A Paranormal Story

A/N:  I got this idea after talking with coworkers who said that a resident came out and told them he had spoken with a deceased resident in his room. I got to wondering how if nursing homes haunted by ghosts of passed-on residents.  The characters in this story are purely fictional and do not reflect actual persons.  

Plot

When Artie James moves into his retirement home in his community, he begins talking with a resident who passed away shortly before Artie arrived.  When staff hear his conversations with virtually no one else in the room, they become alarmed. 

Chapter 1

Artie James wasn’t looking forward to moving into a nursing facility in his community.  His daughter, Cheryl Novak, arrived early that morning to help Artie move in and make the adjustment as easy as possible. 

„Good morning, dad!“ Cheryl greeted her father after she let herself in his modest 1-bedroom apartment.

„What’s so good about it?!“ Artie said angrily.

„Dad, c’mon.  I talked about this?“ Cheryl told her father.  „You can no longer take care of yourself and Jared and I have busy lives.  It’s the only solution to keep you safe.  Beside, Jared and I will come by and visit and we’ll take you out on outings from time to time.“

„Yeah, I know what you said.“ Artie apologized.  „But i still don’t want to go.“

„I know, dad.“ Cheryl said, hugging her father.  „Have you had breakfast?“

„Just some coffee.“

„Coffee is all you had?“

„I wasn’t hungry.“

„Well, let me at least fix you some toast before we leave.“ Cheryl said, heading into the kitchen as Cheryl’s husband, Rick, packed Artie’s belongings into their van.

As soon as the van was packed and Artie begrudgingly ate the toast Cheryl made him, Rick helped Artie into the van and the three drove to the Artie’s new home.

Chapter 2

Rick pulled into the parking lot to the nursing facility and assisted Artie out of the van and grabbed Artie’s cane as Artie grabbed hold of Rick’s arm.

Springfield Retirement Center looked inviting as Artie, Rick and Cheryl headed inside and walked to the front desk to check Artie in.

The admissions counselor, Margie, walked Artie to his room where he was greeted by Cherise, an aide.

„Artie?“ Cherise asked when Artie, Rick and Cheryl arrived in his room.

„Yes, that’s me?“ Artie said as cheerfully as possible.

Cheryl and Rick said their good byes so Arie could settle in and told they’d be by tomorrow to check on him.

Then Cherise took Artie’s vitals and got him a cup of ice water and toiletries, showed him his call light lying on the bed and instructed him that he was to use if he needed anything.

„I’ll check on you later.  Lunch is in a couple of hours.  Is there anything from this menu you would like to eat?“ Cherise asked.

„I’ll take the pizza.“ Artie told Cherise.

As soon as Cherise left Artie, Artie settled on the bed and clicked on the TV with the clicker  (TV remote).

„Nothing good on?“ a voice from the chair asked.

Artie looked over at the recliner, „Hmmmm, must be hearing things?  Maybe it as a good idea to come here?“

„All those channels and nothing good ever on?“ the male’s voice asked.  „I never understood that one?“

That’s when Artie looked over at the recliner to see a elderly man’s apparition, „Hello, name’s Donald.“