THE NIGHT THE GHOST GOT IN
In the story, the narrator recalls a peculiar incident that took place in their house on the night of November 17, 1915. It all started when the narrator heard rhythmic footsteps coming from the dining room around 1:15 a.m. Initially, they assumed it was a family member returning home, but soon realized it might be a burglar. As the footsteps continued, the narrator woke up their brother, Herman, and together they listened to the footsteps growing louder and closer.
In a moment of panic, Herman retreated to his room, leaving the narrator alone at the top of the stairs. The footsteps reached the top of the stairs, but when the narrator opened the door to investigate, there was nothing there. The mother was awakened by the commotion and questioned the boys about the running around downstairs. They refrained from mentioning the ghost and instead let her believe it was burglars.
The mother decided to alert the neighbors and threw a shoe through their window to get their attention. The neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Bodwell, misunderstood the situation and believed there were burglars in their own house. Mrs. Bodwell insisted on calling the police, and the mother agreed. Unable to use their own phone, the mother threw another shoe to attract the neighbors' attention and requested them to call the police.
Soon, a group of police officers arrived at the house, banging on the front door. The narrator, wearing only a towel, was hesitant to open the door, but the mother insisted they remain inside. Eventually, the police broke down the door and began searching the house with flashlights, finding no signs of intruders. The officers reported that all the windows and doors were locked from the inside.
Amidst the chaos, the police discovered an old zither, causing a brief moment of confusion. The narrator explained its significance as a resting spot for their pet guinea pig, which further puzzled the officers. Meanwhile, from the attic, the sound of creaking alerted everyone to the presence of the narrator's grandfather, who had mistaken the police for Civil War deserters.
Grandfather stormed out of his room in a frenzy, clad in a nightgown and a leather jacket, and attacked one of the officers, believing they were enemy soldiers. He even fired a gun, causing panic among the officers. Eventually, the situation was resolved, and the grandfather returned to his bed.
The following morning, the grandfather casually inquired about the police presence and criticized the lack of water near his bed. The narrator, reflecting on the events, shares the humorous and absurd nature of the entire ordeal.
In summary, the narrator's house was visited by a ghost that caused misunderstandings and led to the involvement of the police. The family members, the neighbors, and the police all had their own interpretations of the events, resulting in chaos and comedic moments.