The following 1stperson account is unique because this little girl, Sandra knew her “friends” were ghosts.
When I was six years old my parents and I lived in an older house in southern California. My bedroom was in the home’s attic.
This room had other inhabitants besides me.
I remember three figures that would float about the room. They were children like myself but taller so I believed they were older than me.
I enjoyed their company, they visited me at night, but sometimes I refused to play with them wanting to sleep instead.
At first I felt they were just other children but it slowly dawned on me that they were ghosts. I think this occurred to me because their facial features were unclear—it was like they had veils over their heads.
I now know my belief that these night visitors were the spirits of children—was correct.
They liked to play in front of my mirror but I don’t remember ever seeing their reflections.
They also liked my rocking chair and we spent hours playing with my dolls and stuffed animals. I particularly liked it when we pretended to have tea parties.
One night as they awakened me, I became irritated because I just wanted to sleep. I told them to go away.
But their voices persisted. They urged me to get up. I remember one stated, “Get up, you must get up and look down the stairs.”
As I stumbled out of bed reluctantly the floor beneath my feet began to shake. I realized the whole house was shaking. It was an earthquake.
As I stood frozen in fear one spirit ordered, “Go to the doorway, you will be safe.”
I went to the doorframe, crouching down low.
When this shaking subsided they told me to lie on my belly and slide down the stairs. When I reached my parent’s bedroom we were able to escape the house unscathed.
Sandra * is grateful for these spirits presence when she was child. She feels they saved her from injury or even death.
* Name has been changed at request of storyteller.
