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?827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocsXLK5PHk
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cfhuvhI9y
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ0rDNDkkp
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zlh2nbAFK
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH8aXLKhu9
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbGDR7fuW6
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UQaZs80QR
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJPiDXaiM4
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYLoGjK0Ct
“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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsULgVWGViw
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCghibi7ZmF
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IWFJXQUU0
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7ng1Qsrjk
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn733CTuYK1
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTssFKiAu4
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf6qL4FxVR
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KbK1E2HhZ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScdPKtmVCf
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4WtqA8j6g
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15ttnTtskt
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh7Vawixqn
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0tCueOeUq
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6uFiPVEcC
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnL11uosGc
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AG9fyKzw5
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQO5PxWjih
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDDRc5bC1x
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWjkfCNqE8
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRV0UpUgAC
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR76AxTzPie
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S5fyvd97T
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4AFuOJQ85
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCtuhLIlwh
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyYjY1obxi
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNMOHkyJ25
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrSI8UxEDZ
“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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMySnAAZ7s4
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJhko9L6dd
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiijALrUq7
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVwynH9lSn
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7Zm6qixeT
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8wA2pSyeU
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQSQQWRpPa
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCaDG4dvjk
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBhR1buaEJ
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUkE8wHWYO
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XYmyN4hsi
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPFeHCdGSx
“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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ2qKsLGyF
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYczLk7AM3m
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedBReDncYV
“Well eat them,” she said with an annoyed tone. “Would a thank you and a good morning be too much to ask?”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4Yzm0Gunv
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0unNxwXhT
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2cV4aAZYK
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMOeBBpcJP
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnMfTB75oZ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKmju9TusJ
“I swear,” she said, “everyone has forgotten their manners today. It must have something to do with it being Halloween.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q53SoeBzh
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0sPvjVJ6c
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2pe0eWDHN
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHsmHs2k33
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuCAURWhug
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJP3cBkyyW
“Well what is on your mind?” she said to him. “I can see something is bothering you. Out with it then.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzugRb4sv1
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50gUSYjdn2
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinDlFKhhzW
He sat his fork down and looked at her intently. “How?” he asked gingerly. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77Vgeq9MDB
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzkVb056EQ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokJZssx51e
“How?” Rhonda asked. “How what?”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5NkTjlza1
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDa8r47tP4
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIqk7fY0uL
“How are you here right now?”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2SlPt9FLL
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoK0Bx77vi
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI5qqBLLoz
“What kind of question is that? I live here.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3tFoYnbql
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFMFLyqgXc
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldjoUFvbM4
“But, but…”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6BR6ftltc
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRaclDV5Gw
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhfsNFo0YO
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26PXDxyEad
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BmS55i0dS
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdVgVuLkwh
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TszXGlaTq
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZyDcnoOAG
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLAbbzq3V6
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSN0LClTIG
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDSyMbMmHh
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjFIoezdZf
“I'm the one who does the shopping now,” Eddie replied. “I don't keep much here. I eat out most nights.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eNr1rFeQw
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj0wBw93OY
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7ChVzlRmv
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4dO1iXDFQ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfzUtnuB5t
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8z1PxcjYO
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvU4wgD4uv
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI0aVJUcYs
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPmGkOoQb4
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes4tewFpO8
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm4UtoQmfi
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TKP1HuAyq
“Mikey doesn't live here anymore, babe,” Eddie answered. “None of the boys do.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmJgyU6inF
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSRYB42qpb
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmPHG9Qvyb
“Nonsense,” she replied.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkX8UPrXQO
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuKzmjJcBs
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxgOCoxqxD
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxieBCObAVD
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQcGATTLJq
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqZry3Pilp
“Ha ha. Very funny,” she said with no amount of amusement in her voice. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLTrc4wb0Y
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iBtABiB3E
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHazETWVac
“I'm telling you the truth, babe,” he said. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwntyk9ozu
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4XMttv8uy
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4451c8YJkQ
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IhyxddISc
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwuRoChO3u
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6Ua2WFhQY
“Sweetheart,” he said, “you have to listen to me.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ9pDJmjo6
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0biuogGEyh
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UcPgFNBCc
“I don't have time for your nonsense,” she replied. “I have to get the house in order before the boys get home.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchRIqVxZRQ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzHlLsLknU
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEh1l0vPH0
“Baby, the boy's ain't coming home,” he said, “I told you. They don't live here no more.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkktRY4YWOp
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJzj6bihbn
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeXCJMrUxU
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?”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLTo1zZVBJ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohPFUjJSXd
