A Halloween to Believe In
It was a cool Halloween night in the Liz’s trailer park. Kids were trick or treating all over the place. Elizabeth was no exception. Every year, She takes her brothers out for the annual candy collecting.
This year was a little more festive. Her old roommate, Brittney had finally left along with all her bad habits. Her new roommate Ashley was a godsend to be with. Plus, this was the first time she had taken her brothers trick or treating around her new home.
The group was a sight to behold. The youngest, Grayson, wore a fierce looking dragon outfit. Eric, whose fondness for the dark knight showed, donned a Batman costume. Gavin chose a more realistic approach with his policeman’s uniform. Evan followed suit with his younger brothers and chose to be a Ninja as his crime fighting alter ego.
Ashley, who tagged along to help baby sit, was going to dress up as a gorgeous princess. But, the costume she rented for the night turned out to be the wrong size. Unable to find the right size(“All the good one were taken long ago” the store keeper said), Liz found her a grapes costume instead. Being good natured, she played along. Even though it wasn’t her thing.
Liz was easily the most eye catching of the bunch in her Genie costume. A two piece outfit that sparkled from top to bottom. Her top was a beautiful shade of blue with pink and silver rhinestones lined up in stunning designs. The pants had less design. But, more then enough rhinestone sparkle to make up for it. The entire outfit was lined in gold trim like tassels. The last pieces Liz added out of her own jewelry box. A silver and gold necklace and a dazzling rose quartz stone in her navel that well complimented the rhinestones in the outfit. It was no surprise that the heads of virtually every man turned toward her in her presence. She was a beauty among beauties.
They started the evening at the front of the park, Figuring they’d work their way to the back. But shortly after starting, Liz and Ashley noticed the trick or treating had died down quickly. It was like everyone left all at once.
Both Girls looked up to the sky to check the weather. It was a clear star filled sky all around, except for directly above. A single cloud had moved in and was hovering above them. “Did the clouds scare off everyone?” Ashley asked Liz.
“Not everyone.” Liz replied as she pointed to young boy about Gavin’s age walking toward them with a bag of candy in one arm and a gift wrapped box in the other.
Liz spoke up to get the child’s attention. “Where did you get the box?”
“There’s a spooky house in the back of the trailer park. The old man has lots of stuff.” The child said, noticeably excited over his new treasure.
Ashley noticed the boy was alone. “This is a big trailer park for a boy your size. Who’s watching you?”
“My sister. She ran way when the box opened up and started talking. The old man told me to go straight home and he’d watch over me until I was safe.”
The group looked all around the area and saw no one. They were alone in the trailer park that was filled with activity moments ago. Now, it was eerily silent.
Liz thought for a moment. “There’s no houses in this park. Are you Lying?”
“NO! Lying is naughty.” The boy shouted at them. “It’s back there.” He pointed to the back of the park where he came from. “Go look, if you don’t believe me.” With that proclamation, the boy quickly walked away.
Liz and Ashley huddled together. The boys stood back and watched curiously as to what would happen next.
Both agreed that something was up there that wasn’t there this morning. Slowly, the group walked to the back of the park to investigate what the boy found.
As they approached the back of the park. They expected to find a wood line and forest behind the last row of trailers. But, There was a spooky looking house. Just like the boy described. Perhaps, even spookier then the boy let on.
Eric, Gavin, and Evan started for the door of the mystery house. Liz stopped them. “We can’t go in there. We don’t know them and we’ve never seen this house before.”
Evan tried to reason with Liz that it was safe because the boy they’d met earlier had already been there. But, Liz would have none of that.
Liz, playing cautiously with the safety of her brothers made her decision. “ You boys stay here with Ashley. I’ll check it out and comeback for you if it’s safe.”
Questioning her own judgment. Liz slowly walks toward the long path that led to the door of the mystery house. She heard Gavin and Eric in the background complaining they were going to miss out on all the fun.
As she approached what was the wood line, Liz noticed the house looked like those in the old horror movies. The only differences were the well groomed lawn and the mass of Halloween decorations.
