Wacky Wednesday Critters – A Halloween Tale (a little late)

“Kitties, how would you like to hear a tale of Halloween?”

“Wasn’t Halloween on Monday?” Allen asked.

“Well, yes, but I have this story here, and I’m hoping you will like it, even if it is a couple of days late.”

Allen and Kiki yawned and looked lazy. “If you want to, you can read something to us,” they said.”

“What’s Halloween?” Kiki asked.

“Halloween is a holiday. It started as a Celtic festival called Samhain, about two thousand years ago, around the area now known as Ireland. They believed that on that day, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

”About six hundred years later, when the Romans ruled the Celtic lands, Pope Gregory, of the Roman Catholic Church, established a religious holiday, most likely with the idea of replacing Samhain, and that holiday eventually came to be known as All Souls Day on November 1st. Halloween is the evening before All Souls Day. At least in the United States, it’s usually celebrated with scary things.”*

*For the History Channel’s fuller history of Halloween, check out this link: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

“But we’re afraid of scary things,” Kiki said, looking dubious.

“I’ll try not to scare you too much. Besides, I’m right here to protect you, remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” Allen nodded his head. “Let’s hear it, then.”

I had, perhaps foolishly, worked late that Halloween night
trying to finish a project before going home
and now my broken-down car sat uselessly beside the road
At close to midnight, nobody answered my calls for aid

 The trick-or-treaters had long ago gone home to dream of scary things
Darkness crept into every corner as Halloween night seeped through the town
They say that invisible ghouls and goblins slipped around corners
hiding and waiting to make trouble

I started the walk home through almost-deserted streets

My furry critters snuggled a bit nearer to my body. I put my arms around them and held them close.

Crawling things scuttled back and forth across sidewalks
I idly wondered if there were ghosts and witches joining bats in the cloudy sky
their silhouettes dark against the brightness of the full moon

 I shivered as a chill wind whistled through the trees
toying with dry leaves that danced and scraped across the ground
A dreadful smell wafted past my nose as of something dead
and the darkness seemed to grow even darker

I thought I felt Kiki shiver. “Are you OK?” I asked, as I stroked her soft fur.

“Well, I think I’m just a little bit scared,” she admitted.

Allen spoke up. “I’m not scared at all. I’m big and brave.”

“Uh-huh.” I felt him wiggle just a little bit closer.

Little hairs stood up on the back of my neck
As the road wound past a cemetery
I veered to the other side of the street
afraid to look over their wall

An owl’s hoot blended with distant sirens
and cats howled from backyard fences
An animal jumping out of the bushes
startled me and made me jump

 Then a sudden quiet settled in the air
sounding more frightening than the noise
As I walked past an abandoned old house
I was sure I saw lights moving in the yard

I picked up my pace past dark shrubbery
being careful not to fall
No need to add my blood
to the spookiness of the night

 A menacing jack-o-lantern
leered from atop an old broken stone wall
inviting me to shudder
and hope it did not have legs

“Ooh, what’s a jack-o-lantern?” Allen’s eyes were big.

“It’s a pumpkin that has had a face carved into it. Then a light is put inside and the face shines in the dark.”

He swallowed. “And they have legs? Are they bigger than Kiki or me?”

“No, they don’t have legs. They aren’t even alive. They just look a bit spooky sometimes.”

Kiki didn’t look so sure. “You won’t let one of them get us, will you?”

“Of course not! I will always protect you from big, bad pumpkins.”

Did I just hear the echoes of a chilling scream?
or was it just the eerie scraping noises
of black, lifeless tree limbs in the wind?
I shivered as I saw ahead the turn onto my street

 My hand swung forward and touched something sticky
Pulling back, I barely escaped being covered
by an immense web
its owner fortunately occupied elsewhere

Did I just hear a whimper?

A little kitty cat voice said, “I don’t know if I can listen to this any more. I’m getting really scared.”

“How about if I hold your paw?” I took a soft, furry paw in each hand. They seemed to relax and purr a little.

Then something touched my arm
prompting a small scream from me
until I saw the overreaching leaves
of an innocent bush

 Finally my own house came into view
the stairs unlighted beside my front door
Unnerved at the darkness
I chided myself for not leaving the light on

My legs trembled as I fumbled for my key
then felt around the opened door for the light switch
Inside at last, I quickly re-locked the door
then stood still for a moment before looking around

Everything inside looked normal
My body started to relax
when something lightly brushed against my leg
prompting another scream

 But then I spied my quiet cats
whose whiskers were caressing my leg
as they came to greet me

Maybe everything was OK

 …Or was it?
Did I hear a noise on the stairway?
I took a deep breath
almost afraid to move

“Oh, no! Don’t go on. I don’t want to know what is going to happen!” Kiki was holding her paws over her ears.

“The story is almost over. It’s going to be OK. I promise.”

Get a hold of yourself, I whispered
as I collapsed into my comfy blue chair
My cats sauntered in
and settled themselves on my lap

I thought I heard a tiny sigh of relief.

I reached over to feel the throbbing of their purrs
The shivers finally left my spine
and my heartbeat returned to normal
An active imagination can make for a very scary walk home

Allen sighed. I could feel his little body relax. “I’m sure glad you had those cats to save you when you got home.”

“Yes, my furries, my kitties always save me.” I hugged them both.

They wiggled out of my arms. “Well, I think it is time for you to give us some treats.” Kiki spoke up and Allen agreed.

“As it turns out, treats are an important part of Halloween. Let’s see what I can find.” I picked up the treat jar. The kitties were sitting right next to my feet, beside the wide red dish. I put some goodies on each side of the dish so they could both nibble without needing to fight over it.

Have a Happy post-Halloween, folks. I hope nothing scares you, not even the election news. Stay safe and stay well. And, if you can find one, pet a cat. or a dog. or something else furry. I wish you many purrs.