Utterly Shocking

Story Sent in by Armand:

I was on the last stage of my date with Alessandra. We had enjoyed a nice dinner (although she had been pretty quiet throughout), and I offered to walk her home. She accepted, and once we reached her doorstep, she turned to me with a strange request.

"I was wondering if you could come in for a second to help me switch out an old bulb. I'm no good at these things."

She led me inside and showed me an old wall sconce at the bottom of her stairs, near the door. It was definitely an antique, and had even been painted over. The bulb within it was dead, and so I unscrewed it, handed it to her, and then she ran to her pantry to grab me a new bulb to install.

She came back, handed me the new bulb, I screwed it in, and hit the light's switch. It didn't work. I said, "It could be the bulb, or the light, itself. Do you have another bulb to try?"

She gave me a puzzled look. "That's not what's supposed to happen. I'll grab another one." She disappeared into her pantry as I unscrewed the first bulb, and she returned with another. I screwed that one in. No luck, either.

"It's probably the wiring," I suggested, "This is an old sconce."

She said, "It hasn't worked in years. It was supposed to electrocute you."

That made me freeze. Her tone didn't betray a hint of humor. She then put both of her hands on me and pushed me toward the door. "Enough out of you," she said firmly, "Get out, now."

"You… wanted it to… electrocute me?" was all I was able to say as I backed out her front door.

She didn't answer, but once I was outside, she slammed her door shut and locked it. I still had the first new bulb I tried in my hand. I brought it home to use in my own lights, and never spoke to Alessandra again.