Tuesday Tales 2023-7-11 Die

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where we use word and picture prompts in the stories we’re writing. My current work in progress is a cozy mystery. This week’s word prompt is die. Events occur at the August Crow Hotel, Peri’s former childhood home, in Glisten, Georgia. When you finish reading my snippet, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

I said to Robin, “You squealed and pulled me out of the room.”

“I was freaked out!” Her volume indicator had whooshed into high decimels. “Then your parents came running down the hall.”

“And found nothing, except us of course. Marched us back to my room and said we’d been dreaming. I always wondered if my mother caught a glimpse of the floaty lady.” I waved away the childhood terminology. “The apparition.”

“The ghost!” Robin corrected vehemently. “What makes you think your mom saw her?”

“The expression on her face, interested and kind of spooked. Of course, she couldn’t say anything in front of us, or my dad really. He was more of a no-nonsense person. As for me, I desperately wanted to see the lady, find out who she was.”

“Not me! I don’t know how I let you persuade me into a repeat performance. Your parents caught us. You were grounded, and so was I. After that, we didn’t dare.”

I glanced away, not saying anything.

“Peri Nash! You confronted the ghost again, didn’t you?”

“I only caught a bare glimpse before she disappeared.”

She gave me big saucer eyes. “You never told me!”

“You didn’t like her much.”

“You weren’t afraid of her at all, were you?”

“Not really. More like fascinated. There’s really nothing to be afraid of. With some, maybe, but not with her or the spirits I’ve come in contact with.  They’re still people.”

“They’re not people. Someone has to die to be a ghost, Peri.”

I shrugged. ‘Tomayto, tomahto.”

She snorted.

“Unfortunately, Daddy saw me sneak down the hall. That’s why the lady pulled such a vanishing act.”

“Is that when your parents locked up the room?”

“Yes, I guess it was the last straw. Not long after that we moved to the little place outside of town. Eventually they split, and, well, you know the rest of the story.” I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “So, it’s really my fault we lost this place.”

Her mouth fell open. “Of course it’s not!” she declared. “You know very well it was mostly about money. You were a curious kid. So what? I always thought your dad went way overboard. Anyway, now you’re back in your home. Ghosts or no ghosts, I’m really glad, Peri.”

My gaze flicked toward the quick flutter of the dotted Swiss curtain.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the snippet inspired by die. If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories

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