Passport to Texas

Dancing with a Ghost, artwork by Clemente Guzman.

TPW Magazine: Ghost Stories from South Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you grew up in South Texas, you probably heard stories from the book:

02— Stories That Must Not Die.

Stephanie Salinas grew up in Laredo reading these tales by Juan Sauvageau. They capture the soul and spirit of the region. The author’s storytelling pulls readers in and keeps them on the edge of their seats, says Salinas – such as the tale of Manuel and Maria in Dancing with a Ghost.

44—A man was driving along to go to a dance, and he found a woman on the side of the road. She wanted to go dance, so he took her with him. And, she was the best dancer, and everyone was completely in awe. At the end of the night he dropped her off in the same place; she was cold so he lent her his jacket. The next morning he drove to where he dropped her off. He saw a small house in the distance, so he drove up and asked is Maria was home. The woman who answered the door started bursting into tears. She said Maria had passed away ten years ago. He said that’s impossible; I danced with her last night. He said she was wearing a pink dress. And she said, oh, she was a great dancer and we buried her in a pink dress. And the mother took him to the grave where Maria was buried, and on top of the grave was his jacket.

Stephanie Salinas has an article about Stories That Must Not Die by Juan Sauvageau in the October issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.