The Smoking Ghost

My experience takes place in Robin Hoods Bay, Yorkshire. I shall describe the house to you. The house is very old and detached. From the windows you can see the sea. It is a holiday home and previously the owners of the house's parents lived there. Upstairs, there are 3 bedrooms. One is a double room. One is a twin room and the other is a single room which are all connected by a long corridor with a toilet and bathroom at the far end. Downstairs, there is a very old toilet which is next to the kitchen. The kitchen is connected to a washroom and dining room. The dining room is attached to the living room and the living room is attached to the very old toilet, sort of in a circuit. In the dining room there are some old french doors which are seldom open at night but almost always unlocked, apart from when we were either not in or in bed. Most of the family came in through the back doors as during the day someone was always in, so they were unlocked. I apologise for my poor description.

My aunt and uncle had come to visit us on holiday and one night we decided to play cards. My uncle had gone out for some fresh air after dinner and it was just my aunt, my mum and I (my dad and brother were in the other room). It was dark outside. After several games of spoons we started to smell what I can only describe as a faint sweet smell around the room. As the games continued, the smell gradually got stronger and stronger until it was the distinct scent of pipe tobacco smoke.

We ignored the smell and carried on playing cards until, suddenly, I started to feel really, really sad. Miserable. I felt alone and hated so I burst into tears. The feeling went as quickly as it came and I felt my normal self. I started laughing with the shock and we all noticed that after I had stopped crying the smell of tobacco had vanished as well.

Around about the same time my uncle burst through the french doors, out of breath, as he said he had saw a dark figure leave the dining room. When asked why he thought it was a stranger and not my dad or brother he said that "they (the figure) was much too tall to be either of them".

That night I couldn't sleep because I was scared the tall man would come for me again. However, I can't decide whether he was a demonic spirit or just someone lonely.