From ghoulies & ghosties & long-legged beasties & things that go bump in the night,

Good Lord, deliver us!

Things That Go Bump In the Night - part 1

February 2 9:40am

'You won't stop until I say yes, will you?' John stated, resting the pen atop the desk and closing his notebook.

Anna had been trying to talk him into staying with his father for one night, to find out what was really going on, but for John that was not a decision that he could make lightly, or make at all. A night away from his wife and children? Especially now that William was sleepwalking? And with his father? Awake all through the night? He knew Anna would do it herself if not for the twins and there would be no way he could stop his headstrong wife.

'You know I'm not the nagging kind of wife, John,' Anna tried to reason, sitting down on his lap now. That seemed to work every time, whenever she wanted to ask him something. 'It's just…'

'Nagging,' he chuckled, but already he felt his resolve wavering.

'Whatever you say,' Anna rolled her eyes before nuzzling her cheek into his. 'It doesn't matter what it is, but I think it's important for you to stay with him, even if it's just to make him feel better. He hasn't slept a wink even if he says he has, you know it.'

'I am worried.' John gave in, taking a long breath, his arms wrapping around her middle and pulling her closer to him. 'I don't want believe my father is going senile...not now.'

'You love him, John. You can't deny it, I know you do.'

'I don't deny it,' he told her sincerely. 'I couldn't. He's my father after all, and even though I tried to hate him for many years...he's my father.'

'I know, darling.' She kissed his cheek tenderly, one hand on his chest and the other at the back of his neck, caressing the short hairs she found there. 'So, is that a yes?'

'You ruthless woman.' He shot her a teasing look, his hands now finding her most ticklish spot below her ribs. 'You just want to see the back of me for a night.'

'Stop it, you silly!' Anna squealed in his arms, before remembering their sleeping daughters just a few inches away them. 'John, the girls.' he stopped then, but only after nuzzling the tip of his nose against the warm skin of her neck. 'I don't, not ever. And I shall miss you a great deal tonight.'

'Especially my goodnight kisses,' he told her seductively and she nodded, melting into his embrace as he continued his gentle caresses. But before too long, the office door suddenly swung open and they were faced with a very miserable looking blue eyed boy.

'William?' Anna rose from John's lap, walking toward her son. 'Whatever is the matter, love?'

'Mummy...' William whined rather impatiently, a pout forming on his lips. 'I want to go home.'

'What's wrong, my darling? Aren't you feeling well?' She touched his forehead in search of a temperature but she found nothing.

'I hope it's not that bloody flu again.' John grimaced worriedly, leaning down to the boy to run a tender hand along his cheek. 'What's the matter, lad? Tell us.'

'I don't want help Archie cooking no more today. I'm tired,' the boy complained, falling into his mother's arms. Anna lifted him up, his legs coming immediately around her waist and his head found support on her loving shoulder.

'Percy tied me up to a carousel and switched it on full speed,' William continued, his words half muffled into Anna's dress. 'My head hurts and I'm tired. I didn't want to go 'round.'

'What? When did that happen?' John asked, confused. He didn't remember seeing Percy playing with Will in the last couple of days.

'In my dream,' the boy cried.

'I see…' John nodded, sharing a knowing look with his wife.

'I want to go home, mummy, please.' William begged, and Anna couldn't deny him such request.

'Maybe you should take a nap,' she said, patting the boy's back. 'What about the girls now?'

'Leave the girls with me, they might sleep a little longer,' John offered, looking over at their daughters, napping peacefully in their playpen after their tea. 'When they wake up I'll ask Sarah to help me if I need it. I may take the opportunity and come home for dinner earlier, using them as an excuse before coming back over here for the night.' he grinned.

'So you will come back? Good. But taking advantage of your daughters to leave early, Mr Bates?' Anna shook her head trying to suppress a smile.

'Two babies are a handful, Anna, we all know that,' John reasoned.

'A handful of blessings,' she said before leaving, carrying William with her.

