SUPERNATURAL VISITORS

Readers share their not-so-scary ghost stories

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A HUMMINGBIRD'S HELLO

My sister Wendy once nursed and released an injured hummingbird. It became a thing, her and hummingbirds. As teenagers, we promised each other that if one of us died, she'd let the other know that she was OK. Wendy was the first to go, at 48.

Sitting outside one morning, I felt something repeatedly swoop low over my head. I yelled, "Wendy, if that's you, stop messing around and show me!" And suddenly a hummingbird hovered in front of my face.

When I told my daughter the story later that morning, she interrupted, "Mom, there's a hummingbird flying right over your head!" It came so close it could've perched on my glasses.

I said, "Hi, Wendy." She tweeted back and sped off. I haven't seen her since, but if I never do, that's fine. I know she's OK.

-CATHY REDMOND Port Orange, Florida

BEDTIME STORIES

My kids were nine and eight years old when their grandpa passed. Our daughter often said how much she missed him. We wondered why our son wasn't as expressive. We worried his reaction was almost too cold-until he said he didn't miss Grandpa because he saw him every night, when Grandpa sat on his bed and talked to him until he fell asleep.

-KARIN IVERS Faribault, Minnesota

FROM GRAVEYARD TO FRONT YARD

We bought a small house on an acre of land that had been neglected after the owner died. Working alone in the yard one day, I felt three sound pats on my back. Later, I learned that the last owner had been fanatic about keeping her yard neat. I think she was thanking me for getting it back into shape.

-LEA MAY Statham, Georgia

GREETINGS FROM BEYOND