2011-10-28

A Darksome, Moonless Night





It’s a darksome, moonless night - the kind of dark that obscures the stars and swallows up light.  A fitful wind bestirs the dry leaves and they rustle and whisper as they flit across the lawn until ensnared by the clutching grasp of a hawthorn hedge.  A tall and foreboding house stands next to a copse of walnut trees.  Their barren limbs cower and sway, scratching with sylvan talons against the house’s cladding. 

You pull your cloak tighter around your shoulders as you peer at the dark-windowed house.  Its blackness is outlined against the dark sky - shadow on shadow.  The lane is long with naught to light the way but a jack-o-lantern who glows with a ghoulish grin from his perch atop a wooden stool set next to the front door.

You slowly make your way toward the door, your footsteps crunching on the gravel drive.  Crunch.  Crunch.  Crunch.  Crunch.  Closer to the front door; closer to the ghoulish grin.  Closer and closer.  A wicked wind lifts your hair and reaches it's icy fingers down the back of your neck.  Suddenly, you hear a spine-chilling scream!  Then a long and mournful moan!  A wolf howls with anguished longing!            

You stop dead in your tracks, frozen with fear.  Should you go on?  Has your bravery failed you?  You take one hesitant step towards the door, testing your courage.  Then another.  And yet another.  Crunch.  Crunch.  Crunch.

Soon you’re at the wooden porch steps.   Almost there.  You look up at the jack-o-lantern glowing from the triangular slashes in his orange flesh, daring you on with his menacing grin.  You climb the wooded steps and walk to the door.  Raising your trembling hand, you give three timid knocks.  It is enough.  A light comes on inside the house.  You hear slow heavy footsteps approaching.  With a sigh and a creak the door swings open.  Filled with fear, you want to flee.  You want to run back down the laneway and keep running and running until you’ve run all the way home.  But you hold your ground. You look up, hold out your hand, and with newly found courage exclaim,

“Trick or Treat!”  



I love to read your comments, but don't forget to link them back to your webpage!

  

27 comments:

  1. I loved reading your post. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! We always managed to find our courage when it came to getting candy!
    http://enelrad-darlene.blogspot.com

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  2. Love the crunch crunch sound effects! I could hear it!

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  3. I'm glad you liked the crunch crunch. When I re-read the post, I hear an English accent reciting it. :)

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  4. Quite a visual! Bring on Halloween!

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  5. Why thank you! I have a fear that any attempt I make at writing something scary will result in something corny, so I'm very glad that your hair stood up!

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  6. Les BotcharOctober 28, 2011

    Love this! I felt 8, 10, 33 years old again!! LOL I am so looking forward to going with the kids. I used to stay and hand out the treats, but now that I am not either pregnant, or carrying one of them, it should be fun!

    okay..how do I link back? you mean my URL? http//amothersluv.blogspot.com

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  7. There's a tick box option in the "write a message' box. At least I think there is. Write me another message and I'll know for sure!

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  8. That's fabulous - I especially loved "shadow on shadow."

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  9. Kristy LorenzenOctober 30, 2011

    I love it! You're all themed out. I love the word "darksome." Great post!

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  10. I dont know if I'd have had the courage to go up there. Not even for a treat. Not after your words.

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  11. Welcome to my blog, Megan! And thank you for your comment!

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  12. I love the word "darksome" too - it really doesn't get enough use. Thanks for the comment!

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  13. Some of the homes in my village go out with the decorations - graveyards in their front gardens, ghosts hanging from their porches and scary sound-effects playing from outdoor speakers. You might think it would scare the little kiddies away, but we usually get between 80 and 100 trick or treaters at each house!

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  14. I love it, I love it, I love it!!! I want to read it again, and again, and again!!!!! So fantastic!!!!!

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  15. AlpenwasserOctober 31, 2011

    Fantastic! Sounds like Grandma's house!

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  16. V-Grrrl @ Compost StudiosOctober 31, 2011

    "Darksome" and "shadow on shadow" were my favorite parts too.

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  17. I spent the morning at the store decided between coconut candy that I hate or yummy Butterfingers which I will eat all of.
    Burp.

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  18. You had me right up to the end kiddo.

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  19. I hear ya! Today I had to send hubby out for more chocolate!

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  20. Romina GarciaOctober 31, 2011

    You. Are. Awesome!!! Happy Halloween!!

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  21. "Darksome" - My new favorite word! :) Happy Halloween!

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  22. Hi Sam! It's great to hear from you :) Darksome is a good word, but my new favourite is "sylvan".

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  23. Thanks, Nicki! Now Halloween's over, I don't know what my inspiration will be... :-(

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  24. ...and did Grandma hand out her wonderful home-made fudge or was it bruised apples?

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  25. I just love how you call me kiddo! It makes me forget my pillow winkles that now like to linger on my face for a few hours after waking up!

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  26. It was actually peppermint lifesavers. Which smelled like moth balls.

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  27. I am so working the word "darksome" into my next conversation.

    Loved it all,

    Pearl

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