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?808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXBPO3ONXi
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVniiMfmbXx
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5qOZKAG9j
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbj1ciDOf6
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s4NcwVFam
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PtufuuqT0
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuzD59y9X5
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH87KPrJEqs
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PrawpzpE7
“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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFhEu1DB2X
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4B0THdwy2
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3gTDCaVMT
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXKDd6zTIh
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNQb7XiDke
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt6L2u0JBA
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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCUUdSEhp5
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCPBsIKN7N
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzm31LB0nk
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOWW3ww080
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwvZmbneTI
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgpQ1EP6IA
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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzqatHQUXQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1pKWAKVW1
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj9lAqverm
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PQsz78pDo
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNfEEItxpF
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iuRDiIV2X
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLIcqrXNXe
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcqlr8FFCL
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdGCs37lU2
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLCsEcctKN
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcFg7WzDmW
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbLyY4cRYm
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRveADVsrT
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8eDPz2XUA
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhk1BM975y
“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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f8bRYuD9s
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfhOosaIag
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lCjdYtEBd
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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCHYT0ZBGd
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjrZNo7Ta2
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe2kwpzUs3
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8tYao628h
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot2oVuVCVE
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejzSkeopjt
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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE7KmHYlaQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkavFwKBrV
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqUtbG2QM4
“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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ySyWHzknQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL72k35AoW
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvICVJSVYqU
“Well eat them,” she said with an annoyed tone. “Would a thank you and a good morning be too much to ask?”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtco9YovLF7
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFFyZjGWPC
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE4g47Y4GC
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNEqIALRtH
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TougyCTSF
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXR3nq0RZU
“I swear,” she said, “everyone has forgotten their manners today. It must have something to do with it being Halloween.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkII7fpTnVE
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlADYQKlywi
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXofGOwyT4
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcOAFpkxD1
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBOC4Q7bwv
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGgDvndkPr
“Well what is on your mind?” she said to him. “I can see something is bothering you. Out with it then.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX809eiUixM
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrfjvpkhUM
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalVCe9Mae3
He sat his fork down and looked at her intently. “How?” he asked gingerly. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGZnudqpAs
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzfRdlKNHc
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo7M4Q1Toy
“How?” Rhonda asked. “How what?”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcBC3wXf48
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBPiqqcom1
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJhifeVKt9
“How are you here right now?”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nTX6lRVif
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVTLFVSJvz
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I65JAds39
“What kind of question is that? I live here.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUv4hcpmpi
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1vxgezGAG
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfurcq4uhK
“But, but…”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoP8YwgEzd
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbULItx58E1
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3BFWHvt5c
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz21iwWsLIU
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr6aOEbvop
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L3LRRJQQP
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA5hlf4qEI
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHOTDALgVX
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs51lufg1ZS
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0ojldNseF
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5zG46IGwA
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsQL5TICse
“I'm the one who does the shopping now,” Eddie replied. “I don't keep much here. I eat out most nights.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dVlgsZ1GA
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRNIHACYX0
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB0P766HX9
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6508Acoqs
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9g7gCj1CB
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyz3maE5Ed
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhDoiR9BHm
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEg82rby7L
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd22QPXUKuy
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rjyvjqxID
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6gzZXKs4i
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMIDEp4O9M
“Mikey doesn't live here anymore, babe,” Eddie answered. “None of the boys do.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQfrByT1NK
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl9Wk3BgAq
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxmaQszW6r
“Nonsense,” she replied.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6BYD3b4Ls
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3eT94il4Q
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQswVIrsON
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk88PusmTpA
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFpI9BlkQa
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4Byc6CnXj
“Ha ha. Very funny,” she said with no amount of amusement in her voice. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XEQajio66
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPC8MFj2Wm
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRwOfdxPPf
“I'm telling you the truth, babe,” he said. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vbbs6xAo6
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY9Kr2xHIz
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnWJxAZHMk
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj9i6OPvWN
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcuTDYCkwR
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpzMX7UJuJ
“Sweetheart,” he said, “you have to listen to me.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jP7XCW6I5
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6fZh5SvdH
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3cstjY0tY
“I don't have time for your nonsense,” she replied. “I have to get the house in order before the boys get home.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXopr1VL8Mf
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIqFOzq2mv
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXjetagKZ3
“Baby, the boy's ain't coming home,” he said, “I told you. They don't live here no more.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZacb0ox6Mb
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqXLXf9RbS
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCTN7CoCxw
