I woke up this morning feeling kind of strange.
There was a chill in the air and coldness in my veins.
I climbed out of bed, yawning very loudly.
That’s when I noticed that my vision was a little cloudy,
Partially because it was so bright inside the room—
It seemed like the sun had risen much too soon.
I looked out the window, saw children walking to school--
One was dressed like a witch, the other—like a ghoul.
It occurred to me that today was actually Halloween--
Maybe I just felt jumpy from the scary movies I’d seen.
Time dragged by slowly—I had nowhere to go.
No work at my job because things were too slow.
I couldn’t seem to wake up, even after about an hour.
I decided I’d better make some coffee and take a nice warm shower.
Strolling to the kitchen, I turned on the coffee pot;
How I loved the smell of coffee when it was fresh and hot.
I then headed to the bathroom and shed off my clothes,
I turned on the water—and lo and behold…
The water hit my skin, and it seriously burned like mad!
I nearly slipped out the tub because it hurt so bad.
In my confusion, I tripped over the clothes I shed--
And then I wondered who put a cross above my shower head?
I knew I didn’t do it; someone else had been in my home…
I looked around paranoid, knowing that I lived alone—
I quickly got dressed and turned on every single light.
Deep down I knew that something here just wasn’t right.

Sometime in the evening, the doorbell started ringing.
I put my hand over mouth to keep myself from screaming.
“It’s just trick-or-treaters,” I said, remembering it was Halloween.
I put on a brave face, not wanting my paranoia to be seen.
I opened the door and heard someone say, “It’s really her! Get a torch!”
There were about a dozen adults standing on my porch.
“We’re here on the suspicions of my daughter Mandy.
“Don’t you dare try anything. We’ve got holy water handy.”
The woman who spoke--she was holding a wooden stick.
I said, “I don’t know what you’re up to. Is this some kind of trick?”
“Mandy said a man by the graveyard called you a crazy killer.
He said you bit him in the neck and then you started singing ‘Thriller’.”
I took a step back and slammed the door right in front of their faces.
Why was I cursed to live in a town with a bunch of mental cases?
Bunch of lunatics—on my door they started to bang.
Frustrated, I let out a growl, and then out popped my fangs!
I cried out in surprise and then I hurried to a mirror--
My house was dark, my eyes glowed red, and my vision was suddenly clearer.
I couldn’t believe this was happening—and I don’t frighten often—
But I couldn’t fathom how I hadn’t realized my bed was really a coffin.
Never in my life had I experienced something so scary--
As looking on the floor and seeing my own obituary.
“I know it is a shock,” someone whispered in my ear.
I gave a start and out the shadows, a mysterious man appeared.
He had long fangs of his own, and his smile was haunting and wild.
“I knew I would get you sooner or later, one of these days, my child.
I am the man that Mandy saw, and it is I who actually bit you.
Your memory has not yet returned, but eventually you’ll remember the truth.
Everyone in town knows what you are; you can no longer stay here.
So take my hand, and come with me. A new life awaits you, my dear.”

Still in shock, I couldn’t believe that this all was really true.
The man grinned and then said to me, “Just watch and do what I do.”
He raised his head to the ceiling and wings spread from his back—
Right then and there, I watched him transform into a giant bat.
I froze as I watched him—around my body, he flew--
And then before I knew it, I was a big bat too.
We soared through the house and out of a window with a loud crash.
The people on my porch screamed and ran away in a flash.
The vampire and I continued to fly, each second going faster.
“Happy Halloween,” we screeched, through high-pitched fits of laughter.


Copyright © T.D. Edwards 2013