Like most folks, I scoffed at UFO and Ghost stories; at least I did until I saw it. It’s a day I’ll never forget. It was November 1, but it was early. In fact, you could say it was still Halloween night. It was cold and black as pitch when I saw it.

That was forty years ago. Back when I wore a younger man’s shoes; running shoes to be precise, Onitsuka Tigers, state of the art footwear in ’78. Gold with blue stripes they were light, sleek, and had less cushioning than a pair of moccasins, and I loved them.

Swept up in the wave of the running fad, I was training to run a marathon – Yes, a marathon. That was nearly unheard of in the 70’s, and my family and friends thought I was crazy. After all, I was doing it just for the fun of it – Egads!

Every morning, at five o’clock, I’d wake and lace on those sweet Tigers. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I’d head out for an eight-mile run. I ran through deserted streets, alone with my thoughts. Here and there, streetlights cast small islands of light in the murky darkness. I darted from island to island until I got to the first hill, a long grind, which took me out of town. Breathing hard, I crested the hill, left the security of the streetlights and turned onto Wykoff Lane. Ahead of me lay a mile of dark, country road. Since I knew every bump and hump of that street, I ran by memory. I ran by the feel of the pavement.

The hum of the last streetlight faded, and the world grew silent. No frogs, no crickets, nothing. It was eerie. The further I ran, the darker and quieter it got. Soon the only sound was my breathing. It was so dark, that when I held a hand up to my face,  I couldn’t see it. I remember thinking that maybe I should turn back. Then I saw it. Briefly, it was there, and then it was gone. A chill ran up my spine.

“What’s that?” I thought.

Then I saw it again, a dim red light. It appeared to be far away, blinking. Baffled, I ran on.

Oddly, it seemed to blink in time to my running. I could tell it was too small to be a car. Besides, I had seen no headlights.

“What is that?” I remember thinking, puzzled and a little alarmed.

At this point, I must remind you that this was forty years ago. Runners didn’t have clip-on lights. Bikes had dim headlights, small reflectors, and no taillights. Lasers were the stuff of science fiction, and nobody had ever seen shoes that blinked when you walked. No, this flashing light was strange, otherworldly.

I slowed my pace, mesmerized by the tiny light. It kept coming closer.

Blink, blink.

“What is it?” I muttered. I considered turning around, but curiosity got the better of me.

Blink, blink.

I ran on.

Blink, blink.

Slowly, steadily it came closer.

Blink, blink.

Then I heard it – a faint rubbing sound.

The sound came closer. It was synched with the blinking.

Scuff – blink, scuff – blink.

It was Halloween, and I was alone on a country road.

Scuff – blink, scuff – blink.

It was dark and eerily quiet.

Scuff – blink, scuff – blink.

I was spooked.

Scuff – blink, scuff – blink.

Suddenly a disembodied voice broke the silence.

“Is that you?”

My stomach jumped into my throat. I stopped, breathless, shaking all over.

Scuff – blink.

I couldn’t think.

Scuff – blink, scuff – blink.

I couldn’t talk.

Scuff – blink, scuff – blink.

Then the light vanished, and all grew silent. My heart raced, my hands were clammy.

The voice spoke again “Is that you?”

It was almost on top of me. I was too scared to turn and run.

“Dark ain’t it?” the voice laughed.

“Chris, you scared the crap out of me,” I yelled, recognizing the voice.

My running partner, who lived about a mile and a half down the road, usually waited for me on his porch, but not today. No, today he ran to meet me with his new toy, a digital stopwatch. It had glowing red digits, one of the first such available.

I’ll never forget that Halloween morning when a stopwatch scared me to death.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

– David L Dahl

 

Do you have a young reader on your Christmas list?

If you do then  check out:

Olivia’s Story: Protector of the Realm

or The Last Chore.

Both are available on my website – buggasbooks.com.

and from Lulu.com, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon

 

I’d love to hear your comments!

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