Two Halloween Tales Read online

  For Kade Christopher, it was the night he looked forward to more so than any other night of the year. Even more than Christmas Eve.

  There was a certain magic Halloween brought. A feeling of unbound energy as he would slip a mask over his face and become a creature of the night, or more deliciously, a creature from a nightmare.

  Every year Kade started working on his costume earlier than the year before. A stack of hand drawn prototypes lay on his desk how he wanted his costume to look this year.

  But all that hard work, mostly the efforts of his mother to make it a reality, was behind him. Tonight the only burden would be carrying all that candy home without spilling it, and watching over Keaton his younger brother.

  Keaton was six years old, just two years his junior. Kade wasn’t happy that he would be in charge of his brother’s welfare tonight. He pitched a fit when his father had told him that he was taking Charlie, his two year old brother, trick-or-treating, and that Kade would be responsible for Keaton. It was all about becoming a man, his dad had said.

  Kade wasn’t concerned about becoming a man. He wanted to be a kid. If it had been up to him, he would have been an only child. He didn’t like it when Keaton held him back from doing things he wanted, and now it was worse with Charlie coming along. At first, Kade told his mom that he was going to be a pirate captain this year and make Keaton dress like an anchor. His mother laughed, but knew he was just lashing out.

  Kade was going to be a zombie. Not just any zombie, but a Doctor zombie. Complete with glow in the dark scrubs and a stethoscope from his dad’s EMT kit. What made his costume super special were the fake intestines. He was going to hang them below his stomach.

  He actually came up with the idea himself and his dad helped him with the project. Three feet of clear plastic one-inch tubing from the hardware store had been folded, twisted, and hot glued to make a convincing set on intestines. Of which he would fill with a gruesome concoction later.

  The final touch was the special face paint that glowed under black light. He had practiced applying it and knew just how brush it on to give it the eerie look of the undead. He would wear a black light LED necklace to illuminate the special face paint.

  “Young man, you know the rules. Travel on the streets and not across people’s yards. And don’t go by the Folter’s place. Don’t eat any candy that’s not wrapped. Watch for cars and trucks. Look both ways before crossing the street,” his mother said, adjusting the bright green surgical cap on Kade’s head.

  With his arms crossed, Kade said, “Do I have to take Keaton? He’s a scaredy cat. He’s going to slow us down, and I won’t get half the candy I usually get. Can’t he just go with Dad?”

  “We’ve been over this too many times. Your dad will be pushing Charlie in the stroller and will go too slow for your little brother. It’s time you step in and help him grow up to be a big boy like you.” Kade’s mother was trying to help Keaton become more independent. And figured tonight would be a great time for him to gain some confidence and become less clingy to her and her husband.

  “Where is that little twit anyway? Is he ready? I don’t want to start late,” Kade said.

  As if from nowhere, a crash of tennis shoes against the wood floor came from the doorway. “Action Man is here to save the day!” Keaton said.

  “Look at him, Mom. He’s not even dressed right for Halloween,” Kade said.

  “I am too! I’m Action Man. And I can take on a hundred zombies like you,” Keaton said, hands firmly on hips. His yellow and blue costume was specially designed to reflect light for safety.

  “I thought you said he was scared,” his mother teased. Kade stood in silence, unwilling to admit he was wrong.

  “I’m not scared. I have my Action belt to save the day,” Keaton moved his hands from his hips and pointed to his father’s tool belt that was shortened to accommodate his small frame. The leather belt had various pockets and clips to store things. Keaton had modified it for his cap gun, plastic boomerang, silly string, marbles, and a flashlight.

  “Well, all I have to say is that you better keep up with me or I’m going to let the monsters get you,” Kade said.

  “Kade!” his mother scolded.

  “Enough of that. Are you ready to fill your intestines?” Dad asked, coming out of the garage and drying his hands on a towel.

  “Yeah. Let’s do it,” Kade said.

  A can of corn and a can of green peas had been draining in a colander by the sink. Kade helped his dad shove some corn and peas in the tubing, being careful not to pack it too tight.

