October 31st
by Susan K. Bernhardt
The jack-o'-lanterns sneering and glaring at us, at this last house on the edge of town, were the best of the evening. It was late. Most of the porch lights had already been turned off for at least an hour. We had seen this bright porch light in the distance, beckoning us to this house which we had never noticed before. Deciding it would be our last one of the evening, we lugged our heavy, candy-filled sacks up the path to the door. We rang the doorbell, and hollered "trick-or-treat". We stepped back a few paces as the door slowly, creaked open.
A man with gray hair sticking out of his clown mask opened the door a few inches. He looked at both of us and said, "Hello Ti_ ah boys. Don't you think it is getting a bit late for you to be out? You should go home." There were sounds of music and laughter coming from inside the house.
"It sounds like you are still partying," said my too-bold-for-his-own-good best friend Bobby.
A woman wearing a witch mask came to the door, opening it wide and said, "Pete, let the boys in. Come in boys. Join the fun. There are lots of goodies and treats inside." With the doors wide open, we peered into the room. People of all ages were dancing, drinking and eating. Tables brimmed with platters of cakes and pies, plates of cookies, bowls of pudding and candy.
"Let's leave," I whispered to Bobby. "I'm already late, and I am going to get heck from my mom and pop."
"Let's just stay for a little while," Bobby replied. "Look at all that food!"
We entered the house, leaving our sacks by the door. Bobby went straight over to the table and started stuffing his mouth with all kinds of treats. I was used to his eating disorder. Seeing a cute girl that looked familiar, I went over to her and asked, "Would you like to dance?"
"Sure. Have you had any of the yummy cookies yet?"
"Not yet. Looks like my friend is having enough for both of us," I said, seeing Bobby now eating a big piece of chocolate cake.
The woman in the witch mask came over to me with a tray of cookies. "Have one," she said, making it sound more like a command than an offer.
I took a cookie, and when she went past me, I slid it into my pants pocket. Do they ever push food here, I thought to myself.
Looking back at the cute girl I asked, "What is your name? I think I have seen you before."
"Susie Sullivan. Maybe you want some punch?"
Looking around the room at the other people, I noticed that many looked familiar. The man in the clown mask was over at the punch bowl. He removed his mask to take a drink. He looked over at me. I could have sworn he was old man Harris, who had lived down the street from us. I had heard my parents say that he had Alzheimer's and had just walked away from his home one autumn, a few years back. The authorities thought he must have fallen into the river and drowned. His body was never found.
Leaving Susie, I went over to Bobby who was now eating a popcorn ball. Pieces of popcorn were all over the front of his shirt. "Don't you think you should slow down Bobby?" I asked. He didn't answer. "Hey Bobby," I shook him gently trying to get his attention. "I just talked to Susie Sullivan. Remember her. Her photo was in the paper. She disappeared last Halloween! And Mr. Harris, from down the street...look over at the punch bowl. There he is."
"Bobby, let's go home. Something is wrong here! We can watch a horror movie at home, instead of being in one! We have lots of candy to eat and my Mom made caramel apples. Okay?"
"No! I like it here."
Deciding to leave, I quickly walked over to the front door. Grabbing my sack of candy, I opened the door and turned back just for a moment, looking into the room. Bobby was still eating. The masked woman with her back to me, was talking to Mr. Harris, who glanced in my direction and nodded his head slightly. I half-walked, half-ran, all the way home.
After telling my mom about Bobby, Susie, Pete Harris and the house at the edge of town, she called Bobby's mom. I went up into my bedroom and poured my candy out onto the bed, looking over all of my loot. It sure would have been fun to trade candy with Bobby. I remembered the cookie in my pocket and took it out. It was all crumbled up. I went into the bathroom and flushed it down the toilet.
In a little while I heard the doorbell ring. Going downstairs to see if it was Bobby, I saw two policemen at the front door along with Bobby's parents.
"Tim, the police want you to show them the house where you and Bobby went trick-or-treating," my mom said.
We drove up and down the roads for what seemed like hours, looking for the house at the edge of town. We never found the house that night.
It's been several months now since I last saw Bobby. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Next October 31st, I'll be looking out for that bright porch light.
Susan Bernhardt is a retired Public Health Nurse. A member of Sisters in Crime, she keeps busy writing and attending various Writing Workshops. Susan is currently writing a mystery book, which takes place in a small Mid-Western farming town. Contact Susan.
