Rustling
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"We'd pause at the foot of the stairs, frightened to be the first to go up." Adrian is captivated by horror films and decided to make his own - to terrify his sister!
Transcript
"Rustling of packets announced the arrival of my Dad home from the pub. "Where's my boys?" announced his permission for us to get out of bed and come down stairs to watch the late night horror double bill.
Me, my two brothers and my Dad huddled together on the settee, eating the packets of dry roasted peanuts that moments earlier had rustled so enticingly. The eerie music would fill the dimly lit room, the flickering images would burn into my retina - then I would be lost!
There it started with the shuffling of Frankenstein's monster across the screen, with his impossibly flat head. With the snarl of the wolf-man, cursed to walk the earth as a beast. When the films finished, the spell would be broken, but the enchantment still lingered.
"Up the wooden hill!" announced that it was time for us to go back to bed. We'd pause at the foot of the stairs, frightened to be the first to go up in case something jumped out and attacked us. My youngest brother would be forced kicking and screaming up the wooden hill into the dark shadows. When we knew we hadn't been eaten, we would all sprint up and dive under the safety of our blankets covering every part of our bodies, especially our toes at the end of the bed, in case something tried to bite them off, Dad swearing never to let us watch those films again - an oath destined to be broken at least once a week.
Now I'm a grown man, my mother has given me a sister. I've yet to convert her to the finer art of horror - I've written my own tales of terror, with alcohol inspired drawings.
But even now, when night has descended, with the mist lingering menacingly in the lamplight, I lie listening to the wind tumbling over upturned bins, making the empty packets inside rustle - I could almost be that boy again."
An interview with the author
Please tell us about yourself.
I'm 29 years old and after years of reading horror books and watching horror films I've become bored with the repeated plots and re-occurring characters. So, I've now started writing my own - more original and new. I'm chronically unemployed so I have plenty of time to do it.
What's your story about?
It's about how my obsession with horror began and how it relates to the sound of rustling packets from my humble beginnings as a reader, to a viewer, then on to somebody who actually writes for himself. It was important for me to tell this story as it connects to everything I do. It even influences the way I speak. I thought it would be a challenge to fit it in a two minute time slot - and it was.
What did you find the most rewarding aspect of the workshop?
Seeing my written words on a scrap piece of paper and images from my mind come alive on screen.
Your comments
"I think this story is excellent! Although I am a bit biased because I am married to the little boy that was thrown up the stairs! But in my general opinion my brother-in-law is very talented and could go far if given the chance to do so!"
K White, Caerphilly, Wales.
