Who's there?

by Margaret Maier
(Evansville, IN)

Children's Completed Story Room

Willard employee Margaret Maier was busy trying to clean up some of the debris the workers had made while construction of the children's story room was going on at the Willard Library.

I am Margaret Maier, I've worked at the Willard Library as the children's librarian for several years now. I'm very excited about the new story room we are building at the end of the children's library, located in the basement of the main library. I know it's my imagination but I keep feeling this chilly air about my neck and shoulders. I was just tossing some swept up trash into the wastebasket when movement from my right, caught my attention. I glanced up quickly and thought I saw a shadow go past the doorway in the newly constructed room. Thinking it may be a child who had sneaked in past me, I went over to the door and called out to the unknown child. "That room is not ready for you yet and you must remain in this part of the library", I told the child as I entered the story room. To my surprise, there was nobody there. I shrugged it off as poor lighting and went back into to the library to finish putting away the books children had been reading earlier in the day.

As the time neared for the library to close for the evening, I kept having the feeling someone was watching me. I would quickly glance this way or that way, trying to catch the voyer in the act but was never able to catch the culprit. I began the routine of turning off the lights, taking care to see to it that all the items were in their proper place for the night. I would not check out with anyone in the upstairs, adult area of the library but would go out through the basement door and lock it securely. This was my responsibility since all the other patrons would leave through the upstairs door. I left the light on in the story room, although it was not completed. We are required to leave some lighting on so that security will be able to see if there's anyone about when and if they happen by the library during our closed time. With everthing completed, I headed out the basement door to my car. I kept feeling like someone was following me and I'd turn around to see nothing. I got in my car and drove quickly home where my sister was waiting for me with our dinner. We were both unwed and so we lived together in our parents home. I worked at the library to bring in income and she remained home doing the duties required by the usual housewife.

On this evening, as I came through the front door, my sister noted the weather had grown much colder than usual. I too felt this unusual chill in the air around us. Sticking my head back out onto the porch, I thought it strange the inside of the house was much colder than outside. I noted this to my sister who had to check for herself. We both spent several minutes checking inside and outside noting how very cold it had grown inside the foyer of our house. We finished our evening meal and I retired early due to exhaustion from the added work at the library during the renovation of the children's story room. As I climbed the stairs, my sister gave a gasp. I turned in time to see this greyish mist quickly evaporate into nothingness. We were both shaken by this and instantly, the house grew warmer. My sister supposed the Grey Lady had followed me home from the library. After the mist had evaported there remained this heavey scent of a strong perfume. It is bad enough to have to deal with this supernatural activity while at work but bringing it home to our house is very disturbing. I shall tell her tomorrow to please stay away from my home and remain in the library where she belongs.



It goes into the history of the hauntings at the Willard Library that Miss Maier and her sister experienced an eerie draft of cold air, the feeling of a misty presence, and...you guessed it...the strong scent of heavy perfume.