Halloween shivers

As I decided to lock up for the night I reflected on being home alone. As an adult it was not wrong to be home alone but that did not stop me hating it. During daylight hours it was quite nice. I was able to do as I pleased, when it pleased me, so what was there to dislike?

Night of course was a different matter.

I may pride myself on not being superstitious but it is easy to forget that as dusk turns to blackest night. "Halloween is just kids nonsense" is easy to believe at ten in the morning but not after midnight in a creaky old house.

The wind howled outside my house, this Halloween, making branches tap at my window and the fallen leaves rustle as if being walked upon. Home Alone was bad enough but a whole night alone after being married for so many years was a dismal prospect.

I pulled the covers up further to keep out the cold night air. The boiler had decided to give up the ghost this Halloween and of course it had to be a particularly cold night.

Then I heard this ghostly wail. It started low and distant but came ever increasingly nearer and more painful and pitiful sounding, which somehow scared me. It was a hollow sound which gave me shivers, not in the least related to the weather.

Pulling on a cardigan I did what we all think so foolish and unbelievable in the Movies. I gingerly made my way to the top of the stairs and decided to investigate. i would have no peace until I discovered the source of the noise. The sound drew closer and sent shivers down my spine. In fact it sent shivers to every part of my body. Apprehension pushed my adrenalin through the roof as I prepared to fight or flee.

Inching my way along I realised it was not going to be my night. The ceiling light briefly lit up the huge hall and then pinged into oblivion. What a time for a ten year life bulb to decide to pop.

Yet there was no going back.

Slowly I edged my way down our winding staircase. Open at the bottom I glimpsed a strange shape in the downstairs room. It seemed bulky. large and alien to me. As the sweat now poured out of me, in spite of the freezing cold, the howl increased. There was a rustle as the shape moved forward apparently nodding its head.

I took on fell swoop at the downstairs light and flicked it on, as the hairs on my body stood on end.

Then I saw the extent of my fears.

A neighbours cat had entered through our rear door cat flap and was trying its best to woo Polly. She had jumped onto the airing clothes, hanging on my old clothes airer, and made it wobble. Polly formed the "head" and the swinging clothes and the airer the strange, mysterious shape of an apparent intruder. What was such a sinister and ghostly howl was to Tom a sign of passion and affection.

You have to laugh don't you, or else you would cry? Happy Halloween all.