This is my real-life experience one night in the winter of 1992 when I was all alone in my house in Shrewsbury, MA. br br Darkness, darkness all around, br But coming through the br window blinds… br a small glimmer of light br casting cruel shadows inside. br br I hear a strange noise br in the dead of night. br Does it come from the basement? br Or is it from outside? br Could it be a burglar? br br I’m far too brave to think br it could be a ghost. br But are ghosts real? br Or do they just lurk br in the dark recesses of my mind? br br I hear the noise again. br This time loud and clear. br And when I point my flashight outside br What do I see? br Footsteps… footsteps on the untrodden snow. br br Now I panic… br Should I shout? br Should I scream? br Or just stay calm br And try to sleep? br br Will I live? br Will I die? br Is there some place br where I can hide? br Or better still br Should I call 911? br br But what if the 911 team br is afraid of the ghost? br Who will rescue me br from the ghost then? br br I switch on all the lights br and my radio, too br to scare away the burglar br Or the ghost and… br drift peacefully into slumberland soon. br br Geeta Ashok br Thursday, May 13,2010 br 5: 00 pm.