  Dad opened a few light sticks from its packaging and cracked them, allowing the two chemicals in the stick to mix for the bright glow to appear. He then cut off the end of one of the sticks and poured the liquid into the tubing. Yellow-green light illuminated the peas and corn. More peas and corn went in the tubing followed by light stick liquid until they were full.

  “Gross,” Mom said.

  “Can we go now? The sun is about to go down,” Kade asked.

  “I guess so. It’s better to get an earlier start anyway,” his mother said. “Where’s Keaton?” “I’m coming,” Keaton called from the kitchen. He closed his mother’s purse and put a

  cylinder shaped object into one of the snap pockets on the belt.

  The two went to the living room corner and put their shoes on. There were four decorated trick-or-treat bags with reinforced handles waiting for them. One bag for each hand.

  Dad tied the plastic intestines around Kade’s waist, and gave him a congratulatory swat on the rear.

  Mom waited at the front door and gave them an air kiss as they ran by. “Don’t forget the rules,” she hollered, as they waved without looking behind.

  Brown Heights Park was a four street neighborhood just off the main highway. It was a modest development for middle income families. The extra-large lots made the neighborhood special.

  The main road that led to the subdivision streets ran parallel to the main highway. Each of the four streets connected to the main road in the front and to a rear road in the back. One single gravel road jutted off the rear road, leading into thick woods. That road led to the Folter place.

  Goblins and ghouls, fairies and teddy bears, emerged from houses and invaded the streets. The glow of jack-o-lantern smiles appeared on porches and by the side of the road as darkness hid the norm of the day, unleashing the demons into the night. Kade was pleased that Keaton kept pace with him. It was almost a race to see who could reach the next door first.

  “Trick-or-treat!” They both would yell, waiting for the door to open, eying carefully the tasty treats dropped in their bags.

  A dingy looking ghost trotted up next to Kade and his brother as they were between houses. “Hey, Kade. I know where there’s caramel apples.”

  “Carmel apples? Where?” Kade could tell the ghost was his neighbor from the next street, Billy Johnson, just from the sound of his voice.

  “The Folter place. Old man Folter was fixing a sink at Jimmy’s house and told him to come on Halloween night and get a caramel apple.”

  Kade frowned, although it was hard to tell when a zombie was frowning. “The Folter place? We can’t go there.”

  “My parents told me to stay away from there too. But Jimmy said he was going. If he’s not afraid to go then I’m not either. Want to come?” Billy asked.

  “I better not. I got to watch Keaton and he might tell on us,” Kade said.

  Keaton ignored the two. When they got to within a close proximity of the next driveway, he darted for the front door.

  “Keaton. Wait up!” Kade yelled, leaving Billy on the street.

  The night grew darker and Kade and Keaton had been down their street, up the next, and down the other. The two were on the connecting rear street—which was vacant of houses and street lights—and next to the gravel road leading to the Folter place.

  There weren’t any other kids around. The gravel road, the woods surrounding it, looked spooky. All da
rk and filled with strange sounds and angry dogs barking in the distance.

  “Let’s hurry to the last street. It has lights,” Keaton said. The two turned to head to the next street over when a man emerged from the woods and stood down the road from them.

  He was tall and fat and wore overalls. He sported a big hillbilly hat and had a beard that hung to his waist. He was eating something that made a crunchy sound.

  “Mmmmmm, mmmm. My, my. This is the best tasting caramel apple I’ve ever had,” the man said. He kept his gaze on the apple and spoke to no one but himself.

  The two boys crept closer. Kade was about to make a run past him when the man turned their direction.

  “Howdy there, boys. You guys get a bag full of candy tonight?” the man asked. The two stopped dead in their tracks. “Uh-huh,” Kade answered.

  “Mighty fine. Mighty fine. Halloween sure is a fun time of the year.” The man paused and took another crunching bite from the caramel apple and smacked loudly.

  The two boys stood at attention, as if waiting for permission to be dismissed.

