October
The week before Halloween the weather changed. The rainy season, or summer, was gone. So was the heat and the humidity. It was replaced with beautiful, sunny blue skies during the day and cool, dry nights filled with stars. I even opened my windows for the first time in two years. The dogs had their noses glued to the screen hoping to catch a smell of someone walking by so they could bark a friendly “hello” at them.
Halloween used to be such an important holiday for both Eddie and me. We would decorate the house and dress up just to hand out candy to the kids in the neighborhood. I knew that there were some old costumes in a box high on a shelf in the garage. I could not venture into the garage just yet, so I went to the local party store and picked out some costume pieces. I chose a pirate hat that was crushed, an antique looking clip on hoop earring, and a red bandana to wear as a scarf. On Halloween night, I put on a black tee shirt and jeans. With inexpensive make up that I purchased from the drug store, I painted on a moustache and a scar. I clipped on the earring, tied the bandana around my head ,and placed the hat on top of the bandana. I looked in the mirror and was pleased with the outcome. The doorbell rang, and the first group of kids arrived as the dogs scrambled to the door.
When I opened the door, I was amazed at the group of five kids. They were between the ages of three and twelve. The bigger ones pushed through to the front. “Trick or Treat,” they chimed in unison. I handed candy out to a skeleton, a clown, and someone dressed in a “scream” costume with a black cloak and hood. They thanked me quickly and turned on their heels. They had many houses to go to before they were finished for the night. The two smaller children were left standing with their mouths wide open. My heart was full watching them stare up at me.
I kneeled down to their level, the bowl of candy in front of me. “What do you say?” I asked. All they could do is stare with their mouths open.
“You’ve been practicing all day, honey. What do you say when you want candy?” one of the mothers coached from the foot of the steps.
“Here,” I encouraged, moving in closer. “Just whisper it in my ear, okay?” They nodded but said nothing. “Come on,” I said, “I promise I won’t bite.”
One took a big swallow and whispered, “Trick or Treat?” making it sound more like a question.
“Are you going to say it too?” I asked the other. All I could get out of that one was a quick nod. “Good enough for me. Candy for all!” I received smiles from both of them as they left.
“What do you say to the nice pirate?” one mother asked.
“Thank you,” the two sang at the same time.
The smile was wiped clean off my face when the next child stepped on my porch.
"What are you supposed to be?" asked a blonde haired girl dressed like a green fairy.
"I could ask you the same question, young lady.” She stood there with one hand on her hip and sighed aloud. “I am a pirate and I should make you walk the plank for such a question," I answered back.
"Just give me the candy Mister, so I can finish the rest of the neighborhood. Okay?"
"Blake, dear don't be so rude to the man," said a woman from the street, the ice tinkling in her glass. I assumed she was the green fairy's mother.
"I'm sorry," Blake whined. I tossed some candy in her bag, stepped back into the house and closed the door. I leaned my back against the door and took a deep breath.
"This," I said to my self, "is going to be a long night."
The knock on the door almost sent me to the hospital with a heart attack. I think I may have let out a little scream for the dogs came running to the door.
"Hold on boys," I said to the dogs. "Let's not take a leg off some kid just because they are nasty."
When I opened the door, I saw two dark haired boys between the ages of five and seven. Obviously, they were brothers because they were the spitting image of one another. One was taller and I assumed he was the oldest of the pair, but they both sported the same crew cut. They were dressed in white karate kimonos and pants called a Gi. The taller boy wore a yellow obi tied tightly around his waist, the other wore a white one. Black eye masks finished off the costume.
"And what are you boys supposed to be?"
"We're Ninja spies," they both shouted proudly. The little one was missing most of his front teeth. When he spoke, it sounded more like, "thpieth."
"I'm the Ninja master, and he's the student," the taller one informed me pinching his brother.
"No I am not," the smaller one shot back. Then he punched his brother in the arm.
"Ow," the taller one moaned rubbing his arm and looking over his shoulder. "Dad, did you see that?" That is when I noticed the handsome couple standing in the shadows at the end of the driveway. They were dressed like Zorro and his wife Elena. He was dressed entirely in black with a black eye mask, cape, and hat. Her dress was long, full, and red. She too wore a black cape and eye mask. Her dark curly hair was pinned up with soft tendrils cascading down her neck. The sight of them astounded me as they drank champagne out of crystal glasses.
"Yes I did. Now apologize to your brother." His voice was deep and familiar.
"I'm sorry," (which sounded like "thorry") he said in a whisper, his head down.
I kneeled down to his eye level my big bowl of candy in my arms.
"That's okay. I’m a little brother too." I whispered in his ear. "But I got even."
"Oh yeah? How?"
"I grew taller and bigger than them. So I scared them."
He laughed.
I threw candy in their bags, making sure that the smaller one received more.
"Hey that's not fair!" the taller one cried.
"I'm sure your parents are going to have you boys split the goodies evenly," I said waving to the couple as the boys scampered off the front porch. They both waved back. I had the feeling that I knew the man from somewhere but could not put my finger on it. I stood there watching the four of them disappear into the night.
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