The Ghost of the GuitarThe Ghost of the Guitar

Katherine worked in an electronics factory. One day after work, she went outside and met with Tom, who took her home in his father's car. That day, they were excited because their band, Steel City, was going to play in a concert.

The concert was very good, but the best news was Tom's surprise. He had sent a cassette of their songs to the radio station. After the concert, the radio said that their band will be in The Battle of Bands competition. Every year, the winners made a CD at a local record company

The bad news was that Katherine broke Tom's guitar in her excitement, so she had to buy him a new one.

“And finally, the last band in this

year’s competition is …

Steel City!

The next day in Tom and Katy's lunch hour, they went to the music shop to buy a new guitar. Rachel, Katy´s youngest sister, lent her money for the guitar.

After a difficult choice because all the guitars were expensive, the owner showed them a cheap guitar. It wasn't very beautiful but Tom wanted it, so they bought it.

That night, when Katy got home, she sat at her electric piano and wrote a new song. It was a sad song and she named it “A Last Goodbye”.

She wrote it thinking about Tom. She couldn't stop thinking of his cold and different smile when he took the guitar in the shop.

The band needed to The band needed to practice, so Katherine went practice, so Katherine went to the factory quickly, but to the factory quickly, but there was a problem, Tom there was a problem, Tom wasn't there.wasn't there.Where was Tom?Where was Tom?

She went fast to Aruna's home but She went fast to Aruna's home but Tom wasn't there.Tom wasn't there.

Later, Tom appeared and the girls Later, Tom appeared and the girls asked him where he was. He asked him where he was. He responded, “I had things to do.”responded, “I had things to do.”

Tom began to do strange things.Tom began to do strange things.

When they began playing, something was different. When they began playing, something was different. Tom's music become better and better, but he was Tom's music become better and better, but he was strange. Something was wrong.strange. Something was wrong.

Tom rarely talked, he criticized Tom rarely talked, he criticized everything.everything.

They began to play again, and They began to play again, and Tom's music was getting Tom's music was getting better, but a strange thing better, but a strange thing happened, Tom didn't want to happened, Tom didn't want to stop.stop.

Danny reached out for the guitar, Danny reached out for the guitar, but Tom said, “Never touch my but Tom said, “Never touch my guitar, never”guitar, never”

Tom was driving with Katherine to Tom was driving with Katherine to her home, and he called her home, and he called Katherine Katy, he usually Katherine Katy, he usually called her Katy.called her Katy.

Later, she gave him a new song Later, she gave him a new song called “ A Last Good Bye”.called “ A Last Good Bye”.

Tom started to drive faster, and Tom started to drive faster, and she turned around and she turned around and reached for the guitar, and reached for the guitar, and suddenly he stopped the car, suddenly he stopped the car, and he said, “Don't go near my and he said, “Don't go near my guitar.”guitar.”

Katy went to Tom's room Katy went to Tom's room and she saw the guitar.and she saw the guitar.She put the amplifier in.She put the amplifier in.She moved her fingers She moved her fingers across the guitar but across the guitar but there was no sound.there was no sound.A sudden fear filled her A sudden fear filled her heart and she ran out of heart and she ran out of the room, and she heard the room, and she heard a noise form inside a noise form inside Tom's room.Tom's room.

Katy wanted to know what Katy wanted to know what happened to Tom, so she happened to Tom, so she went to his house.went to his house.

Tom wasn't there, and his Tom wasn't there, and his mom told her that Tom mom told her that Tom was strange, that he was was strange, that he was playing the guitar all day.playing the guitar all day.

Katy went to the music shop.Katy went to the music shop.The shop owner said that a woman came The shop owner said that a woman came with the guitar and said, “ I didn't want it with the guitar and said, “ I didn't want it in my house.”in my house.”He also said that her name was Linda He also said that her name was Linda Carter and the guitar brought bad luck.Carter and the guitar brought bad luck.

Katty arrived to Linda Carter's house. When Katty arrived to Linda Carter's house. When she told Linda about the guitar, her face she told Linda about the guitar, her face turned white.turned white.

Mrs. Carter said that her husband stopped Mrs. Carter said that her husband stopped thinking about the guitar and he stopped thinking about the guitar and he stopped having bad dreams about it.having bad dreams about it.

Katy had to promise to never come back Katy had to promise to never come back and she said more about the guitar.and she said more about the guitar.

Linda told Katy that she played on a band whose name was “Circle of Gold”. They had a wonderful guitarist, David Ryan. He was strange because the most important thing in his life was music, and every time they practiced, David was furious and shouted. Linda told Kathy that they had a big competition, Battle of the Bands, the same that Steel City was going to participate in.

- After the concert, he screamed at the band. He was really angry. Then, he drove away alone. Nobody ever saw him again.

-“He had a car crash”, Linda said.

-“The guitar didn’t break in the crash”

Linda told Katy that they kept the guitar. And then, about a year ago some strange things started to happen. Sometimes Linda and her husband could hear that guitar, they had bad dreams, and Phil was angry. Linda then disappeared into the flat. Kathy needed to talk with somebody.

Kathy went to her house to talk with Rachel, her sister. She told her the story, but Rachel didn’t believe her, so she asked her if she can go to see Tom on their next practice. So on Wednesday, Kathy appeared with Rachel in the practice, they were all surprised to see Rachel there, except Tom, because he wasn’t there. Tom came late and his face was white, he was strange, of course, and he was carrying THAT guitar.

