A small supplementary post today.
I have always loved telling ghost stories. I have been toying with telling one, just for fun, for three nights running at Christmas: one post on Christmas Eve, One on Christmas Day and one on Boxing Day.
I am as yet undecided whether this is a good idea.
Meanwhile, I have been drawn into the halo of WriteOnEdge: a rather fabulous group of editors and writers who gather in cyberspace to exchange ideas and -in their own words – ‘learn something about the art of storytelling’.
They issue a challenge every Tuesday for posting on Friday, so I am too late. But this was too good to pass.
300 words, to begin “The doorbell rang” and concluding “…the snow began to fall.”
Check out my friend Earlybird’s contribution here. And huge thanks to Cameron Garriepy, an editor at WriteOnEdge and accomplished writer and blogger, for some robust cybersupport over the past weeks.
The Prologue….
The doorbell rang. It reverberated around the derelict walls of the old house, waves of sound hitting long-dead surfaces and ricocheting with the dry absorbency of bone against bone.
No-one answered. There was no-one left: the last one had died alone, a year ago, on a threadbare Chesterfield sofa in the faded grandeur of the first floor drawing room. Even in her last moments, she died in dread of hearing the ring of that old doorbell.
They had celebrated finding the grand Bloomsbury house with its view on the square and proximity to the heart of one of the great cities of the world.
No-one, back then, had stopped to question why the house was so readily available, so very much within their budget.
The first time the doorbell rang, they answered to find no visible visitor: rather, a growing sense of indefinable dread, a monolith of insurmountable fear. What does one do in these situations, but slam the door and make-believe it did not happen?
Over the years, when the bell rang, the shadow became more visible. No balrog, this: but a cunning intellect, one who knew how the house’s occupants ticked, and how to manipulate fear for fun.
Still, they did not leave. Every time, at point of sale, something would happen to scupper their escape: death in the buyer’s family, financial ruin. So they stayed, the abused, staring wildly at one another when the doorbell rang.
Death brought freedom for the occupants of the Bloomsbury house, and the tormentor was bored. An empty house brought such tedium, especially with eternity to squander.
If he had had a heart, it would have beat faster. A rusty key was turning in the lock of the great old door.
New tenants at last.
Outside, the snow began to fall.
Kate Shrewsday 
Kate…love ghost stories! This is really good, leaving the taste of fear clinging to my gasping lips…
😀 MR James was a lecturer, but every Christmas he wrote a story to entertain his friends around the fire on Christmas Eve. He’s my hero: his stories are pure fantasy, pure entertainment value, steeped in mediaeval lore. If I could write something for my friends at their fires around the world: that would be nice…
I am so looking forward to your Christmas story!
Dang, Kate, here I am just relaxing and watching a little American football and you go and make the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. Awesome short short post!
😀 Whoops! Sorry. Lou, hope the football goes well enough to put you back at your ease again!
You’ve made my weekend. A lovely creepy tale, playing along with our prompting, and such kind things to say!
All true. That prompt was a Pandora’s box: if you didn’t write it you would be forever wondering….
I’ve spent waaaay too long at this desk today, but every time I think I’ll go do something productive I find another “something” to read — lucky to have found time to make the bed and put the dirty dishes to soaking!
This is a great prologue, Kate. I’m half afraid you’ll continue the tale, and half afraid you won’t!
Of course, reading this also sent me off to read Cameron’s post and to find out who has that delightful raven for her avatar — this reading blogs is exhausting (but VERY enjoyable)! 🙂
Both Cameron and Selena make great reads, Karen….so much to read, so little time! What a blessing it’s Sunday…
This was simply fabulous. The detail of that opening scene, and the perspective of that hungry, ever-present spirit. The quickening of the heart (if he had one)!
My, but this captured a moment, and like Cam, made my weekend.
Hi Nancy, thanks so much for coming along to have a read! This was a siren prompt if ever I came across one. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the other writers’ takes on the theme.
1. Yay for getting an extra posting from Kate today.
2. Well done with the challenge.
3. Yes, please for the Christmas Ghost Trilogy.
(But, like my favorite Ghost Trilogy by Dickens, I shall hope it ends on an uplifting note).
Got it, Nancy. Happy Ending.
(Not sure I could ever do anything other: Susan Hill’s Woman in Black is one of my favourite stories but that end breaks my heart every time I hear it…)
All is good, the lovely Miss Teresa and I are now downtown Charleston at the wonderful Sotille Theatre to enjoy the Charleston Men’s Chorus and their annual Christmas show.
Have a great time!
I just felt goose bumps! I love this! Will you keep going? I need to know what happens next…
First instalment Christmas Eve, Belle 🙂 Nothing like a ghost story the night before Christmas…
Can’t wait to read the next entries – wonderful !
