The Sallie House Haunting: A True Story Read Online Free PDF Page B

into the nursery, I would peek in and assess the area. I knew I could do this a few steps before actually reaching the upper landing. Not really wanting to, but feeling compelled to do so, I quickly glanced into the room that was dimly lit by the light we had left on in the hall. What I saw sent a stroke of terror through me and in a low voice I said, “ The bear is on the floor again .” Karen and Tony came bolting up the stairs to where I still stood staring motionless into the room. Karen said, “Oh, my God, not again.” The same bear—which had been, for days, comfortable in the cozy little wicker chair near the doorway—was once again lying in the middle of the floor face up. It was positioned exactly as it had been the last time we found it there.
    By this time, our adrenaline was peaking, our blood was racing frantically, and our minds were floundering in a desperate attempt to explain the situation. Again, we carefully inspected the bear, the room, and the surrounding area. We found nothing; no strings tied here or there, no magnets hidden under the carpet or in the bear. We knew that no one had gotten in or out of the house since we last checked the upstairs. I briefly entertained the idea that we had imagined it all, but we knew it was preposterous to assume that all three of us could have imagined the same exact thing.
    We stood there just looking at the bear in the middle of the floor. We understood, more solemnly than ever before, that we had likely been witness to the playful antics of a ghost. Speechless, we all stood close searching each other for some sign of what the others were feeling and desperately trying to fight the crazy thoughts that began to creep in. Ghosts do horrible things; they are mischievous, unpredictable and sometimes just plain nasty. What horrible things would this one do? Would it choose one of us to pick on? Who would it be? When would it start?
    Perhaps we didn’t run because we still thought that there had to be some logical explanation for what was happening. Perhaps it was simply our curiosity or our unwillingness to be forced out of our own home. Then again, if this turned out to be a trick, we didn’t want to be seen running from the house like scared rabbits. We stayed put.

four

    After the incident with the teddy bear, we decided that we needed someone with an objective point of view—not only someone intelligent and analytical to help us see what we were plainly missing, but someone who could console and calm us. We were sure there had to be a logical explanation for what had happened. We made our way down stairs and waited while Tony called his brother Larry. Tony had a hard time persuading him to come over. He explained the strange happenings since our earlier phone call to his wife and all but pleaded for him to come over, even if just for a few minutes. Very cautiously Larry asked, “Really? This isn’t a joke, right? You’re serious?” Tony assured him we were very serious and in desperate need of his help. When the conversation ended, Larry had agreed to come over and offer whatever help he could.
    The three of us waited for what seemed like forever. None of us knew what to think or say, so we said nothing. Larry lived just a few minutes away and arrived shortly after 11:20 p.m. I can vividly remember the look of apprehension on his face as we tried to explain what had happened. Later that night he told us, “The only thing that stopped me from thinking that you were all crazy was the fact that I know all of you too well.”
    After telling Larry our stories, we led him up to the nursery where the teddy bear still lay on the floor. He suggested that we put the bear back on its chair, turn out the light, and leave the room just as we had done before. We followed his instructions and headed down the stairs. We each took up a spot on the couch, Larry being the last to sit down. I’m sure he’d taken the time to sneak a look back up the stairs to be sure there