The Haunted Guitar

The Haunted Guitar is a short story written by R.L. Stine and published in "More & More Tales to Give You Goosebumps".

The story is about the dangers of cutting corners when doing a task.

Plot Summary

While walking home from school one day, a boy named Jeffrey is accused of being lazy by his friend Beth. He denies it of course, and states that he only looks for the easiest way to solve his problems, even though he always calls her for homework answers, and that he once tried to de-weed his garden by using a vacuum cleaner. While arguing, the two come across the remains of "Sal's Music Store", which seemed to have just burned down. While looking around in the burnt remains, Jeffrey comes across a guitar that survived the fire intact. Despite Beth's protests, Jeffrey takes the guitar home with him.

At home, Jeffrey tells his father that a friend loaned him the guitar, and asks him if he can sign for lessons. His dad agrees, and Jeffrey thinks about when to go to sign up.

That night, Jeffrey awakens to the sound of guitar music, and is horrified to see someone in his room playing the guitar. The man playing the guitar is the ghost of Memphis Willy, a blues musician who was the original owner of the guitar, whom he named Gertie, before he died. Willy tells Jeffrey that he could never stop playing his guitar even after he died, but he wants a partner in the living world so that he can still play. Jeffrey agrees since this is probably the easiest way to learn how to play a guitar. Once Jeffrey agrees, Willy disappears and Jeffrey starts playing the guitar exceptionally well. But Jeffrey can't seem to stop playing. That's when Willy's voice tells him that he could never stop, and he meant "never". At that moment, Jeffrey's dad comes into his room and is amazed at how well he is playing. He goes to wake up Jeffrey's mom so she can hear, and tells him to keep playing, unaware that Jeffrey can't stop. Ever.