Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
“She’ll wonder where we’ve gone… if she ever comes back… call me, please…”
Mrs Hoffman tearfully pressed the card into my hand.
Afterwards her husband took me aside.
“She’s overwrought… I’m sorry. It’s been ten years since Mandy disappeared; bit of a wild child… wrong crowd… usual story. The police gave up looking long ago.”
The Hoffman’s moving-van left, just as ours arrived.
Now I finger the card she gave me, as the chandeliers quiver, unseen feet pound the stairs and doors slam.
How can I tell her?
Her daughter was here all the time.
And now she’s seriously pissed off…
Happy to be amongst home comforts, still struggling to sort the computer but revelling in unlimited broadband, power showers and access to Marks & Spencer food and clothing seven days a week. I’m a simple soul at heart… easily contented. 😉 Thanks to Rochelle for a photo that offers lots of scope, and for her tireless endeavours. Here’s lookin’ at you Rochelle… oops, did I touch a nerve there?
castelsarrasin 
AnElephant is unsure whether he should laugh or hide behind the settee.
Great story.
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There’s no room behind the settee Elephant. I’m already there… Thank you!
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Excellently crafted ghost story and I especially like the title. Very fitting.
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Thank you! Glad you liked it.
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That’s an infestation to contend with. Should have paid for a proper survey!
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Just so long as she didn’t bring any of the ‘wrong crowd’ along with her as well…
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Surely anyone dead is the wrong crowd?
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Dear Sandra,
You should know that the place where I took the photo is reportedly haunted. A fitting story that’s well written with your usual grace and style.
Glad you’re back in the arms of unlimited broadband. Here’s looking back at you…with one rather blurry eye. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, that’s a coincidence! Glad you’re on the mend again Rochelle, and thanks for visiting and commenting so kindly.
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Wonder if her daughter will follow her, now that they’ve gone. Or still haunt the chandeliers…
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She sounds like the type to cling… 😦
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Spooky story, Sandra.
Nicely told!
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Thank you Anita!
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Nice stuff
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Thank you!
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Ok, I’m scared. Squeeze up you lot behind the settee!
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
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There’ll be a small fee I’m afraid…
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Just popping in to comment on your excellent story and perfect use of title. Can’t stay long, too many spirits about. Enjoy your creature comforts, Sandra!
janet
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Thanks for making time Janet. Enjoy the rest of your week! 🙂
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Always my pleasure to read your writing, Sandra. You enjoy yours, too.
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Looks like the mother knew things the father didn’t. Either that or he was less sensitive to the spirit’s being presnet. Seems the house came with a little gift. Good ghost story, Sandra. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne, hope all is well with you.
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Completely in the spirit of the picture and your title. Excellent.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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Thank you Keith. I’ll be with you shortly…
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Classic Sandra! Good work!
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Thank you! 🙂
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You managed to spook and tickle with that twist at the end 🙂 Well done!
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Thank you!
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As a mother I would be heart broken to know this. But she is obviously heartbroken already.
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I think you’re right, Dawn. Thanks for reading, sorry to be so late acknowledging.
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I think Mother needs to know her wild child just may have been tamed in her new “life.”
Hauntingly done! 😉
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Thanks Caerlynn! 🙂
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Sinister story here. Very fitting for the picture.
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Thanks Francesca!
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Ah.. some of them never really leave, do they.. an excellent story (and title)
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Thanks Bjorn. 🙂
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Do not stay in that house. Angry ghosts? Bad news. You do have to feel sorry for Mrs Hoffman. I bet it was Mr that did it.
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I hadn’t thought of that possibility. There’s another story there then … 🙂
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Love the title, Sandra, ad all the story behind this one. I love these stories most when there are thousands of words just peaking out from behind the 100 we’re given and you are a master of that. I’m wondering whether the father knew more than he let on…
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Thanks Jen, hope you are coping with your little newcomer. 🙂 Yes, I hadn’t seen the connection with the father… Hmmm.
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Wonderful ghost story. Angry ghosts – I’m calling for the exorcist. Since it’s getting crowded behind the settee, I’ll wave as I run down the walkway to my car. Chills!
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We can always squeeze another one Yolanda. Don’t go on our account….
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Fabulous ghost story, Sandra! Good work.
All my best,
MG
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Thanks Marie-Gail. 🙂
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Payback will be a real bitch.
DJ
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Ghosts are famous for their schaden-freude.
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Nothing like the misfortunes of others.
DJ
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Eww, a chilling tale. Great job.
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Thanks JED.
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I love ghost stories!
Lily
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So do I! Thanks for visiting.
