November 2, 2009 Vuk Petrovic

A Halloween to Remember 9 Seminar

Not a sound was heard in the frigid night, none but the sound of a few leaves still hanging from barren tree branches swaying in the breeze. All the streets in Idealville were a desolate stretch of pavement; all streets but one. On the corner of Calamity Dr. and Standard St, a party is hosted every October 31. This is the one place emitting sound tonight: A worn down old wooden mansion packed to the brim with decorations and props. Every Halloween the neighborhood hosts a Fright Night in which all are allowed to attend, young and elderly.

In fact it is unknown who actually owns the capacious property. The mansion had been there ever since any of the neighbors could remember; which isn’t much considering the senior citizens have all moved further South because of the lack of warmth in the fall. Nobody every questioned the existence of this home, it was there and that is all anyone cared to know, until the happenings. After some time unexplainable things started occurring in and around the property which sparked the neighborhood’s interest. Some understood that this was the perfect place to commercialize. A spark of magic here and another spooky element there and you have your typical haunted mansion.

Everyone who is anyone will admit to joining at least one Fright Night. The attractions fit all, but not all ages go at once. The toddlers would usually leave as the teenagers entered. Teenagers would not be caught dead playing with or being entertained with the little ones. No, they have their own tricks and games. Parents felt the children should not be exposed to the teenage banter as well. Fright Night is certainly the main attraction in October. This night is funded by the entire neighborhood, and tonight they are in store for a night to remember.

The little ones were leaving happily skipping, roaring; pouncing like the beasts they pretended to be. Then the wave of hormone-crazed, teeming teens hits the home and the real party begins. Some were dressed as wizards and ghouls. Others went as ghosts and goblins, witches and pumpkins. The music pounded, the beat made the house vibrate. All was well until he came. He was cursed the children would say; a klutz, a mistake waiting to happen; the awkwardness in the silence, the girl repellent. He was Blunder, James Blunder.

James was an unusual boy. He had lived in Idealville for one year now and already received an interesting reputation. He goes to every party and becomes the entertainment for some and the plague for others. He seems to be the servant of karma because those who do bad seem to get the trouble. James and trouble seem to be concomitant. James was dressed in long, dark robes, a hood covering his face, darkening his view and leaving him faceless. Long strands of fabric hung from his dark sleeves as he walked menacingly toward the door. Of course, in the spirit of Halloween, you must be as terrifying as possible.

Approaching the children who were leaving, he stops and stares as they walk clustered together in fear. Closer, and closer they approached until they were right beside him and that’s when he sprang! A sudden jolt toward them, a sudden step, hands raised suddenly and then the fall! James springs forth while one leg stood tangled in the fabric, raising the other leg he slips and falls clumsily backwards into the Jack-o-lanterns while the kids ran away. Scrambling around, James struggled to get up for the costume was too long, too difficult to move in. Suddenly as he starts to get up the tips of his fabric catch on fire but the klutz does not realize. Walking into the party with a flaming costume he goes toward the punch table, thirsty from the struggle.

“Dude you’re on fire!” yelled a teen.

“Thanks man, I tried!” James yelled back over the pounding of the music with a smirk.

“No, I mean really you’re on fire, dude!” repeated the now terrified boy backing away. James once again caused a scene.

“What do you…?” started James as he looked around and back and saw the embers. Panicking, quickly he ran over to the punch and drenched himself in the fruity goodness which was the only refreshment of the party. His costume imbibed the punch like a sponge. All around one could hear cries of anger, disapproval, laughter, and judgment. Immediately a name was put to this faceless figure: James Blunder.

James raced out of the house and into the street tripping and falling again as he left. But that wasn’t enough. He returned and crept around to the back entrance, this time without the costume. Snickering to himself, he went inside and up the staircase into the attic which was just above the snack and dance room again.

“This will blow their minds… I will make this night happen!” James thought to himself. “All in the spirit of Halloween, children!” With a grin he starts tying a rope around his thin waist. He never was really good at tying knots, but the excitement of scaring his friends and “fans” to death just pressed him on anyway. He slowly got up on a ledge that led down an opening to the ground floor, ecstatic at the thought of his new machination. Slowly he started lowering himself.

“AHHHHHHHH!!!!”

“What is that!?”

“Oh MY GOD!”

“WHAT THE…”

James starts to fall 20 feet onto the punch table now destroying all the food at the party. The crowd stood with their mouths gaping open in shock and terror at the disfigured body on the table now squirming slowly. James started to get up bruised and worn out.

“Boo.” He said.

They still stared.

“Uhhh, happy Halloween…guys.” James fled the scene once again having mixed feelings of accomplishment and embarrassment. The music stopped and that was the end of the night.