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?727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYknL6njDE7
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRx5M1z53C
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYwzkPBfQn
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz5F4YfaC9
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRslRmgJIXu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zySiEGO7U
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrinJZuDkD
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6ekbDjejT
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWoft3dDKd
“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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi5a6MuhAP
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dMLQLi3l4
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6h7sx92CH
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJRbht4bsZ
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz9hrIKJpa
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSWMCaZuS1
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgugqdxNJ9
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp9JreNRcs
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTqZz4t4cj
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69st9zHCTf
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGqqnJTWbJ
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB0fT3SVjK
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvTwwrjQny
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYEskWDsCz
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jVVmF9QBa
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqap2Hxnn8
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnwHS3gg1S
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Dz1PzqQE
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2IGEv1MFL
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LcDIp9iNs
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqtj3vjRYw
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNvkmgmJkK
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38KyQwunTK
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUTpsa928B
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu7701CWAU
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzH4NPS5XS
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yUqJpmPJa
“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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIRPrwkMyv
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnmKsxpRyQ
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnk82BgpZW
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfECXBmsaLC
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJj4jWZ2qO
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOZbSMDcuX
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkliyFju0o
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncaPWlFA3P
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8imYbSWs4
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3NQKqn363
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByAcs9gMCZ
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZODYgd5jLt
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg4Umxj3Mu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66DGN5O1AS
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWU6ufJw68
“Well eat them,” she said with an annoyed tone. “Would a thank you and a good morning be too much to ask?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4cQiUtSLM
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJcJQDK34n
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIpNc4YFUj
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNeZxAaQi8
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwm7CC5sdE
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhOEICHuci
“I swear,” she said, “everyone has forgotten their manners today. It must have something to do with it being Halloween.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OzbUEMo3N
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2nMEVQlVd
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3COoGXQZL
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMFh6Eyjn7
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBiov9Y7DX
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF5wjv67IW
“Well what is on your mind?” she said to him. “I can see something is bothering you. Out with it then.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwcY8CEb5n
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKvYoMnbwH
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wcwgZqLIt
He sat his fork down and looked at her intently. “How?” he asked gingerly. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuFTS09D4X
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGTafQpqlm
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0P8gMROsB
“How?” Rhonda asked. “How what?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ3NXhEj1Q
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCYV9aXGFI
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAHeexDM0J
“How are you here right now?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzqo89nMWL
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFZRyD7LgC
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiudEmC0FS
“What kind of question is that? I live here.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhayxDexYKN
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwNfskvcXu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXm2LcUuBi
“But, but…”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgN1aklPdr
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPHHxFN8HM
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonImTtYUvF
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiixIu4uuq4
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ8DExejNm
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7hKxB6DN3
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFNfGDHIGb
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1UtKj5QQU
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZnxPvxwOm
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBiJe43tw6
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0AjYUxIyO
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuBrDkSLJC
“I'm the one who does the shopping now,” Eddie replied. “I don't keep much here. I eat out most nights.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUzpbCBzda
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgql7lyJJo
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGiq6ihuwq
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb17W7Gs8el
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI1qAORfkr
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI6KEhlf3Z
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsdP1U1vi4
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EZ4fcX1hu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7osRnZvlX
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAy8KvD2Np
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4P6yoxMOm
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGrMh9SBKL
“Mikey doesn't live here anymore, babe,” Eddie answered. “None of the boys do.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhJ6E8dBxD
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7p7jItuWP
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ruZqPLQMi
“Nonsense,” she replied.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5C4SiAYKY
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uDEwPmXgh
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVAjxEy7RP
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTZQmrJF4C
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NtrGMi0mK
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEAq7h4bcc
“Ha ha. Very funny,” she said with no amount of amusement in her voice. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OyeU7kUEr
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJraiEuDMm
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmKSf9UqCQ
“I'm telling you the truth, babe,” he said. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn6DkUMXbv
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuIsgu8OQe
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Wj5pzr0J
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhxWvwvCpU
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElF4XXIuC1
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkNbn9r9pm
“Sweetheart,” he said, “you have to listen to me.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEmk66Yu6d
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8180DhVdyO
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT0U9nKouB
“I don't have time for your nonsense,” she replied. “I have to get the house in order before the boys get home.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ30AbXsqss
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayL7qFQop0
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5rRr8JsEC
“Baby, the boy's ain't coming home,” he said, “I told you. They don't live here no more.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfsVFKZPVe
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9h7MNBo3p
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBegHfQ4j6T
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?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz7SmgQioI
