Sssssccccaaaarrrryyyyyy SHOP

I'm a real scardy SHOP, maybe because I've grown up on the Christmas Steps which is so olde - about 340 years - and have seen many bloody and brutal battles, murders and mutilations over the years. In fact, I saw old Colonal Lansford himself stabbed right through the heart (but I wasn't to blame) with my own shoppy eyes. Despite this, or maybe because of it, as a SHOP I am really rather keen on Halloween.

Here's some of my favourite stories that I've overheard throughout the years...

NEVER GO FOR A WEE IN THE WOODS
A boy took his girfriend out for a Halloween night drive (fool!) to some nearby woods (fool! fool!). He parked the car deep within the trees so no one could see them. After a few minutes, however this boy needed a wee and got out of the car to relieve himself. The girl waited for what seemed like ages before tentatively getting out as well, to look for him. She suddenly spotted a large figure in the shadows near a tree. Terrified, she fled back to the relative safety of the car and locked all the doors. Her first thought was to get out of there fast, but her hands were trembling and she struggled to get the car keys into the ignition. Then she heard a faint squeak ... squeak ... squeak. The noise continued until the girl by now scared half to death managed to get the car started and hit the acellorator hard. The wheels spun round and round impotently, the car, useless, didn't move - a rope had been tied from the bumper onto a nearby tree. She tried the acellorator again, and this time the car lurched forward, immediately she heard a blood-freezing, terrible scream. Petrified, she got out of the car to be greeted by the horrific sight of her boyfriend hanging from a tree a above the car ... the squeaking noise was his shoes slightly scraping across the roof of the car- before the acceleration of the car had hung him.

LECCY IS NOT YOUR FRIEND
Late one night a girl went back to her university room to get some books and things before heading to her boyfriend's room to celebrate Halloween. She went into the room but didn't turn on the light, so as not to wake her sleeping roommate. She stumbled around in the dark for a few minutes bumping into things and gathering books, clothes and a toothbrush before leaving. The next day, she came back to her room to find it surrounded by police. They asked if she lived there and broke the news that her roommate had been murdered the night before. Then, gently, they led her back to the room. There, written in gigantic bloody letters on the wall, were the words: "Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light."

ROOM FOR A LITTLE ONE
Many years ago, a young woman on her way to town decided to break her journey and stay with friends at an old manor house. They gave her a room overlooking the drive which swept up to the front door. The brightness of the moon made it difficult for her to sleep so she was still awake when the grandfather clock in the hall struck midnight. Immediately she heard horses' hooves and the sound of carriage wheels clattering up the drive. She looked out to see who on earth could be arriving at that time of night. In the moonlight she saw a hearse. But there was no coffin; instead it was crowded with people. The coachman sat high-up on the box and as he drew up below her window, he turned and looked up at her, and said: "there's room for one more." She drew the curtain, terrified and cowered under the bedclothes. She was glad to leave the old house behind her the next morning and when she reached town that afternoon, she went happily about, stopping to go shopping in a big new store that had a lift - a new fangled device back then. She finished gathering up purchases on the top floor and called this lift to take her down to the street level. It was almost full, but her bags were heavy so the attendent ushered her in: "Don't worry Miss, there's room for one more." Her blood ran cold as she heard this phrase and she tried hysterically to get out again, but the doors clanged shut. Almost immediately the lift plummeted down, its passengers screaming and crying. The clamour ended with a sickening thud. There were no survivors.