A Ghost Story

Originally Written Between 2016-2017                                                          

It was a dark and stormy night……… Well, it wasn’t.  But, I’ve always wanted to start a story with that scenario.  

 

Actually, it was a beautiful, sunny fall day.  The gold, red, and orange leaves were falling.  The air was brisk.  The three cousins were all excited because their families were all heading to the local corn maize to enjoy an afternoon of hot cider, spice cookies, candy corn, hay rides, and of course, searching for just the right pumpkin to take home.

 

Suzie, Leigh-Marie, and Paul searched and searched and searched.  They were told that they were in charge of finding a papa bear, momma bear, and baby bear-type pumpkins to place on the steps of Suzie’s house.  You see, Suzie’s parents were hosting the extended family Halloween party.  Leigh-Marie and Paul and their mom and dad were invited to stay overnight  -- probably so the adults could really “party” and the kids could stay up and enjoy themselves, too.

 

Paul, being the oldest, declared that he would find the papa-bear pumpkin.  He assigned the mama-bear size to Suzie, and little Leigh-Marie had to find the baby-bear one.  Off they went – all in separate directions – to find their perfect pumpkin.

 

Once home, their moms helped them carve their pumpkins.  Carefully drawing the toothy smiles and odd-shaped noses, eyes, and ears.  Digging out the stringy seeds was an “ugh” job – at least Leigh-Marie thought so.  Paul, however, kind of liked throwing the seeds at his sister and cousin.

 

Big, fat candles were placed in each pumpkin and set out on the doorsteps.  The cousins were so proud of their masterpieces and proudly accepted the compliments from all the guests.  The party was well underway when Suzie noticed that her pumpkin’s candle was out.  A gust of wind must have blown it out, she thought, as she lit her candle again.  Two minutes later, Paul’s pumpkin fell off the step.  How did that happen?  Boy, the wind must have really kicked up.  He returned his pumpkin to the step and went back into the house.  

 

Next thing they knew, Leigh-Marie’s tiny baby-bear pumpkin was no longer on the bottom step – but, on top of mama-bear pumpkin!  And both of them were on top of Paul’s huge one – like a snowman!  “Who did that?” they asked each other.  All three shook their heads “not me!”  They placed their pumpkins back on their assigned steps and went back into the house.

 

Soon, the three cousins could hear laughter coming from outside.  No one else heard the laughter – the party was loud with people talking and singing and music blaring all around.  Paul, Suzie and Leigh-Marie ran to the door and along with hearing the laughter, they could see smoke coming out of each pumpkin’s smile.  And, not only were the pumpkins not on the steps any more, they were jumping on the ground!  Happy, happy pumpkins – joining the festivities of a Halloween night. 

 

The kids ran inside to tell their parents to come and see their haunted pumpkins.  But, as soon as the cousins went into the house, the pumpkins stopped jumping, laughing, and smoking.  When they all returned, each pumpkin was on its assigned step.  Their candles were lit showing off their crooked smiles.

 

The parents didn’t believe their children and told them to go inside and go to bed.  As the cousins marched into the house, little Leigh-Marie looked back and her little baby-bear pumpkin was turning somersaults on the lawn.  A happy ghost pumpkin! One that only a child could see.