True Ghost Stories: A Short Story Collection

Dedicated to my loving family. Short Story 1: The Hooded Ghost When I was very young, five years old I think, I saw a spook. It was a hooded ghost. A specter possibly. This story is shorter because it happened so fast. I was watching a video, or possibly a movie mother's computer. I sat there, fully engrossed by this video (or movie) with a broad smile on my face. I was in a small, one-story house in Seattle, it was nice if memory serves. But it had its flaws. I can’t remember the pajamas I wore that night. I felt like I was being watched. I turned my head and I saw it. It was a figure in a black cloak and hood. The most distinguished feature was a white face. I froze in terror. I hoped to Heaven above that it wouldn’t turn its head and see me. The figure paced across the kitchen floor, thankfully not paying attention to me. It slowly made its way past the room and walked through the back door. The door was a sliding, glass door. I ran to it, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I stopped, sliding across the floor in my black socks and peered through the glass of the back entrance. Placing my hands against the cold glass, I felt my blood run cold. There was nothing there. The ghost left no trace. “M-mom?” I gasped, running through the kitchen and into the living room. “What’s wrong baby!?” My mother asked in fear. I started stuttering as she paused the television. “What happened?” She demanded. “Th-there was- a ghost! It floated across the kit-kitchen floor!” I stuttered. My mother looked at me. She blinked once. Then twice. I hoped she’d believe me. My mother was my savior and light. There was no way she couldn’t. She chuckled. My jaw dropped in shock. “Alex,” she said between chuckles. “Maybe you imagined it.” I felt my blood go from cold to searing hot. She didn’t believe me! How couldn’t she? Why couldn’t she? I was angry. She needed to believe me. “It’s true mom! Honest to goodness,” I squeaked. She sighed and looked at the time. “Alex, it’s time for bed. It’s past nine and you have school tomorrow.” I nodded and walked to my room, but not before I chanced one more peek at the back door. Was it in my mind? Was I going crazy? I didn’t know. But one thing was certain…I would always remember that shadowy figure.