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?”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSxc59gxWJ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffBqg5Ws9i
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0yW8UgzqR
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpopLTJmtq9
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DFZQqC7MO
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIlH4ZXIc4
She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Rhonda,” he said, “honey, you've been dead for twelve years.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RlsHiXNM9
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7ds4ZoFus
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzx6LQezfK
Rhonda pushed him away. “Enough of your tomfoolery!” She cried out and then went back to writing her list. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NLxQ0k2yj
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTM1WB5wlQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgk1QpjUuN
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV42BmSWjL
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjtfamqP04
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJg1KXIEbk
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAt89moPMW
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6IO6AY4gc
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss8QtOwTta
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfLIFpVGhz
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar9geEj9F1
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuXWjLoZmw
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVahvoFySZG
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdd3e1zHGL
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXlzDCIYOg
“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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2e4UhSbBm
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnc8Qv7RSw
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYwlOTvuQz
“My boys!” Eddie cried as he ran over to hug them. “When did you get here?” 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGqldaupwh
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQzEExq0VQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeymv2NT9t
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLOuVCpAhJ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc8Symf4NY
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH35NbDgVk
“We figured you could use a few minutes alone,” Mikey added. “To sort things out.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9qjudmAkQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UtblDHiQn
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxToGMlr2E
“Oh,” Eddie replied. “Where’s Johnny?”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkQvPGQvhq
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wfv4YqNwk
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb3bEysL1M
“Johnny couldn't be here, pa,” Billy replied. “He's living overseas now. You know that.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnqfpsIkr4
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0SgSAQGJ7
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbdiO22C0T
“Oh yeah,” their father replied. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIRndU4IsM
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSUpMw089t
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbbc9XT8HL
The boys turned their attention to their mother. “Hi, ma,” they both said. They took turns giving her a long hug. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDinu8MtWLS
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJfZ3FTQT1
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeGHWpH2xM
“I don't know how I got here,” their mother said to them. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nPRjGV5Yt
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LepSjV89C
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMDlRLQIak
“It don't matter,” Billy said softly. “But you can't be here anymore. It isn't right.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlArrc8y9K
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEGPgNOkTG
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6DP1vwv0O
Mikey took his mother’s decaying hand into his own. “You need to go be at rest again, ma,” he said. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJpYXL7Diz
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTceHxQaL7
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyTMhOEN5I
“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.808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7UpfwQ46j
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlY33jtvgZ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3kJeNWEsQ
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VHhU0BbS8
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPTDJI4ApQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsNnx9Y2Os
“I'm buried in the back yard?” she asked. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ3q1ZAOiW
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocKJfsnfxy
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlrt7Nq7rD
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRfuzcKMm5
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFttZH9GWvB
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XiD1CNTOZ
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVGqZ06prS
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl54N8jIxl
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqnRHDhOXb
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi7BURugHO
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oJShPuKZy
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoPFFfy1Uj
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTERY0V9lHN
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKQld7cSbt
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5MkmquSgt
“How did you boys know? Why did you come here? You aren't playing hooky from school are you, Mikey?” Eddie asked. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ3tLJn745
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcWaL8XZk7
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLAgzhkjaG
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00iRi1EX23
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42BEyIMmqt
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3glV7h3aPS
Eddie’s brow furrowed once again. “What?” he asked. “You just enrolled last year! You couldn't be done already!”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VwOAXUWqj
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb4KYk99Xq
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVhzeCyNib
“Billy patted his pa on the back. “It's true, pa,” he said. He's been out for years now.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KLcGE1Urs
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk3gHKpAFq
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtu8YmwMwe
“This is insane!” Eddie exclaimed. “This whole morning has been bonkers!”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9GPFktLUX
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhFL6Aq36X
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEBwzBGKo6
“It has, pa” Billy answered. “It is every year.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VXOdPm6YR
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe926Fttj2y
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKJ0XERXCa
“Every year?” Eddie said. “It ain't ever been like this! I would have remembered a morning this whacky!”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKcomRI7jr
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIGpdMXhMI
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjMqqrfVWv
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx8Pf6UdAz
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aIBeg12rU
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM9eXCHyXJ
“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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62KUbpUSEL
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxkXmVdVNS
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRva9pp137
“It is, pa,” Billy answered. “You died six years ago. Had a heart attack at the factory. On Halloween morning. Just like ma.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCBm1nPfZi
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7ZdRGP0iQ
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTzvD2PWTK
“But that ain't right,” Eddie muttered. “I ain't rotten like she was.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkBFTyABuh
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFqQO6Od7x
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNql57lhUvD
“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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MDRsSwnX9
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPlzMrlqw6
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgJj4P1DIj
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.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbvNUeVpSs
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjcm3C7IfK
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eC0fn9pgp
“We know,” Billy replied. “We love you, too.”808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvGBP71PIK
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgWxeHP7Dk
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGXuv3Nbvb
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. 808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLKd3VRVNy
808Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SoiHLg5B7
