I've never been able to watch scary movies, unless they were the old Boris Karloff movies and such. I love the old Frankenstein, Werewolf and Count Dracula scaries!! Nothing can ever really replace those old black and white treasures.

My kids would watch newer scary stuff and it would really be an issue with me and they made me feel so unreal not allowing them. This was many many years ago. Now I've seen many of their shows and many more I can't and won't watch!!

So one very dark Halloween night right and I do mean right after the younger ones had left for an evening of Trick or Treating. I relented and told one of my older sons, the only one who wanted to stay home with mom, its ok pick a movie. Less than my smartest move ever.

So he grins and I should have know better with that dadgum grin of his and his 'really?'. We lived many miles out of town around corners and bends in the road. With trees and bushes hovering next to and over the road. So dark it be and the moon was indeed only peeking from the darkened sky. Great night to be inside not out Trick or Treating. At least inside one is safe! Right?!!

The popcorn is popping, I love fresh popcorn with lots of real butter and salt. Our house is long, ranch style and faces sideways to the road so that the back end of the house which is the living area reaches deep into the darkened woods. The darkened woods that have hidden many a bear and grizzlies at that. Built on a slab of concrete with sliders almost level with the ground. Painted a shade of spruce green with a brown roof. Makes the windows resemble a cave to a sleepy bear..

So more that once I am nervous at what may be 'out there' looking inside. I have seen some amazing wildlife while I was sipping my morning coffee seated on my couch and have imagined many more types of 'wildlife' than one should seated on their couch. We've always had big dogs so worry not so much I was more nervous with the darkened night and the spooky movie starting up. I knew we didn't have any too scary movies in the house, famous last words or thoughts..

Of course I hadn't taken into account the cable we had installed only a few months ago. My son of course was really aware of all the benefits to multiple channels and all they have to offer on a night such as all Hallows Eve. Dadgum rotten kid knew all along he would be able to con mom into watching a scary movie once the littluns were out for the night. Their father at the last minute decided to take them with the neighbor's dad. The neighbors who live a bit down the lane, were also out for the night. So all alone were we on that darkened, tense, foolish night I decided to turn the reins over to a 14 years old boy, with a crooked one sided grin!! Not the bravest kid I had nor the biggest!!

So on goes the tube, with the taste of butter on my fingers we start to watch. We never get many Trick or Treaters that find their way out here on such a dark and lonely lane. So kisses and hugs and one last adjustment before the littluns are off to town with dad. Just barely out the door and the movie begins.

Werewolf in London, I believe it was. See I told you how foolish I had been. We were just at the moment where he begins to morph into the dreaded werewolf and it seemed like only moments my beloved family had left me here scared outta my wits. Only moments of dreaded music I remembered from the older black and whites that deepened my fears before a single scary moment took place. I swear you can make or break a scary movie by the music building the moment they make or break you and break is more of what they intend to do!!

That pitched moment in time when the crescendo of what my eyes are seeing my brain is perceiving and my ears are trying to block out yet at the same time straining to hear even the slightest of change in pitch or moments hesitation when I know, when we all know that something is 'now' going to happen... BOOM!! it always does.. right then at that moment man meta-morphing into the dark dreaded beast. His clothes shredding from his twisted frame his screams and howls blending into one language. His piercing blood tinged eyes bulging from his/it's skull. The head pivoting and both eyes starring thru the TV screen into my eyes as if he could really see me and his blood curdling howl at the full London moon and my tears frozen still trapped inside my eyelids unable to stream down my cheeks. For if they do he will rip thru the screen and devour my very soul!

Ding, Dong, KNOCK KNOCK AT THE DOOR!!!!!!!!!! dang, there was a ringing of my doorbell and a knocking at my door right at that moment, right at that very second. Damn, my son and I grabbed each other and said foolishly ' did you hear that?' Yes, its just Trick or Treaters, riightt?? Of course it is. Lets just sit here. The outside lights are off, all the lights in the house are turned off, for the proper atmosphere, for our scary movie. The big dogs are not barking we sent them to town with the kids so they wouldn't scare the little Trick or Treaters, we might get way out here!

Knock,knock just barely a tap at the door now. Surely they think we are gone? The front door is down the hallway and around the corner into the foyer. They can't see the light from the TV altho they might have heard the movie as of course the volume was up to the max. Curses for the beauty of surround sound! Why did I ever let him pick the scary movie and why did I not take my littluns way far away to town and leave this evening's adventures or more so intensities to my mountain man of a husband! Why foolish woman are you here now shaking and barely breathing with your fingertips embedded into the biceps of your 14 year old son. DAng!

We must answer,that's just all there is to it, we must. First we have been sneaking peeks at all those dark windows with so little moonlight outside. Hiding whatever so chooses to be hidden on such a darkened, woods filled night! Could be right next to the windows we would never know was there, anything that wanted to be there. Hiding, smirking, taking great pleasure in the bulging of my eyes almost identical to those eyes of that poor man just as he was morphing into the werewolf! How it hurts to have your eyes bulge soo!!

One step, be brave I am MOM yeppers I am MOM and I will set the example of parental bravery. DAng not now maybe later, we wrap our hands around each other arms and trudge as heavy footed as we can moving as tho frozen in time the blaring of the TV in that glorious surround sound continuing with the howling and screams of the werewolf then fading into that low leveled music that prepares you for the storm and terror yet to come. We shuffle into the foyer and glimpse the shadow of a something big. Not a littlun after treats me thinks.

