Tender Years: Ghost Stories at the Puntes'

"A grownup is a child with layers on."  -  Woody Harrelson

Peeling back the layers.

I recall summer evenings at the Puntes' old white house with the cement porch and steps.  Kids out on the porch catching lightening bugs in jars.  Or playing with hard-shelled June Bugs, while the adults socialized inside.  I was one of the younger of the crowd.

One night, they brought the party inside to one of the bedrooms.  The door was closed and it was pitch dark, except for one flashlight.  We were gathered cross-legged on the floor to tell ghost stories. Now, I had never been involved in the telling of ghost stories, as Mama always shielded me from such things, thinking I'd have nightmares.  So, this was my indoctrination. The speaker would hold the flashlight under their chin, with the light pointing up toward their face, creating the eerie setting. Several stories were told, none of which I remember. None of which scared me very much.  But then the light was passed to an older boy who told us the tale of "Bloody Bones and Goo Goo Eyes".  He told his tale slowly and with much inflection and drama  I don't remember that story, either, but it ended with something like "I'm gonna get you!" and the boy reaching out and grabbing at us.  That scared me enough to make me jump!  Several of us squealed and adult voices told us to quiet down and get out.   

One of Pete's daddy's nicknames was "June Bug."

I don't recall if it gave me nightmares or not.  But I do remember the freedom and camaraderie we

shared in those gentle evenings.

Did you ever spend mild evenings playing by porch light? What about ghost stories?

Thank you for sharing!

Barbara