Week 45 - Trick or Treat

Halloween in Black Grass has changed a lot over the last few decades. What was once a night of mischief and terror, with teens committing what would now be considered acts of domestic terrorism, has now become a parade of pirates and zombies, super heroes and cheerleaders, all marching through downtown, trying to fill as many bags of candy as they can in the allotted two hours. It wasn’t too long ago that you would have burning logs dragged across the main stretch of road in Grassy Branch. Or get eggs thrown at your car if you drove toward the Wallins area. These days, however, things had settled down into a nice family event where parents and grandparents walked their kids through downtown, greeting friends and neighbors and snapping pictures as they went. 

Businesses in downtown love to take part in the annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat event, decorating storefronts, setting up tables for giveaways and many even getting in on dressing up for the occasion. Fred Jones always dressed like a mad scientist and had some sort of gross out treat for the kids to try. This year it was bloody eyeball candy. Martha’s Diner had cases of homemade mini pumpkin hand pies ready to give out. And the bank was cleaning out their extra large popcorn machine in preparation for tonight's festivities on the corner of Main St. 

“Don’t you think we’re too old to trick-or-treat, Kyle?” Janie asked her brother as they walked up and down the costume aisle at the Super-center. Cheap plastic and nylon shaped into various characters lined both sides of the shelves.

He scoffed at the idea. “First, how can anyone be too old for free candy? And two, what else are we gonna do? Hand out treat bags at mom’s office? That’s sounds terrible!”

She shuffled through the costumes. “We could do a scary movie marathon. I bet mom would let us invite some friends over. I can make popcorn balls and cupcakes.” Janie loved to cook and the idea of having a little get together was right up her alley. 

Kyle grabbed a red and black plastic pitchfork and shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe after? I think Bloody Guts 5 is online for free this weekend. We could watch that.” 

Janie scrunched up her nose and shook her head. She knew her brother loved those gross out gore-fest movies, but they weren’t for her. She liked the old black and white ones from the 30s and 40s. the best. “We can figure out the movie later. Do you wanna have a little get together or not? We gotta decide because tomorrow is Halloween!”

“Ask mom if we can. After we trick or treat!” 

A deal was struck, and a proposition was made. Soon, five young teens had organized a plan of attack for All Hallows’s Eve. Janie, Kyle, and the Thompson twins, Jack and Diane, were sort of friends by default as they were both boy/girl twins in the freshman class at Peril County High. So these four were all set for a night of frivolity when Kyle and Janie’s mom insisted that Adeline Wells also tag along. Adeline had babysat for the twins when they were all a little younger, so she had a good relationship with them. The fact that she was getting $20 for the night was just icing on the cake.

The evening began as the five of them met at Martha’s Diner. Kyle dressed in a blue workman’s jumpsuit and creepy white mask. The plastic knife he carried added to the unsettling effect. Janie and Diane wore poodle skirts and satin jackets. Their matching makeup and hair made them look ready-made for the malt shop. Jack Thompson was a quiet sort of kid, creative and introverted. He’d made his own costume to be an authentic robot, but now that he was inside an aluminum drum with metallic tubing for arms and legs and a helmet that weighed almost as much as he did, he was second guessing his choices. Adeline wore a simple black top, jeans and a witch's hat. She had also brought along a magic wand topped with a green star that sparkled and played music whenever she waved it. 

“Alright, so here’s the deal,” Kyle explained. “We do a loop through town, then up to High St. and over to Skyline Park. They were givin’ out full sized candy bars at a few of those houses last year. Then, down to the park for the trunk’r’treat folks, and we’re done. Everyone got it?” 

Janie wanted to call him out for being bossy, but she had to admit, it was a pretty good plan. And off they went down Main St. where City Hall had little juice bottles they were handing out. There were four tables in front of the courthouse with the County Judge, the Clerk’s office staff, the Sheriff, and County Attorney all lined up. With candy in hand, the elected officials smiled and dished out the sweets. It didn’t hurt that many of them were up for reelection in just a week. The line at the bank stretched back a whole block, as everyone knew they had the best candy downtown, as well as freshly made popcorn. Adeline didn’t have a bag of her own but made it a point to snag some of that salty, buttery goodness.

“I need another bag!” Kyle said, looking down at the bulging one he was carrying. Diane, Jack, and Janie were all equally weighted down with candy, so they decided to swing by Mrs. Smith’s law office to drop off their take and head back out. 

Mrs. Smith, along with her paralegal, Jonathan, dressed as bacon and eggs as they handed out candy in front of her office. A steady stream of vampires and soldiers wandered past and stuck out their bags to be filled. “Done already?” she asked as the five approached. 

Kyle shook his head. “Not even close. Just need new bags!” he said, showing her their plunder.

“Lord, I’ll never afford the dentist bill!” she said dramatically. 

The kids placed their bags of candy inside the office and started toward Skyline Park. This was long considered the nicer section of Black Grass, as the old money in the community lived here. Well-manicured lawns with late-model cars in the driveway were the norm here. The sidewalks were filled with trick-or-treaters, the vast majority of which from other areas in the community. Kyle led his brigade up one side lane and down another, where each house had elaborate decorations ranging from spooky to sparkly. Light displays of holographic pumpkins singing spooky songs, animatronic skeletons, monsters popping out of bushes, and fog machines shooting out a mystical haze all worked together to create an amazing atmosphere of the season. 

It didn’t take long for their four new bags to be filled with more candy than the last ones. A crisp wind blew through the trees as they started back toward downtown. 

