TAORMINA, SICILY

It was a dark and stormy night.  I went to my bed craving the sleep that seemed to elude me every night since the start of the visitations.  As I crawled into bed by the light of the ghostly moon, I said a brief prayer asking that I be spared a visit tonight.

As I dozed off to sleep, I heard the ghastly sound of the door opening and then the creek of the floor boards as my visitors slipped into the room.  I closed my eyes tight like a child willing them to go away.  Suddenly a cold hand reached out and touched my shoulder.  It was followed by a plaintiff voice that said, “Mommy we’re scared.  Can we sleep with you again tonight”.