Your worst Nightmare

THEM

"They are here," she said.

"Who?" I asked.

"Them!"

I was none the wiser. I didn't know who or what she was talking about. But what she said startled me!

There was a group of us sitting round a table in the dark, our fingers touching. She was the medium who would preside over the night's events. I must admit, I was very skeptical at first, I had come for the fun of it, and didn't think we'd encounter any spirits other than the few drinks we'd have after the sitting.

So when she said, "They are here," I was thinking, 'was this for real?' I looked around the table, in pitch darkness, and even then, I could tell some of my friends were thinking the same. Especially when she said, "THEM!"

She then seemed to go into a semitrance, and talk in voices, some of us recognized as departed friends. She was telling us things she couldn't possibly have known previously. Simple things, like birth dates, eye color and even, at times, the cause of death.

By this time we had all settled our nerves a bit and were listening intently to what she had to say. But still, the way she said "THEM!" was niggling at the back of my mind. Just who the hell were THEM?

I had expected her to say, 'the spirits' or something of that nature. But the way she pronounced the word, THEM!

It was so eerie, I felt it must have some significance. A significance that didn't belong to this seance, but that was so much darker. Darker even, than this room!

Anyhow, the night progressed along the lines of family readings and all present were satisfied with the events. (I must admit, even I was quite happy to hear that my dear mother was looking in on me, and sending her love, as ever).

Anyhow, night over, we all went to the local pub for a nightcap and discussed the night's events. All of us were contented with the sitting and the messages we got. (I had even quite forgotten that word by this time). After a couple of hours, just before the pub was about to close, we all said our goodbyes and headed on our merry ways. I lived in a different part of town from the rest, therefore, found myself walking alone.

The night was overcast, a slight drizzle dampening my overcoat. A mist crawled in from the estuary to mingle with the shadows that crept from the corners of the buildings that lined the avenue. The wind that swayed the tree tops, only added to the already surreal atmosphere. I walked on, an uncanny nervousness in my stride, all the while telling myself I had nothing to fear, that I was only spooked by the night's events opening my septic mind to strange new possibilities. Yet still I could not shake the anxiety of being followed!

My journey took no more than twenty minutes, but I was still glad to see the welcoming sight of my front door. I immediately felt sanctuary on the turn of my key. On entering my house, I took off my coat, hung it on a hook in the hall, kicked off my shoes and went into the living room and reclined in my favorite armchair. I picked up the remote control, switched on the box and watched a little lighthearted television for a while. Then I retired to bed. Very soon, I was in the land of nod. My dreams were undisturbed.

Next day, I awoke with the dawn and a contented yawn. My sleep had been very refreshing, and I was in very good spirits. In fact, I hadn't felt this good in a long time. I got showered, dressed and went downstairs. I breakfasted on toast and coffee. Then my thoughts raced back to the night before. I thought of my mother and smiled. She was indeed looking after me. How else could I feel this contented?

I raised my coffee mug and toasted her, "Thanks, Ma!" I got up from my chair, went to the mirror to adjust my tie and smiled to myself. Still handsome! (It's easy to be smug when you're on your own and in a good mood).