Toni’s Blog

“You can count me out!” I said quickly, before the discussion got any further and I was drawn into a situation I wanted nothing to do with.

“Oh, Helen, don’t be a spoil sport - it’s only a bit of fun.”

My husband, Tim, squeezed my hand.  “And I’ll be there to protect you...”

I looked across the table at Tracy and Brian.

“Come on, Helen,” Brian said enthusiastically.  “We can’t let a challenge like this pass.”

“And it’s just for one night,” Tracy put in.

“Yes, and what a night!” I retorted.  “Hallowe’en - you must be crazy.  Who, in their right minds, would actually volunteer to spend Hallowe’en in a haunted house miles from anywhere?”

Alan and Steve, the two boys who’d put the proposition to us, looked at one another and sighed.

“Oh, well, that’s that then,” Alan moved to get up from the table and Steve made to follow, shaking his head sadly.

”Pity.  I really thought they’d be up for it,” he said pointedly to Alan.  “But they’re obviously not interested.”

“No, wait,” I said.  “Let me think about it some more...”

I looked from Tim to our friends Tracy and Brain.  They’d been going out together for as long as Tim and me, but unlike us they’d decided not to get married until they could afford a home of their own.  Both of them were sensible, down-to-earth people, and for the life of me I couldn’t see what they found so thrilling about the little scheme Alan and Steve had devised for Hallowe’en.

They were our friends, too.  We’d all met at school and had stayed friends ever since.

Lastly I looked at Tim.  The only boy I’d ever loved, and ever would.  We couldn’t wait to have a house of our own.  So we rented a small flat and got married.  Being together was more important to us, and we’ve never regretted that decision.

But back to the current problem...

In a way I could understand Tim’s eagerness to drag me off to a haunted house.  He’d always been interested in the supernatural and things that go bump in the night.  Not because he believed ghosts really existed, Tim believed there was a logical reason for most strange happenings and enjoyed investigating them.

Then there was me.  How did I feel about it?  In a word - scared!  But as I looked at their disappointed faces, especially Tim’s, I knew I’d give in.

I sighed heavily.  It was only for a giggle anyway, I thought, and as long as I stayed close to Tim and insisted on carrying a torch, not much could happen to me...

“Okay, I agree,” I nodded slowly.  “We accept your challenge.”

Five voices cheered loudly, and the landlord of the pub glanced disapprovingly in our direction.

“Right,” Alan drew his chair closer to the table.  “At eight o’clock on Hallowe’en we’ll meet you outside Willows End.  Then, once Steve and I are sure you’re safely inside, we’ll clear off and come back for you at dawn.  Now, as you know, there’s no lock on the door, so you’re on your honour not to sneak out during the night.  Okay?”

We nodded in agreement.

“Just one safeguard for me and Steve,” Alan went on.  “To make absolutely sure you don’t cheat we’ll stick something over the place where the door meets the jamb, so if you open it you’ll break the seal and you’ll have lost the bet.  When the sun’s up we'll come back and let you out.  All clear?”

We nodded again.

The two boys got up from the table.  “Right,” Steve said.  “We’ll see you on Hallowe’en then.  Don’t forget to bring your broomsticks, will you?”  He grinned in his good-natured way and saluted us.

After they’d gone we discussed Willows End...

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