals that include three chapters of a book that she began when you talked to the ghost in our old, haunted cabin. Which now belongs to you.”

Harriet nods. “So, you and I should collaborate.” Harriet’s countenance is serene, the opposite of Stephen’s.

“I want an official notarized contract.”

Harriet nods. “Per your mom’s wishes, the title is The Ghost Writer.” https://www.caranddriver.com/photos/g17914358/2014-chevrolet-corvette-convertible-first-drive-review-gallery/?slide=1

On the drive to the cabin the next day, Stephen peruses the first three chapters of his mother’s supernatural thriller. Harriet has convinced Stephen that she should drive his red Corvette so he can read and ask questions before they begin their ghostwriting journey together.

Halfway to the Berkshires, as the hills begin to roll and the land becomes forested, Stephen states, “Mom didn’t even like supernatural stories, much less write any. She wrote literary fiction.”

Bing Co-Pilot Design, a ghost storyHarriet’s gray hair flies behind her, long earrings gleaming brightly in the sun as she drives like a 20-year-old. “Your mom was tired of writing ‘serious’ books. When we stayed in the cabin six months ago and the ghost introduced herself to me, your mom said, ‘now this story could be fun.’”

Stephen scrunches down in the passenger seat. “Did the ghost really tell you her name is Seraphina?”

“Clearly,” Harriett replies as the winding road becomes narrower. “She said her husband’s name was Benjamin.”

The low-slung car bounces up and down as the road turns into stone and dirt. Harriet adds, “and her lover’s name was Jonathan.”

Stephen slaps down the manuscript. “This is bullshit. I’ve never heard of a ghost giving that much information. I thought they’re just supposed to float around and moan.”

Uncharacteristically, Harriet emits a snarl, slows and then stops the car on a curve of the dirt road. She turns toward Stephen and says stiffly, “I know your mother sheltered you. I know you went to boarding schools and an Ivy League college and now work in a bank, but can you really be that obtuse and ignorant? Please tell me, what do you know about the world? About nature? About death? And about all the different dimensions of life?”

Stephen shrugs. “I know we could die if you don’t drive my car away from the curve.”

The next 15 minutes are silent until Harriet parks the car 100 yards away from the cabin. ghost story, ghost writer, https://pixabay.com/photos/log-cabin-cottage-house-home-1886620/

“Why are you stopping?” Stephen asks.

“Because I don’t want to scare off those who live here.”

Stephen exhales with exasperation.  “No one lives here. You now own this deserted cabin.”

Harriet folds out of the car and stands, arms folded while keeping her words low and non-emotional. “Did you learn anything about Einstein? One of his most astute findings concerned the fact that, as he put it, “the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Stephen scowls.

“Open your mind! I don’t know which cabin we’re going into now.  It could be 2024. But it also could be 1824. The drama that occurred here 200 years ago kept the portal open for anyone.” Harriet inhales. “Your mom and I happened to enter that portal before she died.”

https://pixabay.com/photos/window-shutter-wood-green-1502348/stux“This is all nonsense!” Stephen huffs. “Just give me the keys to the cabin.”

Harriett ignores her friend’s son, strides to the front door, noting the lace white curtains, the brick walkway and the recently spaded garden.

“Hold on to your hat, Stephen. You’re about to discover how little you know.”

https://quotefancy.com/quote/4233/Albert-Einstein-Time-is-an-illusion

 

81 thoughts on “A Humdinger of a Ghost Story”

  14. I have a feeling Stephen is going to be twitching like those curtains as he gets sucked down the portal as well. Our minds live in boxes and it’s time to open them up. As an avid student of quantum physics, it’s all potential. Love these kinds of stories because they get minds ready. My dad always said science fiction was just one step ahead of science fact. This goes one step further and takes us on a fun ride. Love it.

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  16. That was fun, Pam. I have to add this bit to the end of your story:

    Steven slammed the front door of the cabin and blew out a blast of air as he stomped to his room. “If you need me, I’ll be working on my cliffhanger, Finding Joy in Math Equations.

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  21. Every good ghost story needs a believer and a non-believer. I like these two.

    Where did you get those pictures? They’re so perfect.

    Liked by 1 person

    • The pictures that fit the story precisely I designed from Bing copilot AI. 😳 I’m not a huge proponent of AI but I know it’s not going away so we have to use it responsibly. That said, yes I hadn’t thought of it but to get a good ghost story you need the Ying and yang. The believer and the nonbeliever. 🧡

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    • I was going to let the readers’ imaginations take them wherever, but too many are asking me to write more. Soooo, a clue. Stephen meets someone in that cabin who he thought he’d never see again. ;–0

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  26. Love it, love it, love it! First, Pam, your writing is just such a pleasure to read, but now you’ve taken me to a portal – you cannot just leave me on the porch. I’m patient. I’ll wait till we go inside. 🙂 Can’t wait!

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  27. Pam, it’s great you continued with the story and it just keeps getting better. The conversation between Harriet and Stephen is a sheer delight and I’m smiling as he is increasingly out of his depth! Have you already planned out the next segment? Hope so! Happy Writing, my friend! hugs, Annika xx ❤️

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    • Welll, weirdly, Stephen and Harriet are talking in my head. They are NOT getting along, so I think I better write the next (LAST) segment and get them calmed down. 🙂

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  28. Hoping my gravatar comes on this time – WP is giving me no end of trouble! 😒

    Pam, I can’t wait to read the final instalment and when characters won’t stop chatting in your head the only solution is to give them centre stage on the page! Wishing you a lovely weekend! Hugs, Annika xx ❤️

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  31. p.s. Two words on books – Could not get into The Book of Love at all -I tried 4 times, gave up. Seemed on the self-conscious side for me; was taking forever to get into what seemed like a good premise.

    The Phoenix Crown is very engaging once you start; I’m halfway through. One just has to put The Alice Network to the side; very different stories. 🙂

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