13. 'It's only me'

After her husband had gone to work, Mrs. Richards sent her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning, for in the evening she would be going to a fancy-dress party with her husband. She intended to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was very effective. After putting it on, she went downstairs. She wanted to find out whether it was comfortable to wear.

Just as Mrs. Richards was entering the dinner room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the kitchen table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, Mrs. Richards quickly hid in the small storerooom under the stairs. She heard the front door open and heavy steps in the hall. Suddenly, the door of the storeroom was opened and a man enter. Mrs. Richards realized that he must be the man from the Electricity Board to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, but it was too late. The man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs. Richards walked towards him, he fled, slamming the door behind him.