A Halloween Short Story

October 31st. Halloween. A night when spirits walk.

Whether you believe in “hocus pocus” or not, you have to admit there’s something spooky about Halloween. Based on the tradition of the pagan Samhain, we don costumes to blend in with the ghosts and ghouls that walk the earth while the veil is thin. Who’s to say who it really is under that mask?

It’s a night anyone could be anything.

And on that note, please enjoy this “fun-size” story (and maybe a Snickers or two). I call it:

“Jack”

Willa had to spark the lighter three times to get it to catch. When the flame finally danced inside the Jack o’ Lantern on her porch, she returned inside to dump bags of candy into the large black bowl printed with kitschy spiderwebs. She gave it a good stir with her hand and then set it aside until the first trick-or-treaters showed up. It would probably be another half hour or so. It was still a tad early for—

Knock, knock, knock.

She glanced back at the door. Somebody was getting started early this year.

Willa adjusted the cat ears on her head, then, bowl tucked into her arm, answered the door with a smile on her face.

Her smile faltered. A man stood there. Alone. He was certainly not a trick-or-treater or chaperone. Although on second glance his outfit did appear to be a costume, an old-timey outfit with a waistcoat and a ruffly cravat. A Hamilton character, maybe. Were people still doing Hamilton?

The man said nothing, only returned Willa’s smile with a rather alarming grin. She supposed it could be considered friendly, but there was something about it… Too wide. Too many teeth.

“Ha…Happy Halloween,” Willa prompted, when the man still didn’t say anything.

“A Happy Samhain to you,” he said.

“Uh, yes, that too.” Willa stuck her smile back into place. “Are you…one of my neighbors? Did you need something?”

“A neighbor,” he said, delighted for some reason Willa couldn’t parse. “No, not a neighbor. Not quite. I’m a visitor. You called me.”

Willa was starting to wish she was holding something other than a candy bowl. A nice, big kitchen knife would make her feel a lot better right about now.

“…I did?” she asked.

“Yes. Three knocks.”

Willa shook her head. “I’m not sure what you mean. You knocked on my door.” Three times, in fact, Willa recalled.

“That’s right. Three knocks…and a foolish flame.” The man stepped forward.

Willa took a step back, fingers white-knuckled on the door. “All right. Ha ha. Very funny. You got your Halloween trick in. That means no treat for you! Have a good night.”

She moved to shut the door, but froze when every light in her house went dark. The only light source left was the one flickering behind the Jack o’ Lantern’s grin. And then, from the darkness a matching grin emerged, fire burning hot enough for Willa to feel it on her face.

Willa opened her mouth to scream.

Half an hour later there was a knock on the door.

“Trick-or-treat!” a trio of children chorused, when the man greeted them.

“Wonderful costumes!” he said, passing out pieces of candy to each of them. One was a Power Ranger, one was a dinosaur, and one was a black cat.

The mother a few steps behind them frowned. “I thought Willa lived here,” she commented.

“She did,” the man agreed. “I just moved in.”

“Oh, well, nice to meet you. I’m Audrey at 2217.”

The man grinned. “You can call me Jack.”

The little girl dressed as a black cat pointed at the pumpkin on the porch. “I like your Jack o’ Lantern, Mister.”

“Thank you,” he said, “I carved it myself.”

The first trick-or-treaters of the night left with cheery wishes of Happy Halloween. Jack waved at them and wished them the same, smiling at the next group coming up the sidewalk.

At his feet a light gleamed from within the Jack o’ Lantern, illuminating the image of a cat, its back arched, its mouth carved open in a yowl.

Happy Halloween, everyone. Careful lighting those Jack O’ Lanterns.