'Indeed, a most precious blessing,' John whispered to himself as he watched his daughters sleeping soundly, and he only hoped they would remain babies for as long as possible. They were growing up so fast, as William was, and his heart tightened in his chest at the thought. He would wait until they were asleep in the beds before leaving tonight, Will safely tucked away with Anna. He would miss them terribly. He hated to be away. He wanted to be there watching over them every second, but Anna was right. He needed to stay with his father for one night, and prove that nothing was wrong, even if proving that meant his father was imagining ,Caleb had heard the noises too, but there had to be a reasonable explanation.

Fingers crossed, by tomorrow morning all would be clear.

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February 2nd, 1928 10:15 am

Anna has taken young Will back to the house to catch up on his sleep. The night walks are beginning to take it's toll on the poor lad. I'm left here with the girls. They're sitting up in their pen having a 'sisters only' conversation. It seemed a good time to write in the journal.

The hotel seems quite a bit busier than it was last year at this time. Not many bookings, but a lot of drop-in guests coming in on the train. Trickier to plan for. Well, they can't be planned for, but they're very welcomed all the same.

The dining business in the pub and banquet room is busy too, so as luck would have it, Archie came down with the stomach flu. Anna, Daisy and Sarah had to be called in for cooking duty. Thankfully Daisy and Anna are wonderful cooks. Sarah is too but she doesn't get much of a chance to practice. My father and I washed and cleaned up. We managed, and Archie made a full recovery and was back in action two days later. So far, no one else has come down with it. I think we're in the clear.

In case you were wondering, my father says he still hears sounds around four o'clock every morning, but he tries to ignore it and stay in his room. Caleb has confirmed he's heard the noises too, although he didn't seem to want to go into details. Sarah happened to walk by when I was questioning Caleb and said that she has never heard a peep. She didn't even know Caleb got up to investigate, but all this talk is making her feel a little jittery.

And then there's Anna, my intrepid wife. Anna is all for finding out who this 'ghost' could be and what it wants and as she says, helping it move on. I swear she has her fingers crossed that the hotel is haunted. I don't believe in such things but I also don't have an answer as to what's happening. Rats? God forbid! Bats or squirrels in the walls? But why only now? Why haven't they been heard before? And even then it doesn't explain how my father hears his name spoken and finds his wooden leg left in the middle of his table when he knows he left it by his bed.

Anna, in her not so subtle way, has been after me to spend the night with him, to see for myself if something is going on. I've agreed to do just do that. It's not like I'm actually getting much sleep at home anyway.

We've both had a few restless nights since Will has started sleepwalking.

He's only done it three times, but we're always waiting for it to happen again, and it did last night.

We woke to find him standing beside his sister's cots, just staring at them. We didn't say anything, because we've been told you should never wake a sleepwalker. I don't know if that's true or not but we haven't done it after that first time when we got peed on. We just lead him gently back to his bed and that seems to work. So Anna was getting out of bed to do just that, when the boy turned and looked right at her and started spinning around. Yes, spinning around! Then he went calmly to bed and stayed there the rest of the night.

So, as you can see, we have much going on in our lives, as usual. Never a dull moment.

~ John Bates

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Things That Go Bump In the Night - part 2

Father and son sat on two comfortable chairs in the lobby, positioned between the stairs and the pub. Their backs to the front window, so nothing could come up behind them and a candle lamp burning brightly on a small side table between them, a faint glow into the darkness of the room. They had chosen not to turn on any electric lights, trying to duplicate the atmosphere of the previous 'hauntings'. It was almost four in the morning, the vigile had started around midnight, after the last client had been helped out of the door and the night barkeep had gone home. John had asked Caleb to join them to join them but he'd seemed reluctant to leave the comfort and safety of his rooms, using a spooked Sarah as his excuse.

Now they waited. They had travelled from Eamon's room, to sitting at the bar, then a pub table by the window where Eamon thought he first saw the specter through the mirror behind the bar. Nothing. Then they began their walk-about, down the halls, into the kitchen, where they each made a sandwich. Then they finally settled in this last position. The lobby chairs were fairly comfortable and sleep began to take the better of them.

