A SHADY PLOT by John Hallock SUMMARY John Hallock is a freelance author. He also works as an accountant in an office. A ghost story was the first fiction he had written. It was liked by the readers. So whenever Jenkins wanted a ghost story, he would contact John. Jenkins asked him to write another Ghost story. So John sat down to write a ghost story soon after he reached home from his office.John was not able to think about the plot of the ghost story he wished to write. It was twilight by this time. He had forgotten to turn on the lamp. The other end of the room was full of shadows and furniture. Suddenly the ghost of Helen appeared from that part of the room. She was long and angular. She had large fishy eyes. She came over and stood in front of John. He asked her about her purpose of coming. She told John that he had been calling on heaven and earth all afternoon to help him write a story.Helen while in human form was an unsuccessful writer. As a ghost she found others who were like her. They organized„The writer‟s Inspiration Bureau‟. They would look for writers in search of ideas. Then the case was brought to the attention of the main office. One of them is deputed to help that writer. She claimed that previously she had been inspiring John with ideas to write but now the ghosts have decided to go on strike. They would not come to inspire the writers now.The ghost of Helen told John that the cause of strike was the Ouija board fanatics. The ghosts of have to sit at a desk and answer question of the Ouija board owners. They have become so busy now that they can hardly go to haunt now. She told John to use his good influence and help her.He should get all of his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board, and then the ghosts will start helping him again. Thereafter the ghost of Helen disappeared.Just then John‟s wife entered the room. She asked him why he was sitting in the dark. She told John that she had bought a fancy Ouija board. He was stunned to hear it. He tells his wife Lavinia to get rid of the Ouija board and buy something else. But she refuses to do so.John tried to write a ghost story; however, he was unable to do so. The next Saturday, he remained extremely busy till evening .When he reached home the maid Gladolia informed that Lavinia was arranging Ouija board party in the home. In the little parlour of the home women were sitting in two‟s. Between each couple was a Ouija board, Lavinia came to John and persuaded him to be a partner of Miss Laura Hinkle. A lady at the last moment had shown her inability to come.Unwillingly, John had to be Laura‟s partner. She held his hands and held them in the desired position. The little board began to slide around .Laura asked the board to tell them something.On the board the word „traitor‟ appeared. The board continued to spell . It indicated that the Traitor was John and her name was Helen. Five Ouija boards started calling John by name.Lavinia looked at John as if he was an insect. John got up and fled from there. He did not know how that party ended. He came to his room and went to sleep at three O‟Clock. Next morning Lavinia was not present at the breakfast table. John went to the library for another try at a ghost story. There he got a slip of paper Lavinia had written to John that she was going back to her grandmother. She wrote that her lawyer would communicate with John later. John cried, „O, I wish I was dead!”.He again heard that horrible voice of Helen‟s ghost. John asked her why she had appeared like that in his room. She told him that she was sent to ask when his wife was going to get rid of that Quija board. John told her that it was because of her hehad lost his wife. Then from outside Gladolia, their servant announced that she was going to quit her job. She did not like hoodoos. John told Helen‟s ghost that she had lost him his cook.Then the door opened and Lavinia entered. She was carrying a suitcase. She set down the suit-case on the floor. John leapt from his chair and sprang in front of her. She did not look at him or behind him. Lavinia told him that she had come to tell him that she was leaving. He said that itwas fine .She said that he was behaving in a strange manner. She told John that he was concealing something from her. Then Gladolia told Lavinia that she was going to leave that place because of the Quija board .The maid said that she would never touch it. John volunteers to burn it .Lavinia insisted that John was concealing or hiding somebody there. She said that she would see.Who was behind him? She asked where that Helen was. The ghost of Helen appeared and said she was Helen. The Ghost of Helen disappeared.Lavinia fell into her husband‟s arms. John felt a sudden desire to write. He cried that he got an excellent plot for a ghost story.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 09:22:25 +0000
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