Emma works her knife over the jack-o’-lantern’s flesh, tapers the leering, accusatory mouth, widens empty eyes. Her stepmother’s features, just so.

She draws the gleaming blade between unhearing ears.

A centred candle bursts into flame.

“Proof of the destructive power,” Master Carver has forewarned.

Soon father will be hers alone.

Gary Thomson resides in Ontario, where he enjoys country drives through fiery autumn colours and strolling amongst early pioneer cemeteries. None of his published work matches the poignancy of mossy inscriptions on weathered grave markers.