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Our Welcoming Spirit

Our Bed and Breakfast was the Presidents’ House, An antebellum Italianate with a rich historical past With nourishing breakfasts of presidential repast Served by a suitably attired raconteur, my spouse. Our home was known for its welcoming spirits merry We met and interacted with them over the years, Some got to meet our guests if they showed no fears Prominent from the abode of the dead was Ms. Jerri. Sassy and mischievous, she was mostly playful and sweet Until meeting Jerri some guests were reluctant to believe, Others remarked what a mind believes eyes can achieve Once a female guest was ill and stayed in her suite. When she recovered and came to breakfast one day, She asked who had visited her and massaged her feet. She insisted this sweet old lady she wanted to meet. We told her in detail about Jerri, our shadowy spirit’s stay. On many occasions Jerri intervened to help our guests Sometimes she moved things around in the house We did not mind, but sometimes it startled my spouse, Then we would laugh it off as another of Ms. Jerri’s jests. HONORABLE MENTION written January 12, 2021 for "A Ghost Story" Poetry Contest sponsored by Angela Tune

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Christuraj Alex

Date: 1/13/2022 10:54:00 PM

Very interesting writing. Laughing out the ghost feelings. Great work! Congratulations!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/14/2022 8:30:00 AM

Christuraj, this is a true story of Jerri and her adventures in our Bed and Breakfast. We had so many encounters it's a bit hard to deny her presence!

Terry Flood

Date: 1/13/2022 11:21:00 AM

Smashing Milt. I was wondering if this was a true story and I see from your reply to Lasaad that it was. I don’t actually believe in ghosts, which is weird, because I’ve had my own ‘happenings’. Congrats on your H.M. Terry

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/13/2022 11:35:00 AM

Thanks, Terry. I understand where you are coming from. I had so many unexplainable experiences with Jerri that were corroborated (?) by others that I have no choice but to believe. Strange life, eh?

Sotto Poet

Date: 1/13/2022 9:48:00 AM

Milton, you've weaved a fantastic story, as usual. And you indeed should do well in the contest. Best wishes,

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/13/2022 11:03:00 AM

Well, Lasaad, I made Honorable Mention with this true story. Thanks for your confidence.

Ann Peck

Date: 1/13/2022 9:41:00 AM

How lovely to have a resident spirit! Did you ever research who she might have been? I enjoyed your poem. Congratulations!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/13/2022 11:05:00 AM

Oh yes, Ann. We knew who Jerri had been and all about her. She had owned the home before us and sold it to the previous owner who treated her badly. She seemed to love us and welcome us to the house. We also knew her daughter who gave us lots of verifying information about her mother. People in town recognized her from our description even though we had never seen her alive!

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 1/13/2022 8:18:00 AM

This is marvelous! "We told her in detail about Jerri, our shadowy spirit’s stay." And rings of truth.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/13/2022 8:54:00 AM

It is a true story, Caren. Deb and I came to a marvelous working arrangement with Jerri. Deb could even smell her perfume when she was present in the house.

Terry Miller

Date: 1/13/2022 3:24:00 AM

Great story and write Milton, good luck in the contest, Terry.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/13/2022 9:04:00 AM

Thanks, Terry. I just learned that it got an Honorable Mention. Well, at least, it got a "mention," LMAO.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 1/12/2022 9:07:00 PM

Meeting Jerri made them a believer. At least she was mostly playful and sweet.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/12/2022 9:31:00 PM

Kim, this is a true story. Absolutely.

Anil Deo

Date: 1/12/2022 8:15:00 PM

A good, massaging Ghost, thanks. Friend of Casper? Maybe purely historical ( US Civil War). Cheers

Anil Deo
Date: 1/13/2022 12:09:00 AM

Wow Milton. It rang true, but my second guessing gave greater compliments to your writing skills & imagination. Thanx for gr8 information

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/12/2022 9:32:00 PM

Jerri had owned the house at one time. She had been treated badly by a previous owner; however, we liked her and understood her, so her spirit stayed around with us. After we sold the property, I understand she went away. This, by the way, is a true story.

Shirley Hawkins

Date: 1/12/2022 8:05:00 PM

Is this true, Milt. Good luck in the contest.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/12/2022 9:33:00 PM

Absolutely true, Shirley. In fact, my wife met Jerri's husband in the front hallway outside the bathroom where he died of a heart attack. But, that's another story!