He Was There

My first encounter with a ghost was when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My parents had purchased an old chair with a wooden frame and cloth covered cushions. It was late one night and I had woken up to go the bathroom. I opened my bedroom door and in the hallway where the new old chair had been placed was a glowing white old fat man with a rimmed top hat, suit, a cigar in one hand and a drink in the other, resting on the arm of the chair. I was in shock and I quickly closed my bedroom door, ran back to my bed and through the covers over my head and waited a couple of moments. I got back out of bed and opened the door again, the old man was still sitting there, I asked him what he wanted, and he had a grin on his face and remained silent and in the same position. I ran past him over our cat walk where I leaned against a door, and noticed the room at the bottom of the stairs, the light was going off and on, while what sounded like papers being tossed around. At that moment my mom came out of her room asking what was wrong, when she came to get me, the noise and old man disappeared, I slept with my parents that night and nothing was moved or out of place in the room at the bottom of the stairs. It was 10 years later, my parents had divorced and I was telling my dad about my experience, and he took me to show me that there are permanent ring holes where the man had rested his drink and burn holes in the cushion from what looks like a cigar or cigarette. What puzzles me most, why would my parents by a chair with cup rings and burn holes...

My 2nd encounter was with my late dog. I had Chance for 15 years, and we did everything together. In every single day of my life for 15 years, my Chance was there. He was there every morning when I woke up; he was there every single night I went to bed. Every pet has their own characteristics, and one with my dog is he would always rest his head on your leg, your stomach, your arm, the couch or bed if he wanted something wherever he could, he was definitely a cuddling dog. I realize there are some people out there who don't understand the love between a pet and their owner, but for those who do, understand the tremendous loss one feels in a circumstance like... It was 5 months ago; I had to make the hardest decision of my life, to put my precious Chance down. I have not been the same since; there is a part of me that left when he did. Here is my story, last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I heard what I thought was a light panting right beside my bed but very close to my ear, and even remember actually saying to myself "that sounds like a dog panting" then felt a pressure rest in the nook of my neck and shoulder, it was Chance and I knew it, I can't explain how, but it was over whelming and I burst into tears. I miss him dearly.