A OWLoween Tale- 

It had been a long night, with one incident crescendoing 

onto another and it was later than usual when Sarah 

finally turned off the lights and locked the door. 

With her pack fully loaded with books, 

she stepped briskly down the stairs to begin her walk home. 

Although Sarah was a remarkably confident young girl, 

her steps always quickened as she passed the boarded up, 

decrepit building adjacent to the cemetery, and tonight was no different. 

Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks as the sound 

of a large object hitting the floor emanated resoundingly from the old house. 

A bloodcurdling shriek accompanied the pronounced clank and, 

as she stood frozen in place, a white form emerged from the broken panes 

of the upstairs dormer window and flew right over her head. 

The blood drained from her brain as her heart pounded thunder in her ears, 

Sarah knew not whether she should cower or flee. 

A ghost, warning her of impending doom? 

Or, was there a more practical explanation?

A ghost owl.

Ghost Owl, Death Owl, or the “bird of doom.”

Owls often appear at macabre moments in the works of Shakespeare, 

and in modern times their calls or sudden appearance

create suspense in horror thrillers.

Barn Owls have white faces with dark eyes, 

reminiscent of a ghost face or human skull.

Jack-o-lanterns light the night

Their eerie faces shining bright