  “Say, did you two get you one of these apples,” the man asked, wiping the apple juice off his beard with the back of his hand.

  “Un-uh,” Kade answered, now eying the caramel apple with great interest.

  “Well, you’re missing out on a treat. The caramel’s so soft and fresh, and the granny smith apple crisp and tart. Let me tell you, I never had one finer. No sir, not me.”

  “Where did you get it?” Kade asked.

  “Oh, a nice old woman down the gravel road is giving them to all the kids. She has some Halloween decorations out front of her house. Once you pass the decorations, you get to go in her kitchen and pick out your caramel apple. You might want to hurry though. She might not have many left.”

  Kade wanted a caramel apple some kind of bad. All he had was store bought candy in his bag, but nothing as special as caramel apple. Each time he heard the man take a bite his mouth watered. “Is it far down the road?”

  “Not far at all. You’ll be there in no time. There’s some dogs close by, but don’t worry. They’re tied up and won’t bother anybody. Well boys, I wouldn’t wait too long if I were you,” the man turned, and left toward the next street over.

  Kade looked at his brother. “I want one of those caramel apples.” “But Mom said not to go there. That’s the rule,” Keaton said.

  “That man got an apple. Billy and Jimmy got an apple. All we have to do is run down the road and get one too. Heck, we can be there and back in five minutes,” Kade said.

  “I don’t know,” Keaton said.

  “You’re not scared, are you? Action man?” Kade said. “I’m not scared! But Mom said—”

  “We just won’t tell her. It’ll be our secret. That’s part of growing up. You keep secrets when you’re a grownup. Now, let’s hurry and go so we can finish the last street and get home.

  “Race ya!” and Keaton led the way down the dark gravel road with Kade close on his heels.

  After about thirty yards, the road turned toward the front of the house. There were jack-o- lanterns lining the road the rest of the way. The orange flame from the candles flickered, giving them an evil look.

  Dogs barked and startled the two. But they could see that the dogs were chained to some trees by the side of the house. Just like the man had said.

  A table with some displays was set up in front, leading to the porch. Kade couldn’t make out what was on the table. He was afraid to get too close without permission.

  A large bubbling caldron generating wisps of smoke was in front of the table. Kade and Keaton inched their way up to it to see what was inside.

  As the two peered over the top, the shriek cackling of a witch erupted from behind. “Heeheehaahaahaa.”

  The two froze. Keaton grabbed Kade by his arm and held tightly.

  “Hello, boys. Glad you could make it to my haunted house,” the witch said. She was a short, gray haired woman who wore a tall witch’s hat and a flowered covered house coat. She didn’t look scary at all.

  “My, look at you two. A zombie doctor and a superhero come to my rescue,” the old woman said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” the two said in unison.

  “I bet you’re here to have some Halloween fun and some caramel apples. Am I right?” she asked.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Well now, let’s get started.” She walked past them to the cauldron. She took a large ladle and stirred the torrid brew. “It’s a combination of fruit punch and dry ice. Would you like some?”

  Kade and Keaton were thirsty. They had made quite a hike and had nothing to drink since the start. She poured each a cupful at their request and handed it to them.

  They turned their cups upside down and drank the cool tangy punch. The drink did have a sweet flavor, but something was different. It had a metallic sort of taste. Something bumped Kade’s lip from the bottom of the cup. He turned the cup to the light to see what was in it.

  A large eye looked up from the bottom of the cup. “There’s an eye in my cup!” Kade screamed.

  “Oh, posh. That’s just made of rubber. It’s Halloween,” she said. “But it looks so real,” Kade said.

  “That’s what makes it fun, right?” she said, snatching the cup from his hand. “Now, come and check out the scary things I have on the table.”

  The uneasiness that Kade had felt started to leave him. This was a set-up just like they had at the school carnival. He knew just what to expect.

  Kade whispered to Keaton, “Don’t be scared of any of this. It’s all fake. I’ll tell you about each one when we get to them.”