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwf6Q8lhEH
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hfc88D9To
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4iLu9uTq0
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jysVlNJwY
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrsb2lF5Tl
She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Rhonda,” he said, “honey, you've been dead for twelve years.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gy6ZYvZww
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmbhDtmhCO
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtiEfmK06G
Rhonda pushed him away. “Enough of your tomfoolery!” She cried out and then went back to writing her list. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoDrjND1dK
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA4DByghbm
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdcuMekKay
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLVwCdknmF
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtHmKEoE88
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLuudFcC3i
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi2KosoCJZ
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpJd8o8Spe
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qk2ovQF6x
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzn2FSP1en
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnmWgPqYGL
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHrR45asOE
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCayEZEx9a
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtEw5MjsEe
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u7F5dclwG
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kiKDM2JoT
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHHa2GFnfq
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg1GXTVbrY
“My boys!” Eddie cried as he ran over to hug them. “When did you get here?” 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM3VlMIJda
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB61ri8CdIu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpmPo0Z4uf
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEmoYfrsDt
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLW9Gsjf54
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1cExQxsnA
“We figured you could use a few minutes alone,” Mikey added. “To sort things out.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgznnTn1O3v
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ5IKiwuek
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNEyxrTpnR
“Oh,” Eddie replied. “Where’s Johnny?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiZTyXMVUn
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XJUsNhnE9
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdumQ43Bhob
“Johnny couldn't be here, pa,” Billy replied. “He's living overseas now. You know that.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozIokQwyY6
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNFXe91ww5
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrT5CSnx8v
“Oh yeah,” their father replied. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dQnDZCts4
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHN0yMBPRU
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohjtyZbDxI
The boys turned their attention to their mother. “Hi, ma,” they both said. They took turns giving her a long hug. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCKrVRVuXu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVhxEeB3BF
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5NFTKb4Yj
“I don't know how I got here,” their mother said to them. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovfOso1aQo
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCvAl4u5jU
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VtJdzn1ms
“It don't matter,” Billy said softly. “But you can't be here anymore. It isn't right.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtLcEgkAVs
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylBYn1kSx6
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRpVmjSeJN
Mikey took his mother’s decaying hand into his own. “You need to go be at rest again, ma,” he said. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGSSnBi7mI
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65ArSljjuB
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSHEMs1SFx
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oYx21G1RB
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksCQxb62Gx
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nUgpymfoq
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02AI695P8W
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYsNTlkyvq
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85L9k8m4Ol
“I'm buried in the back yard?” she asked. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjK4tHRZIj
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKLlltUYTz
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF9tMhuuuH
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqD43RftGf
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvRh68AcAy
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQefRrZElZI
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB4171TmFu
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUKvY9lpHS
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wCdHNGGJ8
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZdCoDjPdz
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlbSiakXIa
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrWa2dYcb1
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTNJj9xXAY
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lT8IyUDl0
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyGPF1fRAO
“How did you boys know? Why did you come here? You aren't playing hooky from school are you, Mikey?” Eddie asked. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTklADxGYkS
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4zGL70EZl
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWuX2K4G5j
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPdvqOAvq7
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppATzVzyKR
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPenSGkQxy
Eddie’s brow furrowed once again. “What?” he asked. “You just enrolled last year! You couldn't be done already!”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq7jVjIrMM
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEqwWbVemE
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiwvIPa4Ab
“Billy patted his pa on the back. “It's true, pa,” he said. He's been out for years now.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZxGYTZDT9
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09PwcYcts2
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEWFH265T3
“This is insane!” Eddie exclaimed. “This whole morning has been bonkers!”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9YQywHVLi
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7EzNiwI8A
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyX3lHeh2J
“It has, pa” Billy answered. “It is every year.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtzZOGtHby
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHsTcRQmjb
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEZt2Xu1FR
“Every year?” Eddie said. “It ain't ever been like this! I would have remembered a morning this whacky!”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvVNJ6tBQE
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncaVxywxOc
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUZ0s3dSd3
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlPBcQswSH
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTovnGKyIcT
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm1H9oMYcK
“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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVWkSpTli8
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsPdrsIVsi
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGlX0f3ekm
“It is, pa,” Billy answered. “You died six years ago. Had a heart attack at the factory. On Halloween morning. Just like ma.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6FuAoJzld
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2x7kGYQSd
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHLbwktfRw
“But that ain't right,” Eddie muttered. “I ain't rotten like she was.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHNbWil9oO
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vOx2wpGtD
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUUwfVeoeW
“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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBG65uAUmL
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9vS9qa6F1
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21IhuAdwOp
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.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaiQFCdIWM
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLJAYPIxaK
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtJBzOazq2
“We know,” Billy replied. “We love you, too.”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpTDeKbkEM
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnuJWu4RGs
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAqtFNOYNV
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. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfPZEIC2oc
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCtLNeVgzK
