Add to Gransnet's Halloween chain story

Set off, it took quite a while, as Paul was having trouble walking in his high heels. Paul let out in his best Lilly Savage voice "Well that's the last time, I buy shoes from a second hand market, one of my heels has just snapped off, "

"Never fear," said Mildred. "That is perfect!" She picked up the heel, held it aloft and yelled at the top her voice, "Heel!!" Sure enough, two seconds later Betsy appeared and sat at her feet expectantly. Mildred glanced at the clock that was still in her hand and ....

Wished on a star and found themselves in the lingerie department of M & S, Paul bought some tights for Lily and Mildred then they set off to find poor Betsy. On the way they met a coven of witches who ........

Were returning some cloaks in exchange for a larger size.At that moment, a black cat, the witch's familiar,leapt at Betsy and jumped astride her back, and flew her round the store, past the 'Dine in for two for £10' past the frilly knickers,and landed in a heap at 'Men's vests' where..

…tried the “locate your dog” spell once more and after a panicked moment, Betsy appeared wagging her tail. Ignoring Paul's fancy frock, she leapt up at him to give him lots of slobbery kisses. Mildred explained to Paul the story so far about the weird experience with the clocks. “I would love to stay and help you solve this mystery” Paul said “but unfortunately I shall be late for my Radio 2 show that starts at 17.00 this evening”. I will however, give you a 'shout-out' on the show! And with that and a wave of his hand he was gone.

Mildred still didn't really want to return home so decided to go for a little walk. She stopped at the florist to buy a small bunch of carnations (mainly because they were half price) to put on her old friend's grave at the local cemetery. The sun was shining as she pushed open the rusty old gate and..

stepped into the deserted graveyard. Suddenly Betsy rushed past her barking loudly. Mildred shouted but the little dog took no notice, so Mildred had no option other to run after her. Betsy ran around to the back of the cemetery which was wild and overgrown. Chasing after her Mildred was just in time to see her vanish into the depths of a neglected and ancient stone tomb, which she had never noticed before. Mildred knew she must follow her and so she squeezed through the small opening in the vault

trying to avoid the cobwebs festooning the stonework and hoping that any resident spiders had long gone.
It was dark, with only a little light coming through the opening, dank and malodorous; calling Betsy she fumbled her way along the dripping wet stone wall and

. . . headed back towards the kitchen, where Betsy was cowering under the table. "Here, Betsy", called Mildred, taking some food from the fridge and putting it in Betsy's bowl, Reluctantly the frightened animal put her nose out from under the table, shook herself and grabbed a mouthful, then disappeared, growling at Paul.

Who had somehow reappeared in this story, meanwhile the witches had exchanged the cloak for an XL one and had flown after Mildred, they detoured past the tomb causing the skeletons to rattle their bones and the ghosts to go even paler. The witches caught up with Mildred 'give us the magic clock ' they cackled or we will .....

(I thought the story was about to get a bit spooky - but no, we're somehow back in Mildred's kitchen...)

"leave you down here for ever!" Glancing round Mildred realised the kitchen was only an illusion, she was still in the tomb. A bat fluttered across above her narrowly missing her head. In the darkness and gloom she could just make out the small shape of Betsy sitting with her head slightly on one side staring at a coffin. The witches cackled again and the lid of the coffin began slowly to open

A horrible smell emanated from the coffin causing Mildred to cough. She realised too late that she had left her inhaler in the house as another cough sprang from her throat before she could stop it

Mildred, Paul and Betsy decided to round up all the missing dogs before the evil dog catcher caught them and made them enter 'Britain's Got Talent'. They had heard that Simon Cowell was looking for another act to replace Pudsey. And anything was better than that.

They wandered along the dimly lit path towards the forest, with Mildred wondering what her ex, George was doing these days. They gradually reached the forest and spotted in the distance a strange pulsing dim light.

What could it be, they scarily thought ...

Having apparently jumped yet again from one place to another...

They slowly crept forward and pushed through the undergrowth... Paul moaned that the branches were catching on his dress and he would never be able to give it to charity now!
Silently they inched forward .... in the clearing just ahead the dim pulsing light gave them a glimpse of a horrible sight .... 40 scantly clad senior witches were dancing around an empty police car which still had its lights flashing , on the front seat was the clock with the blue light still pulsing ..but where were the police officers and how had the car come to be in the forest ..

How the H* had anybody come to be in the forest, especially Paul who left some time ago! I give up!

The scantily clad witches were too much for the police officers who had abandoned the car, run away, and then fainted under the trees where Mildred found them crying no no, don't let us see those witches again, go and get help. So Paul ran off in his dress to get help but ....

Yes trisher the story has got muddled now,back to the tomb and Paul has gone to the convent with Lily.
The tomb grew ever colder, the bats fluttered around Mildred 's head making her scream, the coffin lid creaked open, even the witches fell silent. Suddenly .......

Mildred woke up!! She realised that some, only some of what had just happened was a dream. "Ah", she thought. "No wonder Paul kept appearing and then disappearing.
She tentatively looked around and found herself back in the forest at the bottom of the huge clock with the blue light beam. Something inside her stirred and she somehow knew that she had to reach the top of the tower. Up there lay some kind of secret.
Then, rope type ladder came tumbling down from the tower and landed at her feet. There was a dark figure at the top of the tower, beckoning her to come up. "Who are you?", Mildred shouted. A slow, raspy voice said to her ... "quickly; time is running out. You're lucky the clocks went back last night!".
Remembering what had happened in the tomb and with her heart pumping she decided...

That she would never have a wee sherry and pumpkin soup for her tea again as...

they obviously disagreed with her digestion and gave her nightmares...

... falling asleep was down to the sherry. Not only that, Addo is really a pumpkin so 'yuck'.
She slowly started climbing the ladder and it occurred to her that the shape of the shadow lurking at the top reminded her of her ex, George and ...

As she reached the top it was a George but not her ex it was George Clooney, he had a coffee waiting for her when she finally reached the top of the tower, ooh George you are so wonderful sighed Mildred. Then there was a whoosh and a crash and the coven of witches reappeared, 'he is all ours ' they cackled as they grabbed at poor George with their long talons. Help help shouted George and Mildred, ( sitcom? ) with a loud .....