Writing for Fun
Ghost Story - Joan Bond
November 2014
Ghost story Joan B Bill and Jenny were happy enough. They had two little girls, Kate and Rebecca, and lived in a rented house in South London.
Bill worked in the docks and had made good money, enough to keep the family in, not extravagant comfort, but they managed to have a week's holiday each year and buy the kids presents for Christmas.
Jenny didn't go to work as she felt it more important to be home when her children came from school and have a meat ready, especially for Bill, who worked hard unloading the ships hold, especially if it was something like coal where the dust choked his lungs.
In 1941 Bill was called up for war. He hoped that his heart murmur would class him as D and he could carry on at the docks, which he thought was important war work. He was unlucky and they sent him for his six week square Bashing at Alderbaston. When finished he was sent straight to Arnhem where they were fighting to keep the bridges clear of German troops.
Jenny was quite scared, and although the Blitz on London was passed, the bombs were still coming and the shelter at night was a scary place when she was worrying about the girls. Bill did get leave very occasionally but never for long. As time went by Jenny wanted to take the girls to a more quiet country area and she found a place with a couple in Rugely in Staffordshire.
Bill knew of this as letters finally reached him away. The letters stopped after a couple of months and he became worried but thought maybe she was settling in and there were no bombs in that area as far as news went.
After another year, as he couldn't just walk away he requested compassionate leave to find them. He went to the village and asked directions to the home of Robb Wilson who were the people who had taken Jenny in. Following instructions he asked a chap where Hollyoaks was and was directed to a small bungalow in a narrow street. Knocking at the door he was invited in by Mrs Wilson who was a bit taken aback about the whereabouts of the family and said Jenny had moved on. She was very helpful making him a cup of tea and talking about the family when they had lived with her.
She said she didn't go out much now since her husband died so she had room if he wished to stay with her for a few days while making enquiries.
Bill explained that he only had a few days leave and must get on but took her details and wrote them in his papers as Mrs Wilson said to please let her know when he found the family.
Making his way back to the station he realised he had left his wallet on the table there at the house; he immediately returned and knocked at the door. He couldn't get any answer at all. Calling at the house along the road he said he had to retrieve his papers from Mrs Wilson and did they know if she had just gone out.
They looked at him in surprise, 'You won't get any answer at that place, it's been empty for a year since they took the wife off to prison.'
'What had she done,' asked a puzzled Bill.
'Oh, she murdered a woman and her children,' they said.