My parents and relatives all lived in the Valley of the Leven when I was a child and I was born in Dumbarton. My family emigrated and I’ve been back a couple of times. When I visited there six years ago I was told a ghost story. Here it is. I would love to hear from anyone who can add details or correct any mistakes I have made in telling it. This is how I recall it. I’ll have to invent the names.
One afternoon Jean was walking home from school across the bridge at the Renton when she saw a schoolmate leaning over the railing of the bridge and gazing into the water. The schoolmate looked very sad and said to Jean, ‘Will you stay with me a while. I have to go soon.’ Jean said, ‘Sorry Margaret, I’ll get in trouble from my mother if I’m late. Bye bye.’ Margaret said nothing but just stayed there, looking over the railing to the water below. That evening Jean mentioned to her mother about meeting Margaret. The next day they learned that Margaret had died on the morning of the day Jean saw her.
It’s a simple little story, not sensationalised. My parents had never heard it till I told it to them so no one has created a sensation of it. That adds to its authenticity. False stories usually have fantastic elements in them and someone spreads them around to bask in the excitement.
Stories like this are told all over the world. I think there must be a reality behind them all, there are so many. Do you know any of these simple little stories? Please don’t make one up. Let us be truth seekers together.