The invasion began when I turned the calendar to “October.” Orange lights appeared along the eaves of the house across the road, followed by a gigantic glow-in-the-dark purple spider. Down the street, zombies began clawing their way from the depths of a front lawn. Another home has become the nightly haunting of a huge, ephemeral, floating phantom lady, her robes flapping in the breeze as she collects falling red leaves in her tangled hair. The entire neighborhood has become overrun with skeletons, dried cornstalk sheaves, and glowing orange jack-o’-lanterns.

Then there are the witches. In the cul-de-sac, three shadowy sisters stir a bubbling brew in an ebony caldron. Next door to the zombies, in a horrific accident, a novice crash-landed into the doorway.  Her pointy shoes, green and black stockings, and broken broom create a gapers block, and the neighborhood walkers point and giggle. An old crone terrorizes the corner, harassing the ghost girl and the unaware.

Their stories run amok, and I chase them, trying to record as much detail as possible, preserving the magic in my notebook that is already bursting at the seams. There is a natural urge to pack, store, and prepare for the long winter nights. When the snow flies and the winds howl, I will sit next to my fire and write.

What is your favorite aspect of Halloween?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer