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

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOU LIKE BURNING.

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Here it is: Laurie (Strange Things Happen)

There are a couple notes on TV Tropes (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OurGhostsAreDifferent) about it.

And here are the lyrics (http://www.lyrics007.com/Dickey%20Lee%20Lyrics/Laurie%20(Strange%20Things%20Happen)%20Lyrics.html)

And here's a YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyiXt8beRjc).

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Anything for you, golden-haired sweetieperson.

And another one

[lluad.livejournal.com]

Bringing Mary Home

I was driving down a lonely road one dark and stormy night
When a little girl by the roadside showed up in my headlights
I stopped and she got in back and in a shaky tone
She said: My name is Mary, please won't you take me home?

She must have been so frightened all alone there in the night
There was something strange about her, for her face was deathly white
She sat so pale and quiet in the back seat all alone
I'll never will forget that night I took Mary home

I pulled into the driveway where she told me to go
Got out to help her from the car and opened up the door
But I just could not believe my eyes 'cause the back seat was bare
I looked all around the car but Mary wasn't there

A light shone from the porch, someone opened up the door
I asked about the little girl that I was looking for
Then a lady gently smiled and brushed a tear away
She said: It sure was nice of you to go out of your way

But thirteen years ago today a wreck just down the road
Our darling Mary lost her life and we miss her so
Thank you for your trouble and the kindness you have shone
You're the thirteenth one who's been here bringing Mary home

(Been covered by a bunch of folks - no idea of the original author but Google should provide)

There's a whole host of them (and nearly as many where the driver is the ghost and the hitchhiker the mortal storyteller), but it's been an age since I looked at ULs.

Re: And another one

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

That sounds familiar to me too.

Wow. Who knew how much legging this story had.