The Giggles

My family and I moved into a house over in the Pleasant Valley area. Almost immediately, I started noticing little things.

Considering the age of the house, it wasn't surprising in the slightest.

Empty boxes would shift just enough to catch my attention. I'd see something out of the corner of my eye... little things that made me question my sanity.

Then we got the first giggle.

One night, my husband and I were lying in bed, doom-scrolling (as one does these days), when we heard a loud childish giggle in the hallway just outside our room. We both froze.

It was weird... all of our kids were asleep. I got up to check anyway.

Yep. Every single one of them were still asleep and TVs were off. That was a validating moment for me. I wasn't going crazy.

Over the next few years, it became more active.

It really liked to mess with my youngest and I. Mostly just hearing the little pitter patter of footsteps down the hallway, shifting items on the counters or tables, or hanging out in the kitchen so we would catch glances of them.

Whatever is there doesn't feel malicious or evil. If anything, it feels playful, if that makes any sense.

It doesn't seem like it wants to hurt anyone. It just wants you to know it's there and wants to feel included.