Random reminder

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 27

Random reminder

DEATH IN THE DARK

A certain North Canterbury woman, who is no TV fan. had the misfortune to visit some friends so addicted to this medium of entertainment that the pleasure of her visit had to be postponed whilst they all sat and watched a favourite programme. It was in colour, of course, and one of those spooky affairs where cruel crooks creep round dark alleyways and molest innocent women who scream in wideeyed terror before slumping in a pool of blood. Our heroine, unaccustomed to such goings-on either in real life or on telly was deeply impressed. And so the evening wore on. Before she left they had time for a cup of coffee and a few cheery words. Then out to her little car and off along long lonely roads to her empty house in the country. Confidently she swung into her large garage, her headlights cheerily showing there were no intruders hiding knife in hand in any corners. But haVing switched the engine off and closed the car door she was left in heart-pounding darkness.

The garage was sixty metres from the house and a high macrocarpa hedge

made the pathway pitch dark and eerily eerie. Half a mile away a disturbed dog howled. Black clouds smothered a wintry moon.

Vainly she wished she had not forgotten her torch, but bravely she carried on. Somewhere close at hand a thoughtless sheep baaed but being closer to the empty house than the garage she hurried on.

Chilled fingers fumbled amongst the senseless collection of odds and ends in her bag. Twice she looked round but neither time was there anyone stalking up behind her. At last she found the key. located the keyhole, opened up and ever so thankfully stepped inside. She was feeling round for the light switch. "Bang!"

She nearly but not quite died with fright. The light on she shakenly crept over to the stove and alongside saw life slowly fade from the pitiful eyes of a poor little mouse that had chosen that precise moment to nibble the cheese in her trap.