A ghoulish apparition stood before me
My knees knocked and I wanted to…plea
In my sleep deprived altered state
I wasn’t sure what I saw and began to fixate
It was ghoulishly late as twas meant to be
Strange laughter sounded like a banshee
Stay still don’t move it will pass by
As I crouched still silent unmoving nearby
Please keep going I muttered in my head
Oh how I’d rather be home in my bed
Than taking up the gauntlet to prove
I would not scare easily thereby reprove
All the neigh-sayers who boldly scorned
I coudn’t last the night in the ghost town
The challenge placed on my face a frown
I would win, all bets stood in the balance
Not just my silly pride, trying for nonchalance
Oh hell no, I’m so out of here
I turned to run and fell on my rear
A hand reached out to help me up
With hands shaking I was a grownup
Never intending to grasp hold
Feeling far less than sincerely bold
Accepting the challenge I held on tight
Eyes shinging brightly a shaft of moonlight
Lit the apparition before me so tall
He was not ghostly not ghostly at all
I knew him from the tour taken before
He was the tall gent from the bookstore
I know not whether I won the bet that night
But we surely had fun dancing in the moonlight
