And then I punched him

The radio d.j. was talking about your personal "Haunted House". You know, what would really scare the wits out of you. So I started thinking about how I've never actually made it through a haunted house. I can barely make it through a semi-lit house. I cover my eyes during scary movies. And God help me, when cute boyfriend shuts off the lights and hides (because my blood curdling screams AMUSE him), I almost pee my pants.

So my personal haunted house would be dark. And have people lying in wait. There'd be spiders of course, and scorpions. And that weird sound alarm clocks make right before they go off. Oh, and clowns! They are NOT funny with their too-much-makeup and sad but happy look.

One time, my college roommates and I took off to a town in Pennsylvania. We'd heard that the whole town transforms itself during October, into some sort of ghoulish fantasy land.

I wasn't thrilled.

So there we are meandering through town (which is just past the foul smelling paper mills. and if there is a smell worse than that, I've yet to find it) and we find ourselves outside of a haunted house.

*sigh*

But everyone is going. And no, I wouldn't jump off a bridge if all my friends were doing it, but I agreed to attempt this sinister looking haunted house.

So we walk in. And it's creepy. I'm in the middle of the group, huddled low, gripping the sweatshirt of Matt in front of me. When suddenly....someone grabs me.

And you do NOT grab me. I don't know you. And the group keeps moving...WITHOUT ME. So I scream. And I yell. "Take your mask off. Take it off now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" And I stunned the poor guy so much that he scrambles and I can hear him trying to talk. But it's dark, and I don't know where I am or where they are and I'm screaming. And then ...

I punched him.

It's not rational, but I wasn't in a very rational place right then. When the guy takes his mask off he looks normal, and surprised. I apologize and pivot to leave in utter embarrassment. But I can't find my way out, and so he has to escort me. Just as we part he shakes his head and says, "Nice right hook." And walks away.