Thanks Nicola! Next instalment Christmas Eve. I’m not really a fiction writer but I figured, what the heck…
This is spooky and haunting; a beautiful read of a ghost story (with the sun shining outside my window to chase away the shadows now lurking in my mind!)
The second paragraph caught my breath and the rest of your words held it until the end. Amazing.
Angela, thanks so much for taking the time to read it. Its the bit before the beginning of the story, so there will be more to come, but not till Christmas Eve: so plenty of time to chase the shadows away 🙂 Have a wonderful rest of day.
What I love about this post even more than the writing is the way your mind took the picture of this grand house doorbell, your words asking, “WHAT would you do??????” in hilarious manner, and turned that into a spooky, poignant story. Well done.
Thanks Andra: sometimes these things just come together, don’t they? That doorbell: it was a gift 😀
Creepy goodness!
http://www.alotoflayers.blogspot.com
OOOoohhhhhh…My high school students would say, “But nothing HAPpened.” No, but the not happening happened in such a spooky way. Exactly what a ghost story should be.
Hi Kathy 🙂 Nothing has happened….
Yet.
Oh wonderful! This is my favorite genre. And you do it so well.
Found you via Cam.
Thanks Renee, and for taking the time to come along and read. Like you, I love a good ghost story.
Dear Kate,
Sorry to have been away from your blog for two or three days. I’ve been busy promoting “A Cat’s Life: Dulcy’s Story” on my blog and mailing trade paperbacks that fellow bloggers and their readers have ordered. It’s all very exciting, but I confess to being tired tonight.
So I’ve checked in here and found your ghost story! You are truly talented.
Peace.
It does sound exciting: you lead a busy life indeed, Dee. Time for a cup of hot chocolate and a rest after all that industry?
You are really good with words and descriptions Kate, I hope you write a book one day! 🙂
Thanks Brittany 🙂 Maybe one day…
You’re so very gifted, Kate…I so look forward to your next installment!
(PS, thanks for link, I oft love these prompts with small word limits) ~
Gracious! I’d ask where that came from, Kate, but I’m not sure I want to know! Ha! Very creepy…but well told! From Time Travel to Ghosts without missing a beat! Impressive, no doubt!–and yes to Christmas Eve! Debra
Grateful I read this in daylight!
Yes. Bit grim, wasn’t it?
I post weekly on WriteOnEdge, but have not undertaken their challenges. This little group has really polished its professionalism over the past few months by offering great suggestions to writers. Nice to see that you are on board, too, Kate.
As you say, Amy: their suggestions are brilliant. Looking forward to trying some more!Must have a look at your posts there, Amy.
Fabulous, Kate. Creepy and atmospheric- you don’t even need to write any more! Please say you will, though 🙂
I’ve kind of signed up for it, now, haven’t I, Fiona? Backing out now would be like leaving a story at the altar…
Kate! Really! I have a weak heart, you know!
Well I do now.
😀 Well, get the paramedics ready for Christmas, Tilly, cause the spooks are on their way.
No insects, I promise.
It’s a dark and stormy night here in Sydney, perfect weather in which to read your chilling tale.
Bring on the Shrewsday Christmas Ghost Trilogy!
Huzzah! Time to make mince pies and imbibe some doubtful sherry!
I enjoyed this Kate! Excellent. I’m so looking forward to the trilogy. No fires here, but on a summer’s evening with all the doors and windows open, who knows… 😀
….and a glass of champagne…wonderful!
Better late than never.
Excellent, Kate! I’m so pleased you responded to this week’s (or was it last week’s?) prompt. And with such skill.
I’m greatly looking forward to reading more of your responses – in fiction and in memoire.
And, YES, for the Ghostly trilogy, please. Although (selfishly!) could I make a plea for that ‘slack’ week between Christmas and New Year rather than Christmas itself… ? 🙂 (I shall be so busy cooking over Christmas I doubt I’ll get to read much on my computer!) Never mind, I’ll catch up. Eventually!
Thanks very much for the mention, too.
Wow! I want more! This is great. I love a Christmas ghost story; somehow it just seems the right time for one to me. Very much looking forward to it. And I’ll look askance at doorbells forever after this…
I’m waiting for chapter two….
😀 Better start scribbling!
Wonderful, Kate. What happens next? You are so good at building suspense here. Well done.
Yes. Yes, do a trilogy. I can almost hear the wheels a-turning there on your ancient island and can’t wait to read your Christmas ghost story.
Edgar Allen Poe is alive and well
And channelling furiously 😀
Ding-dong, the witch isn’t dead! 🙂
Excellently done.
Wow. Really enjoyed the story.