Willi, the Halloween ghost from Gösing

Willi, the Halloween ghost from Gösing

As so often, I quickly go to the cemetery late in the evening to water the flowers. It’s already October, which means they don’t really need much water anymore. However, it’s dry at the moment, so it’s better to check briefly. The sun has already set. As the water flows into the watering can, I have a

beautiful view of the sky, which is shimmering pink and pale purple on the horizon where the sun has set. So beautiful! I’m sorry I don’t have my cell phone with me; it would have made a great photo. I water the flowers at the grave and put the watering can back in its place. As I am about to leave the cemetery, my hand already on the door handle, I see something shimmering at the end of the cemetery (it is a small cemetery, about the size of a soccer field). I look more closely, but now it is gone. Oh well, it was probably just a last glimmer of the sun that

still caught here. I’m about to get on my bike when it feels like someone taps me on the shoulder. Hey, am I crazy? I turn around and see something shimmering behind the mound of earth in front of the cemetery disappear. It’s strange, but I’m not afraid at all. There’s a funny feeling in the air. I slowly approach the mound of earth. “Who’s there? I saw you, who are you?” There is a shimmering being standing in front of me, twice as tall as me and twice as wide as me. Wow, that surprises me. It looks like a shiny, moving sheet floating above the ground with two glittering eyes shining at me like crystals. I stare speechlessly at the shimmering creature, which appears to be a ghost. Should I run away quickly, or what? “I’m Willi,” I hear the ghost say. Slowly, I find my words again. “You’re a real ghost?” “Yes, are there fake ghosts?” Willi flies around me and sits down on my bike. “Hey, watch out, that’s my bike.” “Ah, nonsense, riding a bike is super easy, really cool.” Suddenly, I see my bike take off with Willi and float over the cemetery. Willi waves and lands safely next to me again. “Okay, I

understand, you’re a ghost, I believe it now, but leave my bike out of it in the future. Okay?” Willi’s eyes shine. “Yeah, pretty cool, huh.” “What are you doing here? I mean, at the cemetery, and why are you all alone?” Willi sighs. “Well, the thing is, one of us always has to stay at the cemetery so that the souls who go into the light find the right way. Some souls are still a little confused, so we help

them.” “There are more ghosts here?” I look around doubtfully.

“Normally, yes, but now the others have traveled north to Iceland because the coolest Halloween party ever is taking place there, right by the sea, on the beach, by the glacier, and by the volcano.” Suddenly Willi looks very sad. His shiny sheet slumps down. “Hey, Willi, I’m so sorry, why did you have to stay?” “We drew lots to see who had to stay here. I was the idiot who drew the short straw, and now not only am I missing the coolest Halloween party ever, I’m

missing Halloween altogether, no one there.” Now the glimmer is gone too, and he looks like a gray, yellowed sheet. “Stop, Willi, I have an idea.” He looks at me sadly. “I have a friend who’s throwing a Halloween party. There’ll be pizza and blood cookies and spider nests made of chocolate brownies. I could ask her if I can bring you along. I’m sure she’ll say yes.” “You’d do that for me

?” says Willi, looking happier again. “Sure, it might not be as cool as Iceland, but it’ll definitely be great.” Willi flies straight up, doing loops, and I hear him shout. “Yay, I’m going to a

human Halloween party and eat spider brownies and pizza. Everyone will envy me. When will you pick me up? Should I bring something? Ghost jelly, for example? When you eat it, you become invisible for a short time.” Willi beams.

“Bring whatever you want, same time as today, after sunset, I’ll pick you up here, is that okay?” “Great, okay,” Bye, Willi! Bye, human friend!

How does the story continue? If you feel like it, write it down or pass it on.

Sigrid Beyer