The lawn before her was decorated with tombstones and caskets. The house itself looked like a Halloween version of the Christmas displays she sees lining the houses and trailers during the Christmas season. A huge inflated wolf man and Frankenstein stood on either side. Along with eerie lights inside the house,(what she hoped were) sound effects, and light fog surrounding the place, It was the most impressive display she had ever seen.
As she took her first step onto the pathway, she noticed movement from a nearby casket. Fear started to grip her soul. But, Quickly subsided when the mummy like figure that rose from the casket wasn’t much bigger then Grayson.
“The Master is waiting for you. Please go in.” The little guy gave a sinister laugh and lay back down in his casket.
Liz was still nervous. But, started her walk up the long path to the front door. She couldn’t tell who the little guy was from the disguise. But, she assumed he was an actor on the house owner’s payroll. He was small enough to be a midget or even an elf.
As she walked, she took a closer look at the tombstones along each side of her. She noticed the names looked more realistic then some of the pretend names she had seen on past tombstone decorations. She didn’t think much of it until she reached the last stone next to the door. Her eyes locked onto that and she read it twice just to make sure it wasn’t her imagination playing tricks on her. It simply read:
Brittney
Bad habits
2008
For a brief moment, A sinister smile crossed Liz’s lips. “After causing so much trouble and grief, Brittney got what she deserved.” Liz thought to herself.
Liz’s smile quickly faded when she realized that the man inside could put her on a tombstone if she decided to enter the house.
She turned to leave. Before taking a single step in her retreat, She found the path being blocked by the elf sized mummy they heard earlier. “Where are you going, Dear? The master is waiting for you. Please go inside.”
Liz Could have gotten past the three foot mummy. But, decided to head up the step to the mystery house. As she turned away from the mummy and toward the door. She heard the mummy yell back to her. “ Do you like the tombstones, I built them myself at the workshop.” She looked back to answer. But, he was gone.
Liz reached the door. Hanging about eye level, she noticed a sign. It read:
Curses to the naughty, not nice.
If you’re bad, you’ll pay the price.
Step inside, if you dare.
If you believe, A secret, I’ll share.
“Believe in what? Ghosts? Ax murderers?” Liz thought to herself as she recalled the tombstones she’d just walked past. She was about to knock, Before her hand made contact with the wood, the door slowly swung open with a creaking sound that sent shivers up and down her spine. Startled and frightened, Liz stepped back. Eyes closed, she awaited the ax to fall or whatever fate would behold her.
“Elizabeth? Don’t be afraid. There’s no boogey man in here.” Liz heard the pleasant sounding voice and opened her eyes. Before her, stood the oldest and fattest Count Dracula she’d ever seen.
Outside of his long white beard and his dress shirt. Everything her wore was in black. He even had a cape. Liz doubted he had fangs underneath the beard. But, wouldn’t be surprised if he did. The costume looked extremely detailed.
The old man quickly noticed her admiration of his outfit. “I picked this up in Transylvania. Best place I know of for a Dracula costume.”
“I guess.” Liz said trying not to sound scared out of her skull. She had plenty of doubts about talking to a man whose house appeared virtually out of nowhere and landed only several yards from her own doorstep.
The old man looked at her and spoke gently. “Elizabeth. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Liz, Startled and surprised by the comment could only say “What?” As she said it, she had the feeling she’s heard the voice before. But, it was a distant memory. Long since forgotten.
“It’s Halloween night. You’re supposed to tell me something.”
Liz could only think of one thing to say: “Trick or treat?”
“Well. Not the most enthusiastic. But, it’ll do.” The old man pointed to the back of the room. “ There’s two doors. One door is the trick door and the other is the treat door. Pick wisely.”
Liz looked at both doors. One was pink and the other was blue. “Pink for girls and blue for boys” she thought. However, she still felt this could all be a trick to get her in trouble. So, she came up with her own plan.
“What if I choose neither door and leave the way I came.”
“This is all about doing what you believe in, Child. If you wish to leave. Be my guest.”
The old man called her “Child.” That struck a memory. She had heard that voice before. It was at Christmas time years ago. She remembered being startled from sleep and a voice came from nowhere. ”Sleep, Child.” But, she’d never heard it since and thought it was a dream.
