Fear, terror and nightmares for weeks

Every day after school, I would walk to the babysitter's house right behind mine. Lori was a lovely, caring woman who fed us snacks and had a room full of toys for the children she would watch over. I always fell into a strange category, I was older than most of her charges, but younger than her own children and the few remaining children she watched.

At a certain point I realized it would be more fun to emulate the older children than continue playing with the four-year-olds, so I began shadowing her daughter everywhere she went. Somtimes that would see me up in her room playing dolls or dress up, and more often than not, watching TV in the living room with "the cool kids."

There are two memorable moments at Lori's house. The first, was watching Poltergeist on HBO at age 6. Trauma was incurred - I still haven't watched the movie since that first time and I can bet I never will.

The second was Michael Jackson's Thriller. I had gone into the kitchen to ask for a glass of juice and as I was walking back toward the living room, the video started. From the opening creepy breaths and "Michael Jackson's Thriller" written in bloody text, I was frozen in place. I hadn't quite made it into the living room, instead I was standing in the dining room behind one of the empty armchairs.

What was initially intrigue turned into terror as Michael turned into a werewolf, relief however was had when finally they revealed that it was just part of a movie Michael and his girl were watching. I relaxed a little, but didn't move from the comfort that could only be achieved by distance from the television.

Then, the music kicked in... I wasn't a fan, but I knew he worked with Paul McCartney on the album, so I gave the song more of a listen than most. I admit, I liked it from the opening notes.

The moment the camera panned over the graveyard and Vincent Price's eerie macabre voice kicked in, I panicked, crouching down behind the armchair for protection. Peeking around from the chair I was still able to see what was going on, zombies taking over the screen, flesh rotting, black blood dripping, body parts coming loose and them dancing in some strange zombie ritual.

I was horrified and scared, yet I couldn't turn away!

After it was over, I came out from my hiding spot and tried to pretend like it hadn't just scared me, even though I knew they saw me. Fortunately, they let it go and didn't tease me, though the nightmares I endured for the weeks to come was enough torment.

I didn't see the video for several years after that, refusing to. When I finally did brave it, I was amused that it had scared me so. Dancing zombies?