Chapter 1

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It was finally summer. But summer was slowly coming to an end there in the states. I was waiting in line to buy my annual tickets to go see the grounds of Graceland.

I lived not far away from Memphis. I lived over in Nashville. I actually thought about buying myself season passes to Graceland.

I might as well. I spent every trip I ever took here. I nearly went to Disney in Florida with my cousins but at the last moment I knew I had to go to Memphis this August. This was the week my idol, my hero, my heart throb Elvis Aaron Presley died. I actually got a glimpse of the daughter of Elvis once at a candle light gathering.

I was trying to meet Cilla or Lisa. Maybe Linda if she was there. Someone that used to know Elvis well enough to tell me a story or two about him. I was game.

Excitement began to brew in my veins as Elvis song "Easy Come, Easy Go" rocked overhead on the speakers in the place. All over here in Memphis you could not go a day without hearing an Elvis song. I adored that. If you went to the bathroom you can still hear Elvis crooning to you in the stalls as you well do your business.

"Faye! Faye Duncan! Wait for me!" calls out my best friend Morgan Muse.

She waved at me as she came to meet me in line. She had been grazing back at one of the Elvis gift shops. I wanted to get my tickets. I was ready to see Graceland. I never could get enough of that place.

"Hey! Sorry I did not wait. You understand don't you?" I ask her hopefully. She nods as she pulls up her leather brown purse back over her shoulder.

"I know. You are excited. Faye I have a little surprise I wanted to give you before you got in line. Seeing your birthday is the day of Elvis passing. Happy birthday, Faye Marie Duncan" she announces to me as she hands me something she pulled out of her purse suddenly. I gasp. She got me passes. For this whole week. So I can go to Graceland, see the cars, the plane all week long! These were platinum tickets!

"You are so crazy girl! Thank you!" I gasp as I yank her in my arms for a hug.

We get out of line seeing we had our tickets. No point in holding up someone else in line who was waiting. My birthday happened to fall on the day Elvis Presley died.

That was another reason I felt drawn to him. I began watching his movies. Memorizing each line when my mother introduced him to me when I was only eleven years old.

"I know you are Elvis crazed. So this was the perfect gift I could conjure up for you! I knew you would love it!" she teases me as we walk our way to get in line for the shuttle busses that ran to Graceland that was across the street from us.

I felt so excited, so very happy. I never saw so many Elvis fans in my life. They looked as happy as I felt inside to be here. It was like Mickey Mouse stepping foot on the grounds of Disney for the very first time. It was heavenly to be there.

The southern heat wave in Memphis had taken its toll on my poor multicolored curly now frizzy hair. My hair was a mixture of purple to a light pink on the bottom.

I bet I dyed my hair more than Kylie Jenner did. I was always having a new hair color the next new week. Last week it had been a light green. I gave up on the beach wave look with my curls. I began to yank my demanding curls into a bun. To be hidden away.

I was waiting in the line with Morgan as the fans above us blew a little bit of wind out way. I spot a place at the end of the line before you get on the bus where they take your photograph.

There was a big "Welcome To Graceland" sign to stand in front of. I had to get a photo. I always did that. Each time I came here. I have a collection of those photos for my mother. Gram loved them. So she said.

"We are going to Graceland!" coos Morgan as she grabs my arm. I grin.

"We are! Hey look over there. Is that the ETA Pete Storm?" I whisper as we wait in line. A very sexy Elvis look alike was waiting in line too. A group of girls seemed to know who he was. But I was not sure what ETA he was to be.

"That is Cody Ray Slaughter. See the guy behind him? That is Dean Z" whispers Morgan.

"No way!" I giggle as I gawk at them. Taking a closer look. They were taking photos with fan girls now.

"They are! Man, I would love to marry a sexy ETA one day. Perfect looking men. Most of them" she laughs.

"Same here!" I chuckle. The line begins to move for us at last. The people ahead of us gather on the shuttle bus. Then it was our turn to take photos in front of the sign.

"Smile ladies" the person behind the camera taking photos demands to us cheerfully.

"Cheeseburgers!" we laugh at the same time as they take our photo.

"How many copies today?" they ask us when we are done.

"Two please" I tell the man. I pay for one for me. And one for Morgan to. Soon it was time to get on the shuttle bus. Someone hands us a pair of head phones to use.

"You will use these on the tour. They will tell you when to put these on" a lady explain to us. We nod as we get ours. We then head on the bus. Elvis was playing a song on the large tv screen in front of the bus. Lucky bus driver.

"Welcome everyone" he whistles a cheery tune with a smile spread on his face.

Morgan and I snag a seat together. Right in the front.

"Look at him! He is so perfect. How can a man be so perfect?" she sighs as her eyes are glued to the screen where Elvis was splashed across it.

He was wearing the black leather suite. My favorite one. The other one I loved him in was the latter one. Beautiful classy man. He knew how to dress. Men in these days well do not make the cut!

Soon before we know it the bus begins to shake and rumble a bit as it starts up once everyone had filled up the bus. We began to move along. I watch back at the others waiting in line to board a bus still.

I felt blessed to be here. I snap a photo with Morgan on the bus. She gives the peace sign and smiles in the photo. Then she makes me take another one for her phone to have. We tweet the photo then paste it on Facebook and of course Instagram.

