Paranormal Tales

By K. A. Williams

Meet the ghost who complains when the TV channel is changed, a cat-spider, the haunted lawn mower, a werewolf, feral cats, bats at a summer party, and several vampires including one who kidnaps a private detective. 19 paranormal short stories.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. A. Williams
• Release date: Feb 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224332113

K. A. Williams

North Carolinian K. A. Williams has had over 300 stories and poems published in many different magazines including SavagePlanets, The Creativity Webzine, Yellow Mama, The Blotter, Corner Bar, 5-7-5 Haiku Journal, View From Atlantis, The Sirens Call, Tigershark, and The Yard: Crime Blog. ​​ Apart from writing, K. A. enjoys music (especially classic rock), CYOA, and science fiction movies. 

Book preview

Goodbye Ghosts 

My least favorite commercial came on TV during one of my favorite shows.

The man on the screen said, "Are pesky ghosts bothering the mice, squirrels, and bats in your attic? Then call our exterminators – Goodbye Ghosts. We’ll bring out our electromagnetic cage and get rid of them for you. The ghosts, that is. You’ll have to call different exterminators to get rid of any other pests you might have in your attic."

Dan turned to his wife, Laura, and said, We should call.

Do you really think so?

We’ve already tried our Ouija board and a seance to see what the ghost wanted and that didn’t work.

I had managed to appear just once. The only times I howled were when they changed channels during a show I wanted to watch. I kept trying to operate the remote myself, but my invisible fingers just passed through the buttons.

When they got out their Ouija board, I’d been unable to move the planchette at all. 

The medium they hired didn’t even try to contact me. All she did was roll her eyes and pretend to go into a trance. What a phony. She just wanted the money.

The Goodbye Ghosts exterminator came, set a cage down in the attic, and plugged its cord into an electrical outlet. The wires that were wrapped around it sparked, and I hoped the cage didn’t catch the attic on fire. Then we’d all be homeless.

A week later, Dan called Goodbye Ghosts and got a disconnected number.

After that, he unplugged the cage and threw it into the trash. Everything in the attic was grateful.

Dan and Laura were now watching the reality show Swimming With Squids, after channel surfing. They had gone right past the TV show I wanted to watch, Chet Morris Private Eye.

This time I tried to switch channels with my mind instead of my invisible fingers. It worked!

Why did you change the channel? Dan asked. They were introducing the squids.

I didn’t change it. I thought you did.

They both looked at the remote that sat between them on the sofa.

Maybe the ghost prefers this show, Dan said.

Laura picked up the remote. Or this is defective.

Dan rummaged through a drawer in the table that sat next to the sofa, and pulled out a universal remote. Let’s try this one.

He set the channel to the squids, and I changed it again.

I told you, Dan said. Think about it. The only time the ghost howls is while we’re watching TV.

Right, just after we’ve changed channels from a cop program to a reality show.

I wish we’d known before we spent all that money on a seance, and the electromagnetic cage.

Then there’s no need to try and get rid of our ghost anymore? asked Laura.

Not if you don’t mind letting our ghost pick the TV shows.

Maybe we can compromise.

I could do that. After all, it was their house now.

The End

Previously published in 2021 in View From Atlantis.

The Ghost Train

The train whistle woke me up, but I hadn’t seen any train tracks when I’d rented the place this morning.

The whistle was becoming much louder. I drew the curtains and peered out at a distant light that was growing brighter. It was