In the clutches of Granny’s ghost

All the memories of her last days; her suffering, smiles and gentle loving attitude bore heavily on the family as they prepared for the drive to the old estate House at the Cyril’s Cocoa Estate. On that day, many close relations and friends had joined them to form a large party, as they needed the company and support.

It was a Friday afternoon in the dry season, when the cars wormed up the steep Maracas Hills onto the narrow gravelled road, which meandered down through the cocoa bush to the old house overlooking the gulf and the sheltered cove of Cyril’s Bay. The sun was red and low above the horizon when the cars crunched upon dried leaves and the cast of dried twigs to a park behind the drying house.

Night seemed to close in suddenly on the old wooden house in the shelter of trees. It was already past eight o’clock night, they had eaten of their supper, when Mr Raucio announced, “We are all going out into the bushes for a night of walk to see the owls and manicous and den we could go down to the beach to catch some blue crabs. De full moon will soon be up.” In a short while, they had walked down the cocoa track with flashlights. Mrs Raucio, however, was tired and not quite in the mood for rambles, and so, she remained with her seven- year-old son Trevor, in the house, which was old, weather- beaten and in a state of disrepair.

She took the kerosene lamp from the table and hung it from a nail in the wall close to the window; then pulled the suitcases and bags in a heap in the corner, in order to clear the space for sleeping bags on the floor.

Little Trevor was sleepy and tearful as he hugged his mother; he cried, “Mom, I miss my Granny.

I wish dat she was here wid us. I”ll never forget Granny.” Mrs Raucio, trying to comfort him explained, “Son, Granny cannot come back; she’s gone forever and you must not cry for her. She’s happy now in heaven.

Come say your prayers and get some sleep. Tomorrow we shall go down to the beach and have some fun.” The grieved mother soon prepared a bed on the floor and patted him to sleep next to her, as she stared blankly up to the ceiling. She recalled that it was the ninth night after Granny’s death; and it is believed that the spirit of the dead returns to the home and family on that night. For that reason, they had left their home in Arima to hide out in that remote sanctuary to escape the cold visitor.

Hours had elapsed; both mother and son were asleep in the glow of the kerosene lamp.

Moments later, a shifting sound aroused Trevor. He looked up, sensing the presence of someone in the room.

In a while, he observed a movement against the wall near the lamp. With disbelief, he saw his deceased Granny, who was standing against the wall in a white, floor-length night gown.

The lamp light touched highlights on her grey, curly, Spanish hair. She faced him directly; appearing as the living Granny he knew so well in every detail; except for her face, which seemed of a pale, translucent character with no facial details. At first glance, he grew anxiously happy, but soon melted into fear, for he knew that it was the ghost of his grandmother. Quickly pulling the blanket over his head, he cringed; unable to utter a call.

The terrified boy remained undercover until he dozed back to sleep in the secured nearness of his mother.

Not long after, the mother was awakened by footsteps in the yard just outside of the window.

It was close to midnight and the others had not returned from the night walk. She listened for voices, thinking that it was her husband and the party returning.

But there were footsteps of only one person wading through the dried leaves along the side of the house towards the front. The footsteps continued up the few wooden steps into the gallery to the front door. The footsteps stopped suddenly at the opened doorway. Clutching onto the blanket, Mrs Raucio looked in the direction with alarm, for there was no one there.

On looking the other way, she grew scared to see her deceased mother standing against the wall near the lamp looking at her; same as Trevor had seen her minutes before. “Oh! My God it is true! Nine nights!” the woman whispered, as she put a hand to her mouth in awe.

Granny moved from the wall to the woman’s feet.

The ghostly movements were smooth, as if she floated along; and reaching close to Mrs Raucio’s feet, the ghost stood erectly, with arms hanging loosely at her sides.

She was pale and translucent as before, and even though her position afforded a clear lighting from the lamp, her face was seen hazily without any discernable features.

Shortly, the ghostly figure floated nearer almost touching the feet of the scared woman on the floor.

A cold draught descended, chilling Mrs Raucio’s feet. She pulled the blanket to her eyes and shuddered; not knowing what to do or say. She sweated cold, gradually drawing away her feet, avoiding the cold ghostly contact, but the cold chilling draught followed and in a moment, was gone. The hapless victim prayed silently; almost unable to control her crying, nervous lips. Several agonising moments later, she lifted the blanket from her eyes to discover that the apparition had disappeared. Then, at the front door was heard a rustling sound which moved across the gallery, down the steps and out into the open yard.

Seconds later a flutter of wings occurred from the deep gloom of a nearby immortelle tree, from where, the eerie cry of a jumbie owl pierced the droning silence of the cocoa bush and sending a flush of fever through the terrified woman.

Little Trevor gasp fearfully out of sleep.

He clung to his mother, while looking back to the doorway; he cried, “Ah scared mom! Hold me mom.” They embraced each other in a common need for comfort and security. At that time, voices were heard approaching from the cocoa bush. To the relief of Mother and son; Daddy Raucio and party returned from their moonlight hike with a catch of blue crabs for their Saturday’s lunch.

The next day, when Trevor and his mother compared their frightening experiences, they were convinced that Granny had really returned from that unknown sphere of consciousness to visit her loved ones as a final departing vision, before her final entry into the other realm of obscurity.

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