It was the morning of Halloween when Rhonda opened up her kitchen door, walked in and started cleaning. The boys had made a proper mess of things. Dishes were piled up, the margarine had been left on the counter and the bananas were so dotted with black and brown spots that they could barely be considered edible. And what was that horrible smell?867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiafeiNzwpD
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih3gkabxdC
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCZvQksJqs
Rhonda sighed as she changed the garbage sack. There was a wicked crick in her neck and her back hurt. Such is the price of getting old she thought to herself. She took the trash out and threw it in the rubbish bin. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoXLuSrTyO
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJJ8TLIALT
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaN3LVixsN
Mrs. Wiggins, from across the street, was doing the exact same thing. She had a gaggle of boys, too. Mrs. Wiggins was dressed in a baby blue bathrobe and slippers. She hadn't quite gotten her day going from the looks of it. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvzVg8CGLZ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIQDWxosBg
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPkmHtmg74
“Hello, Regina,” Rhonda said. “How’s Henry and Matthew?” Henry and Matthew were her two boys. They went to the same school as her Johnny, Mikey and Billy. They played football together and got on very well. So well that their families had spent many a summer day together having barbecues and swim sessions in the Wiggins’ pool. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibFUKuUZTH
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfg18Ghh1Q
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21yW9EDiNn
Much to her dismay, Mrs. Wiggins didn't return her cordial greeting. Mrs. Wiggins dropped the trash bag she was holding and it split open and spilled rubbish onto the sidewalk. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMMlPTL3h0
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH10IracTwe
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtINTfG1Ad
Regina Wiggins whimpered and ran back into her house with a look of terror on her face. “How very rude,” Rhonda said, but then she thought better of it. “Don't be judgmental,” she muttered to herself.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5eRyo13eP
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeznH9Ms2wQ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Isuna6LEH
She remembered that Regina suffered from IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome. When she felt the need to run to the bathroom she had to go right away or an unfortunate accident was sure to follow. The IBS had taken it’s toll on her poor neighbor. Aged her prematurely. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxt2SuWgKm
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPb8cozYdZ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhND8RQTeT
Being the good neighbor that she was, Rhonda cleaned up the trash that Regina had spilled onto the sidewalk. She decided that she would bring Regina a nice cup of tea later and find out if she was all right. But not until she finished cleaning that dreadful kitchen.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNm2fLEMND
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuYinLKkJk
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHb3DzSDlC
She filled the sink with suds and water and began cleaning the dishes. Most of he kitchen had been put back in order, but there was still a dreadful smell coming from something. One of the boys had probably dropped a piece of fruit behind the trash can. It wasn't unusual. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzhJGe90Ni
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevmguUmbQU
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMNh9ddAtn
The clinking and clanking from her cleaning of the dishes awoke her husband Eddie. Eddie walked into the kitchen and he paused at the door. He looked at Rhonda for what seemed an eternity, but was actually no more than a few seconds. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6BqnZAuBz
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSfSLiWwwc
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqzwHRBrxf
The look on his face was one of bewilderment and worry. “Well hello to you, too, dear,” Rhonda said. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “Have a seat and I'll make you a bite.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg5Q4yLQHQ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5CBR48SQs
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETZg8QdpRs
Eddie stood there in his boxers and white tee shirt intently watching his wife of twenty seven years. His eyes were wide and his wispy, white hair was out of place. He took a step backwards. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZRwBMMxLI
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCNeN675c3
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YYTU0v7fq
“Sit down if you want some breakfast, Eddie,” Rhonda said again. Eddie took a step forward and paused. He took another sheepish step. “Sit down, you unusual man,” she instructed him again. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsqzoantRy
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2mpOTDYGN
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF3hGs8Svp
Eddie pulled a chair out and sat at the table. Eddie’s eyes never left Rhonda as she stepped over to him, bent down and kissed him on the forehead. Eddie’s brow wrinkled in horror and confusion.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gjLto6KRj
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIp6QRiqlT
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5ccUeIr4M
Rhonda grabbed a skillet that she had just washed and sat it on the stove. She walked to the refrigerator and shook her head when she opened it. “My word,” she said. “I really need to go grocery shopping. It's as bare as bones in the ice box.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgodI2vsRA
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ36uAsQPY
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOywfoCXWgh
She pulled out an egg carton and opened it. There were only two of them in it. Clicking her tongue, she took the two eggs and sat them next to the skillet. She ignited the burner and put a wee bit of olive oil into the skillet. Before long the two eggs were sizzling.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUBcDjkAp0
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI7LF7aBtM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bMwLld8hV
“I would make you some toast, but it seems we are out of bread,” she said. Eddie watched her in silence. When the eggs were finished she dished them onto a plate and sat them in front of her husband. He just stared down at plate of eggs. Every now and then he would look up at his wife, who was now sitting across from him.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkvvhC6c2t
