They say you always remember your first love, but after what happened, I will never be able to forget her.
Back in the late 1800’s, “old money” gave way to “new money” and many rich families lost all that they had. Most lost everything, but some were able to hold on to what little bit they had left and for the most part that meant their homes. Those with large expansive mansions turned many of the rooms into “apartments” and they rented these out to guests. The “guests” consisted mainly of other old money, those who had lost it all. Of those who had smaller homes, they divided them in half and sold or rented the other half.
I grew up in one those homes with a large porch that ran the length of the front of the house with no divider. So every day I saw the beautiful 14 year old girl who lived next to me.
To call Penny beautiful would not do her justice. Fair skin, deep sea blue eyes, a light spray of freckles across her nose and cheeks and the most amazing strawberry blond hair you have ever seen. Depending on the light it would be blonde or red and when the bright sun hit it just right her hair seemed to glow like it was on fire, she looked like what I assume angels would look like. It’s that vision of her that still haunts me to this day.
I guess this all starts on Christmas day 1984. Like any normal holiday with gifts and fun and food. Much of that morning I don’t remember, maybe I’ve blocked it out or maybe my head was filled with thoughts of her. I say this because until then Penny had not paid much attention to me or any other boy for that matter, until a few days before when she stopped me and asked if it was ok that she stopped by on Christmas day because she had a gift for me. I’m sure I said yes because she seemed very happy, but just the fact that she was talking to me and thought about me enough to buy a gift, drove all coherent thought from my young brain.
I was lost in thought that morning when someone started banging on the front door. I heard a scream for help, ran to the door and yanked it open. Penny was standing there, the bright sun making fire in her hair, but something was wrong. A second later she ran past me and headed down the hall. I realized what was wrong. It was not the sun. Penny was on fire. I was so scared for a moment that I could not move. The beautiful girl who had captured my heart was now a flaming shape running down the hall, leaving burnt foot prints in that carpet as she went.. I ran after her. She made it to the washroom at the end of the hall, hit the side of the tub and fell in taking the shower curtain with her. All I could think to do was turn the water on and then I started yelling for my parents to come.
She was looking at me, the water from the shower spraying between us and weakly held up her shaking hand. I wrapped my hand around hers and she screamed and the darkness took me.
After that I can only remember sitting on the porch in the freezing cold, crying and being very angry. I wanted to go to the hospital to see her but they would not let me. I remember one of my parents asking someone if I would be ok and the reply to that being I had just passed out and I would be fine. No one would tell me what happened to Penny.
Still crying and full of hate, though what the hate was and were it came from I don’t recall. Maybe I felt I could have done something more to help her. As an adult, thinking of it now I know there was nothing I could have done, but I was not an adult then.
Time was just a blur until late that night.
I was lying in bed. I had cried for so long that I had no more tears and my body ached. It was then that I heard a voice. Penny’s voice. Not in my room, but seemed to be in my head. “Hey Sweetie, be happy.” I sat up really fast. Penny was standing there looking more beautiful than I ever remembered, and after a moment she just faded away. I tried to stand but my legs would not hold me. I had to crawl to the washroom and lost what little food I had been able to eat. I don’t remember going back to bed; I may have slept on the floor.
I found out many months later that she had been using the toaster that morning and what they think had happened was that the cuff of her bath robe had touched the element when she was putting the bead in and caught fire. Some time the next summer her mom came to my house. They were moving and while packing things they found her Christmas present to me and wanted me to have it. It was a little dog tag on a silver chain. Engraved in on were the words “Be My Sweetie.” I can’t remember crying as much as I did that day.
I know that I should be happy she came to me that night and that I should hold that in my head and my heart. But sometimes when I think of her the image of her standing in my doorway with her hair on fire and the burned footprints on the carpet still tries to creep in.
Sent in by ghost in the machine, Copyright 2010 TrueGhostTales.com
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Wow, that was an amazing read. I dont even know what to say beond that. Left me feeling sad undoubtedly.
that was a story to tell wow I think my eyes want to water my cheeks
wow :0 that is so sad, but a little sweet that she came to you and she felt the same way you did for her. im sorry you had to see her that way
it’s sad that happend to her.that’s a real bad way to pass on.
PS.it feels funny saying this about this one but,Man you are a hell of a story teller.
Thanks for the kind comments and faith in my writing skills. : )
oh gitm, i am soooo sorry for your loss! i’m so glad she came to you. it’s so sad that you will not know her touch and the sound of her voice until you go to be with her. i too dream about people i loved and wish i could spend just a few more minutes. she never got the chance but she is waiting patiently. so take you time, make a wonderful life and then when you time comes, you will see her again!!! thank you so much~!
Gosh…poor dear Penny = *(…I actually cried upon reading that. Poor the both of you…
She loves you, and it will remain that
that was a story.im crying.i could picture her in my head she sounded beautiful.im sorry about what happened to her.im glad she went to you.do you still have the dogtags?all i can say was that was sweet that she wanted to be your sweetie.thanks for the story
Anna..was that story sad or what ?..Those poor little kids !! …IF that story really was true,wow = (…I cannot even begin to imagine what that was like to witness. Gosh,just so very,very sad..Can ya believe just writting to you about it is making me tear up…ugh….it’s all just so darn heartbreaking = ***( What’s really so strange for me tho, is that usually when I read stories on here, I take em with a “grain of salt”…and honestly,have no strong reaction to-However,for some odd reason,this one bothers me VERY much and I have no idea why-
it is sad.i dont normally have tears or cry when i read a story on here but this one was sad.i think it would bother me more if it was a fake,but i do believe its real.when i read a story i dont know how to explain but i can imagne me being there.and it felt like i was there,i guess thats why i believe it.
