Image from: pixabay.com
You can't read a story right without the proper soundtrack
In a dim lit kitchen a pot on the stove is forming bubbles over the surface of a boiling liquid. The apples are placed in arrays on the big silver tray. You can see the sticks pocking them popping out like piercing knitting needles, ready to start weaving a new morbid jumper... as this Halloween is a bit chilly and an extra jumper will be needed.
Estephania pulled the pot from the stove and placed it on the kitchen counter, right by the apples. With the big spoon she gave it a good stir and her eyes were sparkling upon the sight of the glowing glaze she had just made. A smile of sweet satisfaction was drawn on her face.
"My little Jonathan loves Halloween..."
She sniffed in and enjoyed the warm and sweet smell her pot was giving off.
"He is going to love the party we are throwing tonight..."
And you could see in her expression that she was really looking forward to it.
One by one, she dipped the apples in the warm glaze and set them to cool down on her silver tray, the one with the wooden handles. That with the weird carvings, bones you'd think they were. Her Jonathan loved it...
Soon the clock would strike 9 and all the children of the town would go out, wearing their scary costumes, those they spent months preparing. With their little bags and baskets waiting to hold Halloween treats inside, their voices would flood the streets and her doorstep as well.
"Aaah..."
she sighed,
"My Jonathan won't be going out this year, but that's ok! His friends will be coming here soon and we'll have a hell of a party!"
"Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding."
It was time. Estephania put her black cloack, covered her head inside its loose hood, picked her straw basket where she had safely placed all her apples and waited by the door.
The first doorbell ring made her heart flutter with joy and excitement.
"Trick or treat!"
three children's voices were behind her door and she rushed to answer...
"Treat of course, my dear children! If you see Snowhite out there, tell her I'm looking for her..."
she said with a chuckle and offered each child an apple, three boys they were.
"You know, we are having a party soon, children. Would you like to step inside and enjoy your apple? My little son loves Halloween, but he could not get out tonight. He'd be very happy if you could spend some time with him before going out on your treat hunt. Would you mind?"
she asked politely.
The children seemed confused...
"Er... sure ma'am."
one of the boys said.
"Thank you! You are such sweet children! Thank you!"
she said happily and showed them the way to her living room.
"But first, you need to eat your treat, how are you going to get that energy you to continue your tour tonight?"
The children looked at each other and made a grimace of agreement. They were holding their apples on a stick all this time and that irresistible smell left no place for hesitation.
Big bites they chewed and the sounds they made while devouring their trophy treat made Estephania glow with joy!
"Oh! I can't describe my happiness, children. I spent all day preparing my apples and I wanted so badly children to like them!"
"They're really good, Miss."
one of the boys said with his mouth full.
Another doorbell ringing.
"Aaah! Excuse me, that would be meant for me! Be right back!"
she left the three children and went to answer the next call on the door. She had new guests to welcome and treat to her sweet apples, they were so tasty! To die for!
As she was reaching for the door, she heard thumps, but the sounds did not distract her. The doorbell kept ringing, one call after the other. A weird music was playing in her house that night, a pattern with a ring at the door and a thump on the floor. A mysterious composition to accompany tonight's party.
There was a time when no more rings came from the doorbell.
"I think it's time for the party to start."
she said and took her hood off.
Estephania left her empty basket on a chair next to the door and got in her living room that after a long time was filled with children's presence. The carved pumpkins with the lit candles created a spooky atmosphere inside the house. Shadows coming out of their scary eyes were falling on the wooden floors, drawing silhouettes of ghostly faces on them. This would definitely be a hell of a party.
The shadows were spreading all over the room, not just on the floor, but the furniture too. One strange figure was stretching towards the center, leading to a sight that was certainly not fit for a living room. A corpse of a little boy was there in a rocking chair in the middle of the room, and all around him you could see freshly deceased children, all dressed up in their Halloween costumes.
Wizards and ghosts, witches and mummies were occupying the room. Their bodies were placed in a seated position on the sofas and the floor, legs folded and arms placed over them, looking like they were all eagerly waiting for Nanna's stories to start.
"Oh good, we're all here now. Jonathan? Will you start reading your story, my angel?"
she said as she laid a book open right inside the cold and rotting lap of her late boy's remains. She then took a seat by the cold fireplace, with a grim smile painted on her face and her eyes closed as if... as if she could hear Jonathan narrating...
Original story by @ruth-girl - Steemit, 2018
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