“I remember your voice. Who are you?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. No one does. It’s my own curse.” He said it half jokingly and half serious.
Still doubting the old man’s motives, she backs up to the door behind her. Opens it and runs out.
She was shocked and stunned by the sudden intense cold and snow she encountered outside. “There was no snow out here. It defiantly wasn’t this cold either. Her Genie outfit offered little warmth and she wrapped her arms around herself to hold in what body heat she could.
She looked up at her surroundings. The trailers were all replaced by a huge factory like building. The noises coming from it made her believe it was going full force in whatever they were doing. Then, she saw a group of men walk into the building. None of them were much taller then her three year old brother. The last man held the door open and another man came out with a small covered wagon. He watched as the elderly looking little man approached her.
The man stopped before her. Took the blanket from the cart and handed it to Liz. “ Here, Luv.” He said.
She quickly wrapped it around her bare arms and torso. It wasn’t much. But, was far better then what she started with. As she positioned the blanket over her shoulders. She saw the cart was full of toys and videogames.
“Where are you going with all those? There’s nothing out here, but the place you came from.”
“I’m taking these to the boss. He’s handing out toys for Halloween. Now, come along. It’s cold out here.
He picks up his cart and rolls it a few feet past her and sets it down again. Then, he raises his hands and claps sharply three times. Magically, A door appeared out of nowhere and swung open. He picked up the cart and walks through. “Come quick, luv. It’ll shut on you.”
Quickly, Liz walked through the door and found herself back with the fat old Dracula. The little man she followed sat the cart off to the side.
“ Here you go, boss.”
“Thanks Zeb. But, I’m all done and I’ll be going home shortly. It’s getting late. Besides, we made the house a little too spooky and scared off most of the parents.
Zeb looked up to the old man. “I told you the cloud cover was too much. You need a clear sky and a full moon for the kids to enjoy and to keep the parents from worrying.
“Right you are, as always. Now, take the toys back to the shop. We’ll use them on the Christmas run.”
“Sure thing, boss.” The elf sized man grabbed the cart and rolled it out the front door and into the snow that Liz just came from.
As the door shut, the old man noticed Liz was still shivering from her arctic ordeal. He waved has hand in the air, like a magician performing a magic trick. Miraculously, The thin blanket wrapped around her grew into a thick fur comforter. After briefly inspecting his handiwork, he spoke. “Well, That should warm you up, Elizabeth.” Then, he said. “ What did you think of the workshop?”
Liz, enjoying the added warmth of the comforter, thought about what she saw. The workshop, the little men, and the old man before her. Then, she recalled the voice from her childhood memories.
“ You’re Santa?” She said it like she didn’t believe it herself.
The old man laughed a familiar laugh. Raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the Dracula costume disappeared only to be replaced by the red and black suit that Santa wore each Christmas.
“Congratulations. You’ve figured me out.”
Liz was in shock. She was talking to “The Santa Claus”. Wanting to say so much to legendary man. She went silent. Unsure of what to say first.
Santa looked at her. “I expected you to bring Ashley and the boys in for their treats.”
Liz snapped out of her shock. “The Boys! Ashley! I forgot all about them. I have to go.” She drops the comforter to the floor and quickly goes for the exit. Slowly, she opens the door. Not wanting to find another frigid surprise. She looks out the door to see the trailer park, Ashley and her brothers. She runs out the door and down the long pathway to meet them.
She was slightly winded from her short run. Before she could catch her breath to speak. Eric spoke up “Did you see him? He just left.”
“Who?” Liz replied.
“Santa. He left me Mario cart for my game cube.”
Evan jumped into the conversation. “He left me a game boy with three games, Gavin got that Skateboarding for his Xbox, and Grayson got that toy phone he saw at Wal-Mart last week.”
Ashley, looking for an opening, cut right in. “Check this out.” She held out a small box and opened it. Inside was a pair of heart shaped, sterling silver earrings with a small diamond in the middle of each one.
