Then, a couple days later, I was sitting at the computer when suddenly I felt a burning, stinging sensation on my leg. I looked, and saw two scratches that had nearly drawn blood. And then, it continued burning, so I looked again... a THIRD scratch. So, I called a friend of mine who is now a preacher in Memphis. We talked for a while, and he had me convinced it's a demon, or maybe a curse, since he's seen spiritual warfare up close as a missionary. But he told me of some chapters in the Bible about Christ casting out demons, so I read those, again clutching my crucifix, and fell asleep shortly thereafter...
I woke up the next day feeling better... but I watched an episode of the show Paranormal Survivor, and that episode was called "Inviting Evil." The segment I saw had an expectant couple who had purchased a mat with a skull and crossbones on it, and then weird stuff started happening. The psychic medium they hired saw it and said that was a welcome mat for the dead. I have skulls and devils all over my room. I decided to hide some of them.
The next day, I heard from a third friend. She pointed out that I buy a LOT of stuff second-hand, and that there could be something I'd brought into the home from a dead relative of the person who'd donated it, and maybe that's what's causing my trouble. I looked around on my desk at the new acquisitions I'd gotten used from eBay... and saw a scary-looking Pennywise Mystery Mini from IT. I put it back in its box and haven't even LOOKED at it since. No more weird stuff... so far.
Oh! I forgot a detail... So, most of the bad stuff (scratches and what-not) happened at the desk downstairs, not in my room. In my room, it was mostly mischief. I noticed a missing Jimi Hendrix Million Dollar bill from my music table. I couldn't find it anywhere. The next day, Prankster the Grateful Dead beanie bear was missing, too... which was really weird because I keep a musical shaker egg in his lap. The egg was still where he sat, but he was not. So, I lit some incense and said aloud, "Okay, you've had your fun. May I please have my bear back now?" I shifted in my chair and noticed it in a spot I hadn't seen it a minute earlier. Weird, but I said, "Thank you... May I have my Jimi Hendrix dollar back, too?" I picked up a plastic Grim Reaper scythe, swept it under the bed (which I'd reached under with my foot the night before), and out it came. Again, I said, "Thank you." So... maybe a prankster, like the name of the bear that turned up missing?
I'm not sure WHAT'S going on... Haunted secondhand purchases, demons, a curse... It's stopped (for now), but it's really taken the joy out of my October. I mean... not all of it. But some of the spooky stuff I watch on Travel Channel has become even scarier with these occurrences.
In other news, tonight is All Hallows Read. I've got plenty of books for the trick-or-treaters, but I don't know what the turn-out is gonna be like. I bought three bundles of 25 Halloween Comic Fest mini-comics this month, and I have a good many left over from last year, plus kids' books I'd picked up from thrift stores and one free book bin. I'm ready... Well, almost. I'd better go find a box to put all the books in. And on that note, I'm off. Again, Happy Halloween!