: A. L. Cooley
: SPENCER'S GHOSTS THE GUARDIAN
: BookBaby
: 9798990477506
: SPENCER'S GHOSTS
: 1
: CHF 3.20
:
: Kinder- und Jugendbücher
: English
: 212
: kein Kopierschutz
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
In the basement of the house that Lee and his family just moved into, a hand grabs the back of Lee's calf. This mysterious hand keeps Lee from tumbling off a cement block that he is standing on while changing a burned-out light bulb. Earlier that day, Lee noticed a young girl peering out the second-floor window. A short time later, the same Ghost Girl says hello to Lee in his bedroom. He tries to locate the mystery girl, but she's nowhere to be found. Over the next four years, Lee and his friends beat death on more than one occasion, while others close to Lee aren't so lucky. No twelve-year-old boy should have to live through what Lee Spencer goes through. Have we heard the last from Ghost Girl? Based on a true story, 'Spencer's Ghosts' has its readers believing the unbelievable!

A.L. Cooley was born and raised in Warren, Ohio, a community nestled between Youngstown and Cleveland. Alton, the oldest among his siblings, is also a husband of 47 years to his wife Emilia, father to Natalie and Michael, and grandfather to Carmen and Norah. As an accomplished musician who has shared the stage with hundreds of musicians, Alton has opened for Bootsy Collins, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Steppenwolf to name a few. Among his many talents, Alton plays and writes music, songs, and poems that have become part of poetry anthologies. Over the past 40 years, Alton has had many of his songs released. Cooley produced an award-winning documentary in 1998, 'Ghosts in the Valley,' and hosts the award-winning podcast, 'Ghosts in the Valley.' 'Spencer's Ghosts', A.L. Cooley's first book, took over 50 years to write and is based on his real-life adventures growing up in a haunted house, like being shot at point-blank range and living to talk about it!



Chapter 3


The Club



My mom marries Shorty when she is fifteen in 1954. I am born in the same year. Shorty is a nice man when he isn’t drinking. Unfortunately, that isn’t very often since he is an alcoholic and an abusive husband and father. Because of this, I have a hard time calling him Dad. My mom endures Shorty’s abuse for more than ten years, but she moves us out before he can hurt Blaine.

Our family of four relocates many times. The definition of “Home” to my mom is the most affordable housing for a single parent with three children. Mom makes sure we are well-fed and clean.

Often she says, “It’s not a sin to be poor, but it’s a sin to be dirty.”

When I meet Tommy for the first time, naturally, I am very skeptical of him. Is he a nice guy or another Shorty? My mother is a beautiful woman, a real catch for anyone. With Tommy, I keep one eye open and the other squinted a bit. It’s my way of saying, “Okay Dude, I’m watching you.” I can tell my mother loves him.

Tommy is a carpenter, and my mother works at Packard Electric. We truly are a blue-collar family. Another thing I find out about Tommy is that he has four children and has been married twice. This is going to be a learning experience for all of us.

After dinner, I ask Mom, “Can I go to Grandma Pearl’s house?”

“Yes, you can, after you finish the dishes.” That is the deal; Mom and Tommy cook; Cheryl and I wash the dishes and put them away.

Grandma Pearl, Grandpa, and Uncle George live in a two-story apartment building three blocks from us. Grandma has eight children; Uncle George is the youngest and always gets into trouble with the law.

He continually says, “I didn’t steal it; I borrowed it. I must have forgotten to take it back.” I know Uncle George is a good person; He is just rough around the edges. My mother’s two other brothers, Uncle Eddy and Uncle Frank step in to help since Shorty left. They teach me how to ride a bike, fish, swim, and change the oil in the lawnmower. How lucky I am to have a council of Dads!

My best friend Joseph lives in the same apartment building as my grandparents. Since Joseph and I have been friends, he’s had a few sleepovers at our last house. Mom gets irritated when I ask if Joseph can spend the night. Not because she doesn’t like him, but because she has to drive into Warren to pick Joseph up and drive back to drop him off. Moving back to Warren is a blessing for Joseph and me. Cheryl calls Joseph our brother from another mother. Joseph and I can tell each other anything. I decide to let him in on the Ghost-Girl. He doesn’t say anything for the longest time. He must think I’m crazy too.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Lee, but you ever think that house is her domain, and you are invading her space?” Joseph asks.

“First of all, thank you for believing me. That means a lot. I think I lost you there for a minute,” I respond.

Joseph answers, “I’m just a little confused why Ghost-Girl doesn’t show herself to anyone but you. I’m like your brother man. I practically live at your house; so, why hasn’t she shown herself to me yet?”

“I don’t know, Joseph. What scares me is more and more events are happeni