Cultural
Background Storyteller's Cabin
Later that evening, a heavy thunderstorm knocked out power across the island. As Susan lit candles around the house, Phil was still trying to rationalize what he had seen that morning on the beach. One thing that kept coming back to him was a piece of island folklore passed down through the community for generations: the story of the Gray Man, Pawleys Island's resident ghost. It was said that his appearance was a warning of impending disaster, and that he was most likely to show himself during the hurricane months of September and October.
Phil had always chuckled at this quaint tale. When Susan asked what was bothering him, he even joked about the story with her. Of course, when his two young daughters heard this, they immediately jumped up and down with excitement.
"Tell us a ghost story, Daddy!" screamed one. "Tell us about the Gray Man!"
"Gray Man! Gray Man! Gray Man!" yelled the other.
Phil was in no mood to tell ghost stories. But he could see his daughters' eyes twinkling with excitement, and he knew that it had been a while since they had spent meaningful time together. He smiled, sat them both on the couch and told them the tale his own father had spun many years before:
