Daylight was safe, daylight was always safe

"It was part of my young creed that the night was full of ghosts and witches, hungry and flapping and dressed completely in black."

John couldn't believe that Neil Gaiman penned "The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds," which would be his contribution to Detective fiction. He didn't have the time to drop by the bookshop, even asked our other coursemates (at the English Department). He was a bit too obsessed about his (amateur) photography skills in his Instagram account. Gaiman's short story may have lacked the flair that would make Hercule Poirot's cases a bit memorable, but a reference to Humpty Dumpty reminded me of the black-and-white noir films that I saw on cable.

I read his short from a collection of shorts, "M Is for Magic." "The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds" turned out to be an appetizer of sort, as the rest of the stories had a familiar theme. Gaiman also tried his luck in Horror fiction, but he took a slight detour. I knew Gaiman's other works, where he was fascinated with magic. If another author wrote "M Is for Magic," then there would be a macabre aspect behind the premise. It could have been a hair-raising experience for readers, which would be unforgettable during a stormy night. But I was carried away by my excitement.

"Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before. Say 'please' before you open the latch. Go through, walk down the path. A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted from door."

Let me share my thoughts on the following tales:

Troll Bridge. I was terrified after reading the first few pages of this uncanny tale. A young lad stumbling into an earthen bridge won't be a coincidence at all. He met a huge troll, with long fangs. The troll wanted to suck up the life off the boy. But the little big man told him many reasons (to change the troll's mind). He wanted to live a long life. He wanted to have a job. He wanted to have a family. Then and there, Gaiman wasn't describing a haunting moment. I would suspect existentialism, as the troll and the boy met a few more times. They were meant for each other.

Don't Ask Jack. I hated Jack-in-the-box, as I have yet to see a child-friendly design. And this short tale confirmed my worst fear. Gaiman described a different Jack, full of malevolence. And he would share his (evil) thoughts with unsuspecting kids. The author recounted a small group of kids, one of whom ended up as a madman. This is not a coincidence.

October in the Chair. I was confused, as the tale began with twelve individuals sitting around a round table. They were named after the twelve months of the year, and they would share ghost stories. October recounted a tale of an emaciated boy, who ran away from home. He felt unloved by his family, yet find affection in an abandoned farm house. There were tombs behind it, all remains of a small community not long ago. What became of them? I was perceptive enough to figure it out midway, but I was startled nonetheless.

The Price. A black cat would be the unlikely protector of a young writer from the devil. Could this poor feline be a fallen angel during his former life? It was a fascinating tale, as Gaiman made allusions to literary classics like Dante's Inferno. The ending was rather subtle, but it a couple of readings made me realized what this tale was all about. It had nothing to do with cats.

Instructions. A nice poem on how to treat a scary story. Gaiman didn't forget his sense of humor.

John asked for my copy after I told him about "The Witch's Headstone." What was it all about? I would tell it next time.