Cauldrons and Witches Brew

“Why did I say I would come?” Tom said aloud as he sat in his car examining the two-story Victorian home. Various tombstones littered the front lawn each etched with a different design. Several tombstones contained R.I.P. A cat with its back arched, hair standing straight up in fright hissing to warn intruders away stood slightly tilted to one side. Several contained a screaming skull with the mouth wide open. Some had bats with their wings extended neck bent down as if to attack or with the fanged teeth exposed as if they were ready to bite. The scene resembled a long abandoned graveyard surrounded by a black plastic fence.

In front of some of the tombstones there were skeletons trying to get out from their grave. One had just two arms stretched out reaching for the sky, another was holding its detached head above its shoulders, and yet another had a head with its hands gripping the ground trying to rise from the dead.

Skeleton heads were placed throughout the yard and a pile of bones with a skull resting on top. The trees and shrubs were wrapped in orange pumpkin lights which made them appear like giant orange balls.

He exited the car placing a six pack of beer under his arm grabbing a large bag of Doritos from the passenger seat then stared once again wondering if this was a sign of what was inside. He hated Halloween. I feel like a kid dressed up in this costume, he thought as he walked up the winding sidewalk to the front door. Each step held a carved pumpkin with a ghoulish expression. An arm with the hand gripping a door knocker greeted him at the door. Was he supposed to grab it and knock, he wondered as he pressed the doorbell instead? He never knew how to act at these parties. He felt uncomfortable taking on the role of his character; he preferred just being himself.

A masked zombie greeted him and welcomed him with a muffled voice. I bet he’s sweating inside that mask, Tom thought as he entered the house. Wouldn’t it be more fun if we just came as ourselves? Why do we have to be miserable wearing masks, thick makeup and heavy costumes that we have to worry about staining from dripping caldron beverages? His head dropped forward as he concluded his thoughts followed by an obvious sigh.

“Cheer up old man.” Sam said as he placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “It’s going to be fun tonight. Just relax and enjoy yourself. You need a break after what you’ve been through.”

That was true. This past month had been difficult after his girlfriend, Anna, died in a terrible car accident. The car had exploded on contact with a gas line causing it to erupt in flames burning her to death. He couldn’t stop wondering how those last few moments were for her. People at the scene said they could hear her screaming for help. He was to be with her that day instead they had a fight. He didn’t want to go shopping since the football game was on TV with his college team playing against their rivals. Maybe if he would have been driving she would be alive today.

“Tom I’m glad you made it.” Erica said as she grabbed the chips and beer. “I’ll put the beer in the fridge for you, do you want one now?

“Sure,” he said as he grabbed one asking himself why he hadn’t brought a case. It was going to be another one of those nights where he just wanted to get bombed to forget what was going on around him. “The food and beverage table is over there. I’ll put these chips out unless you want them for yourself.” She laughed as she walked away without waiting for a reply. He continued watching her until she reached the kitchen in her Wonder Woman costume noting that she looked better than Lynda Carter ever did.

Yes, that was exactly what he wanted to do, find a couch sit down, drink his beer, munch on his chips then go home.

The room was full of friends from his college days with their dates or wives making it impossible for him to reach the food table quickly.

“Hey Tom, love the costume.” Walt said as he held out his hand to greet his friend. Tom thought, My God now Walt’s even dressing like Walter White. Ever since Breaking Bad has aired on TV, Walt couldn’t stop talking about the show. Now he had on a white lab uniform with a hood covering his entire body except for a small circle of his face which was covered with a face plate that was lifted so he could talk. Tom secretly wondered if Walt had become a meth distributor on the side.

“Yeah, this is all they had left that interested me.” Tom said as he tugged at the collar of his white shirt. The Count of Monte Cristo wasn’t exactly the character he would have chosen, but the costume fit. He was hoping not to boil in the heavy woolen felt jacket with the vest that reached his collar which felt like it was choking him.

“It’s great that you came. Did they tell you that the witches’ brew on the left is spiked?” Walt said as he pointed to the beverage table on the other side of the room. “No, but I hear that’s where the food is. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“You’ve got to see Lisa’s outfit. It’s quite the…” His voice trailed off as his head turned in her direction and nodded.

Tom’s eyes followed in the same direction. Lisa was the type of girl who all of the guys wanted to go out with but were afraid to ask. She was dressed as Daisy Mae. She had no problem naturally pulling off the character with her thick blonde curly long hair, bright red lipstick revealing her voluptuous charms under the low cut white with red polka-dot peasant blouse hanging off from her shoulders that reach her mid-drift. The low riding matching red short-shorts with the unevenly trimmed hem and bare feet with red polished toenails finished off the ensemble. He leaded to one side shifting his body back, “Wow.”, was all he was able to muster as he watched her bend down to give her husband Li’l Abner a kiss. Scott naturally fitted his character just like his wife.