Liz, momentarily stunned by the news and the sparkling gems, finally spoke to the group. “ It his house, Santa’s in there. I’ll take you up there.
Ashley suddenly speaks up. “ Look! It’s gone.” The group all look toward where Liz came from. The house, decorations and everything that was there. Gone. It had transformed back to the original wood line. Even the cloud overhead was gone.
From out of nowhere, the group heard bells coming from the sky. Liz and Ashley looked up. All Ashley saw was a bright red light heading north. Liz saw something entirely different. “Look, what’s that.” She pointed to the falling object.
As it fell closer to the lights of the trailer park. They could tell it was a parachute with a package tied to it. Liz started chasing it as it floated away from her.
Unexpectedly, a breeze came up and blew the parachute toward her. She stopped and caught the large package.
She opened it and found the comforter that she’d wrapped herself up in earlier. She, also found a note. It said:
Elizabeth:
I enjoyed your company. Next time,
I'll show you the inside of the workshop.
Tell the boys to be good.
I’ll be watching.
Mr.C
Liz read the note out loud to the boys. Grayson was on the phone and ignored her. The other three boys had their jaws collectively drop.
“You were at Santa’s toyshop?” Gavin said.
“and you didn’t go in.” Evan added.
“It was cold and I wasn’t that close to it.”
Liz started from the beginning and told them everything that happened to her
The boys were awestruck that their big sister got to see Santa’s toyshop. As she concluded her story, The boys all started asking questions all at once. Liz held up her hand.
“Quiet down! It’s late. Let’s get back to the trailer and I’ll answer all your questions.”
They started walking and Evan spoke up. “You said you saw Brittany there.”
“Yes. Her name was on a tombstone along with other bad boys and girls.” Then, with a sly smile, she added. “If you’re not careful, you’ll find your name on one of Santa’s tombstones next Halloween.”
Evan thought briefly about being on Santa’s tombstone list. “NOOO THANKS! I may be on the naughty list from time to time. But, I’ll never be that bad.”
Evan went silent as Liz laughed as his reaction. The group quietly walked back to the trailer to sort out their goods.
Inside, they all sat down on the floor in a circle inspected their treasures and talked about the Halloween night that Santa came to town.
This year was a little more festive. Her old roommate, Brittney had finally left along with all her bad habits. Her new roommate Ashley was a godsend to be with. Plus, this was the first time she had taken her brothers trick or treating around her new home.
The group was a sight to behold. The youngest, Grayson, wore a fierce looking dragon outfit. Eric, whose fondness for the dark knight showed, donned a Batman costume. Gavin chose a more realistic approach with his policeman’s uniform. Evan followed suit with his younger brothers and chose to be a Ninja as his crime fighting alter ego.
Ashley, who tagged along to help baby sit, was going to dress up as a gorgeous princess. But, the costume she rented for the night turned out to be the wrong size. Unable to find the right size(“All the good one were taken long ago” the store keeper said), Liz found her a grapes costume instead. Being good natured, she played along. Even though it wasn’t her thing.
Liz was easily the most eye catching of the bunch in her Genie costume. A two piece outfit that sparkled from top to bottom. Her top was a beautiful shade of blue with pink and silver rhinestones lined up in stunning designs. The pants had less design. But, more then enough rhinestone sparkle to make up for it. The entire outfit was lined in gold trim like tassels. The last pieces Liz added out of her own jewelry box. A silver and gold necklace and a dazzling rose quartz stone in her navel that well complimented the rhinestones in the outfit. It was no surprise that the heads of virtually every man turned toward her in her presence. She was a beauty among beauties.
They started the evening at the front of the park, Figuring they’d work their way to the back. But shortly after starting, Liz and Ashley noticed the trick or treating had died down quickly. It was like everyone left all at once.
Both Girls looked up to the sky to check the weather. It was a clear star filled sky all around, except for directly above. A single cloud had moved in and was hovering above them. “Did the clouds scare off everyone?” Ashley asked Liz.
“Not everyone.” Liz replied as she pointed to young boy about Gavin’s age walking toward them with a bag of candy in one arm and a gift wrapped box in the other.
