The Thing

The autumn leaves fell gently to the ground.

Covering the body like a blanket.

It lay undisturbed that way.

Sometimes the eyes would flicker.

Sensing the surroundings.

Waiting.

The children gathered for the annual Halloween party in the woods.

Mrs Banks gathered them round for the spooky story.

The evil Thing in the woods.

Legend has it she was explaining.

The eyes began to flicker.

Sensing new life.

Mrs Banks could see the children were really getting into the story.

Their little eyes were transfixed on her.

Transfixed on the thing behind her.

Mrs Banks never finished the story.

The children tried to explain.

The story about the Thing.

In the woods.

They never found Mrs Banks.

Not even a track of her.

It was like she never existed.

The book lay on the ground.

Now and again.

When the wind blew.

The pages would make that flickering sound.

Always stopping at.

Legend has it.

Reviews

[.]

Halloween theme packed write... Nice narrative and nicer ending...

[Paul Bell]

lockdown in the woods.

[light and ashes]

Love this Halloween story! So original!

[Paul Bell]

Where did Halloween go to?

[light and ashes]

It flew off on a broom stick, naturally!

[Paul Bell]

I asked for that. lol

[light and ashes]

Lol I believe you did.

[Nicole]

I love this! Bless the soul who stumbles upon that book though...Yikes! I love scary stories of haunted places and I loved reading this piece!

[Paul Bell]

Few years down the line some kid will remark, this could never happen with a Kindle. Woods just make good scares.

[Nicole]

They do, but even if there was a Kindle...you still have to wonder where Mrs Banks is. Did she become a thing too? Was it a ploy to begin her life again? Is she haunting those woods? So many questions left for a few years down the road :)

[Paul Bell]

I'm putting you in charge of Mrs Banks whereabouts next Halloween. The return of the Thing.

[Nicole]

Yes! I gladly accept. I’ve watched enough CSI and I feel totally prepared

[Paul Bell]

CSI is a great grounding for getting rid of people who won't promote you to the status you deserve.

[Nicole]

See? Will I be the villain next year or the scientist? We’ll never know. I’m laughing so much! So glad I work from home!

[Paul Bell]

More fun being the villain, though scientists do mix things together and create weird outcomes.

[Nicole]

Exactly. Perhaps by then I’ll be a villain scientist. They say you can have it all if you put your mind to it.

[Paul Bell]

Definitely, it's like mixing alcohol concoctions that would kill ten people stone dead, but for some reason you manage to crawl home and then digitally kill the world.

[Nicole]

Complete truth!!

[Bryan Sefton]

Poe! You came back! Great disguise.

[Paul Bell]

He was a mixed up kid.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Very entertaining halloween piece here Paul. Nice characterisation, great scene setting and good drama in such a short piece.

[Paul Bell]

Sure was a quick Halloween this year.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Has it happened already?

[Paul Bell]

Rockets flying by would suggest yes.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Is that what all that racket is and here I am hid under the table thinking I'm in Aleppo!

[Cherrie Palmer]

I liked how you had the pages flickering in the wind.

[Cherrie Palmer]

This would make a excellent story

[Paul Bell]

You do the story, Cherie, I'm useless at stories.

[Cherrie Palmer]

This has a magical feel that is captivating. I really enjoyed it.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I think the thing is running a business there. Turn the page, catch the teacher, sell her meat. I'd be careful in the restaurants around that area.

[Paul Bell]

She was a tender Teacher, and tender teachers sell well in the butchers. Plus, Turkeys have had their day.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I wonder what they put in my chowmein the other day 🤔

[Tania Mo]

Aww this thing is cool. It grows eyes and takes boring teachers away.Can I borrow it please?

[Paul Bell]

Sending it with the budgie Amazon style.

[Tania Mo]

Thanx.make it purple. :)

[barleygirl]

One of my favorite Halloween stories of this season. I love how your storyline is so clear & straightforward, taking us straight into the hearts of these young listeners as they watch the THING take over storytelling time. Strong eerie scene-setting to provoke a spooky spirit for your story! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Paul Bell]

Nothing would scare you in the woods, Margie. Well, maybe Trump without his mask threatening to kiss everyone.

[barleygirl]

What scares me in the night are unidentified creepy crawling rodents that come up on my deck & nibble away at my lettuce before I can!

[Paul Bell]

You not got a remote control scatter gun. lol

[Marina]

An excellent Halloween tale, Paul. Like the Thing in the woods was just waiting to pounce on any disbelievers of its existence. A shame I couldn't have my horrendous 6th form teacher of years past taken in such a way. He certainly would have deserved it! You built the tension up very well and left us with a haunting image of those pages fluttering in the breeze. So well written. 💛

[Paul Bell]

Must admit, I had some teachers I swear were borderline insane. Would have loved some thing in the woods to take them out, though got a feeling even the thing would have run for the hills.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a perfect Halloween poem....so well told...
those pages turned by her ghost...
this reminds me of boy scout camp one year...and this priest who told us the story of the Telltale Heart, and wow, was he good...he had us scared to death the way he enunciated the story...
Your title brought James Arness to mind...
aaaaaahhhhhhh....was the last anybody heard from this reader of yours, Paul.
Now there is just a screen, with words on it...and an empty chair in front of the computer...that spins every so often.
j.

[Paul Bell]

Yes I remember being round the camp fire and hearing the ghost story. Some are just great story tellers and I wish I was one of them. I think the surroundings must be right though, and being in the woods definitely helps. 70 mph winds forecast tonight, withches sure will be flying by.