Bumping against the door frame tapping more lightly with it's head cocked to the side. From what we can see in the shallow lights reflected from the nervous terror in our eyes. Clarity is not a part of my brain function at this point much less the common sense of 'turn the lights on fool!'. So I trudge to the door and flip the outside lights on and in their glow is a man or something such. His hoody is drawn up around his face to cover all but the tip of his nose and just a glimmer of moistened lips. His body is twisted sideways with but one hand banging slowly on the door. His other hand deeply planted into his pocket. Oh sure just swing that door open and say welcome my time here on earth has been great and I'm ready to leave this planet this Halloween!!

DAng kids.. a mother must find some courage in the presence of her child. By this time the yapping of, oh yes I forgot to mention, my mighty rat dog. All of 8 lbs maybe? Yappers that's all she's good for and right now she is yapping like crazy adding her fears to the lull of the surround sound. So I pick her up and take her warmly into my arms then go to open the door to see what I will see. She yaps up a storm so I hand her to my son to hold so both my arms and hands are free for the need may be great.

I open the door and try to talk thru the screen door. He I believe it is a he, is mumbling and I just can't quite make out his words. So I must open the screen door, my last defense between us and all that might be traveling thru the darkened night. He takes a step inside. Not my intent, my intent was to open the door to ask him what was needed. He took the liberty of stepping inside, must not be a vampire. Wasn't asked to step inside my home. See what foolish nonsense can cross a tortured mind at a moment like this.

He mutters something and little Wookie our only defense at this time is growling and making a quite muffled 'almost needing comfort' growling sound. That in itself is frightening as she is always way to aggressive. So much like her namesake.. dang rat dog.

My son and I are standing on each side watching the intruder closely for any moves that might betray his true intent. Not much movement as he is still standing sideways with is head partly turned away his hood covering up most of his face and his words once again so very muffled. I ask again what he needs? By now not only wary but calming a bit, just on edge. I say again 'I am sorry I can't quite hear you, what do you need?'. He shuffles his feet and muffles 'a phone, to make a call'. OK, as I move my hand showing him the way to the phone I wisely allow him to lead us so that we can keep a guarded eye on this hooded being that just might be human flesh and blood. Just not the nicest kind.

As he walks thru the living room the movie is screaming and howling away, with someone being ripped apart. Such a wonderful moment to reaffirm my confidence I have indeed done the appropriate thing to allow this individual into my home.

My son and I are warily following this shrouded creature into the sanctum of our home. Into the very bowels of all that may be the horror my dreams will be made of, if there are dreams where I may yet be headed. How foolish of me to let him in. He reaches the phone in the kitchen and my son and I have him flanked between us the constant growling of my rat dog and the now turned down screams of the movie, only a faint crescendo of constant reminders of what may lay ahead. We are ready..

He mutters something on the phone, nods his head and hangs up. I expect him to say something besides a muttered 'thank you' or to have glimpsed his eyes to see they are not bloodshot or mocking my false bravado!! Nary a glimpse, alto I did offer to help him further trying to draw him out to see what may be going on or being set up?

He starts to 'shuffle' towards the foyer and I am even more nervous than before. The whole episode has left me more than shaken and I wonder what and who may have slithered into my home while we were sidetracked with this hooded, muffled, hunched over being. Which at this moment headed out the front door! Only moments had past and I am sure whatever snow white hairs I had earned by that time, had fallen to the floor never to be noticed again.

Out the door it goes and I lock us up tightly within our sanctuary.. My son says did you catch what was going on? I said it sounded as if he was getting someone to pick him up? My son says, I think I know him from school and can't imagine what he would be doing so may miles from town out our way.. So we were huddling trying to fathom what had just happened and there comes loud noises up the walkway!! Loud aggressive noises, not shuffling this time! We haven't even left the foyer and are even less prepared for another onslaught especially now!! DAng it all what the hell is going on ?? Tears of fears are welling up, the unspent ones from so long ago are being pushed onto my cheeks from fresh ones torn from new fears and tears that burn so hot must surely be from my soul thawing out from the terror of the night yet to come!!

My husband appears in the window's light and all my littluns with all their bags brimming full of treats from town are tumbling into the foyer not even able to stumble further into the living room or kitchen to show what treasures they have claimed this night!

I am soo relieved and my husband looks at me with a twinkle disappearing from his eyes as he says 'You know you can't watch scary movies'. I am in his arms hovering over the littluns taking what comfort I can and trembling like a leave just before it's fallen to the ground.

Later after the candy was properly counted and devoured with enough coffee. Of course by me the littluns had plenty prior and had divided their treasures into bags to be stored in the freezer. Off to bed they go what a delightful evening they had. When all had been kissed and tucked to sleep my hubby and the older ones, now they also had returned. Now we talked of our evening's adventure.

I asked him if he recognized my hooded guest? He must have passed him on the walkway. It is the only way off the porch into the yard and driveway. The outside porch light was on and they were less than seconds from the door when our hooded visitor closed it behind him. Nothing not even a glimmer was there he says. The big dogs were glad to be out of the truck and took nary a notice of anyone or anything amiss. How could the dogs not know there had been a stranger here but moments before and walking down the steps in front of them?

I know he was real, even my little rat dog rumbled and whined deeply within her mighty frame.

They hadn't seen a thing and out he goes with the flashlights to check for footprints around the house. The mist had settled in and there was a crispness to everything, not quite a deep freeze just a frost. Enough to show more than the nothing he found. His and the kids' footprints all over the porch nary a strange one amongst them. Nothing in the yard, except the footprints of happy dogs finally out from the confines of the truck!

Apparition or fellow human being in need? Moments of terror or moments of helping? Never so foolish shall I be again!! The dogs began howling with the moon and all the hairy things shuffling thru the forest began singing their songs as the shivers ran deep down thru my spine.

All Hallow's Eve took on new meaning for me that night!!