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OuxtcQsQF
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1EX1pEwBS
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74nswHt3Oj
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrxPqfm4Ay
She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Rhonda,” he said, “honey, you've been dead for twelve years.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqxIjzFjRF
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SudWNFVkX
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJRucmsblz
Rhonda pushed him away. “Enough of your tomfoolery!” She cried out and then went back to writing her list. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSour7KYYdi
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19FuXRGPvs
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP0CaoRXOk
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH97i9becfT
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbOY471LQS
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78EkkKsklx
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49kmUkAJPL
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4pGtbo9ba
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg98TdL9UL
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnaHZBQux5
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4kJMVXnMG
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwFHsM5o1C
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxDueom4br
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuJ7vT7Uu6
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBOnljXaBX
“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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF24fdKh8cd
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclWtjvcU3g
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHBmjyogbW
“My boys!” Eddie cried as he ran over to hug them. “When did you get here?” 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTyC6BXjtj
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjSvFbzdVl
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSMdFNsMTU
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMIto3iZSp
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x99DxVy0d
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJFaKwSZkJ
“We figured you could use a few minutes alone,” Mikey added. “To sort things out.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnz8afW5i1
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHZYBt4h9u
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTFgFm4uWW
“Oh,” Eddie replied. “Where’s Johnny?”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8sYlOvFwu
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPDFgSdFE0
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiiNfqyIy5
“Johnny couldn't be here, pa,” Billy replied. “He's living overseas now. You know that.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vpjPMlmWb
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6PTUl6wpT
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lsPwMNvlf
“Oh yeah,” their father replied. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4FyDnPB0n
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xapElGYVl
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzfOuk7zRP
The boys turned their attention to their mother. “Hi, ma,” they both said. They took turns giving her a long hug. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudDpCGu0OU
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS02IXhrhb
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2U9M4NsGWn
“I don't know how I got here,” their mother said to them. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIVwqIt95N
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3SGn3hBD6
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl34Go5oML
“It don't matter,” Billy said softly. “But you can't be here anymore. It isn't right.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz9bQwcvM3
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcasJ8ToF39
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡektNecHWDJ
Mikey took his mother’s decaying hand into his own. “You need to go be at rest again, ma,” he said. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mbHdLXdgJ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpizidy5Ylx
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrqcoQ4Spd
“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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqepHSqoJ1
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8FWacLnWR
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gcWLjjApW
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu2oeiYkNr
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQmFPNzVBk
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlH8GgEJAB
“I'm buried in the back yard?” she asked. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhI1Sc708n
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy3mRkKocW
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLAJIFL7OR
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AyIFULgAz
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3f2ihiXzt
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxbUxdlLVE
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1DasY7irO
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dtqnKQTvF
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNslrJ4U07R
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlezciRRP5
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIg7HlXzJQ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGjm6wyFFt
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakziPEtJjW
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3AoA02azp
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2DiNq50kI
“How did you boys know? Why did you come here? You aren't playing hooky from school are you, Mikey?” Eddie asked. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iq5AW1MH2
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3nvlPTArd
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMBrXJq1ev
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBmiYfiqJF
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByK4BSqim8
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPWPEexmx3
Eddie’s brow furrowed once again. “What?” he asked. “You just enrolled last year! You couldn't be done already!”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMvNevcmon
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa51QBGaF4
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2HUBcJN9V
“Billy patted his pa on the back. “It's true, pa,” he said. He's been out for years now.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK4Hgfo8zk
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeDTqEIqap
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DJQ1ELk9c
“This is insane!” Eddie exclaimed. “This whole morning has been bonkers!”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUC1e0Wfmd
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhSdRFJSQx
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnCadfZhhn
“It has, pa” Billy answered. “It is every year.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CTM2aAX6B
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WEWbnfsmN
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd546uSwFI
“Every year?” Eddie said. “It ain't ever been like this! I would have remembered a morning this whacky!”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wJkZ7qR1I
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZIUv8xk71
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf9Az3Tzhs
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL0n0Gv0yf
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULyODm0jJz
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKhOLQJ8Fe
“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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpRhyYawbO
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvefr6fRUS
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNfml8KnrB
“It is, pa,” Billy answered. “You died six years ago. Had a heart attack at the factory. On Halloween morning. Just like ma.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur0nOLR2Ys
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX7TAf0XIQ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Jtm3fRPQ
“But that ain't right,” Eddie muttered. “I ain't rotten like she was.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45lWQj43WN
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Ua2p8vZa
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE8qbKyL1Z
“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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxVzLNCqnO
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7WUCAwDbj
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXbdNGH1Es
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.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNgFpw38TC
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAnub14VZh
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhYzw49jwz
“We know,” Billy replied. “We love you, too.”827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2numdr7MaI
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6JOxgRb6q
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OYmLLOKvi
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieFsd8tv8k
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGqFnSQB5f
