The Ghost in my Garden
Though I'm 12 now, I had my first paranormal experience at age 5. I’ve always been a strange kid – you know, the type who’s constantly creeped out. Maybe that's because I used to watch tons of 'Scooby-Doo'(which scared the crap out of me). My mum always told people who saw me looking out the window that I 'saw things other humans couldn't.'
When we first moved into my house (I was about 1 or 2), I often sat in the kitchen, looking out into the garden, before suddenly screaming and running away. I'd dash to my mum, heart pounding, panting for breath, and start crying, 'There's people in the garden! Please get them away!' So she'd come and confirm that the garden was empty. I never went out without my mum, dad, or my brother Will.
A few days after my 5th birthday, it was raining heavily and I wanted an excuse to try out my new rain mac and matching umbrella. I told myself, 'I'm a big girl, I can do it!' I carefully went outside and splashed around in the puddles, like ordinary kids do. I suddenly had a strange feeling that someone – or something – was watching me.
My blood ran cold. A shadow lurched forward from round the corner of my house. I froze. The thing disappeared and I let the loudest scream ever pass through my lips. Suddenly, I pelted towards the back door, slammed it shut and cried my eyes out.
A week later, my mum was getting worried, as I hadn't been quite right since my encounter – as usual, I just sat in the kitchen watching. I had to tell someone. I was so scared that my heart began to ache. After explaining to my mum, she told me what she thought I saw.
My street was built on an old allotment; a legend about the place says that when the caretaker of the plot my house was built on, who smoked a pipe, died, his ghost used to wander around the street, making sure that the gardens were being taken care of.
I've never been quite right since then. I still look into my garden, not scared now, though, more curious and I often go out on my own now. Every time I look out, a chill shoots down my spine. I know that there is a spirit in my back garden.