Eamon closed his eyes for a second and when he opened them again he spied his son dozing off with his head falling forward. 'You're sleepy too?' he asked in a low voice, hoping to call his attention, and John looked up immediately with a small groan.

'Hmm? How could I not be,' he whispered, holding his pocket watch nearer the candle light. 'It's four in the morning. You at least had time for an afternoon nap.' John massaged the back of his neck and let a yawn escape from his lips. 'I haven't been sleeping too well lately anyway, because of William.'

'Right...don't worry. The lad will grow out of it.'

'I certainly hope so,' John replied, leaning deeper into his chair. This night was taking way too long.

'I know you are not happy about being here. Honestly, not even I see the reason for it,' Eamon confessed.

'You know my wife...she just won't take no for an answer, especially when the no comes from me.'

'She has you under a spell and that's the truth, no need of denying it.'

'I don't deny it...not one bit,' John said with a soft smile on his lips. 'She has me under her spell, she always has and I wouldn't have it any other way.'

'I loved your mother, very much, John...but it wasn't like that, I'm sad to say. It wasn't like that,' the old man admitted, looking down at his hands.

'I know.'

'I would have preferred it, if she had bewitched me to the point of no return,' Eamon continued. 'I would have been a better husband and a better father. I would have stayed as I should have...but it was the sea that bewitched me. I've never seen a love like the one you and your Anna share.'

'You know…' John began, looking into the darkness. The pub was rather eerie at night, he had never noticed it before. 'Anna, she...she says that things happen for a reason and if they hadn't happened that way, our present now would be entirely different. She has opened my eyes many times, for reason and for forgiveness, and I believe that what she says it's true. So in a way, I should be thankful to you for leaving us. If you hadn't I would probably have…' he shook his head, thinking. A million ideas came to his mind. 'I don't know, studied, got a higher education, move somewhere else, married someone else. I would have never met Anna. And believe me, I could have been a king, and I still would have preferred my Anna. I would have rather been a lowly, lame servant and ex-prisoner just so I could marry Anna.'

'Funny…' Eamon smiled at his son's words. He knew them to be true. 'Your mother said something similar in one of her letters. She said that you could be anyone, but no one would be as good for you as Anna Smith. She wrote that you talked about her a lot.'

'I did, with Mother. She knew all my secrets. She knew my heart better than I did.'

'But you still don't believe in ghosts, even if your precious Anna says so.' The old man elbowed him, laughing soundly.

'I think there's a limit for everything, even for my precious Anna,' John chuckled. 'I respect her beliefs and she respects mine and that's exactly why I'm here. If a ghost walks by before my very own eyes, I will be the first one to tell her what I saw.'

'And she'll say 'I told you so, Mr Bates.''

The two men laugh, but their easy mood wouldn't last for long. Before either of them could speak again a knock was heard, sounding like it came from behind the lobby counter just in front of them. They both froze immediately.

'What on earth. Did you hear that?' Eamon asked, his eyes practically bulging from their sockets.

'It's just the pipes under the floor. It's an old place. Old places make strange sounds,' John reasoned, letting go of a sigh.

'Old places don't knock on walls though. That ain't no pipe noise neither.'

'What would you know?'

'Ah! I would. I know more than you'll ev -' and again, before the old man couldn't finish his sentence, the knocks began to travel along the wall. 'Now! Tell me that's a pipe! It's in your office.'

John shook his head. This didn't make any sense. 'There was no one in my office ten minutes ago when we last checked.'

'What if this is not a someone but rather a -'

'If you say it's a ghost, I swear -'

'Swear what?' Eamon dared him. 'I reckon it's a ghost all right!'

John rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to give in to such nonsense. 'A spirit from a man who died drinking beer, right at that table we were just sitting at, over there? Well, yes, maybe you're right. And you were right all along.'

'What? A man died in here?' the old man questioned, his own face turning ghostly white.

'I was joshing!' John said. 'No, no one died in here. Not that I know of, and even if they had, they wouldn't become a ghost. Father, please. You don't really believe in such things, do you?'

