Halloween and Beyond
“I am sorry, sweetheart, but this is the way it is.” Mrs Williams was getting ready to leave for her night shift at the hospital, and Tim, her 8 year old son, had to stay home alone on Halloween night.
“I hate you!” Tim yelled back. “I never have any fun!”
For Tim, it was a disaster. He and his friends had been talking about Halloween for weeks. Like them, he was desperate to see all the skeletons, witches, and ghosts walking around in the dark streets. And then, there was all the candy…
His mother was set to go. “I promise that I’ll make up for it,” she said. “On Saturday, I’ll buy sweets and we’ll have a really cozy evening. Bye now, son!” She got a taste of salt in her mouth when she kissed her son’s cheeks.
“It’s not the same!” Tim threw after her as she closed the door. Reluctantly, he had to accept the bitter fate of missing the most exciting night
of the year.
After a couple of hours in front of the TV, Tim got sleepy and crept to bed. He was already halfway into dreamland when he noticed something in the dim light. A woman was standing by his bedroom door, gently waving at him.
“Grandmother?” Tim mumbled. “You should have come earlier! We could have gone trick and treating together.” His grandmother smiled and nodded at him as he drifted back to sleep.
When Tim’s mother came back home, she sat down on his bed and stroke his hair. Tim woke up and slowly opened his eyes. “Mom,” he asked sleepily, “Did Grandma have braids and dark hair?”
His mother looked lovingly at her son, “Why, yes, she actually did have braids and dark, brown hair. But that was many years before she passed. Long before you were born, honey. Did you look at old photos last night? Oh, Grandma loved you so much!”
Without saying a word, Tim gave his mother a big bear-hug, happy for a Halloween experience that went far beyond anything he could have hoped for.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHiya Christer, what a different Halloween story. I really like the matter of fact way that you told this. How many times have our own children shouted I hate you! It’s the familiar things that guide this story along, as in the taste of salt. A nice story told well and I liked the end.
Thanks for your generous comment, Eric. Yes, the story is a very down to earth thing, except that we don’t get that kind of contact with people who have passed very often. The idea came from a personal experience many years ago, when I talked to a psychic. The woman described my paternal grandfather who had passed when I was a child. She said that she saw a man, dressed in military… Read more »
A beautiful story, Christer. Heartwarming – I’m sure we all wish we could be visited by our late Grandmothers and other relatives who’ve passed. And much better a real ghost than the dressed up ones 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI am very happy to see that you liked the story, Sandra. Thank you! As for your thoughts about the experience, I totally agree with you. If you want to know more about the background of my story, please read my answer to Eric’s comment.
Really Heartwarming. Loved it!
Thank you very much, Goddess, for your beautiful comment!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA very bittersweet story Christer. I think you demonstrated Tim’s disappointment very well. It was sad that he had to spend the night alone, especially when he’d been looking forward to trick or treating with his friends. You also described his mother’s reactions well; it brought back memories of when I had to go into work at the hospital when my children were young. Christmas Day was always the hardest! If they… Read more »
I feel honored by the fact that my story evoked memories and emotions from your own life, Carrie. I guess your background helped you to get some understanding in what I was trying to describe. How great that your children’s father was there to help out, but maybe there also were other powers involved. Please check out my answer to Eric above.
very simple, but effective story
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you, Susan!
This was an emotional Halloween story and I really felt for the young boy. I loved the line ‘she got a taste of salt in her mouth’. It drew me into the characters of a loving family.
Thank you very much, Genya. I really appreciate your nice comment.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI loved how Tim’s grandmother came to keep Tim company and that far exceeded anything he might have experienced trick or treating. Your experience with the psychic reminded me of my own when I attended a spiritualist church after my partner had passed. The psychic asked if there was anyone new in the audience and I raised my hand. He told me someone was coming through who suffered excruciating pain in their… Read more »
Wow! Thanks for sharing your story, Linda! It’s always fascinating when messages like that come through to us. I hope that your experience from Fontana di Trevi helped you to come through your grief and to give you courage to put even more love into the fountain of your life.
We don’t often think of Halloween as being beautiful, with the ghosts, goblins and whatnot. I am very impressed by this beautiful piece and its originality . Great job!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you, Melissa. I’m glad you liked the story.
A unique kind of Halloween. I didn’t expect his late grandmother to show up to accompany him on Halloween. So scary yet beautiful. I love it, Christer.
Yes, Lotchie, indeed a unique kind of Halloween. Such things do happen, however, and I think especially to children. It doesn’t occur very often, but every now and then there are people who experience such things.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYes, I agree, Christer.