When I used to live in a student residence, I decided to apply for a position as an on-call overnight staff member. I figured, why not make some money on the side? It wasn't an easy job, I got calls from 8pm - 9am and I had to patrol the building twice a shift to make sure everything was in order.
On one of those rounds, during finals week, I noticed a few students studying at their doors, just like in the story. In fact, two had their chairs in the hall itself. I was baffled, but being an introvert, I didn't ask questions.
I did, however, have to intervene when I saw a chair blocking the fire escape, with a plugged in lamp right on it. After staring in total discombobulation, I took a picture and looked for the culprit, and a girl peeked at me from two doors down.
She was the only one studying in front of her door on this floor and I asked her if she did this. She didn't reply, but an older lady (who I later learned was her visiting mother) came over and scolded me in her language. I told them I didn't understand but what they did was dangerous.
The girl continued to stare, and her mom to glare, so I just gave up reasoning with them. I returned their lamp and told them never to do this again before I took the chair back to the study room.
When I got back to my room, I researched what I saw. I thought maybe it was a ritual to help bring forth good grades through positive flow of energy or something, but I found nothing. I told my siblings, and they didn't know either, but they did suggest I turn it into one of my stories.
After altering the original picture slightly in Photoshop, I started jotting down the story. Since it stems from a real experience, I had to get creative, but I didn't want to overdo it. I wasn't sure if that was the best idea, as there is no payoff, but I thought I'd give it a shot.
Instead of the mother, I added a roommate character that never speaks, and I tried to leave her truth vague enough for the reader to assume she knows the history of the tradition and, perhaps, could've been a victim (aka, a ghost). I don't know how well that translated, though!
If you know what a lamp on a chair in a doorway means, please tell me! My curiosity hasn't ebbed!
If you've read the story, let me know what you think. I’m always open to feedback, suggestions, and critique!