It was just a shadow

but the way it moved

scared the bejeebers out of me.

 

I was just about to put the key in the door

when the big black shadow

passed  through me and cast itself

right down the hallway

 

…and then it was gone.

 

It was raining and very windy

and after a short sharp shake of the head

I dismissed it and entered

and switched on the lights

– all of the lights.

 

Hang on…

How had a shadow been cast in the pitch black darkness!!

 

I was already miserable enough

I’d had a really difficult day at work

Dealing politely with someone you’d call a jerk!

 

 

Suddenly – there was a sharp rap at the door

which upon opening revealed

children, one, two, three, four

“Trick or treat, Mister”, the young leader said

at which I grinned heartily

and recalling the juvenescence of earlier days

I was rushed back to reality and to him I said

“Trick”

fully expecting and prepared for a hideous mask or something.

 

In less time than it takes to say ‘Abracadabra’

the whole scene before me

turned red

I couldn’t make out at first what I was seeing

but then I realised that everything, everything was red.

Houses, trees, cars, even all the people

were all red.

Fiery red!!

 

I was in Hell – and I was terrified.

There was a long deep laugh

coming from – I didn’t know where.

it just surrounded everything

including me – what was going on?

 

And then I remembered.

“No!! Treat!!,

I shouted at the top of my voice

and just as suddenly as it had all appeared

it vanished.

“That’ll be a dollar Mister.” the youngest lad said.

 

I gave him five dollars

and closed the door

and locked the door

and very firmly slid the bolts home

and put the chain into its slot too.

I went into the study and poured myself

a very large whiskey,

and sat down, still shaking,

in front of the fire.

 

I had never been so scared in my life.

 

 

©Joe Wilson – Trick…definitely not a treat…2014