This dear old lady died of fright while reading Faulkner's tale of
subtle horror, "A Rose for Emily." Emily is so easy to make that I could have
listed her on the "Fast Hauntings" page. You will need: a bed (Uncialle uses the
bed where her Halloween guests place their coats), a plastic skull, a white or
gray wig, a book of frightful tales, and some spare clothing or bedding for
stuffing. A pair of bendable skeleton hands, while not absolutely necessary,
make a convincing finishing touch.
Wad up some fabric and stuff it under the covers to make Emily's "body."
Place the skull on the pillow, and put the wig on the skull, arranging the hair
carefully. Pull the covers up to the skull's chin, and place the opened book
there. If you are using the bendable skeleton hands, place the fingers on the
book, and hide the wrists in the covers. Leave a dim nightlight on, and wait for
your Halloween guests to deposit their coats.
For the book of scary tales, you might substitute the latest
lurid National Enquirer, or even a Federal Income Tax Form 1040--it's
enough to make anyone give up the ghost. On Halloween night itself, after the
guests have spirited themselves away, you might curl up with "A Rose for
Emily"--it's a chiller.
