My first encounter with Hatman, was back when I was in Middle School (I’m now 22), and this has always stuck with me, to where I can remember it to every last detail. Back then, I would go to sleep at midnight, that was my own personal “bedtime” with the whole school thing, and I had a bunk bed of sorts (futon on the bottom), and I slept up top. I hadn’t even fallen asleep yet, I was prepping myself for it you could say, and this is something that just STARTED out of nowhere. I remember having my eyes closed, and I heard someone walking. Not distinct steps, we had carpeting, but when everything’s quiet and everyone is asleep, you can hear someone moving on the carpet. I remember thinking it was my mom or step dad going to the bathroom, and didn’t think anything of it (I was a little smug, thinking maybe mom was checking up on me and I was already in bed :3 also, I slept with my door open). Well, the steps were getting closer, and I remember suddenly feeling this suffocating pressure. Not like I couldn’t move, or I was paralyzed or couldn’t breathe, but it was as if the atmosphere of my room had changed drastically. There was something in my room. I froze up, and my breathing became very shallow. I remember worrying that my heart was beating too loudly, that “it” would see me, or notice me, and I didn’t know what would happen if it did, but everything inside of my was very adamant about not finding out. I will admit, I was a huge coward, and even now, I don’t know if I could muster the courage to look at “It” if this were to happen again, but I never SAW Hatman. But I knew what he looked like. He was a tall black figure, wearing a trench coat and a cowboy hat. And he would just stand in the middle of my room. I couldn’t tell you how long he was actually there, but to me it felt like forever. I remember I would pray and pray for him to go away, just leave me alone. I would know he was gone when that force, or feeling, whatever you wanted to call it, would disappear. It was like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could take a deep breath to calm myself. At the time, I was raised a catholic, probably still going to Catechism, but it wasn’t something I took seriously, like any kid. The only time I prayed was really if I was getting into trouble, or having a hard time at school but that was it. Or if Hatman was in my room, and I don’t that was really praying, it was just…hoping, or willing him away. This happened almost every night. There were times when I would try and hurry up and sleep, in hopes that I wouldn’t notice him coming or he just wouldn’t show up if I was awake. But the next day it was never something I thought about. I never told my parents, or friends at work. I doubt anyone would believe me anyways. Eventually I shut my door. I don’t know why I did, but I just decided to one night, and it never happened after that so I just continuously kept it shut. Eventually we moved; mom got a divorce, and we moved more south. My best friend at the time (now in High school), was really into paranormal stuff, and I mentioned to her about my Hatman experiences. She wanted to go to the house and scope it out. Well, the place was still up for sale, and we walked up to the door. There was a huge window in the living room, and I was looking inside. I hated it. I didn’t want to go there to begin with, but being there and looking inside gave me the creeps. This could just be because it was an empty dark house though. But I remember having the distinct feeling someone was watching or waiting inside, and this terror overcame me and I bolted to the truck, forced her inside, and screamed at her boyfriend to go, go GO! I was hyperventilating, and was trying hard to catch my breath, I was all wheezy. I’ve driven passed a few times. The house was bought and then sold again. I don’t think anyone is living there now. But I don’t care for it. Looking back now, I laugh a bit because I never thought to look it up online, to see if anyone else had seen Hatman. The first time I did was last year actually. One of my coworkers and I joke about starting our own Ghost Hunters show, and I told her about my Hatman experience. I had told her about how there was a dark figure in my room, and before I could finish she looked me in the face and said, “Was he wearing a hat?” I was shocked, and said yeah, and a trenchcoat. She said he used to sit at the edge of her bed, and that someone at her old job said he used to stand in the corner of her room. I was blown away, so I looked it up online and had a “No f-king way!’ moment when I saw a bunch of people worldwide have had similar experiences. So that’s my story, I haven’t had an experience since, and I hope it stays that way. I’ve also converted to Paganism (much to my grandmother’s displeasure), and now that I own my own home, I have a room set aside for my Pagan workings, and have made a point to go through the house with Sage, letting any negative energy or whatnot know they aren’t welcome. In the back of my mind I know I’m hoping to keep Hatman at bay…just in case. – S. L. Krajewski
By Stephanie Krajewski