Ghosts – Hugh's Views & News

A man in a top hat and tails and a woman in a gown are dancing in a mirrored ballroom.

Reflections of Elegance: A Dance Beyond the Veil

Published on Mar 9, 2026Mar 9, 2026 by Hugh W. Roberts23 Comments

“Welcome to this week’s dance class, everyone. For those first-timers, I’m Michael, your instructor. Let’s begin with introductions from the first-timers.”

They moved around the circle, nervous laughter flitting between strangers. more so when Tom, dressed in a top hat and tails, introduced himself. When they finished, Michael counted again.

Eleven. An odd number.

“Well,” he smiled, clapping once, “who’d like to partner with me? Maggie?”

“I’m with Emily, my wife,” announced Maggie.

“Tom?” Michael gestured. “You don’t mind dancing with another man, do you? After all, you’re dressed for the part.”

Tom looked horrified. “Why would I dance with a man? I’m here with my wife.”

There was a polite pause while everyone waited for Tom’s wife to reveal herself. A few people looked towards all the empty space around Tom.

“Of course,” Michael said casually as he broke the silence. “Right, take your positions, everyone. I’ve some hits of the eighties to dance to later, but first we’re going to do an old-fashioned waltz.”

Tom frowned before music filled the room, and shoes softly whispered over polished wood. Partners turned, stepped, and breathed together.

Tom moved carefully, one hand curved around an invisible waist, the other clasping fingers no one else could see. Every now and then, Michael and the other dancers watched Tom smile as he spoke to himself.

“Tom,” Michael said gently, as he approached the edge of the mirror. “Are you sure you’re all right? You’re dancing alone.”

“But she’s right here with me. We’ve been coming here for years,” he said as he faced Michael and the large, mirrored wall. “Tell him, Darling.”

In the room, the figure of a much younger woman in a ball gown appeared in Tom’s arms.

Maggie gasped. Emily staggered backwards while Michael felt the air leave his lungs.

The woman kissed Tom on the cheek, leaving lipstick on his face, and then lifted a hand and pressed it flat against the mirror.

Inside the mirror, Michael and the other dancers started to scream. Tom watched as their reflections shattered into tiny pieces along with the mirror before he and his wife left the room.

Outside the old music hall, where many from the past once danced, the ghostly figures of a man in a top hat and tails and a woman in a ball gown departed the hall once more. Tom hadn’t liked the glimpse of the future he had seen in the mirror.

Written in response to Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt: Theme: Dance.

The featured image in this post was created using the WordPress AI Image Generator block. AI was also used for checking spelling and grammar mistakes.

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#fiction #christmas #shortstory #shortstories

Do You Believe In Father Christmas?

Published on Dec 12, 2025Dec 12, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts93 Comments

When I was eight years old, I did the most despicable thing.

On Christmas Eve 1970, I told my five-year-old sister that there was no such thing as Father Christmas. She was horrified.

Telling her that Father Christmas did not exist was the worst thing I ever did.

My mother was so angry with me. She sent me to my room.

I missed supper. I missed the carol-singers outside our house.

I missed seeing the first snowflakes of what was to be my first white Christmas. And I missed the evening of Christmas Eve, my favourite time of the year.

However, worse was to come.

I cried myself to sleep, blaming Father Christmas for what had happened.

Sometime during the night, I was woken by hands around my throat.

“You evil boy!” boomed the voice. I was too frightened to open my eyes.

“Open your eyes, boy! Do it, or you will never see Christmas again.”

He forced me to open my eyes. I don’t know how he did it, but he somehow did.

I couldn’t believe what I saw.

I was shocked beyond belief. It was Father Christmas who had his hands around my throat.

“You never, never tell anyone ever again that I do not exist. Do you understand me, boy?” I tried nodding my head, despite being in complete shock.

“Good. Now, look deep into my eyes.”

Seconds later, I saw a flock of robins in his eyes and, before I knew it, they were propelled into my eyes.

The screeching sound they made hurt my ears. I could not scream for help to my mother or father because of the tightly gripped hands around my throat. I finally managed to close my eyes, and the screeching robins and hands around my throat disappeared.

Terrified by what had happened, I crawled under my bed. I curled up into a tiny ball and shivered the night away. Sleep did come, but only briefly.

It was the sound of laughter that woke me.

I could hear the muffled voices of my family. It was Christmas morning, and they were already downstairs.

How could they have forgotten to wake me up?

I crawled out from under my bed and made my way past the open door of my bedroom. On the floor, at the top of the stairs, were two empty Christmas stockings. How could they have emptied their stockings without me?

I ran down the stairs and into the lounge, which was lit up with Christmas lights.

“Mum, Dad, Julie…I’m sorry,” I cried, but none of them took any notice of me. “Please forgive me, don’t spoil Christmas.” But it was no good, they just ignored me.

That’s when I saw the strange boy.

“Oh, that’s lovely, Hugh. Grandma sure knows how to knit Christmas jumpers,” laughed Dad, as he hugged the strange boy.

