Stalking Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

returned to the living room I found the pictures switched again. What the hell? I thought. Then it dawned on me—the pictures were painted by my great-grandmother Lillian, who built the house and lived there for many years.
    I called my mom and asked her where Lillian used to have those two pictures hung when she lived in the house. Sure enough, the pictures were hung in the opposite places that I’d hung them; Lillian switched them to where she’d hung them.
    After hanging up the phone, I walked into the living room to address Lillian directly.
    “Okay, Great-Grandmother. I understand now. I’ll leave the pictures where you want them,” I said aloud.
    While I didn’t get any response, I know she heard me because she never bothered those pictures again for the eight years we lived there … at least until the day came when we decided to sell the house and move to a more family-friendly neighborhood. Not that we lived in a bad area, because we didn’t, but the house was on a busy main street and I was concerned about the kids getting hit by one of the speeding cars going by.
    After we signed the papers to list the house for sale, my husband left for work and the kids were in school. I’d run a few errands and returned home a couple of hours later, to find one of the pictures Lillian painted on the floor across the room—the glass smashed to smithereens. Apparently she was showing her displeasure that the family home was once again leaving the family. I cleaned up the glass and packed all of her paintings safely away so they could be rehung with honor at the new house.
    Now, I have never figured out the third ghost, besides Nathanial and Lillian, even to this day. I could sense the spirit was that of a man, and his energy was very strong, so this meant he was a powerful spirit. While I kept getting the picture in my head of a large, Native American man, I could never prove that’s who he was.
    This ghost, whom I named Sam for reasons I don’t even know, though I knew full well it wasn’t his real name, was really quite active in the house. Sam would change the channels on the television in very rapid succession, spin the swivel chairs in the living room, and quickly turn lights on and off if he wanted your attention, or to be acknowledged in some way. Of course he didn’t do all of these at the same time, although I have no doubt he was very capable of doing so, if he so chose to.
    At first I felt a little intimidated by his presence because of his intense energy, but I soon learned this phantom was not only helpful, but had a very good sense of humor—depending on your point of view, I suppose.
    Whenever my girlfriend Sally came over to visit and went to use the restroom, this spirit would lock her in the bathroom. Now this was impossible for a human to do, because the bathroom door didn’t have a lock on it. But this spirit would hold the door shut, so Sally couldn’t get out.
    She would push and I would pull on the door, but it wouldn’t budge no matter what we tried. I had to ask the spirit, between hysterical fits of laughter, to let Sally out of the bathroom. Then the ghost would release the door and let my poor, scared friend out of the bathroom.
    While I found it particularly hilarious (I know, I’m bad), Sally did not, and would get quite a scare.
    No one else would ever get locked in the bathroom except for Sally, and I’m still not sure why this ghost chose to pick on her. The only thing I can come up with is that he knew it would scare her and that’s why he did it. I guess even ghosts need to have a little bit of fun every now and then.
    Sam also never pulled off any of his antics when the children were awake—only when they were asleep. I guess he didn’t want to scare them, which I greatly appreciated. Nor did he really do anything when my husband was home. That may have been out of respect, or because Sam knew my husband wouldn’t appreciate his not-so-subtle humor.
    Sam also wouldn’t