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this is as good as it gets. 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Love it Sandra, fantastic take on the prompt ! 🙂
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Thanks Heidi. 🙂
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Wow, this gave me goosebumps. Love it.
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Thanks Claire. Hope all is well with you.
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Spirited child indeed. I too wonder if the father knew more than he let on.
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Yes, I’m beginning to think that might have been a better story…
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Wow, love this story.
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Thanks Karen!
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My submission deals in a very different way with a haunting. Interesting. And I read from Rochelle’s comment that the photo was taken in a supposedly haunted house. Me thinks that our psychic abilities are on high alert…cue Twilight Zone music… 😉
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😉
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Yikes. “Who ya gonna call?”
😉
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🙂 🙂
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I love the set up here and the spirited child described – bit of a wild child… wrong crowd… usual story. But not the usual outcome. You don’t want to piss off a spirited child ghost!
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Indeed you don’t, Amy. Thanks for dropping by.
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The Chandelier seems to have encouraged all the ghosts to come out! nicely done.
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Yes, that’s weird. I’m glad I was first up then!
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Spooky. Seems like she’s inherited a pissed off ghost.
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Thanks for reading Irene.
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Very eerie and hauntingly good.
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Thank you Sally. 🙂
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I guess, like the mother in your story, not all of us are psychic. But just as well the new occupant is, so that when her home is tipped upside down by a poltergeist, she’ll know to call in the ghost busters!
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Must be very irritating though, while you’re trying to settle in. 😦
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Oo-er! Did she buy the house knowing it was haunted? Clever use of the word ‘spirited’.
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Thanks Liz. 🙂
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Scary
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I think my Dad likes to mess with the young couples who rent the house he and Mom lived in. They’re always telling us about little peculiar incidents, not mean spirited, just spooky enough to keep them guessing.
I went up there one day and told him to cut it out, but he told me when he was still alive that he wasn’t about to take orders from me, so I doubt my scolding did any good. Excellent piece, Sandra.
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Your Dad sounds like a lot of fun! But I don’t want him messing around my house Russell, fun as he is. Thanks for reading Russell. 🙂
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🐻
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I wouldn’t like to have such a spirit hauanting my house – a perpetually annoyed ‘wild child’ sounds really unpleasant. Clever story.
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Some mothers I know do have exactly that! 😉
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Perhaps they can arrange to deed the house back to the original owners and find one a little less occupied.
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🙂 Good idea, Melanie.
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Welcome back to terra firma! I’ve thought about your computer a few times and cringed; still hoping you can work it all out.
Wonderful story with a kicker of an ending– something you do so well. I expected an entirely other twist, but this one is so much sharper! Nice job, Sandra.
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Thanks Dawn, glad you liked it. Yes the computer thing was a real bummer, but it’s taught me a lot. As long as I could save things and find them again, I never really took any notice of where they were located. That’s not the case now, and my dropbox, hard-drive and flash-drive are all in regular use. As well as the occasional complete transfer to my husband’s computer. 🙂
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Bravo for you! I’ve purchased 2 external hard drives, recently– one for photos and one for everything else. They are so inexpensive now, and I’m learning what to do with it all. I use Time Machine regularly now too… ahhh, lessons learned!
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I have a feeling that Mum knows… And Dad is in denial. Maybe a phone call is in order, there are other houses…. Great story.
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Ah, after some of the comments I was wondering if Dad knew, and Mum was in denial. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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oooh, lovely! And open to such interpretation. How did she become the ghost? hmmmmm…..
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Maybe that’s the story for another week, Samantha. 🙂
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Creeped me out. I brought my own settee, thanks.
As my son says, Mad skills, yo. (He’s a work in progress.)
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And I’m sure he’s morphing into a credit to you! 🙂 Thanks Kimberly.
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nice twist, i like it
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Thank you! 🙂
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Spooky story. I wonder how she became a spirit in that house? Do ghosts die one place and haunt another?
Great story.
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Interesting thought. I’m not sure what the rules are… 🙂
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Great ghostly story! Maybe since the new owners can hear her, they can help her move on.
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I’d rather not get involved, myself…
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Excellent take on the photo! I could feel the grief and hope from the mother. She definitely needs to know her daughter is looking for her.
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The narrator needs to pluck up the courage to pick up the phone, then. 🙂
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Nicely done. I wonder if she is buried within…..
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Oooh! That’s a whole nother thought… 🙂 Thanks for dropping by Jan.
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I loved it – and then I looked back at the title – how appropriate! I think I would stay with this Spirited Child and work with her on her anger, before I would call her Mother! Speak kindly to her, since she must have been a Lonely Spirit even with Mom-n-Dad in residence!
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You’re a kindly soul bobijobj. Thanks for reading.
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