For the rest of the day, I watched as the boy with my name took my place. Nobody bothered me. Nobody even noticed I was there. It was as if I were a ghost.

I finally went to bed and cried myself to sleep. The whole family had arrived at our house and a Christmas party was in full swing.

The next morning, my mother woke me up.

“Are you feeling better, Hugh?”

“Are you talking to me?” I asked her.

“Of course, I am. Who else goes by your name in this house? Come on, it’s Boxing Day, and we need to get over to Grandma’s house.”

I didn’t ever say anything to anybody about what had happened, and I didn’t see the strange-looking boy with my name again.

Well, I didn’t see him until the following Christmas Day when the whole thing happened again. And it’s happened every Christmas since then.

You see, my place is now taken by a ghost, but only on that one day of the year when I become a ghost.

I’m so happy and thankful that it’s not Christmas every day.

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

This short story was originally published on my blog in December 2019.

Image created by Hugh W. Roberts using Canva.

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When The Clocks Go Back

Published on Oct 25, 2025Oct 26, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts42 Comments

Old Tom watched the clock, dread clawing at his insides. At two in the morning on the night the clocks went back, they always returned to torment him—haunting reminders of the mistake he had made when he’d forgotten, one year, to turn the clocks back.

However, one fateful night, an hour after the clocks had gone back, the spectres faded, but the shadows lingered too long, and Tom never opened his eyes again.

The day before the clocks went back, Monica moved into Tom’s old house, blissfully unaware of the terror that lurked within its walls. Exhausted from the move, she resolved to set her clocks back an hour at dawn.

At 2:00 AM, Monica was suddenly jolted awake by the unmistakable creak of her bedroom door slowly opening. A cold sweat trickled down her brow as she froze in place, eyes wide, witnessing the ghostly figure of an old man twisting and writhing, a cruel smile stretching across his face as he glided towards her.

“What are you doing in my house and in my bed?” the ghost thundered, his voice echoing through the almost empty room, making her heart race.

For what seemed like an hour, the ghost tormented her with the same words until the clock struck 2 AM for the second time, and Tom’s malevolent spirit dissipated into the air. Monica’s pulse quickened, doubt lingering in her mind. Was it all a nightmare, or a malevolent invitation?

She blinked, and the chill of reality sunk in. The bedroom door gaped wide open, the darkness beyond beckoning like an abyss. She was sure she had locked it tight, a protective measure against the night.

As a cold autumnal breeze caressed her bare skin, a frantic shiver coursed down her spine. Heart pounding, she inched to the door and tentatively closed it, sealing herself in with the echoes of her terror.

Climbing back into bed, she pulled the covers tightly around her, desperate for warmth—a futile shield against her fear. But soon, sleep reclaimed her, its sweet embrace luring her into a false sense of security.

When the clocks struck 2 AM for the third time, a bone-chilling rustle beneath her bed shattered her dream. Something slithered just out of sight, a dread revelation that all was not right, confirming that her nightmare was merely beginning.

Monica never woke up from the nightmare until the following year, on the night the clocks went back, when, with Tom, she visited the new owner of Tom’s house to check if they’d remembered to put the clocks back.

Linking to Sunday Stills hosted by Terri Webster Schrandt – Theme: Scary

The clocks go back in Europe and the UK on the last Sunday of October.

In 2025, the clocks go back on Sunday, November 2nd, in most of the USA and Canada that observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Feature image credit: Image by Alexa from Pixabay

Looking for more spooky tales like this? Check out my first collection of short stories and flash fiction.

Glimpses

28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

Are You Ready For Halloween? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Published on Oct 16, 2024Oct 16, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts36 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Photo of some fairy-light ghosts hanging from a fireplace. — Have you ever seen more than one ghost at the same time?

Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.

Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.

To help those with eyesight-impaired vision, please remember to complete a description of your photo in the ‘alt-text’ and description boxes of the picture in the WordPress media library. For more details, check my post, Adding Images Or Photos To Your Blog Posts? 4 Essential Things To Do.’

If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.

Did you miss last week’s Wordless Wednesday?

Are You Seeing Double? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: Have you spotted a rare double?

by Hugh W. Roberts Oct 9, 2024Oct 9, 2024

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Have You Ever Photographed A Haunted Room? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Published on Feb 28, 2024Feb 28, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts33 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Photo of an old window looking into an abandoned room. On the other side of the room is another window and an open door. — Who do you think lived here?

Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.

Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.

If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.

Did you miss last week’s Wordless Wednesday?

Are These A Sign Of Beauty? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

What would you do? Leave them as they are or paint them?

Let me know in the comments section.

by Hugh W. Roberts Feb 21, 2024Feb 20, 2024

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Flash Fiction – My Grandmother’s Quilt

Published on Sep 23, 2023Sep 23, 2023 by Hugh W. Roberts38 Comments

September 19, 2023, prompt: Write a story that includes a blanket in 99 words (no more, no less). Any interpretation works! What happens to a story when you give a character the prop of a blanket? Is the blanket the story? Is it a memory container, a source of comfort, or smothering? Go where the prompt leads! See September 19: Story Challenge in 99 words for more details.

