A Night Called Halloween by James O'Brien

This is the season for the spooks,
The ghosts and goblins too,
And stories that will chill your blood,
With wolves and witches' brew.

Which brings me to a story told
So many years ago,
About a boy so tough and bold
Who feared nowhere to go.

He'd bully all the younger kids
And those he thought were weak,
Would take their money saved for lunch
For all were scared to speak.

And so it went for all the kids
Who went to Johnny's school,
But there was one who stood her ground,
She'd not be Johnny's fool.

Although she was, but half his size,
When Johnny came around,
She'd stop and glare with reddened eyes,
But never made a sound.

And then one day when Johnny came
Demanding Sarah's purse,
She kicked ole Johnny in the shin,
And then said something worse.

"Now listen here, you bully boy",
She said through gritted teeth,
"It's Halloween and I'm the Queen
Of those who lie beneath.

I'll raise the dead to come for you
If you don't change your ways",
And then she turned and walked away
With cheers and children's praise.

Well Johnny's pride was bruised of course
But so was Johnny's shin
And so through stiff and angry lips
He shouted, "You can't win."
Then later, after school was out
And after darkness came,
The children dressed in scary clothes,
But none were dressed the same.

And then they went to trick-or-treat
Because it's Halloween,
But Johnny went to steal their stuff,
Because that kid was mean!

But it's been said, that late that night
As Johnny walked alone,
He traveled down an alley where
The light had never shown.

He laughed at how he'd scared the kids,
And laughed at how they shook,
And then as Johnny headed home
He ate the things he took.

But suddenly, the story goes,
Right there before his eyes,
A Ghost appeared with others too
Which took him by surprise.

They faded in and faded out
Then poked him from behind,
Then picked him up and tossed him down,
He thought he'd lost his mind.

And then it's said, they took his clothes
And chased him with an knife,
Then flew right through his trembling flesh,
While threatening his life.

Well Johnny screamed and yelled that night
But none came to his aid,
For all the kids were home inside,
The ones, He'd made afraid.

Now many years have passed since then,
Since Johnny's dreadful night,
And though it's just a story told,
Ole Johnny sure took flight.

No one has heard a thing from him,
No sign from him is seen,
But to this day, that Sarah smiles,
Each night called Halloween.

James O'Brien
October 31, 2007