'Son, if you'd seen the things I've seen, you'd start believing in everything.'

'Have you ever seen a ghost?' John asked, readying himself to hear a negative answer.

'I've seen men dancing naked and kissing each other on far-off islands...that's as frightening as a ghost!'

'Ha! And I thought I had seen everything there is to see.'

'You haven't seen half of it,' Eamon replied.

'Sshh! Listen.' John touched his father's arm for him to still. There was another noise coming to their ears.

Steps now. Slow steps. The sound of boots against the wooden floor. It came from the hallway that connected the office with the kitchen and Caleb and Sarah's rooms. If it was a guest, they shouldn't be there.

'That's what I hear in the night. Then a voice follows and -' The old man was hanging unto John's arm.

'Dwi yma.' They heard the whisper as clear as if it was right beside them. A gentle, windy voice.

'That! Eamon! It's saying my name,' Eamon concluded, facing his son. His eyes were glassy, panicked, and above all, demanding. Demanding his son give in and admit the truth. They had a ghost!

'Dwi yma.' There it was again. This time louder. John froze on spot, trying to recognise the voice he was hearing.

'No it's not. It's saying dwi yma. Doesn't that sound Welsh?

'Oh God, John, look...'

And then a cold breeze travelled through their bodies after his father's words, and in that very moment the candle flame wavered and sputter out. It being a moonless night, the lobby was plunged into darkness. They couldn't see a thing before them, but the steps continued, closer and closer...

'John, get that candle lit again! Quick!'

'I'm trying! I'm trying!' John replied, fumbling with a pack of matches, his hands shaking terribly. His heart was racing. Beads of sweat formed at his temples. He felt his father take a strong hold of his shoulder. 'Stop it. That's not helping me get this lit.' He tried to shake off the old man's grip.

'Son, didn't you see it?'

' What?' The candle was burning again and John pointed the lamp toward the pub area, illuminating only a few meters away from there. 'What did you see?'

'Just as the candle blew out, I think...' Eamon stammered. 'I think I saw a shadow on the stairs. A shadow coming toward us.'

'It was just a breeze, Father. Wind blew the candle out.'

'Nonsense, boy! What are you saying? Wind inside the hotel? Are you mad?' Eamon scolded, rather upset.

'You must have left a window opened or something,' John tried to reason, but all of that would be in vain.

'I'm old and grey, and I may doze off after dinner but I'm not senile! I told you every door and window was shut.'

'There must be an explanation.'

'Right! I hope that explanation explains your trembling hands.'

'Trembling?' John tried to mask his earlier nervousness. 'I wasn't trembling, I just couldn't get the match to light.'

And as soon as he spoke the door of his office swung open and then shut, as loud as thunder, and John couldn't help but jump and gasp, bringing one hand to his chest.

'Bloody hell! It's in my office!'

He ran there as fast as he could, his father following, but when he cast the light of the candle inside his private room he saw nothing but stillness and the normality of the night.

'Whoever it was must have run out the back door. Oh God! Anna and the children...' he cried, moving quickly to the back door that led into their garden, but it was bolted, from the inside.

'Ran off where? And locking the door from the inside behind them? Nice trick, that,' Eamon said, shaking his head in disapproval.

John eyed his father then, not wanting to give in to the sordid idea of a spiritual being haunting their hotel, but...this night was proving strange and he really didn't have an answer for what was happening. Maybe in the morning everything would become clear, maybe all they needed was a good night's sleep. Yes, that would do. After all who could reason in such a tired state?

When morning came, the two of them woke up with the first rays of sun kissing their faces, and they realised then they had fallen asleep in the two big, comfy chairs in John's office. The noises had not been heard again, at least for the rest of that one night.

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Things That Go Bump In the Night - part 3

'John?' Anna's voice was soft and sleepy as he came in their bedroom, and she opened her eyes to face him smiling at her. It was half past six, the day had just begun. 'What's the time?'