He stood there surveying the room without noticing that Walt had walked away when his eyes spotted a green sea creature making him wonder who was under the mask. Paul and Rhonda were dressed as Popeye and Olive Oil with Paul’s old roommate Jack who was Rhonda’s older brother dressed as Bluto. Paul was holding a white can with large green painted lettering “Spinach” with dark green tissue paper protruding from the top to resemble spinach.

To the left were the Incredible Hulk, Spider Man and Superman, the Mackoski triplets if he had to guess. There were a number of zombies or “walkers’ that resembled the characters on the Walking Dead, from both genders but he couldn’t tell who was behind the masks. Jim was Sherlock Holmes or the character from the show Elementary. Dan was Archer and his wife dressed as a pirate wench. Smitty’s Green Lantern costume needed a little letting out, He’s put on a few pounds since last Halloween, Tom thought to himself as he weaved in and out between the guests greeting each one as he passed.

Maureen was little red riding hood and Marv was the big bad wolf. Sally was Marilyn Monroe. God he loved that costume on her. “Hi Sally, it’s a nice party.” Tom lied trying to be friendly.

“Tom, it’s nice you came. I’m sorry about Anna. I always like her.” Sally remarked scanning the room. “Have you seen Barry, he said he would be here tonight?” So now she’s after Barry, Tom reasoned. She had dated practically everyone. Barry had just broken up with his latest girlfriend. Apparently he was her next target. “I’m on my way to the food table” he said as he left eying the table just ahead.

Once he reached the food as he examined the spread, a woman entered through the opened front door. She was dressed in a long pink flowing gown made from satin with a toile overlay that shined as if dotted with tiny crystals. She wore a mask that had been formed to her face. They type movie studios create to make an actor look fatter, he thought. But hers didn’t make her look heavy, in fact rather beautiful. On top of her long dark brown wavy hair was a tiara shining from diamond faceted jewels. She wore white full length gloves that reached the pink puffy short sleeves of her gown.

She extended her arm for Sam to kiss the back of her hand as her eyes met Tom’s glaze. Tom took the chip in his hand raising it to his mouth them bit down only to discover he had bitten his finger. The pain was intense but he managed to keep a smile as he watched her gracefully join a group of his friends talking near the roaring fireplace.

He found an empty loveseat sitting down to enjoy his beer and chips as he continued to watch her make her way from group to group until she finally reached him.

“Do you mind if I sit down my feet are killing me in these heels?” She asked sitting down without waiting for a reply.

Her voice was soft and gentle as he felt the loveseat slightly move as she sat down. He smiled while examining her beautiful blue eyes as she tilted her head smiling back. He could smell the scent of a woman either lilacs or lavender he could never tell the difference, but it pleased him. The smell reminded him of the wonderful aroma in the morning after Anna left the bathroom. This woman’s smell was different.

“My name is Tom. You look beautiful.” He said surprised those words had escaped his mouth. “Why thank you Tom. My name is...” Her voice trailed off as she laid one white gloved hand on his.

He could hear voices but he hardly noticed anyone else in the room. Maybe another woman is what he needed to get over losing Anna even though he thought it was too soon. At least tonight he would indulge himself with her.

“You look tired, Tom, why don’t you lie down.” She said as her other hand touched his cheek. He wasn’t about to argue so he did as she asked. She bent down and gave him a kiss. He was surprised that it tasted so sweet like sugar passing from lip to lip.

“Move over slightly”, she said as she placed one leg over his hip between him and the loveseat then straddled him bending down to give him a passionate kiss. He could feel her torso reach his as his body reacted to her advances. She adjusted her weight as she laid down on his chest continuing to kiss him. He reached for her shoulder and he felt her sleeve slid slightly exposing one of her breasts.

“Do you want to see more.” She asked. He didn’t know what to say. He was surprised by her actions with the room full of people. All he could do was glaze at her eyes; he was in her spell.

She tossed back her dark hair then slowly removed the mask reviling her face. Her face was completely burned with pieces of burnt flesh hanging from what once where her cheeks. She then ripped off the gloves exposing her burnt bony arms and hands. He struggled trying to get away but she placed her hands on his shoulders holding him down. He reached for her body to push her away feeling her charred ribs crumbled causing him to recoil in disgust. He tried to use his legs to lift himself or roll over but they were frozen and he couldn’t even move his toes. What had she done to him?, he thought. He tried to scream but no words came out of his mouth. He tried to scream again but could only open it. She had frozen his vocal cords or maybe he was just too frightened.

“Don’t fight this,” she said, “you will enjoy it, I promise you Honey.” Anna said as she tried to kiss him again.

