Left: Kids watching a scary movie Right: Disney’s Fantasia
My Real Memoir: Why I Loved Being Scared as a Kid
Actually, I loved having been scared. Why? My theory is that a good jump-in-your-face moment is the visual equivalent of a hot pepper. Culinary experts say we love spicy foods due to a secondary effect: when capsicum, the active ingredient in chili peppers, triggers pain, our brains respond with a rush of feel-good endorphins. Result?
Spice is nice!
Scariness works the same way. After the initial sensation of fear, our brains follow up with a rush of relief that we’re OK now, that the threat has passed or, better yet, wasn’t even real to begin with. And hello, feel-good endorphins. Result?
Scary is fun!
Nowadays, I’m an all-grown-upper, so only politicians scare me. But when I was ten, menacing movies and bloodcurdling books gave me the best thrilly-willies ever. And so, when I wrote my first short story, it was a really scary one! (You have been warned.) It was also a blatant rip-off of “Night on Bald Mountain” from the Disney movie Fantasia.
Why?
Because when you’re learning to write, that’s what you do—steal. And because “Night on Bald Mountain,” set to Mussorgsky’s creeptastic music, scared the bejeebers out of me. And I loved it! Here then, is my terrifying—and terrifyingly misspelled—first short story:
“Evil Mountain”
Under Cherry mountain lies a small little town named Baster Ville every were it is quit exept at night! The dark night is honted by screems and horible sounds if a person were very carliss he might indup a spirit himself! Soon Cherry mountain will no longer be itself but an unhumanley black figure against the dark sky it is the most important thing about the town.
For if it wernt for Cherry mountain or shall I say Evil mountain people would all be dead! A sharp cutting noise comes from the old black smithes shop. He is now just a spirit or shall I say a ghost ha ha, ha, ha, ha!
Under the willow tree the horse troff is now boiling with little destructive devilles and out comes a skeleton on a horse caring a skull better nown as a head! On the ground there are little heads all over just waiting to be plucked so they can here the bloody screems of a person. The mill is broken by one sharp blow of of the creater on the mountains wing.
Now it is dawn and the oak tree has stopped burning, the troff water is cool again, and the spirits have gone back to there graves.
Well, there you have it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I hope you can sleep tonight and don’t turn into “a spirit, or shall I say a ghost ha ha, ha, ha, ha!”
I love this Mitch. I also love your fabulous penmanship at that age! Always love your work. It makes me smile!
Aww, thank you, Kiki! 🧡
Evil Mountain bore the signs of promise. Early talent was quite obvious.
On behalf of little Mitch, I thank you, Nigel. 🧡
you’re welcome.
Even in elementary school your writing included that important but elusive quality of “voice.” Your teachers would be so proud to see what you’ve accomplished with your gifts and talents!
Aww, bless you, Nancy. 🧡
Terrifying! And given the choice, I’d rather be turned into a spirit than a politician ha ha, ha, ha, ha!
;>)
Ha ha, ha, ha, ha! Back at ‘cha Mitch lol have fun being scared. I’ll just eat Hatch chili!
Hot-hot-hot-hot…! Here’s hoping you live up to your blog name, Pamela!
I’m much scarier lol us pepper bellies are fire breathers, I’ll sthneeze fire and then you’ll see! Anyway, I’m just worried about the AI bots haunting me…
Thank goodness for dawn. And I think scary fun is good fun. And I like the way you spell “devilles.” Makes it sound French and old. Thanks for sharing! Happy Hallowe’en!
Thanks, you too, Christopher!
Your first attempt to write a short spooky story was impressive. And, yes, it was scary! 👻😱
;>) Thanks, Nancy.
Wow, I don’t know if I can sleep tonight, Mitch. :/
;>)
Brilliance — and at such a tender age!
Thank you, my Anonymous friend.
I remember enjoying the Disney adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The monster that scared me the most as a kid was the vampire.
Me too, Andrew. https://mitchteemley.com/horror-devsation-pee/
Alomejor a los chicos os gustaba que os dieran un buen susto, pero te aseguro que las chicas preferiríamos un buen trozo de tarta de chocolate 🍫 🍫 🍫
;>)🍩
Just saw a meme today of the SCARIEST Halloween costume ever! A star outfit with the words across the center: “You’ve reached your daily limit. You can login again in twelve hours.”😂
❤️&🙏, c.a.🤠
It had all the chills. Did you scare your friends then?
Scares love us humans! Also, your handwriting is impeccable! This was a fun read!
BBB