- a Meeting With a Ghost - 1973 -

Several years of my childhood I spent with my aunt and uncle who lived in an old rectory in Northern Norway It was a hard time, much work, little food never time for play or entertainment My aunt and uncle were strict, we had to work for food When I had some time to myself, I spent time at the old church yard or in the woods close by - No other children to talk with therefore I spoke loudly to myself The old church yard was my secret world Old gravestones that were far over a hundred years old People who were forgotten long ago, no flowers on the graves The man who we called "Gravedigger", was always serious and rarely smiled but he was always kind and often had time for a little chat Earth was sunk and often I found bones, buttons or needles on the ground "Gravedigger" said always put them back in the ground and I did as he said One day I found a shiny white incisor I didnt put the the tooth back into the soil - I took it home with me This happened in the fall and it was dark early It was dark in the castle room at the rectory I did not dare to light the candle It was my work to rekindle the fire As I fumbled my way after the wood I suddenly felt like a light stroke on my head - looked around me and listening I whispered "is there anyone here?" ..... No sound, no answer In silence I sat ... suddenly felt someone stroking my hair through Ice cold fingers which had a nasty smell Now I was really scared I hurried in from the woodshed with wood and fired up in the fireplace Stuffed my hands in the pockets it was still so cold There .... I felt the tooth from the cemetery Looked at it from the fireplace light A powerful knock on the windowpane I turned to see You will not believe what I saw A face pressed against the window, a face that I had never seen before He had red hair and lots of beard The face scared me ... He started to laugh a scary laughter with open mouth Now I could see ... he lacked an incisor I walked a little closer to the window, but then the face in the window diseappered I felt I had done something wrong Decided to go back to the graveyard with the tooth The darkness and the fear took me as I approached the gate The laughter came back, he stood there waiting for me I placed the tooth gently down at the gate He just looked at me and laughed again the frightening laughter It is many years since this happened to me but I remember it like it was yesterday One autumn night many years after I awoke with a cold hand on my forehead I heard the laughter, saw his face and red hair long beard .... but he lacked no teeth - A story written by A-L Andresen 1973 :) (17.01.2015) Copyright © All Rights Reserved