“This costume is killing me!” Jack said, taking off his helmet. 

Janie looked over at him and smiled. “I think it’s pretty cool. And you, like, made it, and stuff. Pretty cool.” 

Jack dropped his chin in a sheepish smile. His hand felt warm as Janie took it in her own as they walked back toward the law office. Town was clearing out now and most of the businesses had put up their tables and displays. 

Mrs. Smith was putting up her egg costume as the kids came in the lobby of her office. “You guys have fun?” she asked. They each held up their bags of candy, showing off their tremendous take. “Ready to go home?”

Adeline walked over to Mrs. Smith and gave her a hug. “Thanks for letting me hang out with this gang of ghoulies tonight!” she said, looking back at the two sets of twins. 

“Thank you for chaperoning,” Mrs. Smith said.

Zack gave an incredulous look to his mother, letting her know that he did not approve of this subterfuge. “You coming over for a movie?” Janie asked Jack and Diane.

“Sure!”

“Love to!” 

There was a sound out in front of the building. “Zach, honey, I left a table out there. Will you go bring that in for me?” Mrs. Smith asked. He sat down his candy and his knife and walked out to the sidewalk. Standing in front of the office was a small girl, no older than five. She was dressed in a tattered princess dress that at one point was pink, but was now mostly gray. Someone had attempted to do her hair, but the result was mostly a matted mess now. Tears filled her eyes as she stood, looking down Main St.

“You ok?” Zack asked once he saw how upset she was. 

She turned to him, sorrowful. “We missed tricks or treats. And now I can’t find my daddy,” her voice cracked and wavered. 

Zack’s heart melted seeing the little girl so upset. “Well, trick or treat isn’t over here. Do you have a bag?”

She shook her head.

“Ok, give me a second.” He darted inside and grabbed his two bags of candy. Janie saw what he was doing and followed him quietly to the door. “Now, you know what to say?” he asked the sad little princess.

“Tricks or treats?” she said.

Zach reached out both bags of candy. “I pick treat. I’d hate for you to pull a trick on me.” Chocolate bars and gum drops, gummy worms and lollypops; so much candy it was literally spilling over the top of the bags onto the sidewalk. 

The little girl's eyes widened, and a huge smile spread across her face. “Is this for me? All of this?” she asked. 

“Guess you didn’t miss trick-or-treat after all, huh?” 

A rusted out pickup pulled into the parking spot directly in front of the office. The sound of a horn honking jolted Zack and the little girl, momentarily. Suddenly, a scrawny man wearing a stained white tank top, green sweatpants and flip flops exited the vehicle. His head was shaved close to the scalp and the few teeth he had were either brown or black. “Neveah Jean, what the hell ‘er you a doin? I been lookin’ all over this town fer you!” His speech was slow and slurred. 

“She’s ok, mister. She’s just trick-or-treatin’. See, she got her some candy.” Zach could feel that something wasn’t quite right, but didn’t know exactly what to do.

Mrs. Smith heard the commotion and came out to the sidewalk. “Everyone ok out here. That you Sam?” There was a forced pleasantness in her voice Zack didn’t like. 

“Yeah. Neveah Jean here done run’t off from me. Fount her here with yer boy.”

Zach looked up at his mother, confused. “I just gave her some candy.”

“It’s fine, pal,” she said to him. Then, turning to Sam, “Well, happy Halloween, Sam.” She turned to the door and put her hand on Zack’s shoulder. He resisted, trying to signal for her to wait. 

Sam stumbled forward and ushered his daughter toward the truck. 

“Thanks for the candy,” she said meekly to Zack.

“G’on girl!” Sam croaked. 

Zack looked at his mother with wide eyes, pleading with her to do something. “We’re having a little Halloween party this evening. Would she like to come?” he blurted out. 

He could feel his mother tighten as he said it. After an uncomfortable moment of silence she said, “I’ll even pay for your dinner at Martha’s while you’re waitin’ on her. How does that sound?”

Sam rubbed his head. “Naw, we gots to get goin.”

“Please, daddy. I’d like to go. Just for a little while.”

He looked down at his daughter. Zack watched as his mother pulled $50 from her purse and walked it over to the man. “My treat. Let her come watch a movie and eat some popcorn. I’ll meet you back down here at midnight.”

With a rough swipe of his hand, Sam took the cash and stumbled toward his truck. “I’ll be at Martha’s,” he said and drove off down Main St.

Mrs. Smith motioned for Janie to come outside. “Sweetie, this is Nevaeh Jean. She’s gonna come to our Halloween party. Take her on in.” Janie took the small girl by the hand and led her into the office. 

Turning to her son, Mrs. Smith had a stern look on her face. “Zack, I’m not sure exactly what just happened. Do you know who that was?” 

He shook his head.

“Buddy, that’s the biggest dope dealer in the county. He’s dangerous. He’s mean. Now, that girl is his only daughter, and you just invited her for snacks and a movie at our house.”

A tear welled up in his eye. “She was sad mom. She missed Halloween. And she was alone. She needs a friend. And I thought we could help her. Even if it’s just a little.”

Mrs. Smith pulled her son in for a tight hug. “You’re a good kid. I don’t care what your sister says about you. You’re a good kid!”

They both laughed. 

As they came into the office Nevaeh Jean was playing with the other kids. “Alright, who wants to go eat popcorn and cookies and watch a scary movie?” Mrs. Smith asked. 

They all screamed “ME!” in unison as if they had practiced it. 

“And no Bloody Guts 5!” Janie said. 

“No. We’ll let Nevaeh pick,” Kyle answered.