  The old woman led them to the first display on the table. Skin, fat, unidentified pieces of meat, and intestines were arranged in a large bowl. A sign above it had ‘Guts’ written in large block letters.

  “It’s chicken guts,” Kade whispered to his brother.

  Next they came to a bowl of ‘Eyes floating in a Pool of Blood.’ “That’s grapes in tomato juice,” Kade said.

  “They don’t look like grapes,” Keaton shot back.

  Kade didn’t want to admit that Keaton was right, but that’s what the school used last year.

  ‘Bloody Brain’ was next for them to examine. The brain was a sickly gray underneath a thin sheen of red, but was smaller than the one at the school.

  “That’s made of Jell-O with peaches in it. Strawberry jelly is smeared on top,” Kade said. He shook the table but the brain didn’t wiggle like the one at school.

  The last display on the table was a bowl full of ‘Human Tongues.’

  “That’s canned peaches and red food coloring,” Kade said, thinking that the peaches must have been unusually large.

  “Boys, that brings us to the end of my Halloween display. Would you like to come in and get your apples now?” the old woman asked.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Keaton said.

  Kade remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. The two followed the woman up the steps, on the porch past two jack-o-lanterns placed on bar stools by the door, and then into the house.

  The kitchen was small and the wooden floor creaked when they walked across it. The old woman led them up to a counter where two caramel apples set on a white plate, looking like they had just won a blue ribbon for the best caramel apples ever!

  Kade’s eyes widened as she picked them up by the wooden sticks shoved in the bottom. She handed one to Keaton. As Kade’s eyes grew wider, one to him.

  Kade’s teeth entered the cool skin and the caramel sweetness bathed his watering mouth. He took the biggest bite his little mouth could manage. The crack of the crispy apple filled the air and a spray of apple juice tickled his nose. It was the most wonderful thing he had ever tasted.

  Keaton nibbled on his like a mouse.

  “You boys enjoying the apples?” the old woman asked.

  Each nodded their head, choosing to chew rather than speak.

  “My, it does my heart good to see such young
boys enjoying themselves.”

  Now that Kade had a caramel apple in hand, his eyes wandered to a pan on the counter. He thought it held more caramel apples. But the caramel wrapped objects weren’t shaped like apples.

  “What are those?” Kade asked, pointing to the pan with his apple.

  “Those? Oh, those are for my husband. He likes other things dipped in caramel too,” she said.

  “What things?” Kade asked.

  “Let’s see. That one on a stick is a pear. That one’s a banana. These two are strawberries, and the other two are orange slices,” she said, pointing. They’re fresh. I just wrapped them up before you two came up the drive way.”

  “How did you know we were here?” Something about this whole situation bothered Kade. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.

  “I heard the dogs barking. No one can get close to the house without me knowing it,” she said.

  “Oh,” Kade crunched down on more apple. Keaton was less inquisitive, giving his full attention to his treat.

  Kade looked around the room. It was decorated for Halloween too. Then, something he saw gave him pause. His chewing slowed, and his mind shifted into overdrive.

  “What’s that?” he asked, pointing to a soiled white ghost costume hanging from the ceiling.

  The old woman frowned. “It’s a ghost. What does it look like?”

  Kade swallowed. “Why does it have a red stain on the back of its head?” The woman’s faced tensed. “I bumped it against some red paint.”

  Kade’s knees started to get weak. That ghost costume looked a lot like Billy’s.

  A bald headed, clean shaven, tall and fat man entered the kitchen. Kade recognized him only by the overalls he wore.

  “Oh, good. I’m so glad you’re here. He was starting to get curious,” she said, as if the two boys weren’t even in the room.

  “Fresh or frozen?” the old man asked.

  “Frozen. We’ve got enough fresh for now,” she said.

  Kade interrupted, “I think we better go. We have to get on home. Thanks for the caramel apples. They were the best.”

  The woman managed a fake smile. “I’m so glad you two enjoyed yourself. You’ll have to come back next year and do it again.”