Custom essays on Plot, Memory, Setting

The task is: “Take a place you know well from your own life. Make this a very specific place. Then think of a story which takes place in this location that could only happen in that location.
Find yourself 1-3 characters. Give them names, ages, faces. Then make sure something happens to one of them, by this I mean some sort of movement, physical or emotional, some step in time beyond where they started. This can be a very small thing. It doesn’t have to be life-changing, or earth shattering. (Let there be dialogue between the characters like a story).”
The choice of location and plot
For this story’s location I’ve decided to choose my favorite place in Europe, a city that is known for its myths and legends and also for its brutal past. I’m talking about England’s capital, London, which is full of interesting places and persons.
I would like to tell you a story connected with the local legend, because London is the city that is famous for its ghost’s stories.
The story takes place in Cambridge Gardens (North Kensington), a residential area well known for its great museums and parks.
The Phantom Bus
We’ve arrived in London in the beginning of August.
John, a friend of mine, whose deep interest in England’s history was the major reason of spending our holiday in England, couldn’t wait to see his special places of interests, worldwide known museums and art galleries.
On the contrary, I didn’t care much about his cold and almost scientific approach to the historical things. I was interested mostly in the ghost’s stories and mystic atmosphere of this haunted ancient city.
Our hotel situated in Kensington and one day I suggested John to explore some local places with a guide. Our guide, the funny red-haired old men named Harry, has promised us we will be amazed by the stories he has prepared for us. We strolled along the Kensington Gardens, a picturesque park where people sunbathed and relaxed, and finally have reached our meeting point.
Harry started our guided tour with announcement that he’ll confront us with a real face of haunted London. He told that it often happens when even groups of people experience a haunting appearance.
Our red-haired guide has shared his thoughts that these scary unknown things really exist and that they may appear in different forms. People are able to see, feel, or even smell these strange haunting.
John has smiled politely and claimed that he’s personally very dubious ghost stories in general, and he thinks there is nothing ghostly exists. He claimed that he’s going to become a scientist and one of his major tasks will be fighting with popular people’s myths.
We were told an absolutely scary story of “a phantom bus that haunted North Kensington between Cambridge Gardens and Chesterton Road junctions on St. Mark’s Road.” (Russell, 2007)
Here is our guide’s story:
“The actual address were this scary story took place is Cambridge Gardens. W11.
Our local author, Jerry Pike, wrote a poem about it that starts with the following words:
Cambridge Gardens 1.15, the morning bell had rung its last
Most residents tucked up in bed, and precious few were driving past.
October 1934, and from a mist of late night smog,
The number 7 blaring lights, descended on those lost in fog…’ (Russell, 2007)
The people tell that the bizarre things happen there in the early hours of some mornings. Some people see the strange bus. They presume this is the Double Decker bus number 7 that was last seen in real life in May 1990.
One morning in 1934 the road accident with a motorist has happened there for no apparent reason. Subsequently, witnesses started to testify they see a phantom bus at the place where that fatal accident has occurred.
It was a No.7 operated by the London General Omnibus Company. Therefore it carried the word ‘General’ on its side, the LGOC became the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933 and by June 1934 nearly all the fleet bore the ‘London Transport’ lettering. (Russell, 2007)
They told how it would always appear at round about 1.15am, the time that the crash had occurred, and spoke of their terror as it came racing along the centre of the road towards them. No driver was ever visible, and no lights were ever on. (Russell, 2007)
Convinced that they were about to be in a head on collision with the vehicle, motorists would swerve out of its path, and as they did so the bus would thunder past them. Yet whenever they turned round to look at the bus, they always found that it had vanished without trace.” (Russell, 2007)
Incidents involving the bus always occurred at the same time, 1.15am, which was a strange time for a No.7 to be about. Witnesses came forward to tell how the bus tore down the middle of the road towards them and forced them to desperately swing their vehicles off the road to avoid it. When they looked back, no bus was ever seen! (Russell, 2007)
We’ve laughed off the story and John skeptically pointed out that it’s one of the urban legends that scare only the kids.
We forgot about this story soon. But in a week time John came back to hotel room in hurry, with wide opened eyes and in trembling voice has whispered: “OMG, I think I’ve seen THAT bus”.
John continued: “I’ve decided to take a visit to the local pizzeria for a breakfast. Could you believe it, this pizzeria near the place Harry has told us about, at the corner of Cambridge Gardens. I was turning the corner from St. Mark’s road into Cambridge Gardens and I saw that bus tearing towards me. But I could not see any trace of crew or passengers. I’m starting to believe in these urban legends!”
Sometimes we need just a little hint of miracle to become believers.
Works cited
Russell, Steve. The Phantom Bus of Ladbroke Grove. June 11th, 2007. Web, 2 October 2011,