Sonal Singh On Sonal's Table
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It was a dark, stormy night. The furious storm swayed the willowy boughs and made them lash forth. The wind raged in between the trees, whistling an ominous note. It picked up piles of dry leaves and raised them in a veritable maelstrom. The cold October gale howled menacingly. The ominosity of the black clouds was accentuated by streaks of lightning dancing to thunderous claps. Yes! It was a night straight out of hell.
Old man Abel parted the curtains in his shack and studied the ghoulish clime. It was 3 am. It was time to make his rounds. As the night groundskeeper for the Willow-brook cemetery, his responsibility was to ensure that no one desecrated the graves, disturbed the dead. Abel was conscientious about doing his job; even a night like tonight could not deter him.
The university hostel that abutted the western edge of the graveyard produced more buffoons than intellectuals. Abel frequently had to chase away young lads who perpetuated mischief on the grounds, on a dare. How he hated those disrespectful men, the spawn of the devil himself. To them nothing was sacred, not even the dead.
His beady eyes trying to adjust to the gloom, Abel patted his long matted hair in place and stepped out. A gust of wind assaulted him and nearly threw his wiry frame, off balance. Clutching the door handle he steadied himself. He raised the collar of his raincoat, a feeble attempt to block the chill & limped off on his one good leg; the wooden peg of the other clattering on the cobble stoned pathway.
Suddenly, a scream rent the air. It was a tortured, shrill cry. It seemed like a person was in distress.
Muttering curses in the name of the hostel lads who would choose a night like this to play pranks; he limped off, to investigate.
As he neared the western boundary of the cemetery, he saw a creature most foul. It looked like a giant wolf. Its black-grey fur bristled with a silvery electric charge. Its furious red eyes snapped with menace. Its lips were curled in a snarl and saliva dribbled from its fangs. Its huge paws encased razor sharp claws. It was a humongous creature with the countenance of evil.
It stood over a girl who cowered in fear. The girl, a wee little thing slumped on the grass. Her face was covered by her bony hands in a pitiful attempt to fend or hide. The evil creature towered above her, exuding pure evil.
Wheezing, Abel hurried among the tombstones, fast as his leg would allow. The rain beat about him, lashing at him with unabated fury and stinging his eyes.
As he neared he saw a ghostly glow emanate from the beast. It reared up on its hind legs & howled. The sound, even in the storm, chilled Abel’s spine. Then, fear gripped at his heart as the beast turned and looked at him. Abel shivered in fright, right down to this busted leg.
Still mustering his courage & fearing for the poor girl, he approached the beast.
“Shoo! Be gone you evil creature. Shoo! Leave the girl alone” he yelled at the beast. Unmindful of his own safety he bravely approached, shrieking like a banshee & waving his cane about.
The malevolent creature reared up on his hind legs, snarled and lunged at Abel. Abel shrieked in abject terror. His bum leg gave way & he fell hard on the damp grass. He lifted his arms to shield himself when Poof! Like magic the beast & the girl disappeared.
“Happy Halloween” yelled the young scoundrels from the hostel as they carried away their projector equipment; their mischievous laughter echoing in the stormy night.
