“Hey wait up!” I call out after my friends Brodie and Mitch, after checking out the latest lot of sugary delights to be dumped into my goody bag. They turn round to see how far back I am but carry on walking slowly. It’s late and we’re all heading home, happy with our plunder. Brodie has a great costume this year, he is a killer Panda. Mitch has gone for the classic vampire look. While I have gone for the legendary zombie theme, it’s a winner every year. I return my attention back to my bag, reach in (lucky dip style) and am rewarded with a popping candy chocolate. I pick up the pace and begin to cross a small road as I greedily undo the wrapper. Suddenly, a car speeds round the corner……. just missing me. My loot spills onto the floor from my fright. I swiftly gather it up and get off the road before another car comes. Heart pounding, I look for my friends but they have already gone. I hurry home and munch on mouthfuls of sweets. The quickest route home is through the graveyard and I am late; do I dare it or risk the scolding? I decide to brave it. Walking through, it doesn’t seem as scary as I last remembered and a calm peace resides over me. Strange, there seems to be quite a few people taking the graveyard route tonight. They all look and smile at me as we pass. ‘Weird’ I thought, but I still commend myself for my bravery. As I turn the corner I notice that all the light’s are off. Mom and dad must have already gone to bed; I will be in for it tomorrow! I close the front door as quietly as I can and creep up the stairs. I hear mom say “Goodnight my Angel, love you.” I shout “Goodnight mom, love you too!” But she doesn’t hear me to reply. I awake to unfamiliar voices. I haul myself out of bed and tiptoe onto the landing, eavesdropping to make sure I wasn’t in trouble before heading downstairs. “It was so nice to see you boys again.” Mum sounds sad. Dad quietly says, “I can’t believe it has been 25 years!” I head on down to see who’s visiting. As I enter the lounge and say, “Good morning!” They ignore me. ‘They must still be mad at me for being late,’ I thought. Two men are standing about to leave but I don’t recognise them. “Well goodbye Mitch, goodbye Brodie. Give our love to your children. Just make sure they watch out for the cars tonight when they go Trick or Treating, you know how dangerous it can be!” © Candy Croc 2018