Ghost

STAVE I: MARLEY'S GHOST

MARLEY was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

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Rather late in life, I came to the distinctly frightening experience of seeing 'ghosts' for a certain length of time. Part of the fear arose from the fact that I didn't know or recognise any of them (both male and female, some dressed in formal eighteenth century gear – and all of them seemingly either disapproving or downright malignant in intent). It wasn't until I came to the last one in the series that I felt some relief. As I discovered from an old photo after the event, I'm fairly certain it was my greatgrandfather – gazing out at me from under the picture of an owl and sporting a neat white imperial beard. He gave me a totally reassuring smile.

A ghost is something we create in our minds as an excuse for our fear of the unknown. A man who makes no excuses fears no ghosts.

My son, when I am dead and food for worms, my ghost will be pleased if you always hold your wine glass by the stem and never by the bowl.

»You look like you've seen a ghost,« said the ghostess with the mostest.

I think you might just have a ghost of a chance.

the ghost of my unborn sister visits me each night. there's never anything to say, so we just sit together and watch the moon.

i've encountered many different ghosts since as far back as i can remember. many people are intrigued by my stories but no one fully believes. do you believe?