Colin

Colin was tall, beautiful dark skin and bald. His bald head was so smooth. He was always there if I was upset, scared or needed someone to play with. He would watch me for hours playing with my toys. He loved wearing different hats. He was very peaceful. My family liked him too but would sometimes laugh at me and him in a very endearing way. My nan would chat to him too. He was there every night to see me when I walked up the staircase to go to bed. Colin was part of our big old house and Colin went with the house when it was demolished to make way for a carpark. I can't remember when Colin wasn't Colin anymore, if it was gradual or all of a sudden I realised one day that he was really the end pillar of a staircase. I was told I named him Colin as I was trying to pronounce 'column'.  I would really like to see Colin again, to see if those memories come back and to see what I saw again through the eyes of a child.

Friday night shenanigans

Friday night was the highlight of our week. Time for the weekly catch up with ghosts from the other side.  We'd cut out our letters, grab a glass and put on a candle. Two little fingers on the top of the glass with an older finger thrown in. Off we'd go, asking questions, getting answers, having fun but being intrigued and scared all at once. Candles would flare up, glasses would go crazy and ghosts would swear! Oh, what fun. 'Is anyone there?, 'who will I marry', 'how many children will I have?'
Careful not to tip the glass or the spirits will come out! Why did we stop the Friday night fun? We got older, we became skeptical, we had other interests. As we got older we came to feel that our Friday night ritual was wrong for children to have been exposed to. We are no longer naive. Oh, but to be naive again and have that fun and have our nan back. I treasure that memory even though it scares and confuses me at the same time.