"The Tall Man"

"Are you sure you're not afraid to stay in here by yourself, Scott?"

"Why would I be?", Scott said impatiently. "I don't believe in ghosts!"

"Well, I'm thirty-two, and I won't spend the night in here."

"You're a chicken, Dad. Maybe I'm braver than you."

"Maybe you are," Scott's father said jokingly. "But you won't catch me sleeping anywhere near the Tall Man."

"Why do you call him that, Dad?"

"Oh, I didn't name him. He's been around alot longer than me. Nanny did, I think. I think she was the first one to see him, and that was when she was just a little girl. She says that he's the tallest man she's ever seen. If she feels like talking later, maybe you can ask her about it."

"Daddy, is Nanny going to die?"

"Scott, you're great-grandmother has cancer. The doctors have tried to help her, but the medicine makes her really sick."

"Nanny? Are you awake?"

"I'm awake. Come up here beside me," Nanny said.

Crawling on the bed, Scott did as he was asked. "Why do you still live in a haunted house, Nanny?"

"Have you seen the ghost, too?"

Scott said, "No. But Daddy said that he wouldn't sleep in my room because of him. Why do you call him the Tall Man?"

"When I first saw him, I was only a few years old. It seemed like his head brushed the ceiling. But I wouldn't worry about it, dear. I was probably imagining it or dreaming," Nanny said.

"But what about Gramma and Glynis? They both saw him, didn't they?"

"They probably just saw him because I told everyone I'd saw him. It was probably all in their head."

Scott asked, "Who is he, Nanny?"

"I don't know, sweetheart. If he is a ghost, I don't know where he came from. I can't remember that well anymore," Nanny replied. "Why don't you have your daddy come in here and bring me my medicine?"

"Okay, Nanny."

It was almost eleven before Scott got to bed. He put on is pajamas and got in the bed. He was a little worried about the ghost, but not to a great extent. Scott was at the brink of slumber when he heard the floor creak close to the door. Scott slowly opened his eyes.
The Tall Man stood in the doorway. He was stooped over to accomodate his height. He seemed to be surrounded by a faint bluish-white aura, and was so gaunt that it seemed almost impossible that he was ever alive. Scott just laid there in his bed, as quietly as possible, whith his eyes barely open. He had to see this, but he didn't want to be noticed by the man in the doorway. Breathing as shallowly as possible, Scott watched as the ghost began to move towards him. Scott stopped all breathing and squeezed his eyes tightly together. Though his eyes were closed, and the man walked silently, Scott could sense him draw closer until he was right upon him, standing beside the bed.

"Open your eyes," the man said.

Scott gasped despite himself. He slowly opened his eyes. The huge man was bent over him, and began to stretch his long, thin arm toward Scott's face. Scott opened his mouth to scream.

"You don't need to fear me. I don't mean you any harm, " the man said.

"What do you want with me?", Scott asked quietly.

"I just wanted to talk to you. You can see me better than everyone else." the tall man replied.

"So you are a ghost?"

"Yes."

"What's your name? What are you doing here?" Scott asked.

"My name is Christopher," the Tall Man said. "I'm here for Susannah."

"Nanny?"

"That's right. I'm her father."

"Why are you here for her? Is it because she's dying?"

"Yes," said Christopher. "I've been here for all of my children. When they aren't well, I'm here to watch over them."

"Is Nanny going to die?"

"Yes, Scott. She's my last child. I've walked four of my children out of this world. She will be the last."

"But how do you know my name? Why do you have to take her?" Scott asked.

"You sure do ask a lot of questions, don't you? I heard your father call your name. I made a promise to my wife before I died that I would always watch over the children. So I have. It's Susannah's time to go. I can't do anything about that. All I can do is be here."

"If you're Nanny's father, how come she didn't know who you were when I asked her?" Scott insisted.

"Susannah was little more than a year old when I was killed. She was too young to remember me," said Christopher, touching the side of Scott's face with his long fingers. "I have to go now. It's time. I'm sorry I scared you, and I'm sorry that your Nanny has to leave this world, but she is old, and in pain, and it's the way of the world. Everything has to die sometime."