Welcome to my offering for The A to Z Blogging Challenge 2018.
My theme this year is Ghostly Inspirations:
a collection of spirits that have been prompted by my encounters with places and times. Some are spooky, some more about atmosphere. I'll be describing each inspiration and the phantom that came to my mind, and then I will share a drabble, which I hope will entertain. :)
Disclaimer: The places and experienced I have used for my inspiration are real, but my ghosts and drabbles are complete fiction, linked to nothing and no-one, alive or dead. When writing about my inspirations, I may have changed names and obfuscated specific details to 'protect the innocent' :).
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E is for Education
Inspiration:
My senior school has been around for a lot of years and some of the buildings were quite old. There was one where the classrooms had high ceilings, and huge great banks of windows, the kind that only had ones that opened right at the top with the use of a pole with a hook on the end.
They were great classrooms when the sun was shining, because they were bright and warm, but when the weather closed in and there was a wind, the glass could rattle dramatically and they could get quite cold in the winter due to all the single-glazed panels.
These old-fashioned classrooms put me in mind of my next ghost.
Ghost:
My senior school has been around for a lot of years and some of the buildings were quite old. There was one where the classrooms had high ceilings, and huge great banks of windows, the kind that only had ones that opened right at the top with the use of a pole with a hook on the end.
They were great classrooms when the sun was shining, because they were bright and warm, but when the weather closed in and there was a wind, the glass could rattle dramatically and they could get quite cold in the winter due to all the single-glazed panels.
These old-fashioned classrooms put me in mind of my next ghost.
Old schools have secrets, some of them darker than others, and St Hilda’s has one that is whispered among the older girls, but is forbidden to be told to the pre-libs: the old building has a ghost. In the 50’s, Mary (her surname is lost to history), was one of the most popular girls in school: she was junior hockey captain, she excelled in all subjects and was loved by girls and teachers alike. Unknown to anyone, though, Mary was very unhappy, her success being just a mask for the troubled girl underneath, who missed her parents and her little brother all term and couldn’t wait to get home.
At the end of the Michaelmas term, Mary was waiting in her dorm to be picked up when the Headmistress walked in, sat her down and told her there had been an accident, her family had been killed on their way down from Yorkshire to collect her. Mary took the news calmly, asking to be alone. Half an hour later, the mathematics mistress walked into her classroom to find her favourite pupil hanging from a rope made from a scarf and ties slung over the large metal window fitting.
To this day, Mary is still waiting for her parents to arrive.
At the end of the Michaelmas term, Mary was waiting in her dorm to be picked up when the Headmistress walked in, sat her down and told her there had been an accident, her family had been killed on their way down from Yorkshire to collect her. Mary took the news calmly, asking to be alone. Half an hour later, the mathematics mistress walked into her classroom to find her favourite pupil hanging from a rope made from a scarf and ties slung over the large metal window fitting.
To this day, Mary is still waiting for her parents to arrive.
~
Detention
“Detention.”
She jumped in her seat and glanced over her shoulder. A girl with a shock of ginger hair was sitting in the row behind, leaning on one hand, elbow on the ancient, pock-marked desk.
“No talking,” she whispered urgently.
The other girl sniggered.
“No-one’s listening. Miss Barnet’s seeing to first year prep too.”
She glared and pursed her lips: rules were rules.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to be boring. It’s taken me three weeks to get in here.”
“Why would you do that?”
“The scaredy-cats dared me - didn’t think I’d do it.”
“Do what?”
“Talk to a ghost.”
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She jumped in her seat and glanced over her shoulder. A girl with a shock of ginger hair was sitting in the row behind, leaning on one hand, elbow on the ancient, pock-marked desk.
“No talking,” she whispered urgently.
The other girl sniggered.
“No-one’s listening. Miss Barnet’s seeing to first year prep too.”
She glared and pursed her lips: rules were rules.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to be boring. It’s taken me three weeks to get in here.”
“Why would you do that?”
“The scaredy-cats dared me - didn’t think I’d do it.”
“Do what?”
“Talk to a ghost.”
~
Other paranormal and spooky stories by Sophie Duncan.
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Hi Sophie - poor Mary - and also poor school having to live with Mary there for ever ... Detention - nope not for me - even to accomplish my education! ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteExcept for our redhead, girls at St Hilda's never want to sit in detention alone :)
DeleteMy school was brand new, but it had towers and everything, so it was a great place for playing Harry Potter games in. No ghosts, though. Probably for the better. :D
ReplyDeleteThe Multicolored Diary: Weird Things in Hungarian Folktales
Now that sounds like fun. My school didn't have any towers, but it did have some odd nooks and crannies :)
DeleteI enjoy ghostly stories, but don't think I'd ever want to visit anywhere with a ghost.
ReplyDeleteReturning your A-Z visit from ajblythe.com
I've lived in a haunted house - not something I was comfortable with either :)
DeleteI feel very sorry for Mary and the drabble is spooky! I'm also filled with nostalgia for school :)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters
Mary does have a sad back story, but then most ghosts do. And yay to the nostalgia.
DeleteOoh, spooky stuff! This is a great theme, I have covered a few famous ghosts on my site too. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to pop on over and take a look :)
DeleteHow sad for Mary!
ReplyDeleteShe is a tragic figure.
DeleteI remember a cruel and nasty teacher from my school days. He's dead now. I'd hate to think he haunts the school today.
ReplyDeleteMy Friend Rosey - E is for Employment
Now that's an idea for a story :)
DeleteGreat story and I like your theme.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteWhat a great idea! My school could have had ghosts - I think you've inspired me.
ReplyDeleteJemima
Cool :)
DeleteSpooky take, definitely a longer story in this based around the high school. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteSometimes drabbles should be turned into longer stories, I have a few of those on the back burner.
DeleteSends shivers across my spine.
ReplyDeleteGreat drabble!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Delete