Month: October 2023

A rhyming tale to make you smile!

You’re Mine

Karen Black

This night was special, Halloween! Twelve months had passed since he’d last seen his faithful friend of many years. When she arrived, sometimes his tears still fell as he remembered when she’d left him. She was only ten. Renee, his pal, his special friend. He’d been the one who caused her end.

It happened on the railroad track. He often wished he could go back to that October thirty-first. That cold, dark night he made the worst choice of his life. He let her walk alone that night. They’d talked of costumes, trick or treat, and after dinner where they’d meet.

Renee was picking lavender. Having such fun, she never heard the train. It rumbled down the track and struck her squarely on her back. A momentary jolt of pain, her life extinguished by the train. Her spirit floated to his side where she decided to abide.

It happened sixty years ago. Since then, he’d never truly known a day alone in all that time. Each day, she told him, “You are mine.” She never blamed him for her death but made it clear she’d never rest without her friend. Most times a voice, yet Halloween allowed her spirit to be seen.

He lit a candle for some light within his room that moonless night. Then hovering above the flame, he saw her, and she called his name. And when she stood, the room turned cold. He reached for her, so he could fold her in his arms. He hugged his beautiful Renee, and like always wished she could stay.

Though once a year, she could pass through, the spirits’ barriers, he knew that every day, at least one time, he’d her softly say, “You’re mine.”

***

Do you believe in ghosts? I do. Although I don’t think the only time they visit is on October 31st, I suspect there are a lot more spirits wandering on that day, if only because we summon them.

Watch spooky movies, read scary books, dress up in costumes, and enjoy the parties. But be extra careful with Ouija boards and seances!

Looking for some spooky books? Here are a few you might enjoy reading, along with a short review of each.

WHEN THE ROOSTER CROWS AT MIDNIGHT by Hargrove Perth. The story grabbed me from the outset. But who could resist a first-person tale, told by a detective who happens to be a witch? Detective Mallory Shane is employed by the City of Pittsburgh’s Immortal Detective Association of Witches, IDAW. When witches are being killed by an assumed serial killer, it is up to Detective Shane to figure out who is responsible and why others of her kind are being attacked. At the same time, she needs to focus on keeping herself out of the killer’s path. With memorable characters and a fast pace, this well-done novel will keep you entertained.

DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist It doesn’t take long to get involved in this engrossing fantasy. I don’t usually recommend prologues but will make an exception. Read the prologue! In Leist’s delightfully chilling novel, all vampires are not created equal and all of them aren’t as wicked as most folklore has led us to believe. The author weaves a page turning story that will satisfy current fans of vampire tales and will undoubtedly create new vampire enthusiasts, with emphasis on the memorable characters in the Dead Game. I’m looking forward to Book Two.

BREATHLESS: A SHORT STORY by Yvette Calleiro A cross between be-careful-what-you-wish-for and karma-is-a-beast, “Breathless” is an adult fairy tale. Love and hate, good and evil, happy and sad are all woven together, with a touch of magic. The author has created an entertaining short story with exactly the right ending.

LONG STORIES SHORT by Karen Black is a collection of ten short stories, includes several previously published readers’ favorites. Mark and Erin discover the power of the Ouija Board in “You Summoned Me,” and “Magic or Miracles” will take you on a journey that may help you decide if there’s a difference. How long is “Forever?” Does Bigfoot exist? Eli believes so and “One Step at a Time” tells his story. Is there life after death? “A Candle in the Darkness” looks at both sides of the question. “Mountain Justice,” a story of domestic violence, friendship and a horse’s devotion might make you wonder how far you would go to save a friend’s life. A house fire causes tragedy in “Aftermath.” A hasty decision has devastating results in “Unintended Consequences.” Dreams and reality collide in “The Hunted.” Man’s best friend proves he is just that in “Indisputable Evidence.” Written in a variety of genres, the reader will find drama, suspense and paranormal. Expect the unexpected.

Until next time,