A question about hitch-hiking ghosts.

[seanan_mcguire]

Almost everybody's heard the basic hitch-hiking ghost story—dude (usually) gives a girl a ride home, and later finds out that she was actually dead way before she got into the car—but there are some really fascinating regional variants. So here is my question for you:

How does the story go? Is she a victim, a predator, or just a confused kid trying to go home? Is seeing a hitcher like seeing the Bean Nighe—you're just doomed to die now? How does it go?

To be clear, I'm not asking you to make something up; I want to know how, in your part of the country or the world, the story goes. Or, if this is the first time you've encountered the idea (outside Disney's Haunted Mansion), I'd like to know that, too.

Curious cat is curious.

Comments

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

In the story I heard, she was a teenage runaway...and my memory kind of goes to pot after that. Maybe she was hit by car, maybe she was starved to death...but death was due to lack of safety after running away from home.

[professor_mirror]

I'm from Missouri, and our version was pretty tame and lacking detail. Guy picks up girl, gives her a ride home, finds out later that she had previously died. There's no indication whether or not she knew she was dead -- she didn't indicate to the guy or make any sort of leading comment.

[nicachick007.livejournal.com]

Or, if this is the first time you've encountered the idea (outside Disney's Haunted Mansion), I'd like to know that, too.

*in Ghost Host voice* Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention: beware of Hitch-hiking ghost! Bwa HA HA HAAAAA!!!!

Sorry, that's all I really know. Also, I know that their names are Ezra (the tall skinny one), Gus (the little one), and Phineas (the big one). I actually just found this: http://wdccduckman.blogspot.com/2007/10/meet-hitchhiking-ghosts.html, and while I don't know how Disney!canon it actually is, I'd bet it's pretty good, and it's a great story anyway.

... *sings* grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize~~~

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't remember coming across the idea until your Rose. That's not to say I haven't, but if I did it didn't stick. Make of that what you will. :)

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

In Ohio, the Girl Scout camp versions of this tale I heard are that the guy picking up the hitchhiker is a man cruising to kidnap and rape teen girls. In the stories, he has already picked up an unsuspecting young sweet thing. He then picks up the ghost girl, (usually dressed for a high school dance) who somehow gets the sweet young thing out of the car on the side of the road, (and ticked) or home safe (and still clueless.) In most of the stories, the sweet young thing finds out the next day that the bad guy is found in bits and pieces in his car, along with all of the stuff he was going to use on her like chloroform, rope, knives, etc., and trophies from other victims, which usually include something like a purse with id or yearbook or even a note explaining all from the ghost girl. Sometimes the ghost girl is a former victim of the bad guy, sometimes she's just a vengeful ghost heroine saving the night because that's what creepy ghost girls *do* with their time now that they're dead.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Wow.

That's awesome. Also, good on you not being dead.

Re: The Woman In The Snow

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

That seems to be the most common variant. Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I think I vaguely remember that!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

...wow. Since I can see Mt. Diablo from my house, this is chilling.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Okay. Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Oh, very cool. Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Huh. Cool, thank you.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

The "teach" variants fascinate me.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Wow. Okay. See, I didn't know this variant before people started sharing it here.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Hitchers seem to be a global thing. It's COOL.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Huh. Cool!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Okay, that's good to know. Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Wow. Okay, that's awesome.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Claymation dead lady for the win!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Still, it's a useful data point.

Re: So Cal

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

So. Much. Police trouble. ZOMG.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Wow, okay. See, the drunk driver isn't a touch that's standard to a lot of the ones I know.