31 Days of Halloween Tales - Long Distance Calling

Talk about long distance charges….

Long Distance Calling

"Whatcha doing, Benny?
"Nothing Rog. Mind your own business, okay?"
"You're doing something. I can see it!"
"Just don't tell Ma. I'll let you try if you promise not to tell Ma."
"I promise. So whatcha doing really?"
I'm talking to someone."
"On that old phone?? C'mon Benny, that thing ain't worked in forever."
"I know it don't work for regular phone calls, but listen. Here, just say hello."
"Benny, that's dumb! That phone ain't even plugged in to nothing."
"It don't need to be plugged in, Rog. Just say hello. It's Grandpa Will."
"Grandpa Will? But Grandpa Will's dead Benny."
"Yeah I know he is but we can still talk to him. Just say hello and see."
"Hello? Hello? There ain't nobody there Benny! You're just fooling me!"
"Sure Rog. That's it. I was just kidding ya. Now go get your ball and glove and I'll play catch with ya in a minute."
"Okay, Benny!! I'll get my stuff and meet ya out in back!"

****

"Sorry, Grandpa. I gotta go. Rog is waiting for me. I love you."
"I love you too, Benny. Take care of your brother and I'll call you again real soon."

Friday Flash Fiction.. The Monster in the Closet

I want to start the weekend off on the right foot! A little flash of horror...just for you...

"Jeez, Tom. What's that for? I thought we was gonna play baseball?"

"It's call a Ouija Board…it lets you talk to ghosts."          

"Uh uh."

"Yes, it does. Just watch."           

"But I don't wanna talk to no ghost, Tom. I wanna go outside and play."

"We will. After this, okay? Just sit down on the floor and cross your legs like an Indian."

"Okaaaay."

"Now, put your fingers on the pointer just like me. Okay, now we ask the ghost a question."

"What ya gonna ask 'em?"

"How about… "What's your name?"

"Why you pushing it, Tom?"

"I'm not…it's the ghost. Now be quiet."

"What's it doing?"

"It's spelling out its name I think."

"Whats it spell, Tom?"

"W-E-S-T-L-E-Y"

"That's a funny name. Who is that?"

"Got no idea. Wait, it ain't done moving yet."

"D-O-D-D"

"What's that?"

"I don't know what it means, Frankie. Hey, did you hear that?"

"Yeah. What do ya think it was, Tom?"

"Don't know."

"I'm cold and this ain't no fun no more. Let's go."

"Wait. He's saying something else."

"D-O-N-T-O-P-E-N-C-L-O-S-E-T"

"Don't open closet? What's that mean?

I don't know. Okay, I'm done. Let's go outside. Where's your baseball bat, Frankie?"

"In the closet."

"Let's play on the swings."

Sunday Snippet!!

Okay, I forgot to sign up for WeWriWa this week but I thought I would post a snippet from my current WIP anyway, a gothic romance tentatively titled Bid Love's Return...

For a moment I was frozen in place, staring at the precipice below, surprised and terrified that I could have been that reckless. I wanted to step back but found I could not, my fear was such that I could not move even as the wind threatened to send me over the edge.

I once again felt a gentle caress slide across the back of my neck, the same sensation that I felt earlier as I stood upon the front step of the cottage.

This time however, I turned to look.

I was alone, the path still as empty as when I left behind the cottage minutes earlier, but even as I stood there, staring at the emptiness of the path, I suddenly had the distinct sensation of being pulled away from the edge of the cliffs.

I felt a spark in the center of my being as if a tether of heat had suddenly found its way within my chest and attached itself, pulling me safely away from the edge. I felt the warmth grow as I moved effortlessly across the icy rocks back to the safety of the cobblestone path and yet, I saw nothing.

Perhaps I should have been frightened, but I was not. I felt no sense of malice at that moment, and the truth of it was, I felt a sensation of peace wrapped inside that warmth.

I turned to look back at the cliffs and was surprised by the distance that now stood between myself and the rocky shore.  While I was no longer in danger of falling to my death, I was however, concerned for my mental state.