All the band started to think two songs to play on The Battle of the Bands, and then somebody called on the phone, Danny answered, and she shouted that it was for Tom. Then, Katy asked Rachel what does she think about Tom and she didn't see nothing strange about him, but they heard Tom shouting with his boss.

-“I dont need your job!”, “ Circle of Gold are going to be big. I´m going to be a star! What do you think about that?”.

He threw the phone down and came back to the room. He started to play.

Tom left with his guitar and drove away too fast.

Rachel asked Katy if she heard what he said, “Circle of Gold”.

Katy was confused, so Rachel decided to obtain more information. They went to the library to get some extra information in order to understand what was going on.

They started to look at some old newspapers to find what they were looking for.

The librarian found a piece of newspaper because there was a fire years ago.

They saw a photo of David Ryan ,so that meant that “Circle of Gold” didn't win. That's what David Ryan got furious. In that photo, David was with the same guitar that Tom bought, THAT guitar.

David was looking as angry as Tom on the practices.

Kathy and Rachel both thought that Tom wasn't Tom, that Tom was David Ryan. Some part of him didn’t die in that car crash, they told themselves. He was a ghost that was trying to come back. “He's probably confused,” “I think that Tom Webster and David Ryan are fighting inside one person. They probably don’t understand what's happening,” said Rachel.

So Kathy started to think that if Tom's doing the same thing that David did, its probable that Tom will have a car accident.

So Kathy and Rachel started to think about ways to save Tom's life, but every one of those ideas had something wrong, so Rachel said there was only one opportunity to save Tom's life, and it was wining the competition.

The big night came at last. All the bands had to arrive at the City Arena The big night came at last. All the bands had to arrive at the City Arena early. Katy went with Danny and Aruna in Danny´s van.early. Katy went with Danny and Aruna in Danny´s van.

Tom arrived late. He didn´t speak to anyone. That guitar never left his Tom arrived late. He didn´t speak to anyone. That guitar never left his hands. Katy was starting to hate it. But to save Tom the band had to win hands. Katy was starting to hate it. But to save Tom the band had to win the competition.the competition.

Lisa Jones was famous. It was her job to introduce all the bands. Lisa Jones was famous. It was her job to introduce all the bands. “Welcome to the battle of the bands!”she shouted.“Welcome to the battle of the bands!”she shouted.

The first two bands were terrible, but the third – the Passengers – was The first two bands were terrible, but the third – the Passengers – was great. The band listened to three more bands. “And now, please give a great. The band listened to three more bands. “And now, please give a big welcome to…Steel City!”. The two songs were great, but Tom didn´t big welcome to…Steel City!”. The two songs were great, but Tom didn´t seem happy. Finally, the last band played their last song. The judges had seem happy. Finally, the last band played their last song. The judges had to make their decision now. Katy was extremely nervous. “The judges to make their decision now. Katy was extremely nervous. “The judges have not been able to make a decision,” said Lisa, “they couldn´t choose have not been able to make a decision,” said Lisa, “they couldn´t choose between The Passengers and Steel City. Both bands will come back on between The Passengers and Steel City. Both bands will come back on stage and play one more song.” The Passengers went out on stage. stage and play one more song.” The Passengers went out on stage. Suddenly, a hand fell on Katy´s arm. It was Rachel, and Phil Carter was Suddenly, a hand fell on Katy´s arm. It was Rachel, and Phil Carter was with her. “We won the competition,” said Phil. Won? Katy´s blood froze. with her. “We won the competition,” said Phil. Won? Katy´s blood froze. “but…you lost, didn´t you? That´s why David Ryan was angry.” “No,” said “but…you lost, didn´t you? That´s why David Ryan was angry.” “No,” said Carter “we won the competition that night, but David still wasn´t happy.”Carter “we won the competition that night, but David still wasn´t happy.”

“ “So our plan is useless” Katy said to Rachel, “if we won the competition, So our plan is useless” Katy said to Rachel, “if we won the competition, nothing would change. It will be the same as twenty years ago. We can nothing would change. It will be the same as twenty years ago. We can try to lose,” Katy said.try to lose,” Katy said.

Katy´s first idea was to refuse to play, but they didn´t need her Katy´s first idea was to refuse to play, but they didn´t need her electric piano. Tom walked out onto the stage alone. Aruna and electric piano. Tom walked out onto the stage alone. Aruna and Danny were standing behind the stage. Katy ran to them.Danny were standing behind the stage. Katy ran to them.

“ “Why aren´t you on the stage too?” Katy asked.Why aren´t you on the stage too?” Katy asked.

“ “Tom said that there´s a new plan” said Aruna.Tom said that there´s a new plan” said Aruna.

“ “He said that you agreed to it” added Danny.He said that you agreed to it” added Danny.

“ “Agreed to what?” Katy asked.Agreed to what?” Katy asked.

“ “He´s playing the last song alone”He´s playing the last song alone”

On stage, Tom started to play. It was great. It was my new song On stage, Tom started to play. It was great. It was my new song `A Last Good-Bye´. Katy had to do something, or Tom was `A Last Good-Bye´. Katy had to do something, or Tom was going to die. Katy ran out into the stage and broke Tom´s guitar. going to die. Katy ran out into the stage and broke Tom´s guitar. Suddenly, the ghost of David Ryan disappeard, and Katy´s Suddenly, the ghost of David Ryan disappeard, and Katy´s boyfriend was back!boyfriend was back!