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsWS1hV9Vv
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2Xj411vhA
“Well eat them,” she said with an annoyed tone. “Would a thank you and a good morning be too much to ask?”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunRhNZMsbl
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhu9mz5FXU
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIGZFZkima
Eddie shook his head. “Thank you, dear,” he replied. “And good… good morning.” He picked up his fork and began to put small bites into his mouth. He chewed, but all the while he never took his eyes off of Rhonda. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFQ6kq86L8
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjZtVpYNJE
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1woyR2WeL
“I swear,” she said, “everyone has forgotten their manners today. It must have something to do with it being Halloween.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SXrddabYo
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJwr8CjmOy
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxysoSgkfX
Eddie just nodded his head. The look of worry and confusion hadn't left his face. He took a few more bites of his egg. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgELJWRwlSL
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtJGIqZjFk
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU3H5WlPrZ
“Well what is on your mind?” she said to him. “I can see something is bothering you. Out with it then.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUunHYok8a
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEOMMWChz2
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpXP5bXp50
He sat his fork down and looked at her intently. “How?” he asked gingerly. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADXzEgjQsj
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIoKVfPpfr
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxifpLLllR
“How?” Rhonda asked. “How what?”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWWXn417zb
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16wrjvG56s
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiELII7cHW
“How are you here right now?”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatddeSMH5k
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1fMssDQkj
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0JpRCHpj1
“What kind of question is that? I live here.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8txx8eNlL
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0VQQ4ZJ5H
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFw5fa6tkA
“But, but…”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uB75W5cjS
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLOXkZ0e59
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUubJX6xpXh
“But nothing. I live here. What kind of question is that? I swear, Eddie, old age is finally getting to you. Making your mind soft.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4Qg6XXuCH
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEKQVykTnA
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RSNJ2N7Pc
Eddie picked up his fork again and took another bite. He sat the fork back down on the plate. “I don't know what's going on right now.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgSm3pwtJF
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvzAhG3kWB
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSMzDgfAPf
“You are sitting with your wife having breakfast,” she said to him. “As pathetic of a breakfast it is. I apologize for letting the shopping lax.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtJ6OImgkN
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENkvtvgpuH
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8EJmFizec
“I'm the one who does the shopping now,” Eddie replied. “I don't keep much here. I eat out most nights.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0UkFyCXqW
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuisuYPn7iK
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTEKttiuYK
Rhonda rolled her eyes and stood up. She walked over to the garbage can and looked behind it. “Do you smell that?” she asked. “It smells like something's gone rancid.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsjmfLDJ7S
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVs0bobZgw3
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4OReaxBgm
She searched the kitchen for a few minutes. Her husband stared at her the whole time. His look of worry turned to one of wonder. Then his wonder turned to seriousness. His eyes hung on the floor while she searched for what was rotten. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YmBvgUfKQ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AbwHVmIdC
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZHY7PsZTF
“I bet Mikey left a piece of fruit out,” she said. “It wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqvjNdFQ11
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9ESFTg5MY
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xIXmmfUNs
“Mikey doesn't live here anymore, babe,” Eddie answered. “None of the boys do.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS0PHLeBli
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0kfrHwKlu
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97uKkUzD9M
“Nonsense,” she replied.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWCC7E8Xi1
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvxOBf2Wj0
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCmPkg61aW
“Mikey is off in college now,” he said. “Johnny is in the army and Billy is working at the DMV. He has a family of his own now.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW36MEcoNu
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxsieA9xUM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcTOy3Rzfb
“Ha ha. Very funny,” she said with no amount of amusement in her voice. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaicosTCdpd
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsALu08byUF
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqth8mSGzQ
“I'm telling you the truth, babe,” he said. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0Y5bYupxy
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm8EL5SjGm
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqlotcxzhG
Rhonda grabbed the small pad that sat on top of the refrigerator and grabbed a pen. She started making a shopping list. “Is there anything you need from the market? Razors? A new toothbrush?” she asked. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2pN0fgh7D
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35UJuBKAZ7
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zCMxXYvtT
“Sweetheart,” he said, “you have to listen to me.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1tCVBuwAY
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU1eoUZAlV
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLQNFPgzd2
