I believe that everyone who sets about writing in earnest does his work, as a friend of mine phrased it, on something – tea, or coffee, or tobacco.¹

The weary words of the unfortunate Rev. Mr Jennings – a character doomed by the tragic flaw of loving tea much too "extravagantly". For my own purposes tonight I turn (as always) to reliable ol' red wine – a substance not generally noted for whipping one's nerves up into states of high agitation. I urge club members to follow this lead.

Those who persist in slurping down mugs of hot 'tay' (God help them) do so at their own risk.

Should you require an alternative stimulant (to get the synapses fizzing) then please feel free to sample some of the delights contained on either of the Dreadful Thoughts mix/muxtapes:

1) "O, Whistle and I'll Come to You – Eerie Musicks for Dreadful Thoughts"

2) "Dreadful Thoughts Two …Dread by Dawn"

Scrub the face, mutter a prayer or two, tuck the children in and let's get cracking.

1. "Green Tea" in The Wordsworth Collection of Irish Ghost Stories (Wordsworth, 2005), pg. 24. [back]

Though the rosy-fingered sun continues to blaze away impressively, filling parks & beaches with ruddy little children, we here at Dreadful Thoughts HQ shun such heliolatry – drawing the curtains close and morbidly focusing our grim attentions on matters horrific.

Accompanying us on our sixth wander down literature's darkened halls will be Dublin's 19th century master of the macabre – Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.

If you thought a mere monkey's paw was cause enough for concern, then "Green Tea", with its full simian compliment of paws, eyes, teeth (etc), may push your fragile & ragged nerves beyond the limits of their endurance.

Enjoy.

Story: "Green Tea" (html), (html)

Meeting: Monday, 19th May, 9.00 p.m.