Page 37 of The Neighborhood Witch

A young beggar stood on his porch steps wearing a plastic Frankenstein mask. Hugo pulled out a bite sized chocolate bar from his supply.

“There you go.” Hugo dropped it into the child’s waiting candy bucket.

The young Frankenstein bounded down the stairs, crossing across the yard, then raced up Alice’s porch steps. Jack-o’-lanterns on either side guarded each step. The candles inside flickered to combat the growing darkness of the night sky.

“Trick or treat,” he offered to Alice.

She squatted down to meet him face-to-face. “My, what a scary Frankenstein’s monster. Did he only give you one piece of candy?”

He nodded.

“Well, at this house, I give out two pieces.” She took two pieces of candy from her black plastic cauldron set on the porch and dropped them into his waiting bucket. “Now go forth and cause mischief and mayhem. Fly, my monster, fly.” She smiled as the child ran down her porch steps onto his next destination.

“It’s not a competition, you know,” Hugo said.

Alice rose with a knowing grin on her face. “I know.”

“So, I have to ask, why do you like Halloween so much? I mean, it can’t only be the whole witch thing, right?”

“No, it’s not just about the witch thing.” Alice paused, trying to find the words. “Halloween, or Samhain as it’s traditionally called, is about remembrance. A day of reflection on those we’ve lost. It’s said that on this night, the veil is thin, and the spirits of our ancestors walk among us once more. I guess that’s why I like it so much. I want to believe it’s true.”

“If only…” Hugo’s words trailed off. He glanced back at the empty chair.

More kids descended on their porches. Hugo and Alice handed out candy as fast as the kids appeared from out of the darkness. Their supplies grew low.

“Why the vampire costume?” Alice asked.

“It was from last year. We usually do… did a couple’s costume. She wanted to be a vampire king and queen. I didn’t get a new one this year,” Hugo said, his voice lowered. “I didn’t want to let her down.”

“It suits you,” Alice said. Hugo gave her an inquisitive glance. “I’m a hugefangof the look.”

“Okay, how many of those puns do you have?”

“Enough to get me to dawn, but I wouldn’tcounton it.”

“Could have been better,” Hugo said as he handed out more candy. He thought of a response. “What sound does a witch’s car make?”

“What?” Alice asked, excited at continuing their little game.

“Broom. Broom. Broom,” Hugo answered.

She hid her mouth behind her hand, trying to hold in her laughter. Her eyes focused on Hugo and his impish grin.

The night wore on. Visitors continued to beg the question, “Trick or treat?” Hugo and Alice handed out their pieces of question, wanting to avoid any sorts of tricks that evening. They asked Hugo the question once more.

“Here you go.” He grabbed for a piece of candy, but only felt the smooth plastic bottom. He peeked inside and found nothing. “I’m sorry. Looks like I’m out.”

The kids hung their heads low in disappointment. Alice noticed their sad faces.

“Are you sure?” one of them asked.

Alice raised her right hand above her waist. She gave a quick snap of her fingers. She lowered her hand so no one could accuse her of what had transpired.

“Yeah, I’m sorry,” Hugo said. “Fresh out.”

He turned the bucket over. Handfuls of candy fell onto the porch. The kids gleefully picked up what they could. Hugo peeked back into the bucket, dumbfounded at what happened.

“Maybe you should look harder,” Alice said.

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