My Grandmother’s Quilt – by Hugh W. Roberts

A chilling breeze whispered through the creaking timbers as night descended upon the cabin I found myself in.

Shivering, I reached for my grandmother’s old quilt draped across the armchair. As the tattered blanket settled around me, it seemed to come alive. Shadows danced on its faded patchwork, taking sinister forms.

Goosebumps prickled my skin as I watched in horror. Then, a spectral hand emerged, beckoning me into its ghostly embrace.

My screams echoed through the cabin, but the blanket absorbed them.

From that night, the cabin was empty, except for the eerie blanket, waiting for its next victim.

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

Image of a cabin in an autumnal woods — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’

Glimpses

28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

***

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Flash Fiction Friday – How A Rubber Duck Saved My Life.

Published on Jul 21, 2023Jul 21, 2023 by Hugh W. Roberts25 Comments

July 18, 2023, prompt: Write a story about a rubber duck in 99 words (no more, no less). Where is this duck — somewhere typical like a tub or somewhere surprising like a roller derby. Who is with the duck? What is happening? Go where the prompt leads! See July 18: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.

How A Rubber Duck Saved My Life – by Hugh W. Roberts

My new rubber duck sat in the bath with me.

Its eyes were staring while its beak was open in a silent scream. It looked like it had seen something terrible.

When I reached out to touch it, it vanished.

Frightened, I got out of the bathtub. I had no idea what had just happened. It scared me.

When I returned to the bathroom, my duck was still missing.

What had it seen? Was it something that I should be afraid of if I saw it?

I don’t know, but I’m glad I didn’t see what was behind me.

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

Banner for the feature Flash Fiction Friday — Flash Fiction Friday

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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’

Glimpses

28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

***

Follow Hugh on his social media platforms by clicking the buttons below.

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Flash Fiction Friday – Messages From Above

Published on Jul 7, 2023Jul 7, 2023 by Hugh W. Roberts12 Comments

July 4, 2023, prompt: Write a story as a message from a feather in 99 words (no more, no less). Think about how the message is shared and from whom to whom. What kind of feather? How can you expand where feathers come from, like boas and down ski jackets? Whatever tickles your muse this week. Go where the prompt leads! See July 4: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.

Messages From Above – by Hugh W. Roberts

A lone feather quivered in the attic’s cobwebbed corners, bearing a harrowing message from the netherworld.

It spoke of a cursed talisman begrudged by an evil spirit who craved mortal souls.

Its whispers echoed through the air at night, driving those who lived below to hear scratching sounds they were too afraid to complain about.

The more the victim put off grumbling, the more the lone feather transformed into a shadowy figure, hunting its next prey.

It warned all who dared hear its message; once entangled, escape was futile.

And those who contemplated complaining would die upon seeing it.

Read the last part of the story here.

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’

Glimpses

28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

***

Follow Hugh on his social media platforms by clicking the buttons below.

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Flash Fiction Friday – An Unexpected Response

Published on Jun 30, 2023Jun 30, 2023 by Hugh W. Roberts33 Comments

June 27, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story responding to “We’ve received your complaint.” Who has received the complaint and why? How was the complaint delivered — with grace, humour, vitriol? Go where the prompt leads! See June 27: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.

An Unexpected Response – by Hugh W. Roberts

“We’ve received your complaint,” the email whispered through the screen.

Sarah’s blood ran cold. How did they know? She had never told a soul about the scratching sounds that echoed from her attic at night.

The email continued, “We apologise for the disturbance caused by our spectral resident. Rest assured; our exorcist team will investigate the paranormal activity.”

Dread clutched Sarah’s heart. She’d never have expected a reply, let alone a promise to banish the unseen entity.

The attic door creaked open as she stared at her inbox, revealing a shadowy figure.

Her complaint had caught the ghost’s attention.

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’

Glimpses

28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

***

Follow Hugh on his social media platforms by clicking the buttons below.

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Flash Fiction Friday – The Ghost Bones

Published on Oct 28, 2022Nov 28, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts39 Comments

October 24, 2022, prompt: Write a story about bones in 99 words (no more, no less). It can be any genre or tone. Is it spooky, irreverent, or poignant? Go where the prompt leads!

The Ghosts Bones – by Hugh W. Roberts

Death ruled in Aunt Marjorie’s apartment.

When I returned, she wasn’t there; only her bones remained.

The floorboards still creaked, and Mrs Sinclair was still next door.

“When is your Aunt Marjorie due back?” she’d asked.

Shrugging my shoulders, I wish Mrs Sinclair had minded her own business, but I had invited her in.

The whiteness of the human bones wasn’t as bright as the white light that appeared when Aunt Marjorie killed me in her apartment or when I killed Mrs Sinclair for murdering my aunt.

Now we roam the earth as murderous ghosts. Yes, ghosts are murderers.

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’

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