by Billy Burgess –
The street light flickered as Jared and Mary walked down the sidewalk. Jared wore a pirate costume, complete with a pirate patch over his right eye. Mary’s costume was a long black cape with vampire teeth in her mouth.
They stopped and huddled under the street light.
Jared took a magazine clip out of his pocket. He read it aloud, “Send in your best “Real” supernatural picture to The Supernatural Insider and get paid $1,000.”
Mary smiled. “That money is ours. I’ve heard that Miss Hambright is a witch, and tonight we are going to prove it.” Mary pulled a camera out of her pocket.
Jared returned the cutout to his pocket and followed Mary down the sidewalk. They came to a stop when they saw the iron gates to the Holden Cemetery.
“Are you sure there is no other way?” Jared asked.
“I asked around school and this is the only way to Miss Hambright’s house.”
The iron doors creaked as Mary pushed them open.
“You have a flashlight, right?” Mary asked.
Jared nodded and pulled a flashlight out of his Halloween bag.
Pebbles of a gravel path glistened under the flashlight.
“You go first,” Jared said.
“I can’t. You’ve got the flashlight.”
Jared held the flashlight out to her.
“No, you have to hold it. I want to be ready to take the picture,” Mary said.
“Okay.” Jared gulped as he walked forward.
“CRUNCH!”
“What was that?” Jared asked, as he dropped the flashlight to the ground.
“You probably stepped on something,” Mary replied.
“Maybe we should go back,” Jared said.
“Here, take my camera.”
Jared’s hand shook as he grabbed the camera.
Mary took the flashlight and investigated the ground.
“You scaredy cat. You stepped on a twig,” Mary said.
An owl hooted from above them.
Jared jumped again.
“I’ll lead the way and you take the picture,” Mary said.
As they walked through the cemetery, Jared glanced at the cracked, moss-covered tombstones.
They came upon another iron gate. A sign hung from it.
WARNING: DO NOT GO BEYOND THIS POINT
Jared gritted his teeth as Mary pushed open the gate.
She moved the flashlight around, illuminating an old two-story house. The shutters hung loose. Three windows were broken. Shingles were missing from the roof. The once white paint peeled from the siding. Two giant oak trees guarded the house. A slight breeze moved the branches in an eerie manner, casting a shadow over the front yard.
Goose bumps rose on Jared’s arm and his heart thumped harder with each step closer.
Buhbump, buhbump..
They stepped on the floorboards of the porch. “CREAK!”
“Get the camera ready,” Mary whispered.
Jared’s hands shook as he turned on the camera.
Mary knocked on the door twice.
Jared held the camera up.
The sound of footsteps came closer.
“Get ready,” Mary said.
“I am.”
The door came open.
Jared snapped the picture. The bright flash blinded him for a second.
A young pretty woman wearing a nurse’s uniform answered the door. A nametag on the uniform read Miss Hambright.
“Hello. What do we have here? Trick-or-treaters?” Miss Hambright asked.
“Yes,” Mary said.
“What’s with the camera?” Miss Hambright asked.
“Ugh…” Jared stuttered.
“It’s his first Halloween. He wanted to remember it by taking pictures,” Mary lied.
“Well, that’s nice. I bet you two want some candy. Hold on one second.”
Miss Hambright returned with two candy bars and dropped them into their bags.
“Thank you,” Mary and Jared replied.
“You kids have fun. I have to finish getting ready to go to work.” Miss Hambright shut the door.
Mary and Jared walked down to the gravel pathway.
“I guess the rumors were wrong, Miss Hambright isn’t a witch. There goes our thousand dollars.”
Jared dropped his Halloween bag and the camera. Then, he pointed up in the sky.
Mary looked up and saw a horrifying sight.
Miss Hambright floated in the night sky on a broom. She still wore her nurse’s uniform, along with a black pointy hat. She slowly turned her head in their direction.
Jared let out a bloody murder scream and ran off into the cemetery.
Mary picked up the camera and snapped a picture.
“Happy Halloween,” Miss Hambright shouted and flew off into the night.
the end.
Question Time
1. Why did Jared and Mary walk through the cemetery?
2. Who was more scared: Jared, or Mary?
3. Why did Mary think Miss Hambright was a witch?
4. Was Mary right about Miss Hambright?
5. Do you think Mary and Jared are going to get $1,000?