All of sudden the guests noticed Anna and started shouting running for their lives. The Incredible Hulk tossed Spiderman aside as he fled for the door causing Superman to trip over him landing in a heap on the living room floor. Marilyn Monroe tripped falling on top of Superman with her dress flying over her head followed by Barry the Batman. Well at least they finally hooked up. Tom absently minded joked wondering if he was losing his mind, this isn’t a laughing matter. Come back here, he tried to scream but no words escaped his mouth. What kind of superheroes are you anyways? Don’t you know there’s a guy in trouble over here?

Timothy, who he hadn’t seen earlier with his lion's head in one hand holding his tail, started shouting giving a blow by blow description warning the guest of impeding danger. Little Red Riding Hood was chasing the Big Bad Wolf finally overtaking him, leaving him to defend himself as she exited the front door screaming at the top of her lungs. The room was in complete chaos. Even the “walkers” and zombies were running and screaming. Bodies were stacked on the forest green carpeting. The room was in complete chaos.

Popeye abandoned Olive Oil leading her in the clutches of Bluto as he fled to the front door. Olive Oil grabbed Bluto’s hand as they darted towards the kitchen after witnessing the mass exodus at the front door, with two bodies trapped between the opening preventing anyone else from leaving. Popeye, eat some spinach, Tom tried to cry out just before he saw the can fly in the air landing just in front of the crawling hands on the living room floor which had suddenly come alive joining the others in the fleeting frenzy.

“Oh my God, you’re back.” He said to Anna in his once silenced voice. “Get off of me. I want to get up.”

“I know you don’t mean that.” She replied still holding him down not allowing him to move. He turned his head not wanting to see her gruesome face, but she released one hand from his shoulder and brought his face back to see hers.

He just glared at her. She was so beautiful. Her golden skin, still tanned from the summer sun greeted his eyes. She still had on her pink T-shirt and jeans that she had been wearing the day of the accident. In the background he could hear the shouting of the crowd over the blaring TV of the afternoon football game. His mind was confused. Which scene was the dream? They both seemed so real.

“Honey, I just wanted to tell you how much I love you before I go shopping. I wish you would change your mind and go with me.” She said as she got off from the couch. “What do you mean, I’m going with you.” He surprisingly said. “I thought you wanted to see the game.”

“I can tape it and watch it later. I just want to be with you. What’s that new perfume you are wearing, it smells wonderful?”, he asked as they walked towards the door thinking no wonder he hated Halloween; it always produced nightmares.

A Preview to My New Book

The past several months I have been busy writing a novel that I had been developing in my mind over the past year. Here is a draft of the introduction or what might appear on the back cover or inside flaps. Of course, if it is ever published, many of the character's names and some scenes will need to be changed.


Introduction

Holly, Michael’s Other Girlfriend is a novel about lives interrupted. Holly, a woman in serious trouble, must seek help from Michael, her high school sweetheart. They were in love in high school planning on getting married when tragically they were separated by events out of their control and haven't seen each other since. Through the years, their love for one another never ended even though they both moved on, each making their mark upon the world in their own way.

Michael, who was on the path to a life in prison, became a man doing what he could to make this world safer, often willing to sacrifice his life so others could live. Holly, who was on the path to success found her life torn apart and abandoned making mistake after mistake, never realizing that she too had made the lives around her better. She could never overcome the past missing out in the joys of life as did Michael. She never allowed herself to love again as did Michael until recently when he opened his heart to his girlfriend Fi.

When they meet again their love is rekindled, if only in their hearts, knowing that their current situations will keep them apart. Through further tragedies and mistakes they are drawn even closer testing their commitments to those around them. Will Michael’s love for Fi be strong enough to sustain their relationship and is Holly’s love for Michael strong enough to let him love someone other than her?

You will love Holly and Michael, then hate them, then love them once again. Holly, Michael’s Other Girlfriend will stay on your mind long after the final chapter is read and the book placed back on the shelf.

My First Poem

This is the first poem I wrote and I haven't written one again until today. It's about my cat who was pregnant at the time.


I have a calico cat
And now she's getting fat
She sat on the chair
And lost her hair
And that's where the company sat.

To My Dear Friend the Skunk

This is a silly poem I wrote for class.

Ode to Skunk
By Anne Glenn

Looking so pretty
Like a kitty
You want to play

You have a stripe
And a gripe
As you sway

You roam at night
In the moonlight
Making you way

You want a mate
Her name is Kate
In the month of May

You fall for her
To make her purr
You release your spray

How you smell
We can tell
Please go away

It drifts into the window
And onto our pillows
Making us anything but gay

He wants to share
So please beware
The skunk is here to stay