Trick or Treat

by Sharon L. Forsdyke

Two pumpkin lanterns squatted on Sarah's driveway as Maddy and friend Nina threw streamers at the neighbour's car. The Cuthbert's light was on but their hearing aids weren't. The Bhonjari family's sign requested no unsolicited visitors. The O' Donnell's car was outside, but she was making dinner, and he was hiding in the garage.

Four pairs of nostrils inhaled autumn air but exhaled none, and silent shoes trod the pavement.

Mrs Cuthbert switched off the porch light as the figures arrived. In pity, she ushered them towards the warm lounge and fetched lemonade and cake.

'Should you be out this late?'

In monotone the witch replied: 'We're always out after dark.'

'Don't your parents worry about you?'

'Na,' the ghoul fidgeted.

'Thanks for grub Mrs,' the wizard led the three out.

The old lady stacked the crockery, her hands sticking to the frozen glasses, then relit the fire.

Mrs Bhonjari's sari was due to arrive at 9.30. Such realistic costumes, she thought, racking her

brains for treats now she had opened the door.

'No sweets, but I have old sari.' Measuring and cutting, she produced four shawls. The cat's white cheeks glowed from the red chiffon caressed against them.

'You're freezing,' Mrs Bhonjari was concerned.

'Na, don't feel cold.'

At the sound of the bell, Sarah sprang up and the lanterns extinguished.

'Welcome,' in perfect child catcher accent, she swept off her black hat. 'My treat's a game.'

Blindfolded, and guided over a cornflake floor, brushing past lacy scarves, to bowls of spaghetti entrails and grapes, Sarah's ogre's tale was received silently.

After the photo, Sarah felt numb with cold.

Connie O'Donnell had been chasing Pippin round the driveway when the figures appeared.

'Hi,' Pippin jumped from her arms, freezing as the witch reached out.

'We 'ad a black cat.'

'What's wrong old boy?'

But Pippin was rigid, needle whiskers stiff, fur set in comb ridges. Connie grabbed a chocolate bar from an unpacked shopping bag in the porch passing it to the witch. The four turned away as Pippin shook and darted inside. As the spectres dissolved down the road the pumpkin lights reignited.

The following Tuesday whilst thumbing through the weekly newspaper, Sarah noticed photos of Halloween children and remembered her photos.

Maddy dropped her school bag and found her mother in the study.

'Look Mads got the Halloween photos.'

'I'm in the newsletter.'

Sarah scrolled the thumbnails of Maddy and Nina, the decorations, her disguise but there was one image of four silhouettes.

'That's odd. This camera must be playing up.'

'But that last photo of Dad's ok.'

'You're right, how odd. Well, why are you in the newsletter?'

'I won the poetry competition. See.'

Sarah's gaze followed Maddy's finger but was drawn to a photo on the opposite page of a witch, wizard, ghoul and cat and the words;

Mike and Susan Hughes thank everyone for condolences on the deaths of their son Lawrence,

daughter-in-law Kate and grandchildren Emma,12, Kirsty, 9, Ben, 7, and Adam, 5 who

tragically died on their way to a Halloween party on 31 October.