Maggie McAmbra at home all alone, in a Twenty-room Mansion, on a steep dark hill. 
No neighbors for miles, long distance to phone from this beautiful home she inherited by Will. 

The kids were all grown now and had flown from the coup.  Remembering fond memories, while stirring her soup.

 As she sat in her rocker – enjoying the calm, how peaceful she was, away from all harm.  She remembered the soup she had left on the fire.  Better turn it down low – before she retired.

 It had been a good day – Maggie finished all she started.  She was ‘HIGH OFF OF LIFE’, so to bed she departed.  She climbed the dark stairs – (To the very top of course!) then she heard a strange noise, which had come from the porch.  Back down the stairs to the window with ease.  She threw back the curtain, ‘SAW’…. Nothing! She was pleased…

 For the second time now ‘Up the stairs she went’.  And to her surprise ‘ANOTHER EVENT’.  She heard footsteps in the den, heavy breathing as they went, her head started spinning, she began to lose content. Back down the stairs to the phone she would head.  Upon reaching the receiver – ‘SHE FOUND THE LINES WERE DEAD!’. 

 “NO NEIGHBORS FOR MILES – NO CONTACT BY PHONE, SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE CHILDREN – NEVER STAYED HERE ALL ALONE.”

 She had lost all control, as the footsteps came near and like the victim of a nightmare she wondered in fear. 
“HOW COULD THIS FOOL HAVE ENTERED MY HOME? 
MY WINDOWS ARE BARRED AND MY WALLS ARE ALL STONE. 
IN ORDER TO ENTER YOU MUST HAVE A KEY –
SO A KEY HE MUST HAVE – BUT WHO COULD HE BE?”

 As she stood there in shock wondering which way to run – a Voice from the darkness,
“THE TIME HAS COME”.

 She ran to the kitchen and prayed to be protected. 
While hovering by the stove
‘A FIGURE PROJECTED!!! 
She turned and she focused a stranger so tall,
And into his face ‘WENT THE SOUP – PAN AND ALL’.

 As she watched this fool turn red as the Devil
(For a fool he was – because Maggie was ‘SCARED’). 
She found her hand had now become level –
WITH A CLEAVER – SHE GRASPED IT! –
WITH A CLEAVER SHE DARED!!!!!!

 SHE CUT AND SHE CHOPPED AND HOW THE BLOOD FLEW!! 
Then she STOPPED!, and she realized –
For him… ‘It was through!’

 As he lay there in pieces, Maggie fell to her knees. 
She said “WHY? WHAT POSSESSED YOU TO DO THIS TO ME??

With his last dying breath, as blood gushed from his veins –
He knew his life was over –
He no longer felt the pain. 
He looked into Maggie’s’ eyes, as a tear rolled down her cheek. 
Her face all-aglow, her hands shaking like a leaf.

 He said……He said   “I, I, I MEANT TO DO YOU NO HARM TONIGHT- MISS MAGGIE MCAMBRA –
SO TAKE A SMILE – AND BE A STAR……
CAUSE YOU’RE ON CANDID CAMERA……”

                                                         Michelle Jones-Word

                                                                  Author