Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 04 - Ghosted Read Online Free PDF Page A

but I got so involved in the festivities at Palmer and Branch that I lost track of time.  It’s not like I planned to cause anyone any concern,” Opal argued.  “And I also remember apologizing profusely and promising to always call if I ever had to miss a meal again.”
    “Yes!” added Marjorie.  “We all count on getting together at meal time.  You know that, Essie!”
    “All right!  All right!” said Essie.  “I just got so involved with my daughters and their…demands and concerns that I forgot about…and besides, how would I call you anyway?  Oh, dazzling dipsticks, it’s so dark I can’t see my own nose!”
    The heated discussion among the women was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a young, energetic woman carrying a large book and a flashlight which she held to her face.  Smiling, she seated herself on a chair in the center of the circle.
    “Good evening, residents,” she said.  “I’m Sue Barber, Activities Director, for those of you who are new to our community.  Welcome to Fright Night.  This is Happy Haven’s version of telling ghost stories around a campfire.  I’m going to start off by reading one of my favorite scary tales.  Then, I want all of you to share any of your favorite scary stories.  The scarier, the better!”  She opened her eyes wide and made an “ooo” sound.  All of a sudden a corresponding ghostly wail sounded from a distance.  The residents all jumped, seemingly together.
    “Mike’s yikes!” cried Essie.  “What was that?”  She looked around her.
    “Oh, my heart!” added Marjorie, breathing heavily.  Opal froze and clenched Fay’s hand as they stared at each other in fear.
    “Did that scare you?” asked Sue Barber from her central position.  “Well, don’t be!  It was just our favorite head waiter Santos, providing a little Halloween sound effect for you!”  She motioned towards the kitchen, and a young Hispanic man stepped out, holding a large megaphone.  He bowed smartly, lifted the megaphone to his mouth and repeated the strange call.  The residents, now calmer, all laughed and sighed.
    As the waiter returned to the kitchen, Sue Barber picked up her book and opened it to the first page and began to read.  Within a few seconds, Essie was engrossed in the story.  Her brain was telling her that Sue Barber was a gifted reader and that Happy Haven’s activities director was weaving a mystical spell around all the residents in the audience and she had no reason to be scared.  Even so, Essie became engaged in the frightening tale and when Sue finished reading, Essie was feeling very scared and even her brain was having a hard time convincing her not to be. 
    “That was horrifying,” whispered Marjorie to her pals.
    “I’m still shaking,” added Opal, sitting rigid in her chair.
    “I’m not sure it’s a wise thing to scare people as old as we are like that,” suggested Marjorie.  “I mean, some of the people here —not me, of course—have heart conditions.”
    “Then, they shouldn’t come to Fright Night,” said Essie.  “I mean, what do you expect?  To see photographs of bunny rabbits ?”
    “Maybe bunny rabbits with their heads cut off,” said Marjorie with a shiver.
    “Yuck, Marjorie,” said Opal with disgust.
    “Now, residents!” announced Sue Barber, standing and clutching her book and flashlight.  “Let’s hear your frightening stories!”   She pointed to the chair in the center of the room.  “Who has a good tale to tell?”  She looked around the circle as the residents mumbled.  Some nudged each other in encouragement to tell their tales. Finally, Sue’s patience was rewarded when a tall, robust gentleman with a full head of thick white hair and a bushy mustache rose and strode over to the chair and took the flashlight from Sue.  Essie didn’t know who the man was but imagined that he looked a lot like Mark Twain.  On this basis alone, she assumed his story would be fascinating.  And