Writing for Fun
Strange Happening (A Ghost Story) - Bob Wendelkin
October 2014
Avis sat there looking at the invitation in her hand. It was to be quite a grand affair that she and Simon, her new boy friend, had been invited. In the corner of the card it said that 'Formal dinner dress is required'. It was unfortunate that at this particular time she was short of money. Although Avis wasn't that worried as she occasionally worked in an up-market Charity shop where some very expensive couturier dresses are often left. Avis had often looked enviously at them but never really had anywhere to go that would justify getting one. But her new boy friend moved in those circles and she was being invited to one of those occasions. Only today someone had brought in a beautiful black dress and a matching clutch handbag.
Avis at once thought that she could have this dress; it was quite beautiful and somehow she felt an affinity with it. As far as she could judge the dress was made to measure. She thought as the Dinner Dance was so grand and the upper set were invited to attend, there could be people there who may have worn this dress. So if she did buy it she would have to make some alterations to it so that it couldn't be easily recognised, just in case.
She took the dress off its hanger and into the changing room where she slipped it on. It was absolutely perfect as she looked in the mirror. For a fraction of a second she thought she saw a face in the mirror overlooking her shoulder, she looked again – nothing. Perhaps just small white bows just attached to the shoulders would be sufficient to alter it but not to spoil its overall appearance.
Avis's mother helped her alter the dress but every time Avis tried the dress on she always felt uneasy. She could never tell what it was, just a flash of a face in the mirror like the one she felt or saw the first time she slipped into the dress. An uneasy feeling then it was gone as the excitement of the dinner dance approached.
Simon had perfect manners and when he took her out he was always the perfect gentleman but Avis thought that this must be because of his public school upbringing. Avis always felt that she was going up in the world when she was with him. No basins of jellied eels or sausage and mash but something from the Cordon Blue menu and the need to use the correct knife and fork.
The day of the Dinner Dance arrived; Avis spent a good deal of the day getting ready. She felt that this night was to be very special as the relationship between her and Simon was becoming more intense, would they become engaged tonight? Only time would tell.
Simon had arranged to pick her up in a taxi, that way they could be completely relaxed and enjoy the wine. Avis took the dress out of its cover, she thought what a beautiful dress, she felt that it was destiny to have found it, perhaps one day if Simon proved to be as rich as he seemed she may be able to buy such a dress directly from the Couturier, but that may be in the future.
She put the dress on and looked in the mirror. She thought she looked a million dollars, although she still felt she was wearing a borrowed dress and something that really didn't belong to her, a feeling that was made worse when she held the clutch handbag. However, she did look absolutely beautiful. She left her bedroom and went down stairs where her mother said she looked wonderful and that her boyfriend was a lucky man.
Simon arrived and they left for the hotel where the Dinner Dance was to be held. They checked in with the cloakroom and then to the dining room via the bar where they had a small drink. At the dining room entrance they were greeted by a Toastmaster dressed in his red uniform and he then announced their arrival to the room. A waiter escorted them to their table where some of his friends were already seated. The men stood up as she arrived and the ladies nodded their greetings. One of the ladies said to Avis that she really liked her dress but it seemed a little familiar. Avis as quick as a flash said the dress she was going to wear had something spilt on it just as she was leaving so in an emergency she had to borrow this one from her maid, as she had sent all her other dresses to a charity shop.
'Perhaps you buy yours from there'. That left Avis wondering where that remark came from.
She looked to Simon who had a smile on his face as he mouthed a well done to her. As he knew that particular girl took pleasure in humiliating others.
The meal progressed and finally the cheese and biscuits were served along with the coffee.
Avis began to feel quite strange and felt as if she wasn't really there.
The Red coated Toastmaster stood behind the Chairman of the Dinner Party and called for silence.
Just as he did the lights of the room began to dim and the temperature in the room fell and it became cold, causing many of the girls to shiver.
Avis stood up, not under her own volition; she could feel as if she was being taken over. Those looking at her could also see the change to her face, it seemed to grow pale. Her features also changed to those that many of the people present recognised.
Then she began to speak but his time with a French accent.
The girl who had tried to humiliate Avis with the dress said, 'That looks and sounds like Estelle, now I remember where I last saw that dress.'
Estelle told her in no uncertain words to be silent.
'That's nothing like her,' said Simon, who had been a close friend of Estelle.
'You are quite wrong Simon, it's me Estelle. Although I'm quite certain that you never thought you would see or hear from me again after the way we parted. I'm just borrowing Avis's body,' replied Estelle.
'Avis knows nothing of what is going on, only this dress unites us,' continued Estelle.
'I have come back especially to see you Simon,' said Estelle.
'You and I can have nothing to say to one another, you left me to return to France,' replied Simon.
'That's what you have told the world but you and I know it wasn't like that was it?' said Estelle.
'This is a trick that you and Avis have concocted between you. You are not dead! You have arranged the lights and the temperature. This isn't funny,' said Simon with a quaver in his voice.
'No it isn't funny, this is all real, I picked this time because I knew that members of the police will be here. No, Simon, you killed me and I have returned to see justice done, and to protect Avis as she would have gone the same way as myself and a number of your other girlfriends,' continued Estelle.
Within the room a number of the guests who were in the police force started to close in on their table just in case what was being said was true.
'You killed me as you did with the others and buried us under your patio. The police will find us there,' said Estelle.
'Now it's your last chance, confess your crimes,' said Estelle.
A feeling of strange power seemed to flow over Simon and his will began to dwindle.
'You are right I did kill you, you were such a determined bitch I couldn't control you like Avis and some of the others. But when I can control them they are no longer any fun and they have to go,' said Simon, not knowing the origin of these words.
'Thank you, but as I don't want you to walk free after just a few years in prison I think I'll be the hand of justice,' said Estelle.
Estelle then took out from a secret pocket in the clutch handbag a small gun and pointed it at Simon and before anyone could stop her she fired two shots in to Simon. He fell and immediately expired and a shadowy figure lifted from where Simon rested.
'You had better come with me,' said Estelle to Simon. 'I'll escort you to your place in the afterlife. We won't meet again.'
'But Estelle I couldn't help myself, it just happed,' replied Simon.
'Tell that to the Man,' retorted Estelle.
Estelle left him at a large door, as it started to open a wave of heat began to escape.
Meanwhile, in the dining room, Avis was just standing there with the smoking gun in her hand completely unaware of what had happened, then some of the police took hold of her.
Estelle returned to the room and while the police were holding Avis, Estelle floated out of Avis body and, floating in the air, she addressed the room.
'Avis had nothing to do with this matter I took over her body to render justice for those he murdered. She must be set free at once. Anyone who tries to punish her for what I did using her body, I give you this warning, you will not live long enough to regret your decision to pursue her. So you have been warned.'
To emphasis her power Estelle pointed her finger at three of the chandeliers and they crashed to the ground.
A couple of the guests who were barristers talked together. 'Well from what I have seen these strange happenings will make a very interesting case, particularly if they find the bodies where she said. I wonder if we can earn a fee from it.'