“I don't have time for your nonsense,” she replied. “I have to get the house in order before the boys get home.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2B6MLM4vz
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqUKRr5GZ8
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1E3ZLJClr
“Baby, the boy's ain't coming home,” he said, “I told you. They don't live here no more.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkPbwpMEeh
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGBnFMzAgp
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA6R0JyBMR
This time she slammed the yellow pad she was writing on down on the counter. “Enough with this nonsense, Eddie!” she declared. “I have enough to do without you adding to the list with your foolish pranks! I need to go to the market and get groceries and Halloween candy for the kids in the neighborhood. Now are you going to make yourself useful and help me or are you going to sit there and continue to be a horse’s ass?”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ82ZIhrCb
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgj8NbYPoL
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSvBWX68US
Finally finding the courage, he stood up and walked over to his wife. He gently put his hand on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. “Babe,” he said quietly, “you've been dead for twelve years.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHU2stgYzp
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn3zyh3pJ4
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO81mKaDZG
She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Rhonda,” he said, “honey, you've been dead for twelve years.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy93TxYBoNx
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuNleAMftp
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPIA7uvQ6P
Rhonda pushed him away. “Enough of your tomfoolery!” She cried out and then went back to writing her list. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTr8MHz5at
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX7pJ0NwTz
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmpb6wBHd5
He put his hand on hers and stopped her from writing. “I'm not fooling you, babe,” Eddie told her. “You got in a car accident after you dropped the kids off for school. Twelve years ago today.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd9wKgXaF7
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzZQE3suyv
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgr2XmLFGM
She put her pad down and sat the pen on top of it. What was he saying to her? Then suddenly it came back to her. Just like Eddie had said, she had been driving to the market after dropping off the boys and a van came out of nowhere and hit her station wagon. Then there was nothing but blackness. Until earlier when she walked into the kitchen. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WyYgvy4vJ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwdiNqLKhM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEXhTaNW9U
Pulling out a chair for his wife, Eddie sat her down and then sat on the edge of the table. She looked confused. Almost as confused as Eddie did. “Okay,” she said in barely a whisper. “Okay. Will you help me find what that horrible smell is, Eddie? And then I'll go back to where I came from.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz4ILVGg6C
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJycI6wFm0
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPQNTlDUxW
Eddie nodded. “I would help you with anything, darling,” Eddie replied. “But I think what you are smelling is yourself. You been in the grave a long time.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdLKm2oqTd
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb8mv7SfmZ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD641p4nqN
“He’s right, mom,” came a voice from the entrance to the kitchen. It was Mikey. There he stood, grown and handsome. Beside him stood Billy. He was much older than he was the last time she saw him.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetSpRn5mr9
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eNdSLO5ep
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhmNcU755C
“My boys!” Eddie cried as he ran over to hug them. “When did you get here?” 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E9lF3ocjK
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbmSemdHTz
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VDzu80pBF
Billy returned his embrace. “We got here a few minutes ago. It took us a few minutes to process what was going on, so we just sat quiet in the hallway.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6CN0amQUp
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ZCXtTJZ5
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pwsDlpQPK
“We figured you could use a few minutes alone,” Mikey added. “To sort things out.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9iCB39YWP
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKfwhdC2IO
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5bmmS6fKL
“Oh,” Eddie replied. “Where’s Johnny?”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLqeBIVzvU
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB57Oa2w7Z
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiXaOiK4Op
“Johnny couldn't be here, pa,” Billy replied. “He's living overseas now. You know that.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdCJrkPcwA
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ704e1jYYw1
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7r642gu0R
“Oh yeah,” their father replied. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbFzUBMNqX
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRovWrs2LqU
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3evhqKOA9
The boys turned their attention to their mother. “Hi, ma,” they both said. They took turns giving her a long hug. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zssk4t35A
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLkRb7daww
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjKzEV0vER
“I don't know how I got here,” their mother said to them. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7GIgTaZBq
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOHfkNHdGV
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnAZRECoL3
“It don't matter,” Billy said softly. “But you can't be here anymore. It isn't right.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl612pXwH87
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpQQhhJ6ab
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVD6P6jvlJ
Mikey took his mother’s decaying hand into his own. “You need to go be at rest again, ma,” he said. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKOIxvbBVH
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3vOmkQ2Bh
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm5MZ8EAUt
“Okay,” Rhonda relied. She knew he was right. She didn't know where he came from, but she knew it wasn't natural for her to be where she was now.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgvfR5TZbm
