WNC Scary Stories: Dot’s china cabinet

SIGNS FROM BEYOND: Whitney Ponder tells the story of Dot, a ghost who communicated by opening a china cabinet. Photo by iStock

Editor’s note: For Halloween, we asked our readers to share the scariest things they’ve experienced in our area. Readers came through with shivery accounts of mysterious occurrences, including this one.

by Whitney Ponder

I purchased my first home in Asheville from a family friend whose mother had passed and they needed to sell her little bungalow. Dot’s cherished china cabinet and a few other belongings were left behind. Oddly, its door would occasionally open, seemingly guided by an unseen hand. Fear lingered until I acknowledged the inevitable: Dot’s spirit lingered within.

One evening, as the cabinet opened, I spoke into the stillness: “Hi, Dot. I’m honored to be the keeper of your memories.” The atmosphere softened, and the door gently closed. Over time, our ritual became routine, my reassurances soothing the ethereal presence.

One day, when the cabinet had remained shut for weeks and comfort had settled in, a subtle draft stirred the air and gave me a slight chill. Startled, I whispered, “Hey, Dot. Is that you?” In response, the china cabinet door slowly creaked open, assuring me that Dot’s spirit still found solace in my care of her beloved china cabinet. I’ve since moved, but Dot’s beloved china cabinet landed in the perfect spot in its forever home.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.