The Ugly Lady in the Kitchen

Author: Evelyn Vela

A young couple moved into an old house with their five-year old son, Rulie, and an infant daughter named Vicky. While Ben worked late hours at a steel foundry, his wife, Lina, remained at home with the children. Lina had already taught Rulie how to pray and every night before he went to bed, he knelt next to his bed and recited his favorite prayer.

“Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Angels watch me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.”

One night, Rulie woke up in a panic and pointed to the kitchen.
“Mommy, Mommy, there’s an ugly lady in the kitchen!” he hollered.
“You’re just having a bad dream, son,” she said. “Go back to bed.”
Every night it was the same dream. Rulie would wake up in the middle of the night and holler the same words.
“Mommy, Mommy, there’s an ugly lady in the kitchen!”
Lina continually reassured him.
“You’re having a bad dream, honey. Everything is going to be fine.”
The days passed, and Rulie continued to have trouble sleeping. Even after he said his prayers, the same thing happened. As soon as he saw the lady, he hid under the sheets. Then, when he peeked out, the lady was still there, standing in the doorway that led to the kitchen; her eyes glaring at him.
One night, Rulie woke up screaming hysterically. His little heart beat wildly inside his chest and his hands shook. Lina saw the fear on his face and quickly ran to his side.
“Why do you keep having these dreams, honey?” she said. “Come on. Let’s pray together.”
“You have to believe me, Mommy,” said Rulie with tears streaming down his face.
“I’ll sleep with you tonight, honey,” she said. “Don’t be afraid.”
“Look Mommy, there she is again!” he shouted and pointed with his small index finger.
Lina looked toward the kitchen and saw a dark figure standing in the doorway. It looked like a woman, surrounded by a bright light. She had a dark hood over her head and her long gown almost touched the floor.
“Oh, my Lord,” said Lina.
“You see, Mommy. It’s not a dream,” said Rulie. “The lady is standing there, and she keeps telling me with her finger to go with her.”
Sure enough, Lina noticed that the lady was motioning for Rulie to go with her.
Lina quickly turned on the light and the lady disappeared like a puff of smoke. Lina checked the windows and doors and they were all locked.
With trembling hands, she took Rulie’s small hands in hers and said, “Let’s pray together, son.”
The next morning, Lina visited neighbors and learned a shocking story. A family of three had lived in the house many years back and had died a tragic death. The father, an abusive and alcoholic man, had gone into a rage and killed his wife and young son.
“Anyone who moves into that house doesn’t stay long,” said the next-door neighbor. “They say that the ghost of the woman appears at night and tries to communicate with the children who live in the house.”
Lina told her husband about the ghostly encounter and they immediately packed their belongings and moved away. The little boy who experienced the events, always insisted that it was a true story.

Author: Evelyn Vela