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErIWaetLLz
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IXZ7UFocX
Billy opened the back door and motioned for her to follow him. Holding Mikey’s hand all the while, she did. The four of them walked out into the back yard. Under a tall tree there was a hole dug in the ground. There was a wooden cross at the head of the hole. “That's where you came from, ma,” Mikey said to her. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjamlDsQqQ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GUhGGlLd9
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2eJJfUiF7
“I'm buried in the back yard?” she asked. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9onTTNN25
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReck0vp6y8
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzATVFh5VO
“We had you in the cemetery for a while,” Billy answered, “but every year on Halloween you would dig your way out of your grave and make your way back here. It got to be a real hassle sneaking you back into the graveyard, so here you lay.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTcjSRGiig
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkofbq8FeI
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBbTKpHuio
They all sat and just stared in silence for a few moments. Rhonda broke the silence. “I guess it's time for me to go,” she said. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhvM63doUX
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjbedHqvWk
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqDEx0BjxH
The boys and their father nodded. They boys took two shovels that were there waiting for them and turned the hole into a nice, deep, rectangular grave. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnKBcewbjC
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoiFH743NX
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65qeDM36SV
They all said their goodbyes and their mother climbed into the freshly dug grave. As soon as she laid back in the dirt her eyes closed and she was gone once again. The life had slipped from her. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuosKSwEKk
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTPeKtzSW3
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPriiSImxUX
“How did you boys know? Why did you come here? You aren't playing hooky from school are you, Mikey?” Eddie asked. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupVhURZO9D
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdYxtCUBFU
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7PTqkdVZ6
“No, pa,” Mikey replied. “I'm not playing hooky from school. I haven't been in college for ten years. I graduated. I have a family of my own now.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MD6nN987U
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujDhs3wPAe
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrwX9NCQb1
Eddie’s brow furrowed once again. “What?” he asked. “You just enrolled last year! You couldn't be done already!”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6t97bP8MH
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu91A6Sjy6e
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxmhiDGTli
“Billy patted his pa on the back. “It's true, pa,” he said. He's been out for years now.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RV9k8T7oB
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIWZHeNBQf
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGxc6NeAlh
“This is insane!” Eddie exclaimed. “This whole morning has been bonkers!”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHEYL8IJon
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9a1CFApzE
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLIm0CQtGy
“It has, pa” Billy answered. “It is every year.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6inWyeh1IC
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23HDUftqUg
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM7jQy1AXd
“Every year?” Eddie said. “It ain't ever been like this! I would have remembered a morning this whacky!”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFItlTCjvys
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaM8iFYJnQ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEu6HNVGSd
Mikey turned his father a half turn and nodded towards the east end of their back yard. A hole, not unlike the one Rhonda has come from sat there waiting. “It happens every year, pa,” Mikey replied. “We don't know why, but it does.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdRAY9pF7B
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRQ5O1omkM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMZV2NNCh3
“Naw,” Eddie responded, shaken. “Naw it can't be right.” He looked at his hands. There was no decomposition of the skin like Rhonda had. There was no stink on him like there was on her. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhETyTFAbLM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyDKpMis6V
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ0eS9yzIq
“It is, pa,” Billy answered. “You died six years ago. Had a heart attack at the factory. On Halloween morning. Just like ma.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CwAn3U6zB
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVvQDYymy1
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQqswgCXop
“But that ain't right,” Eddie muttered. “I ain't rotten like she was.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4j6xnhCSv
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumJ5FHfITj
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2oUheD9G6
“It's true, pa,” Mikey said. He put his arm around his father’s shoulders and led him to the hole. “Every year on Halloween you and ma both come back. We don't know why. You just do. And we don't know why you aren't rotten. We can't figure that out.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwARPEZfYm
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ABwZohOyR
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aPcKXuAKq
Eddie’s look of confusion turned to one of acceptance. “Well it is what is I guess. It was good seeing you boys again. You know your mother and I love you dearly.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qV5PCfppI
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjQq8z05gv
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ1YHB9iQN
“We know,” Billy replied. “We love you, too.”867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeyP8KT3nt
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9meUXk3Ls
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnVySgNUuh
The boys took their shovels and dug the grave while their father watched. When it was finished Eddie walked over to it and said, “I guess I'll see you next year,” he and the boys both laughed uncomfortably and Eddie jumped into the hole they had dug. As soon as his feet touched the dirt of the grave his body fell limp and lifeless once again. For another year at least. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8vZknfgwD
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dEH7QbLxm