'Time for you to sleep a little longer, my darling,' he told her tenderly after checking on his sleeping daughters, his steps as silent as he could manage. He was feeling terribly tired, his biological clock a bit confused after spending the night awake, and he would give anything to be able to get in that bed with her and sleep for at least a couple more hours.

'No...I want you to tell me how was it.' Anna sat up, rubbing the sleep away from her face. 'Did you hear anything?'

John sighed, turning to face her. He had promised to tell her everything. 'It was a strange night, that's for sure.'

'What do you mean?' she asked curiously.

'Well...we...we did hear noises,' he confessed, walking toward the edge of the bed and sitting at her feet.

'I knew it!'

'But, we were really sleepy by then, it might have been that.'

Anna shook her head. 'Nonsense, John. Did you see something?'

'My office door opened and closed, and when we checked, there was no one.'

'A ghost,' Anna whispered to herself.

'And we heard a voice. Father claims it said his name, but I heard something like dwi yma. That sounds Welsh to me, if I even heard it at all, which I'm beginning to doubt in the light of day.'

'No, no, no!' cried Anna, one hand splayed over her heart and the other over her mouth. Her eyes were sparkling. 'No! We have a ghost, John and it's asking for help. And I'm going to give it.'

'Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe it's nothing of the kind. It could be...so many perfectly rational things.' He tried to reason but this war was over and done with, as he already knew. There was no stopping Anna now.

'I've decided. I'm going to investigate. I will find out whatever is happening, and if it's indeed a ghost, we shall find out who it is and what their story is,' she rubbed her hands together, excited about the prospect of a proper haunting investigation. Something she had read about many times in books and magazines and had always wanted to be part of.

'Anna…please,' John begged, shutting his eyes and rubbing his forehead. He was brewing migraine, he was sure of that.

'Did you sleep at all?' she asked worriedly. He was not looking too well.

'Just dozed. We tried to, in the office chairs, but not for very long. I have a sore back thanks to it, and a headache.'

'Stay home for a few hours then. I can check on everything later and tell Caleb to manage things this morning. You can go in at noon,' she said.

'I'm not sure…I've already washed. I just came here to fetch some clean clothes.'

'Well…' Anna bit her lower lip, eyeing him teasingly. 'Why don't you join me and Will instead? Aren't you very tired? And the bed is so warm and nice,' she suggested, tapping the quilt.

'Do you always get everything you want, Anna?'

She just smiled and shrugged her shoulders, 'Get over here, Mr Bates.'

Moments later John had stripped down to his shorts and undershirt and found her arms immediately, and after that her lips. As usual, her legs came to tangle with his and he buried his face in the crook of her warm and perfumed neck. He fell into a peaceful and sound sleep, as Will flopped his leg across Anna's waist. They were awaken almost two hours later when the girls began crying for their breakfast. He would stay at home until noon that day, and the whole family would go to work together.

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February 3rd, 1928 9:30 am

I'll just fill you all in before John comes downstairs. He's in the bathtub with Will (two birds with one stone, as it were) and we'll all be going to the hotel around noon.

Well, John told me some amazing things about last night. They heard a voice, knocking on the walls, their candle blew out and the office door slammed shut… We definitely have a ghost. There is no doubt in my mind. I want to talk to Eamon and hear what he has to say. Eamon thought the ghost spoke his name while John claimed it said 'Dwi yma.' I don't know what that means, but John says he thinks it might be Welsh. I need to find out.

There are two ancient Welshmen who have been spending their afternoon's at the pub for the better part of sixty years. Owen Argall and Dafydd Priddy. I need to talk to them. First, to ask them if they know what Dwi yma means and second, to find out if anyone in their memory, has died in the hotel or pub. I'm sure, as old as the building is, someone must have. So, my day is planned. I will buy the old men a pint or two and pick their brains. John's not entirely behind my plan but he won't stop me and he'll will thank me when I have this all sorted.

I hear my boys coming down the stairs. I'll start their breakfast now.

I have a busy and exciting day ahead of me.

~ Anna Bates

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All Journal entries are written by Handy-for-the-bus and Terriejane. If you enjoyed this chapter we hope you will consider leaving a review. :)