Halloween

The leaves crakle underfoot, and float through the air with each kicking step. The air smells of earth, leaves and Autumn air. The wind blows chill, but refreshing air over makeup covered brows and whistles through the newly bared black branches overhead. The New moon hangs heavy behind dull silver clouds that stretch thick fingers across the sky and mimic the cobwebs hanging from the porches with there glittering jack-o-lantern faces.

All around groups of children run, free for one night to become slightly wild and big sister pulls little sisters hand and drags her up the steps. Mother and father laugh, and little sister doesn't mind the assualt once the woman appears with the bowl brimming with treats. She doesn't even mind at this moment that big sister will sneak into her room when she sleeps and steal the best candies, which little sister knows now from experience.

A dog barks and bares it's teeth, and little sister cries. Big sister puts a rare, and comforting arm around her shoulder, and hurries them down the steps to the next porch, with the next glittering jack-o-lantern face. A man jumps out from behind a cardboard tombstone and screams Boo! Little sister jumps. Another house, and another. Hazy blue light dances around a smoky porch and ghosts brush their two small shoulders. A great stretching line of lighted porches, and glowing pumpkin eyes reach ahead of them.

Mother and father laugh and pull them homeward. Unwillingly they follow, already dipping into their bags when the parents look away. Big sister trips and little sister snickers through a mouth full of candy bar. Is there any better night than this?

Ramblin' Hoosier~