I watch out the window as the bus inches closer across the street to Graceland. The beautiful green gates with those adorable music notes, and the king on them open up for us to head on in. I wanted to shout "We are here! Elvis we are here!" but I kept that to myself. I felt like a kid at Christmas time. Getting ready to open my gift up. My gift was here at long last.

The bus pulls up in front of Graceland. Parking to a stop. I wait as the door opens. At last. The man tells us to enjoy the tour and not to forget to use our head phones at the door as we begin to scramble out of the shuttle bus.

"Hello Elvis!" I whisper to my friend. She smiles brightly at me.

We all head over with the group to a tour guide who was waiting for us at the front door. She was wearing a fancy blazer and smiling at all of us. She welcomes us.

"No making movies here in the house. You may take photos outside of Graceland. Stick to the group. You may now place those headphones on your head. Hit the play button to begin your tour. Have a great time here at Graceland!" the lady informs us before she opens the door for us to go inside.

We begin to head in. I do not bother to place on my head phones. I heard the tour many times. I probably knew the tour by heart.

"Why are you not listing to the tour?" whispers Morgan to me.

"No need. I know this place. I want to take photos. Enjoy myself here" I whisper back as everyone else has their head phones on.

We begin to walk around in the living room. I see the long white beautiful couch over in the living room that was resting along the wall. I could see far in the back where the grand white piano was located at.

Along with a gold tv set. I could stare for hours at this place. Every nook and cranny. There was something new to see that I had not saw before. I swear I could feel him there. His spirit.

It called to me!

I loved feeling his spirit speak to me while I came to see him. It was touching to say the least. I follow the group as we wander to the dining hall. Then back over to his momma's purple bedroom. I wondered if Gladys sweet spirit lingered here to? Perhaps?

Morgan had her headphones on. She was listing to the tour. I snap a million photos on my iPhone that I could manage. Before long I racked up the photos on my storage there on my phone.

And the tour was not even near done with yet. I glance down at my phone. Deleting some photos I felt did not make the cut to place in my album on my Facebook page. Then I glance back up to see Morgan was gone! In fact the whole dang group was gone! The moved on without me! Panic began to stir in my soul now.

I did not want to get in trouble for not being with my tour group. I would be heartbroken if I could never return to Graceland grounds again. Never! I thought I knew where I was at on the tour. You passed through the kitchen area. Then down the halls to the pool hall room...if I was not mistaken.

Oh GPS you are no good to me right now. Are you?

I sigh. I begin to get an eerie feeling settle inside of me as I wander the halls alone. I was now in the kitchen. Alone. I look around. I only see security cameras zooming in corners. I sigh. I was ready to be out of there. I did not like being there alone.

Not like I thought I would be before! Wait until I told Morgan that one! I begin to be brave. I head down to the stair case. Where the mirrors were in the halls.

And on the celling. I make my way down to the carpeted blue shag hall walls next. Then the pool hall. No one was there! My heart sinks inside. They were already moved on!

What was I going to do! I had to catch up with everyone!

I suddenly hear the door shut on me there in the pool hall room. I turn to see I was shut in. The lights went out now to. My heart skips a beat. I rush to where I knew where the door to be at. I tug on the door.

"Hello?! Is someone there? Anyone? I am locked in here!" I hoot in fear.

I feel sweat drip down my face. I grab my cell phone. I use the light to try to see in the dark room. I felt an odd presence there in the room with me.

"Anyone there? Hello? Who locked me in here? Are tours done for the day? HELP!" I cry out again. I did not want to be in this room for the night. I did not feel well...welcome here.

I hear footsteps outside the door now. It caused me to jump and drop my phone to the floor. My screen shatters as it lands on the floor. Great. So much for saving all my photos. They were gone along with my phone. Until I could get a new one!

"Is someone there?" I hear a voice at last.

"ME! I am stuck in here! Please you have to let me out!" I whimper out loud.

Someone at last opens the door for me. I see a bright light in the hall pour in the room. I blink as my eyes adjust to the light that was helping to set me free. I sigh feeling better to be getting out of that room!

"Thank you! Oh thank you for letting me out of there!" I sigh as I try to see who saved me.

"You are mighty welcome miss. But how on earth did you manage to get in this room? Are you a guest?" a man asks me. I blink trying to get my eyes to focus now on who was standing before me.

"I was on tour and I lost my group" I begin to explain myself.

"Tour?! Who was giving tours of our home?" chuckles the man.

"Well there are tours here every...dayyyyyy" I gasp as I get a view of who was standing before me now.

It was not just anyone.

It was Elvis father!

Vernon Elvis Presley.

"No one gives tours around here. That I know of. If one of the fellas yanked your chain on that we will give you your money back" laughs Vern.

He was real alright.

Was I seeing a ghost?

I had to be.

I feel my skin grow clammy, my head spins the room around in a rush of dizziness for me. I gasp.

"Oh my!" I whimper as I feel my body falling on its own accord.

"Miss? Are you alright? Miss?" I hear Vern as I feel someone catch me. I close my eyes praying I would wake up from this crazy dream. That this ghost that showed himself before me would leave me be!