Liz spoke up to get the child’s attention. “Where did you get the box?”
“There’s a spooky house in the back of the trailer park. The old man has lots of stuff.” The child said, noticeably excited over his new treasure.
Ashley noticed the boy was alone. “This is a big trailer park for a boy your size. Who’s watching you?”
“My sister. She ran way when the box opened up and started talking. The old man told me to go straight home and he’d watch over me until I was safe.”
The group looked all around the area and saw no one. They were alone in the trailer park that was filled with activity moments ago. Now, it was eerily silent.
Liz thought for a moment. “There’s no houses in this park. Are you Lying?”
“NO! Lying is naughty.” The boy shouted at them. “It’s back there.” He pointed to the back of the park where he came from. “Go look, if you don’t believe me.” With that proclamation, the boy quickly walked away.
Liz and Ashley huddled together. The boys stood back and watched curiously as to what would happen next.
Both agreed that something was up there that wasn’t there this morning. Slowly, the group walked to the back of the park to investigate what the boy found.
As they approached the back of the park. They expected to find a wood line and forest behind the last row of trailers. But, There was a spooky looking house. Just like the boy described. Perhaps, even spookier then the boy let on.
Eric, Gavin, and Evan started for the door of the mystery house. Liz stopped them. “We can’t go in there. We don’t know them and we’ve never seen this house before.”
Evan tried to reason with Liz that it was safe because the boy they’d met earlier had already been there. But, Liz would have none of that.
Liz, playing cautiously with the safety of her brothers made her decision. “ You boys stay here with Ashley. I’ll check it out and comeback for you if it’s safe.”
Questioning her own judgment. Liz slowly walks toward the long path that led to the door of the mystery house. She heard Gavin and Eric in the background complaining they were going to miss out on all the fun.
As she approached what was the wood line, Liz noticed the house looked like those in the old horror movies. The only differences were the well groomed lawn and the mass of Halloween decorations.
The lawn before her was decorated with tombstones and caskets. The house itself looked like a Halloween version of the Christmas displays she sees lining the houses and trailers during the Christmas season. A huge inflated wolf man and Frankenstein stood on either side. Along with eerie lights inside the house,(what she hoped were) sound effects, and light fog surrounding the place, It was the most impressive display she had ever seen.
As she took her first step onto the pathway, she noticed movement from a nearby casket. Fear started to grip her soul. But, Quickly subsided when the mummy like figure that rose from the casket wasn’t much bigger then Grayson.
“The Master is waiting for you. Please go in.” The little guy gave a sinister laugh and lay back down in his casket.
Liz was still nervous. But, started her walk up the long path to the front door. She couldn’t tell who the little guy was from the disguise. But, she assumed he was an actor on the house owner’s payroll. He was small enough to be a midget or even an elf.
As she walked, she took a closer look at the tombstones along each side of her. She noticed the names looked more realistic then some of the pretend names she had seen on past tombstone decorations. She didn’t think much of it until she reached the last stone next to the door. Her eyes locked onto that and she read it twice just to make sure it wasn’t her imagination playing tricks on her. It simply read:
Brittney
Bad habits
2008
For a brief moment, A sinister smile crossed Liz’s lips. “After causing so much trouble and grief, Brittney got what she deserved.” Liz thought to herself.
Liz’s smile quickly faded when she realized that the man inside could put her on a tombstone if she decided to enter the house.
She turned to leave. Before taking a single step in her retreat, She found the path being blocked by the elf sized mummy they heard earlier. “Where are you going, Dear? The master is waiting for you. Please go inside.”
Liz Could have gotten past the three foot mummy. But, decided to head up the step to the mystery house. As she turned away from the mummy and toward the door. She heard the mummy yell back to her. “ Do you like the tombstones, I built them myself at the workshop.” She looked back to answer. But, he was gone.
Liz reached the door. Hanging about eye level, she noticed a sign. It read:
Curses to the naughty, not nice.
If you’re bad, you’ll pay the price.
Step inside, if you dare.
If you believe, A secret, I’ll share.
