The night Grandpa fell prey to the ghosts he had gone down to his Uncle Wilbur's cabin in the afternoon. He and his cousin Willie played checkers while his uncle and the local men talked about the up and coming Cleveland-Harrison election, how the cost of living kept going up and the latest news about a man named Jack the Ripper who was still terrorizing the streets of London.
When the oil lamps and tallows were lit to chase the darkness into the corners of the room grandpa knew he's better hike his boots for home. His ma wanted him home before dark and he realized he'd already stayed later than he should have.
"There's a full moon tonight," Willie reminded him. "The ghosts will rise up out of that old well tonight for sure. WHoooooo, whooooo, whooooo,” Willie clawed at the air looking and sounding demented.
Grandpa didn't take the time to punch him though he sorely wanted to he just strode out the door already quaking in his boots.