New York

18 March, 20××

Jenkins had asked me to write a real ghost story on supernatural. It may give people the ‘horrors they want’. I had chased inspiration in vain for months! So I went home and sat down before my desk waiting for the inspiration. I heard a voice at the other end. It was Helen’s ghost. She told me that she had come from ‘The Writer’s Bureau’. She told me that I would not get any help in future from her. The spirits have gone on strike. The reason was the trouble created for the ghosts or spirits by Ouija board fanatics. She warned that she would not help me till my friends and acquaintances stop using the Ouija board.

A shocking incident in the Ouija board party brought my relation with my wife on the verge of breaking. My wife asked me to become a partner of Miss Laura Hinkle. I was reluctant but the flirtatious lady took my hands and started operating the Ouija board. Shockingly the board spelled ‘t-r-a-i-t-o-r’ and pointed an accusing finger towards me. The ghost disclosed her identity as ‘Helen’. Soon all the five boards were calling my name. There were rumours going around among ladies that I was flirting with Helen on the Ouija board. Next morning, Lavinia left a note for me. She wrote that she was going back to her grandmother. Her lawyer would communicate with me later. That seemed to be the end of my married life. However, the shocking situation turned into a comic ending. She smelled that I was trying to hide someone behind my back. She accused me of flirting with Helen. Then appeared Helen’s ghost before her. But my wife didn’t faint. She saw the owl-faced unattractive ghost of Helen. She smiled with satisfaction and Helen’s ghost disappeared. I got my loving wife back. She fell in my arms and I kissed her passionately twice. I was finally relieved. I was not be plagued by Helen’s ghost anymore. And in the bargain I got an excellent plot for a ghost story.