“Believe in what? Ghosts? Ax murderers?” Liz thought to herself as she recalled the tombstones she’d just walked past. She was about to knock, Before her hand made contact with the wood, the door slowly swung open with a creaking sound that sent shivers up and down her spine. Startled and frightened, Liz stepped back. Eyes closed, she awaited the ax to fall or whatever fate would behold her.
“Elizabeth? Don’t be afraid. There’s no boogey man in here.” Liz heard the pleasant sounding voice and opened her eyes. Before her, stood the oldest and fattest Count Dracula she’d ever seen.
Outside of his long white beard and his dress shirt. Everything her wore was in black. He even had a cape. Liz doubted he had fangs underneath the beard. But, wouldn’t be surprised if he did. The costume looked extremely detailed.
The old man quickly noticed her admiration of his outfit. “I picked this up in Transylvania. Best place I know of for a Dracula costume.”
“I guess.” Liz said trying not to sound scared out of her skull. She had plenty of doubts about talking to a man whose house appeared virtually out of nowhere and landed only several yards from her own doorstep.
The old man looked at her and spoke gently. “Elizabeth. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Liz, Startled and surprised by the comment could only say “What?” As she said it, she had the feeling she’s heard the voice before. But, it was a distant memory. Long since forgotten.
“It’s Halloween night. You’re supposed to tell me something.”
Liz could only think of one thing to say: “Trick or treat?”
“Well. Not the most enthusiastic. But, it’ll do.” The old man pointed to the back of the room. “ There’s two doors. One door is the trick door and the other is the treat door. Pick wisely.”
Liz looked at both doors. One was pink and the other was blue. “Pink for girls and blue for boys” she thought. However, she still felt this could all be a trick to get her in trouble. So, she came up with her own plan.
“What if I choose neither door and leave the way I came.”
“This is all about doing what you believe in, Child. If you wish to leave. Be my guest.”
The old man called her “Child.” That struck a memory. She had heard that voice before. It was at Christmas time years ago. She remembered being startled from sleep and a voice came from nowhere. ”Sleep, Child.” But, she’d never heard it since and thought it was a dream.
“I remember your voice. Who are you?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. No one does. It’s my own curse.” He said it half jokingly and half serious.
Still doubting the old man’s motives, she backs up to the door behind her. Opens it and runs out.
She was shocked and stunned by the sudden intense cold and snow she encountered outside. “There was no snow out here. It defiantly wasn’t this cold either. Her Genie outfit offered little warmth and she wrapped her arms around herself to hold in what body heat she could.
She looked up at her surroundings. The trailers were all replaced by a huge factory like building. The noises coming from it made her believe it was going full force in whatever they were doing. Then, she saw a group of men walk into the building. None of them were much taller then her three year old brother. The last man held the door open and another man came out with a small covered wagon. He watched as the elderly looking little man approached her.
The man stopped before her. Took the blanket from the cart and handed it to Liz. “ Here, Luv.” He said.
She quickly wrapped it around her bare arms and torso. It wasn’t much. But, was far better then what she started with. As she positioned the blanket over her shoulders. She saw the cart was full of toys and videogames.
“Where are you going with all those? There’s nothing out here, but the place you came from.”
“I’m taking these to the boss. He’s handing out toys for Halloween. Now, come along. It’s cold out here.
He picks up his cart and rolls it a few feet past her and sets it down again. Then, he raises his hands and claps sharply three times. Magically, A door appeared out of nowhere and swung open. He picked up the cart and walks through. “Come quick, luv. It’ll shut on you.”
Quickly, Liz walked through the door and found herself back with the fat old Dracula. The little man she followed sat the cart off to the side.
“ Here you go, boss.”
“Thanks Zeb. But, I’m all done and I’ll be going home shortly. It’s getting late. Besides, we made the house a little too spooky and scared off most of the parents.
Zeb looked up to the old man. “I told you the cloud cover was too much. You need a clear sky and a full moon for the kids to enjoy and to keep the parents from worrying.
“Right you are, as always. Now, take the toys back to the shop. We’ll use them on the Christmas run.”
“Sure thing, boss.” The elf sized man grabbed the cart and rolled it out the front door and into the snow that Liz just came from.
