A Monologue - Inspired by 'The Woman in Black'

Recently I read 'The Woman in Black' and I decided to do a monologue from her point of view as if she was nine years old.

Today started so well. Alice and I were on the beach collecting shells like the sisters in story books do, but then the stupid sea mists came and spoiled the fun. We were forced inside and our Governess told me to “Play nicely Jennet” but I don’t want to be nice to Alice. She’s just jealous of me because she used to be the centre of attention until I came along. I can make anyone think that I’m a good girl and that Alice is naughty, sometimes it surprises me how much power I have over the grown-ups. Even when I tore the ruffles on the dress I wear to Sunday school, everyone believed me when I said Alice had done it.

We have never loved each other like true sisters. The only thing Alice has done to be like a big sister is to boss me about. When we were sent inside today, we decided to play with our dolls even though the Governess says girls of our age shouldn’t still be playing with children’s toys. I’m only nine; I wish people would stop forcing me to grow up. Alice said I wasn’t holding the doll in the right way, but I didn’t want her to think she could tell me what to do, so I held on tight to it. She tried to snatch it off me, but the doll’s head got ripped off instead and I was left holding the limp body. I didn’t want to, but I started crying and Alice said I would never make a good mother. When I grow up, I’ll show her, I’m going to have a child of my own and there will be nothing she can do about it.

But now, I am stuck in my bedroom until morning with no supper because my parents are fed up with Alice and I fighting. Sometimes when we go for a walk along the cliffs, Alice goes right up to the edge and looks over. Mummy says she mustn’t, but I dare her to. I wonder to myself what would happen if I just gave her a little push. No, I wouldn’t. But I like to think about it.

Short Story - Halloween Special!

"Bye Mum!" Olivia waves goodbye as the car disappears out of view. "Finally," she mutters, "I've got the house all to myself." Suzanne, Olivia's mum, is going out for the night to meet some friends and entrusting her daughter with looking after the house until she gets back. Normally, Olivia would go with her, but tonight is Halloween and Suzanne doesn't want the house to be ruined by the time she gets back.

"I think I'll make some ghost-shaped biscuits to give to the trick-or-treaters." Olivia muses; she's never been one for sweets and was always disappointed on Halloween when she returned home with a bucket full of sugar. Collecting her ingredients, she sets to work and produces some perfect dough in no time. "Good, but I can do better," Olivia has always been a perfectionist and begins to search the kitchen for something to make her biscuits outstanding, "I know! I'll use some of that glow in the dark gel we bought last Halloween for an added twist." Rushing outside into the garden, Olivia finds the gel hidden away in the shed, labelled, 'Use with caution'. "Oh well, what harm can it do?" she thinks to herself as she runs back into the house, away from the cold. Adding a little gel into the mixture, she cuts out the biscuits and puts them in the oven.

A while later, Olivia pops back into the kitchen to check on her biscuits. But they've vanished. The oven is off and the tray is completely empty. As Olivia turns around to start looking in the rest of the kitchen, she thinks she sees a flash of white disappearing into the living room. Curious, she follows it and finds more than she had bargained for. As twelve ghosts descend on her, she screams and desperately thinks of a place to hide, "The shed! The ghosts might not be able to leave the house," scrambling out of the door, she sprints to the shed and slams the door behind her. Peeking out of the window, her heart sinks as she sees the white shapes float through the back door and into the garden. However, almost as soon as they are outside, they go back indoors as if the cold is unbearable. "I don't believe it!" Olivia whispers with relief.

Half an hour later, Olivia checks her watch, "The trick-or-treaters will be coming round soon." Glancing out of the window, she expects to see the ghosts still inside the living room. But they're not anywhere to be seen. Cautiously, Olivia opens the shed door and creeps across the garden. After checking the coast is clear, she enters the living room to hear the door bell ring. "Oh no! I haven't got anything to give them." With all the biscuits gone, she doesn't know what to give the expectant children, until out of the corner of her eye she sees something quite unexpected. A plate of perfectly glowing ghost-shaped biscuits sitting on the table. The bell rings again. Knowing she doesn't have any other choice, Olivia picks up the plate, opens the front door and gives her first Halloween treat to a rather unrealistic witch. As the girl walks away holding the biscuit, Olivia thinks she sees the ghost wink at her.