It is real, I would not post my fiction writing on here unless asked to. Her name is Penny Walsh. Thank you all so much for your comments, it means a lot.
i know its real,i can feel it in the way you wrote it.
im shockt right know like imagine that happens to me cry >:(
I read this story as soon as i seen your post on the comments.How tragic you gained a friend and lost her on the same day.My heart skipped a few beats as i held my breath.When you close your eyes at night and all you can see is penny on fire and the burn mark of her feet left on the carpet.I try and remember how they were and what they looked like before they died & you were sure lucky to see her in her beautiful old self its never good bye its see you later glad you posted your story even tho its close to your heart. Thanks for sharing
we would love to read more stories,if you have more.it was a good story but sad.good to know she felt the same wayyou did and sad they way she died.
Thanks Anna as always. Yes i have a lot more to write about things that have happened. I don’t want to do too much at once cause then i will have nothing “true” to post. It’s too bad this site does not have a fiction section as I would start posting there as well.
This one was very hard for me to write, so I am taking a break for a few days before I do another one.
i bet it was hard to write.one day you will see her and it will be like she has never left.whenever you are ready to write more we will be here to read them,well i know i will. thanks for commenting me back.
hey did you ever find out what really happened to penny?like i mean that if she died.
I’m assuming her parents weren’t home and that’s why she came “next door” for help? This isn’t quite clear. Nevertheless, it was a nicely presented, very sweet story.
Actually, her parents were gone to see other relatives, she didn’t go with them so she would be able to see me.
This is such a tragic and senseless Death for Penny. I think she came to you that night so you could see her being beautiful as you always had, until that fateful day when you seen that horrible sight of her in flames. I feel She wanted you to know that although you tried to help her that there was nothing you could have done. And it wasnt your fault she died and to remember and vizulise her as being as she once was. Has she ever came to you in your adult years? Thankyou for sharing your story of Penny. Truely touching, God Bless you both. Steph
That is really sad I am so sorry for you why didnt she just stop drop and roll or hop in the shower? I am sorry for ur loss
But she is in a better place. Goodluck in life xo
I think im gonna cry!! that is so horrible what happened!! I’m so sorry man. i dont think i would of been able to live if that happen to me!! I just cant describe..how… woah!! it would take me a week to explain how much i felt about that… your story erally took my heart and tweaked it to a emotional trance for the 5 minutes i was reading it (because i took my time because it was such a good story)…I hope one day she will reveal herself again and talk to you..i dont wanna make you cry so i think i’ll stop..take care and i cant wait until you write more stories!!
The whole time I was reading that I just kept imagining that Penny was my girlfriend, I don’t know how you made it through that but if I that ever happened to me I wouldn’t be able to go on.
You must have balls of steel.
I don’t mean that Penny the actual girl was my girlfriend, I meant that I thought she was *My* girlfriend, Kaitlin.
Just for clarity.
I’m sorry that this happened to you! Really sad! At least she made contact with you to let you know that she was still there in spirit.
When you talked of how beautiful she was and how special she was to you, you were talking of such beautiful love for Penny.
something similar happened to me. In 1983 my brother Sean was a senior in High school. He was popular. handsome. green eyes, and straight brown hair. He had just gone to the dentist. The dentist said his teeth were perfect. he had white perfect teeth. no braces needed. He drove this new blue dodge charger. Me and mom were so happy and proud he was so handsome and intelligent. He was a Tom Cruise look alike. well about 1 month after that he was beaten by a man. a month after that he died in a car accident. All of his teeth were broken in the car accident. I remember wondering how could someone who had it all. Looks, intelligence. be so broken up by death. how could this have happened. I heard him a few times after he died. He would talk to me in my dreams. I finally realized over time his death was meant to be. I guess by God. Now I think in my mind. maybe when someone is too perfect God takes them.
omg i feel lioke crying be pretty wierd since i am in class now ( should be studing haha
) but this story realy touched me i hope your happy now. i think that when we die we go with the people who touched us in are lives i hope that someday you will see her again! Have a happy life you deserve it! 
omg this story nearly made me cry (which would be strange since i should be studing hahaha
) But this story real touched me i hope that when we die we are with all the people who have touched us in are lives i beleive she would be there for you!!! have a happy life!! 
( i should get back to lisening to my teacher hes giving me a death glare 
)
sorry for what happened. She was trying to cheer you up when she came to you at night. She wanted you to know that she was ok now. It is so sad that you had to be there through all that. but you tried to help her and you did your best. God Bless You. You are in my prayers.
Thank you all for your comments, they really do matter. : )
I had to distance myself a bit before writing more, the next story will be coming soon.
cant wait. =)
Thanks Anna. : )
your welcome.
I’m so sorry! You have this beatiful woman notices you and wants you to be her sweety and she has this accident! I hope you will meet up with her in heaven!
wow! what a story. im so sorry that happened to penny and on your part. she seemed like a sweetheart and its so touching she felt the same way about you. you will be reunited one day, i promise. true love will always find its way.
just focus on the positive and nice things about penny. you did what you could and its not your fault. think about how beautiful she was and her sweet personality. like i said, you will be together one day
have you considered majoring in writing and english? you’re a great writer.
Thanks for the kind comments Donna, they are always nice to hear. Actually I am a writer : ) working on a movie right now…I do have some more stories to post of things that have happened to me and I shall get to them very soon, just been busy and after I wrote this I just didn’t feel like writing anything personal for a bit and it seems that turned out to be months.
i’m sorry for ur loss…..i do hope u see each other again….but i am still wondering why in her burning state did she come all the way to ur house????why didn’t she scream for her parents or something???? i am not sayin that ur lying or something so please don’t get offended or anything…..i’m jus wondering that’s all
Thanks for your comment. Penny’s parents were not home, she staid behind so she could see me.