As the door shut, the old man noticed Liz was still shivering from her arctic ordeal. He waved has hand in the air, like a magician performing a magic trick. Miraculously, The thin blanket wrapped around her grew into a thick fur comforter. After briefly inspecting his handiwork, he spoke. “Well, That should warm you up, Elizabeth.” Then, he said. “ What did you think of the workshop?”
Liz, enjoying the added warmth of the comforter, thought about what she saw. The workshop, the little men, and the old man before her. Then, she recalled the voice from her childhood memories.
“ You’re Santa?” She said it like she didn’t believe it herself.
The old man laughed a familiar laugh. Raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the Dracula costume disappeared only to be replaced by the red and black suit that Santa wore each Christmas.
“Congratulations. You’ve figured me out.”
Liz was in shock. She was talking to “The Santa Claus”. Wanting to say so much to legendary man. She went silent. Unsure of what to say first.
Santa looked at her. “I expected you to bring Ashley and the boys in for their treats.”
Liz snapped out of her shock. “The Boys! Ashley! I forgot all about them. I have to go.” She drops the comforter to the floor and quickly goes for the exit. Slowly, she opens the door. Not wanting to find another frigid surprise. She looks out the door to see the trailer park, Ashley and her brothers. She runs out the door and down the long pathway to meet them.
She was slightly winded from her short run. Before she could catch her breath to speak. Eric spoke up “Did you see him? He just left.”
“Who?” Liz replied.
“Santa. He left me Mario cart for my game cube.”
Evan jumped into the conversation. “He left me a game boy with three games, Gavin got that Skateboarding for his Xbox, and Grayson got that toy phone he saw at Wal-Mart last week.”
Ashley, looking for an opening, cut right in. “Check this out.” She held out a small box and opened it. Inside was a pair of heart shaped, sterling silver earrings with a small diamond in the middle of each one.
Liz, momentarily stunned by the news and the sparkling gems, finally spoke to the group. “ It his house, Santa’s in there. I’ll take you up there.
Ashley suddenly speaks up. “ Look! It’s gone.” The group all look toward where Liz came from. The house, decorations and everything that was there. Gone. It had transformed back to the original wood line. Even the cloud overhead was gone.
From out of nowhere, the group heard bells coming from the sky. Liz and Ashley looked up. All Ashley saw was a bright red light heading north. Liz saw something entirely different. “Look, what’s that.” She pointed to the falling object.
As it fell closer to the lights of the trailer park. They could tell it was a parachute with a package tied to it. Liz started chasing it as it floated away from her.
Unexpectedly, a breeze came up and blew the parachute toward her. She stopped and caught the large package.
She opened it and found the comforter that she’d wrapped herself up in earlier. She, also found a note. It said:
Elizabeth:
I enjoyed your company. Next time,
I'll show you the inside of the workshop.
Tell the boys to be good.
I’ll be watching.
Mr.C
Liz read the note out loud to the boys. Grayson was on the phone and ignored her. The other three boys had their jaws collectively drop.
“You were at Santa’s toyshop?” Gavin said.
“and you didn’t go in.” Evan added.
“It was cold and I wasn’t that close to it.”
Liz started from the beginning and told them everything that happened to her
The boys were awestruck that their big sister got to see Santa’s toyshop. As she concluded her story, The boys all started asking questions all at once. Liz held up her hand.
“Quiet down! It’s late. Let’s get back to the trailer and I’ll answer all your questions.”
They started walking and Evan spoke up. “You said you saw Brittany there.”
“Yes. Her name was on a tombstone along with other bad boys and girls.” Then, with a sly smile, she added. “If you’re not careful, you’ll find your name on one of Santa’s tombstones next Halloween.”
Evan thought briefly about being on Santa’s tombstone list. “NOOO THANKS! I may be on the naughty list from time to time. But, I’ll never be that bad.”
Evan went silent as Liz laughed as his reaction. The group quietly walked back to the trailer to sort out their goods.
Inside, they all sat down on the floor in a circle inspected their treasures and talked about the Halloween night that Santa came to town.