Copyright Roger Bultot
The Maitre D’ steps into my path.
“You can’t go in there, madam.”
“But there are no free tables back here,” I protest.
A group of people wander past me into the darkened area of the restaurant, flooding it with a warm crimson glow.
“Private party,” he says, noticing my curious gaze.
“You may join us, if you wish,” whispers a voice behind me. An insistent hand nudges my elbow, guiding, pulling…
“I- I wouldn’t want to intrude,” I stammer.
The Maitre D’ nods approvingly.
Ten miles further on, I pass the carnage, the tangled wreckage.
And I realise I’m no longer hungry.
Well, it wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t have a ghost story, would it? 🙂 May I wish all Friday Fictioneers a very merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and creative New Year. Thanks to our resident Mother Christmas, Rochelle, for her tireless dedication to Friday Fictioneers.
castelsarrasin 
Ghosts of parties past. A nicely seasonal chiller, Sandra
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Thanks, Neil.
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Ooooh it took my a few reads and also the hint you gave about ‘ghost story’, then it clicked! Love it! No, that’s not the party you want to get into to.
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No, I wouldn’t gatecrash that one, either. Thanks for persevering, Jessie. 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
I think I’d lose my appetite, too. Ah, Christmas and ghosts do seem to go together and you write it so well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. My father always used to tell ghost stories at Christmas. 🙂
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Good thing she held out about not joining. That’s really creepy, Sandra. Good writing as always. Happy Holidays to you and yours. 🙂 — Suzanne
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And the same to you, Suzanne, have a good one! x
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Like Jessie it took me a couple of reads to click, but excellent once I ‘got it’. Chilling story.
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Thanks for persevering Iain. 🙂
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As ever, you aren’t afraid to challenge us with your writing, Sandra. I have my own take on this, not sure if it will necessarily match other readers, but that’s ok. Merry Christmas to you and yours. See you next week.
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It’s weird, but I actually thought this was so obvious I took the word ‘icy’ out the ‘insistent hand’. I don’t mean to challenge, honestly! 🙂 Happy Christmas to you and yours too, Paul.
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Holy COW, this was creepy. Great exclamation mark of an ending. I went “whoa!” on that one.
Have a Merry Christmas, Sandra, and to your whole family.
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Thaks, Kent. Have a lovely Christmas and see you back here next week. 🙂
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Stylishly spooky.
Is there anything you can’t do?
Joyeux Noël, Sandra
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It took me a couple of reads but very worth it!
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Ooh, I’m feeling chilly now…. Have a great Christas, and all the best for 2017, Sandra
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Well, I would call that a vise choice. Nicely done, as always. Merry Christmas!!!
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A story with impact. Let’s keep safe on the roads this festive season.
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Thanks for the Christmas chill, Sandra! Merry Christmas.
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I hate driving by accidents and I don’t like sirens. A chilling tale on this week’s photo prompt. Happy Holidays!
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I often wondered if ghosts got hungry, now I know.
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The ghost of Christmas accidents? One drink, two drinks, three drinks, floor. Or this case much worse.
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Yeeks! It’s nice to see them still partying anyway, given their unfortunate condition 🙂
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It was the warm crimson glow that got to me – well written.
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Yes, Christmas and chilling stories do go hand in hand, don’t they? As per usual… you did more than a stand-up job!!
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I would not be hungry either… even less thirsty actually, chilling.
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I think your ghost could’ve eaten too much sozzled Christmas Cake. Forget counting your drinks, it’s the pieces of sozzled Christmas Cake. Trent alerted me to this.
I read through this a few times with the hints and still didn’t get the ghost reference. I’m Australian and struggle at times…even by the picture of the diner. I am starting to wonder whether a piece of Christmas Cake might actually help my mental function…just no driving afterwards.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Oh.
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Oh yes, a party well and fortunately avoided
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Thank God, she didn’t join them!
Merry Christmas and happy New year!
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Spooky as they come. Well written as usual
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She stumbled upon quite the private party. You always got to be a bit suspicious of those, right? Great writing, Sandra. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
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the maitre d’ was her guardian angel. bless her heart.
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A private ghost party, bit lucky that she did not join in. A very subtle ghost story – nice one.
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Nothing like a spooky Christmas to make you want to hit the egg nog! 😉
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Haunting! That’s one roadside dinner to miss. Nicely done.
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Wow… took me a moment to catch the clues. Well done!
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