possibilities, with the ramifications of Patty’s existence. What about Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster? Had years of persistent belief in these legends also created manifestations of the mythical creatures? And what of religion? Did devout worship of certain deities actually give form to these gods, a reverse creation story?
“It’s not much of an existence,” Patty said morosely, “skulking about this old building, staring out at the vibrant life of campus, but it’s all I’ve ever known and I have learned to be content with it. But pretty soon, I won’t even have that.”
“What do you mean?”
She pulled her knees tighter to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. The blush seemed to recede from her cheeks, leaving her complexion sallow. “It is only belief that keeps me here, but ever since they began the restoration of this building, that belief has been waning. Fewer and fewer students tell the tale of Patty Montgomery, and those that do hear it just scoff at it. Without the belief to feed me, I am beginning to fade away. It won’t be long before I wink out of existence altogether.”
“But you look so solid.”
“The only reason I am visible to you right now is because earlier today you shared my story with your student, and for just a brief flickering moment she entertained the possibility that Winnie Davis Hall might actually be haunted. That provided me with just enough sustenance to make myself appear whole, but already that strength is draining and I can feel myself slipping away again. I’m afraid I don’t have much time left.”
There was such pain in the girl’s voice that he wanted to reach out and lay a comforting hand over her own, although he knew that wasn’t possible. “What will happen to you?”
“Not sure. I doubt there’s a heaven for people who were never really real to begin with. My guess is that I’ll simply…stop.”
Dr. Rob was surprised by how much the idea affected him. Patty was a true marvel, and just like the building she haunted, surely there must be some way to preserve her. “Isn’t there anything you can do, something to make people believe again?”
“I’ve been using all the tricks in my arsenal and so far nothing. Opening locked doors, flicking lights on and off, phantom phone calls.”
“You’ve been doing all that? It was you?”
Patty smiled with such sadness that it felt like a jab to Dr. Rob’s gut. “And it never occurred to you that it was anything ghostly going on, did it?”
“Well, truthfully, no.”
“You see, it’s just as you and your student were saying. Everything about this building is now so new and shiny, it’s no longer the kind of setting for a credible ghost story. I don’t think there is anything I can do to revive belief in the ghost of Winnie Davis Hall.”
Dr. Rob was silent, wishing he could refute what she was saying but knowing she was probably right. Winnie Davis wasn’t the relic she once was, so the idea that a spirit roamed the halls lacked the plausibility it had in the past. If only—
“Wait a minute,” Dr. Rob said loudly, his voice echoing throughout the tower. “I just had an idea.”
He saw a war raging in Patty’s eyes. Hope warring with the fear of false hope. “What is it?”
“How would you feel about relocating?”
***
Barry and Danielle left the library and started across the campus quadrangle. Danielle said, “I need to run by the Business office. Wanna come with?”
Barry glanced over at the large white Administration building on the opposite side of campus, his pace unconsciously slowing. “I hate going in Curtis, gives me the creeps.”
“Well, I do think the whole place is going to just collapse someday. I mean, have you gone up the stairs by the switchboard lately? I swear, they lean to the right. It’s like you’re in a funhouse…or drunk. Plus some of the offices seem to be on a tilt. Hell, there is a reason why whole sections of the building are
“It’s not much of an existence,” Patty said morosely, “skulking about this old building, staring out at the vibrant life of campus, but it’s all I’ve ever known and I have learned to be content with it. But pretty soon, I won’t even have that.”
“What do you mean?”
She pulled her knees tighter to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. The blush seemed to recede from her cheeks, leaving her complexion sallow. “It is only belief that keeps me here, but ever since they began the restoration of this building, that belief has been waning. Fewer and fewer students tell the tale of Patty Montgomery, and those that do hear it just scoff at it. Without the belief to feed me, I am beginning to fade away. It won’t be long before I wink out of existence altogether.”
“But you look so solid.”
“The only reason I am visible to you right now is because earlier today you shared my story with your student, and for just a brief flickering moment she entertained the possibility that Winnie Davis Hall might actually be haunted. That provided me with just enough sustenance to make myself appear whole, but already that strength is draining and I can feel myself slipping away again. I’m afraid I don’t have much time left.”
There was such pain in the girl’s voice that he wanted to reach out and lay a comforting hand over her own, although he knew that wasn’t possible. “What will happen to you?”
“Not sure. I doubt there’s a heaven for people who were never really real to begin with. My guess is that I’ll simply…stop.”
Dr. Rob was surprised by how much the idea affected him. Patty was a true marvel, and just like the building she haunted, surely there must be some way to preserve her. “Isn’t there anything you can do, something to make people believe again?”
“I’ve been using all the tricks in my arsenal and so far nothing. Opening locked doors, flicking lights on and off, phantom phone calls.”
“You’ve been doing all that? It was you?”
Patty smiled with such sadness that it felt like a jab to Dr. Rob’s gut. “And it never occurred to you that it was anything ghostly going on, did it?”
“Well, truthfully, no.”
“You see, it’s just as you and your student were saying. Everything about this building is now so new and shiny, it’s no longer the kind of setting for a credible ghost story. I don’t think there is anything I can do to revive belief in the ghost of Winnie Davis Hall.”
Dr. Rob was silent, wishing he could refute what she was saying but knowing she was probably right. Winnie Davis wasn’t the relic she once was, so the idea that a spirit roamed the halls lacked the plausibility it had in the past. If only—
“Wait a minute,” Dr. Rob said loudly, his voice echoing throughout the tower. “I just had an idea.”
He saw a war raging in Patty’s eyes. Hope warring with the fear of false hope. “What is it?”
“How would you feel about relocating?”
***
Barry and Danielle left the library and started across the campus quadrangle. Danielle said, “I need to run by the Business office. Wanna come with?”
Barry glanced over at the large white Administration building on the opposite side of campus, his pace unconsciously slowing. “I hate going in Curtis, gives me the creeps.”
“Well, I do think the whole place is going to just collapse someday. I mean, have you gone up the stairs by the switchboard lately? I swear, they lean to the right. It’s like you’re in a funhouse…or drunk. Plus some of the offices seem to be on a tilt. Hell, there is a reason why whole sections of the building are
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