keeping the nightlight on

I just realized this Friday's date marks Friday the 13th. Superstitious or not, the idea of Friday the 13th summons the thrill of ghosts stories, haunted houses, scary movies, or just plain ol' bad luck. Personally, I am a glutton for scary movies that keep me up at night with thoughts of my television turning on to blaring static, an axe murder tapping at my window, or my body levitating above my bed. Goodtimes.

Before the 8th grade, my nightmares were ruled by the King of Evil himself: Freddy Krueger. I saw my first Nightmare on Elm Street movie in the 6th grade and all through middle school found myself deathly afraid of the sound of little children singing and playing hop scotch outside of haunted houses. Not that I saw that happen much...but the very thought scared the jellie shoes right off my feet.

But that all changed when, in the summer before 8th grade, my virgin eyes were violated by the most frightening movie of all time: The Exorcist. Between the spinning heads, projectile vomiting, and uncontrollable bed rattling, my nightmares had reached a whole new level. For weeks after this movie-watching experience, I fell asleep gripping my bedsheets for dear life with the fear of levitating. 'No way is that devil dude going to get a hold of me!' I would think. I don't know what was scarier: the movie itself or the line at the end of the movie stating "Based on true events" that was etched in my mind. All I know is I will never look at Ouija Boards the same again.