The Ghost at the Crossroads
a story from Ireland
Nobody from the village would go near the crossroads after midnight. Everyone said the place was haunted. Lots of people said they had seen a white figure there a horrible one-eyed woman with a big black cat.
One night, Tom and Mick were in the village pub having a drink. They were talking about the ghost at the crossroads.
“I don’t believe in ghosts,” said Tom.
“I bet you won’t go to the crossroads, by yourself, after midnight,” said Mick.
Tom laughed and said, “I’ll go – if you will.”
So the two men agreed to meet at midnight at the crossroads.
Tom wanted to play a trick on Mick. He went to the crossroads just before midnight. He took a bag of flour and put it all over his face and hair and clothes. Then he sat down on a big stone by the crossroads and waited.
It was a very dark night. As the village clock struck twelve, Tom could hear Mick coming down the road. But he could not see him.
Then he heard Mick calling, “Tom, Tom are you there?”
Tom didn’t speak. He sat on the stone, very still and very white.
When Mick came close enough to see Tom, he took one look and ran off down the road screaming, “Help! Help! I’ve seen a ghost!”
Tom laughed so much he fell off the stone.
Early the next day, Tom went down to Mick’s house. Mick was in the kitchen. He had locked all the doors and windows. He had a shot-gun on the table. He opened the door and let Tom in. Then he locked the door again. He was tired and frightened. He had not been to bed.
“Well,” said Tom trying not to laugh, “did you see the ghost last night?”
“Oh yes,” whispered Mick, “I saw her as plain as day.”
Then Tom said, “You fool! That was me you saw sitting on the stone by the crossroads!”
“Oh yes,” said Mick, “I saw you on the stone, and I also saw that evil one-eyed witch with her cat, standing right behind you.”
When he heard this, Tom went quite white, as if someone had dusted his face with flour.
What to do
Copy the table and fill it in.
| Tom | Mick |
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
Who said he didn’t believe in ghosts?
Who suggested they should have a bet?
Who went to the crossroad at ten o’clock?
Who went to the crossroads just before midnight?
Who disguised himself as a ghost?
Who got a terrible shock at midnight?
Who spoke to the ghost?
Who didn’t sleep a wink that night?
Who tried to shoot the ghost?
Who locked himself in the house?
What to do next
Draw a picture to show what happened at the crossroads at midnight. Label it clearly.
