It was a cold grey day in February, when the last of the snow had melted away and a somehwat warm breeze was howling through the air. Nobody could be seen in sight. A single restaurant stood on the edge of the town, leaves gathering up and whirling in front of the door. Inside, it was a complete contrast from the monochrome outside world. It was bright and warm, and couples sat hunched together at the many tables. Only one person sat alone, at a table in the far corner. He was a slender, bony man dressed in a black tuxedo. On the table was a single vase with a wilted dried up rose, the perfect accompaniment to the mood. The man was deeply absorbed in a book, perhaps the menu. Suddenly, he looked up, and a grin broke out on his face.
"Greetings,
boils and ghouls!Long time no scream!" He picked up the wine
glass with long bony fingers and turned to face the audience
again.
"Its that time of the year, when people are bitten by
that bug, and love is in the scare, also known as Valentines Day!This
takes me back to the days..." He thought back fondly of the
past, in particular of his relationship with the opera singing
skeleton woman, which was short lived due to a tragic accident, when
she was crushed on stage by a piece of falling scenery. He snapped
out of memory lane and turned back to the audience, his book
poised.
"Tonight's tale is about Johnny, a lost and lonely individual, for whom it seemed true love was never on the cards, and he had given up all rope of ever finding his other half. Guaranteed to warm even the most cold-blooded among us, i call it: "Lonely Heart".
"So you see folks, no need
to hang yourselves in desperation, there is someone out dare for
everybody! I'm so happy Johnny finally met his miss Fright, wish i
could meet my better half too!" As he spoke, there was a
lightning flash which brightened the whole room. An elegant female
stood before him.
"Hello, Cryptkeeper," she said in a
soft voice.
"Who are you?How...?" he stammered, staring
in awe.
"Well, you wished to meet your better half, and here
I am. I am Sally Greenteeth, sister of Jenny Greenteeth the water
witch." He could no longer keep his excitement. He thought he
must be dreaming.
"Little missy, you are beautiful!" he
said, extending a bony hand towards her, gently clasping her tiny
hand in his. She had green skin and green hair, with light and dark
green streaks in it, even her teeth were shaded green. Her hand felt
pleasantly cold and damp. She had hollow cheeks and jutting hip bones
under her red dress, through which a set of ribs were also visible.
Now he was convinced he wasn't scheming. "You are every man's
nightmare!"
"Yes, and I'm yours, for ever!" she
flashed an eerie smile at him which made his cold heart melt into a
little pool of molten lava. Not letting go of her slender little
hand, he pulled her towards him.
Cut to the last scene, the
two are sitting outside the crypt on the veranda, under a midnight
starry sky, hand in hand, gazing into each other's eyes. The
Cryptkeeper suddenly jumps up, as if he has forgotten something, and
his face turns around to face the audience.
"So, happy
Valentines Day, cryptkiddies! And remember: be scare-ful what you
wish for - for it may come true!Ahahahahahaha!!"
