Haunted Halloween Tea

The other day, when the weather turned colder, I wrapped up in my warm togs and took myself for a walk.

 It was a nice sunny day even if quite cold and I thought it might be good for me to check out the local park.

 Down the steps to the park I went, crunching leaves under my feet and the sounds of the cars driving through the neighborhood keeping me company.  I came across a little bridge and went over.

 I followed beside the creek for a bit, listening to the burbling water.

 Suddenly I realized that I couldn't hear anything but the creek and the leaves under my feet.  Odd, I thought, in a downtown park, to not hear the cars driving by.  I was having a lovely time so I kept walking.  Eventually I came out of my head and noticed that even the leaves weren't making any sounds and that it had started to get dark.  It was too early in the day for it to be getting so dark so I looked around and discovered that I'd wandered into a woods.

 I didn't remember all these trees being here last time, but everywhere I looked there were trees.  I started to worry, of course, and decided to make my way home.  But the farther I went back home, the more trees I came across. 
 

  Eventually, I stumbled out of the trees in front of this spooky old house.  I looked all around but all I could see were trees and the house.  There was a for sale sign in the yard but it looked as if all but the cats and birds had abandoned it a long time ago.

 Being desperate and super cold, I walked up the porch steps and went to the door, hoping there would be someone inside to help.

When I went to knock, I found the door cracked open just a bit.  I knocked but no answer came so I decided to at least get out of the cold until I could figure this out.

 I wandered into the little old cottage and found lots of spider webs, dust and a table set up with candles and pumpkins.  It seemed as if the rest of the house was abandoned but this one little corner had recently had a visitor.

 I turned around to search the rest of the house, but heard a noise and turned back to the table.  "Where did that apple come from?" I asked myself.  I knew it wasn't there a moment ago.  I was quite hungry so I decided to help myself.

 I wandered the little cottage while I ate my apple, looking for any sign that someone was there or would be coming back.  When I went back to the table, I found a pot of tea and a teacup full of what looked like lemonade.  I was even more thirsty than I'd been hungry, so I drank down the liquid right quick.

 The next thing I knew I was looking at a pair of striped stockings and black boots.  It was also much brighter in the room. 

 I looked around and was amazed to find the candles burning, lots of treats on the table and twinkle lights gleaming from the ceiling. 

 I heard a sigh, and looked beside me to find a woman watching me.  Not just any woman either.  She looked like a cross between a gypsy and a witch.  "It's about time you woke up.  I've been waiting for hours!", she said.  Then gave me a smile.

 

 "Come, Come, join me at the table. We'll have a snack while we visit.", she said.

 I couldn't help looking around the table and sneaking glances at her.  She seemed a bit familiar but I couldn't put my finger on just where I knew her from.

 "Here we are, dear, I nice warm cup of tea for you," she offered as she poured.

 As I sipped my tea, she picked up a deck of cards and started to shuffle. 

"Let's see if we can't get you some answers, shall we?" she asked.  I just nodded as I sipped whilst trying to wrap my mind around all this.

 Flip, flip, flip...she tossed down cards quickly, with a few hmmms and unhuhs under her breathe. 
"Now dear, just look here, you've been on a journey and you haven't really been careful about how you went.  Letting your mind wander along the way, it seems you went off your path.  You can get back there but it takes work and being willing to sacrifice.  You have quite a bit of power and strength inside you but it seems you don't believe that and have let go of your gifts."  She looked up at me from beneath her lashes.  A small smile came across her face as she said, "Yes, dear.  You have to learn to love yourself in order to find love with another.  But it will happen, don't stop believing in love."

 I sat and stared back and forth between her smiling face and the cards.  How does she know this, I wondered.  Suddenly she laughs this great big belly laugh, then proceeds to offer me more tea.

"No, thank you," I reply finally finding my voice.  My eyes flick over the table at all the treats and all the tricks.

 "Have a chocolate, " she offers, "they will make you smile.  The cupcakes grant wishes.  The lemon cookies grant you strength and the molasses make you sweeter. The grapes are very cleansing and the strawberries are for love.  Or maybe you'd like a potion for the gift of magic?" 

Potion for magic, I wonder, that sounds great...wonder what's in it.

 

 "Now," she says with a clap of her hands, "let's get back to business."  She points to the white candle in the shape of a woman.  "Take this with you and when you are ready, light the flame and let it burn all the way down." 

I look at the candle and the things around it, then back to her.  "What's it for?" I ask.  "It's for you." She says with a nod.  I'm growing more confused by the minute.  "How will I know when to light it?" I ask her.  "You'll know." she declares.

 I shrug my shoulders and start to look around again.  I feel like maybe it is time to leave, but don't want to be rude.  Just as I start to ask if she can help me get home, I notice one of the candles.  It seems to be...bleeding.  A shiver goes down my spine.

 She must sense my nervousness.  With a snap of her fingers a book appears on the table in front of me and she comes to stand beside me.  "Remember," she says as she flips the pages.  "Remember who and what you are, where you come from." she says with emphasis as she runs her finger down a page.  Satisfied she looks at me and nods toward the page.

 As I read, she whispers, "Remember."  The she hands me the tall glass with the orange liquid and tells me to drink.  As I finish the refreshingly odd drink, she holds out her hand to me and says, "For you, to help you never to forget again."  She is holding a lovely silver heart shaped locket on a long chain.  As she snaps the locket closed something inside clicks and I know.  I know now who she is.  I know what she wants me to remember. 

I know that she is reminding me that I am strong, that I have the power that I need to find my way.  But the most important thing that I remember...

is

that

I

am

the

Witch.

Blessed Be!
Have a Happy All Hallow's Eve!



Thanks for joining me today as I celebrate the 6th Annual Haunted Halloween Tea Party with Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist.  I hope you have had a good visit and will come back again.  Be sure to head over to Vanessa's and visit the other participants.

blessings
~*~

ps. remember there is a little witch in all of us  :-)