Friday Evening

Thursday morning, I will be preparing food for a Thanksgiving dinner, just like many people will be. I will be with my family enjoying a feast and conversation, just like many people will be. That evening may be for relaxing, decorating for Christmas, or anything, just like many people's will be. I will go to bed thankful for the family still here to celebrate; I will be thankful that we are not hungry; I will be thankful for many things, just like many people will be. Friday morning, however, I will not be in line at 3:00 in the morning; I will not be fighting people for the latest piece of technology or "it" toy; I will not spend a bank load of hard earned money materializing Christmas, just like many people will. Friday afternoon, I will not be beaten up, frazzled, nor will I have exhausted the family resources or maxed-out any credit cards, just like many people will. Friday evening, I will be thankful I can see through the glitz and glitter to the real meaning of Christmas; I will be thankful for a family that understands why I have not bought them truckloads of expensive gifts, unlike many people.

Ghost Story

There is an hour and fifteen minute gap between my Advanced Grammar and Research Strategies class. Usually I go to the library, but lately I have began going to my car sometimes instead, taking a shortcut to the parking lot through Martin Hall. On the way back TO class I usually stop in Martin Hall to use the restroom since it is less crowded (I am always in there by myself actually) than the ones in Johnston.

One time I was using the bathroom alone and I thought I heard someone in the bathroom. Confused, because I thought I was alone, I peeped under the stall to look for feet. No feet. Then I heard the sound of my rolling backpack move across the tile floor very slowly. The toilets are automatic flush and when my toilet flushed another one did too. I washed my hands, grabbed my backpack, and left. I didn't really thing that much of it.

The next time I was in there, alone again, I heard the same noise like there was someone in there. I figured there must be a mouse or something. Then, I heard the sound of my backpack slowly rolling across the tile again. When I came out of the stall, my backpack had actually moved away from the wall. I was a little creeped out you could say.

Then, I went back in there, but this time I saw that there was someone in there. I didn't stare at the stall or anything; I could just see the shadow of someone in the stall. I go into my stall, the person is moving around, like the sounds I heard before. Then suddenly everything was quiet. The toilet did not flush. The stall door did not open or close. I heard no footsteps. When I come out of the stall, there was no one in the bathroom at all.

Today, I was talking to someone in one of my classes. I was joking about how I thought the bathroom in Martin Hall was haunted. She said, "All of Martin Hall is haunted." And she was serious! She started telling me about other people's stories. So I thought that was super cool. I can't wait to go back.