Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
- unreliable narrator
- Member
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:35 pm
- Location: Cirencester, UK
Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
I gaze silently from the shadowed porch seat, overlooking the neighbourhood and the vibrant bustle of trick-or-treaters, their gaudy costumes glinting and flapping in the evening air. I scan the scene for my brother Jack peering into the gathering darkness, but recognise no-one. Excited whoops and screams resound as parents’ guide their little groups from home to home and I feel warm inside.
A woman across the street emerges onto her front porch. She carries my brother carefully in her outstretched arms then sets him down before returning inside. He grins at me, candlelight flickering behind his carefully carved features.
A woman across the street emerges onto her front porch. She carries my brother carefully in her outstretched arms then sets him down before returning inside. He grins at me, candlelight flickering behind his carefully carved features.
"We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight."
HP Lovecraft
HP Lovecraft
- pondspider
- Member
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: Sussex, UK
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
Very nice. It took a while for the penny to drop 

- Lucy Jayne
- Member
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:54 pm
- Location: England
- Contact:
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
This is brilliant. After such a good description that last line is perfect. I didn't predict the outcome as it all seemed so normal, had to read it again.
I wish this forum had huge gold stars that I could post!
I wish this forum had huge gold stars that I could post!
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
Do young Brits Trick or Treat and carve yellow squash?
Never judge anyone until you have biopsied their brain.
"Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle."
Known Some Call Is Air Am
"Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle."
Known Some Call Is Air Am
Spoiler:
- ROU Killing Time
- Notorious Forum Hog
- Posts: 4253
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:07 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
In some cultures it's a carved turnip. (No idea how you fit a votive in one.)
"Never fuck with The Culture"
Sublime In Peace Iain M. Banks.
Sublime In Peace Iain M. Banks.
- ROU Killing Time
- Notorious Forum Hog
- Posts: 4253
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:07 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
I wrote this one on All Hallows' Eve, 2009
"Jack"
I lay in deathly sleep.
The cold, sharp edge of the blade opens me, awakening me from my sweet slumber.
My skull carved open, brains scooped out and discarded as useless trash.
I would scream, but have no mouth for my agonies to issue forth from.
Not yet, anyway.
My simple, smooth face is next.
Ragged holes for eyes, and now a jagged mouth, teeth bared and hungry.
Then, a burning within.
I stare with gooey, gleaming sight at my tormentor, then feast and satisfy my new, eternal hunger.
In the compost pile, my children germinate and begin to grow.
October 31, 2009
"Jack"
I lay in deathly sleep.
The cold, sharp edge of the blade opens me, awakening me from my sweet slumber.
My skull carved open, brains scooped out and discarded as useless trash.
I would scream, but have no mouth for my agonies to issue forth from.
Not yet, anyway.
My simple, smooth face is next.
Ragged holes for eyes, and now a jagged mouth, teeth bared and hungry.
Then, a burning within.
I stare with gooey, gleaming sight at my tormentor, then feast and satisfy my new, eternal hunger.
In the compost pile, my children germinate and begin to grow.
October 31, 2009
"Never fuck with The Culture"
Sublime In Peace Iain M. Banks.
Sublime In Peace Iain M. Banks.
- pondspider
- Member
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: Sussex, UK
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
We do, but largely because of cultural bleed from you lotstrawman wrote:Do young Brits Trick or Treat and carve yellow squash?

- pondspider
- Member
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: Sussex, UK
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
That's darn goodROU Killing Time wrote:...Then, a burning within.
I stare with gooey, gleaming sight at my tormentor, then feast and satisfy my new, eternal hunger.
In the compost pile, my children germinate and begin to grow.
October 31, 2009

Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
strawman wrote:Do young Brits Trick or Treat and carve yellow squash?
The Trick or Treat part is largely borrowed from America. It's technically illegal, since you need a licence to go collecting donations from door to door, but it's one of those laws that you apply with a good dressing of common sense.ROU Killing Time wrote:In some cultures it's a carved turnip. (No idea how you fit a votive in one.)
Pumpkins don't traditionally grow in these parts, so we used to use turnips. But when I say turnip, I mean TURNIP! Like, a foot or more in diameter. They don't grow those big ones any more as you need to keep them in the garden shed or somewhere once you cut a lump off to eat. Hence turnips these days are much smaller, so you can keep them in the fridge if needs be.
The old tradition here was to carve your lantern, put a candle in it, of course, then wander around the town or village at night, using the scary face on the lantern to scare away the evil spirits. Also, the smell of slowly roasting turnip from your lantern is DELICIOUS!
The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head.
- pondspider
- Member
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: Sussex, UK
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
This seems appropriate... gratuitous pumpkin season mockery from John Oliver, one Brit who knows his way around 'Mericanese. 
PS. @Hellobuglers

PS. @Hellobuglers
- unreliable narrator
- Member
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:35 pm
- Location: Cirencester, UK
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
My favourite Halloween short story has to be 'Halloween Lights' by Anna Taborska. I first heard it a couple of years ago on Tales to Terrify and it's stuck with me ever since. I was thinking about that when I came up with the description in this Drabble. (Well that and the scene in ET if I'm being brutally honest with myself...)
If your interested or haven't heard it heres a link.
http://talestoterrify.com/tales-to-terr ... emma-file/
If your interested or haven't heard it heres a link.
http://talestoterrify.com/tales-to-terr ... emma-file/
"We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight."
HP Lovecraft
HP Lovecraft
- ROU Killing Time
- Notorious Forum Hog
- Posts: 4253
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:07 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
Ty. So was the OP's. It reminded me of a young(er) Drabbler I knew back in the day...pondspider wrote:That's darn goodROU Killing Time wrote:...Then, a burning within.
I stare with gooey, gleaming sight at my tormentor, then feast and satisfy my new, eternal hunger.
In the compost pile, my children germinate and begin to grow.
October 31, 2009Very darn good.
"Never fuck with The Culture"
Sublime In Peace Iain M. Banks.
Sublime In Peace Iain M. Banks.
- PB&Jellyphish320
- Member
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 2:49 pm
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
This is a pretty charming story. And I recognize the inspiration, but it's years since I've heard it. Thanks for that!
~ What's that in the mirror, or the corner of your eyes. What's those footsteps following but never passing by . . .
~ The Doctor
~ The Doctor
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
New dribblecast made out of this. This was fun getting the music just right
http://www.dribblecast.org/2014/10/15/d ... the-light/
http://www.dribblecast.org/2014/10/15/d ... the-light/
And thus ends my $.02. 

- unreliable narrator
- Member
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:35 pm
- Location: Cirencester, UK
Re: Trick of the Light (Halloween Theme)
Wow! I am both shocked and honoured at the same time! Great narration... not unreliable at all.
The music is great too. Thank you tibbi







"We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight."
HP Lovecraft
HP Lovecraft