October 31, 2007 Halloween! Day 21.
I unfortunately didn’t see my electrical friend today, but in the spirit of Halloween, on the way down during my evening walk, I detected the slightest bit of haunting. I intentionally left on the climb a little late, so that I would descend in deep dusk and maybe be included in a conversation among the spirits. Right around the old quarry by the flagstone armchair I heard the token stick crack of a stranger’s footstep. I approached the chair. The stars fought through the final blue haze along with the quarter moon so my own shadow began to flicker across the remnants of the mine trail. Spooky. The sound came from the overlook, so I headed into the final crevice before the vista. Right as I reached the estimated spot, the darkest part of the narrowing, I paused. Every hair on my skin listened for another footstep. No footstep, but a small breathing sound. I flicked on my little LED flashlight, but I could only see grass and stone. The breathing continued, but I could not locate it. I stepped out of the narrow spot into more moonlight. My flashlight proved useless here. I said, “hello!” and my own voice suddenly scared me to death and I bolted back down the trail to the bottom laughing at myself.
