True Ghost Tales

This is not a scary, ghost story. Just a story that I hope warms your heart.

My Pappou (grandpa in Greek) was named Konstandinos Gregory Amentas. He was a good man. He was strong-willed yet loving. He and my yiayia brought up my father and aunt with the basis that family was the most important thing.

I am 14 years old. When I was one, my yiayia passed away. She was finally at rest from a life of pain and fighting with bone and breast cancer.

After her death, Pappou sold their house and decided to live with my family for a month, then he would alternate to my aunts house for a month. This arrangement worked out great because we have a spare room in the basement and we loved having him around.

Eight years later, on my brothers 11th birthday, we get a call from Greece. Pappou passed away. But don’t feel bad for me my friends… he was found out in the fields where he was trying to cut down a tree..at 87..he died doing what he loved. Wanna know the creepy part? Remember how I said that he died on my brother’s birthday? In Greek culture we believe in naming your children after your parents so my brother’s name is Konstandinos Gregory Amentas… just like my Pappou.

After he died the family started seeing Pappou around my house and my aunt’s house… he was usually seen in the garden fighting the weeds..the old man had a green thumb. These “haunting” were a sweet reminder of him but eventually stopped happening after a few months.

Anyway, after he died the room in the basement became painful to be in. It remained vacant and unchanged. Last summer I walked into the room and I felt refreshed. I knew that it was finally time to put Pappou to rest, so together my family and I boxed up his belongings… painted his room lime green (my favorite color) and moved my furniture downstairs. I was happy because I finally didn’t have to share a room with my sister and because now I would always have of piece of Pappou within me.

The first night that I stayed in the room, I felt someone watching me. It was eerily quiet and I felt restless. As I finally settled down and closed my eyes I felt slight pressure on the side of my face like a little kiss..and a whisper in my ear “Sagapo” I smiled thinking of my Pappou. I guess he just wanted to say “i love you” one last time.

Sent in by Athena Amentas, Copyright 2011