The story starts where Jim Brennan wakes up on his seventy-sixth birthday. He was a lonely old man that lived alone. He reminisced about his past where people who cared celebrated his birthday for him. Ellen Kelly, his dead childhood sweetheart then visits him and the story unfolds. This story is explains to readers how Jim had made a grave mistake by taking Ellen for granted. Jim and Ellen were in love when Jim was sixteen. However, at the age of seventeen, Jim chooses lust over love. He then abandons sick Ellen and goes on a holiday with his new love.

At this point, he was an immature boy who did not cherish Ellen. Lust had hid his love for her.

On his return, Ellen had already died. She was only nineteen then. Jim matures instantly. He regretted abandoning her.

For over fifty years, he had longed for Ellen. Finally, on his seventy-sixth birthday, he reunites with his childhood sweetheart. The story ends where Jim and Ellen soar hand in hand into the moonlight.

The story teaches us that we must cherish everything we have. In life, we must learn to make wise decisions. Mistakes are inevitable, but we must repent before we realize it’s too late. In ‘Old Ghosts’, Jim had made a grave mistake by abandoning Ellen. However, he had only realized his fault when Ellen died. The dead cannot be revived and he should not have left her.

It also shows us that we should think twice before doing anything. Rash decisions may lead to lifelong regret, just like what happened to Jim.

This story is very interesting and gives us life lessons on maturing as we grow up.