Halloween Scare

Mom had us create our own Halloween costumes this year, “Money is tight,” she 'd said. “Be creative girls.”

I’d chosen a gypsy look, and spent an entire Saturday looking through cedar chests just to be told to share my choices with my sister. “You’re the oldest, Jean.” She'd said. I remember the anger along with the disrespectful words that came into my thoughts.

Ann and I had almost identical costumes. We were adorned with bright purple skirts and white blouses. We added gold chains and red bead strands around our necks. I wore a gold colored belt and Ann had a black patent leather belt Dad had cut in half.

Mom insisted we wear warm clothing. She had said, “It can get cold on October 31st. It’s best to be prepared." Ann and I wore our bright green and blue checkered scarves over our stocking caps.

I was standing in front of my mirror wanting my mother to add more makeup. Somewhere in my adolescent brain, I didn’t think I looked different enough. Mom had said, “Jean, you want everyone to recognize you, don’t you?”

I answered with, “Yes, of course,” but I really wanted no one to recognize me.

"Yee He He! Hurry up, kids! We're running late!" Father called.

I answered, “Coming Dad.” He had promised to walk with us and then off to a haunted house. I was excited.

I started trick-or-treating ahead of Ann and Daddy. He could still see me and I knew he could holler for me to slow down. I wasn't scared.

Our neighborhood was invaded by vampires, ghosts, and zombies, there were cowboys, princesses, and pirates running from house to house collecting candy.

As a defiant child of twelve, I ran ahead knocking on doors. “Trick or treat.” I would say. I wasn't scared.

Running from house to house collecting a rather large collection of goodies, I came upon a fenced yard. I looked and couldn’t see where Daddy and Ann were. them. I was alone on the street.

It was dark now, and the moon had disappeared from the sky. There was a yellow porch light on, but it didn’t reach far enough. I could see bats flying around the front porch.

There were two lighted pumpkins, one on each end of the porch. The light twinkling and bouncing around. Evil spirits were dancing.

I saw lights on inside the house with somebody waiting for me to say, trick or treat. There was a groaning, “Boo,” coming from ahead of me, and I turned to run.

Daddy was standing right behind me, holding Ann’s hand. I screamed, “No!” Ann ran past me up the sidewalk towards the bats and evil spirits. I watched, frozen, as the front door opened and Ann went flying through the door.

"Yaw Ha Ha, Yee He He!" Daddy said. I practically jumped out of my skin. He grabbed my hand and led us towards the porch,.

“Come on now, Jean, it’s your turn.” I thought he had been become possessed.

Pulling back from him, I started screaming, “No,“ over and over again. The door flew open, and there was my Grandma with Ann sitting on Grandpa’s lap.

Daddy said, “Now, are we all ready for the haunted house?”

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