I hope the nightmares weren't too horrible....
Whether or not you actually believe in monsters, it’s a good idea to have a plan should you ever encounter one.
In my experience, every town has its legendary spooky places. Growing up, my friends and I passed stories around during recess and slumber parties, handed down to us by our older siblings.
There was the lone tree in the middle of the old farm land where once upon a time criminals were hung and where the apparitions of the dead are said to appear nightly. Or the town library, a former inn, haunted by the ghost of an old woman who’d once lived there. And then there was the house at the end of the block where the grass was never mown, the shutters hung crooked, and no one ever went in or came out...
If you’re anything like I was as a kid, the threat of seeing something scary won’t necessarily stop you from exploring these kinds of places. I’m certainly not telling you to break any rules, but if you happen to find yourself somewhere you shouldn’t be, there are a few things you might want to know.
1. Ghosts love having their picture taken. Why else would they always be sneaking into photographs? I’m always charmed and surprised when I discover a curious ghost in a picture that I’ve taken. Most often, I find that spirits appear in photographs as little bobbing globes of light, but I’ve also found strange grayish blue mists that weren’t originally there. When exploring spooky places, bring along a camera and take lots of pictures. If ghosts are present, they will appreciate this and try not to scare you. You might even end up with a nice souvenir.
2. Monsters like daylight. Don’t think that just because the sun hasn’t set means you’re safe. I spent many afternoons in the woods behind my house listening to the sounds of stealthy creatures trying to sneak up on me, crunching through the dead brush. Listen carefully, no matter what time it is, and always be prepared to run.
3. When in doubt, leave a present. If you’re afraid that a beast might be tempted to follow you home while exploring, you’ll always want to bring a small gift to distract the creature. The following items usually work: a piece of food, like an apple or cookie; Valentine’s Day card, so what if it’s not Valentine’s Day – the monster won’t know that; a few pennies – they tend to like shiny things.
4. Talk to the creature. You might be surprised to find that not all monsters are nasty. Some of them are just lonely. ...Aww... Isn't that special?
5. Tell your story to your little brother and sister, or cousin, or friend, or teacher. The best way to keep from getting scared yourself is to scare other people too. (I should know...!) Keep the legends going. And don’t forget to laugh with your friends. That way, you are never entirely alone in the dark. (But don't blame me if your mom starts getting complaints.)
Here are some undead supermodels I found on the Lower East Side... Spooky!
Here is a really cool one-eyed Squid Kite I saw flying at Governor's Island.
This is truly one of the scariest things I've ever seen. (From another diorama at the American Museum of Natural History). I almost have to cover my eyes to look at it. It makes me never want to go swimming again.
And last but not least - my Green-Wood Cemetery Ghost. Peeking into a cracked-open mausoleum, I found this little blue guy peeking back...
Do you see him?
I'm not sure I'd want my skull on display under a bell jar at the British Museum for all eternity...
Would you?
