midnight halloween

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 It was nine thirty. A lump of defeat had sunken through Diego Ortega  Torres’ stomach. He was at wor k inside a cozy cubicle pounding away at numbers on his keyboard. The mission was to get work done as fast possible but he knew he had so much more to do before he could actually lea!e. This was a "ob and while Diego was a competent worker he felt as though it was barely his. He’s a young man at thirty two e!en though most of him felt like #$. His hands more specifically his fingers felt eighty. He pushed off his desk to let his chair gently slide back and tilted his neck up to look at the !arious walls abo!e his drab cornered prison. He found himself staring at the Halloween banner and wall stickers featuring ghosts pumpkins black cats and a witch. It was simple stuff% so simple it seemed stupid to e!en bother with Halloween decorations for the office. &hat purpose did it ser!e' &as it to keep morale up during the holiday' If so that still seemed dumb. He hated ha!ing decorations in the office. It was strangely ha!ing these present that made him aware of where he was( trapped inside while festi!ities occurred elsewhere.  Diego pulled back up in his chair cracked his fingers and went back to work. An hour later he was mostly finished and though much didn’t remain he didn’t see himself lea!ing until another hour later. It was harder for Diego to finish something than s imply trying something. )erhaps that was Diego’s life in a nutshell but it wasn’t meant to be today. He had an ob"ecti!e and he had to see it through. His work was not on his agenda so he decided he would arri!e to work early tomorro w to finish it up. *orget the fact that Diego ne!er gets up early and it seemed like the best of compromises. He sa!ed his work put on his coat and checked around to see if there were any other late workers trapped in their respecti!e bo+es like rodents before they pop out of their hole in a whack%a%mole game. There were none. It seemed like for the longest time when Diego was working he heard small creaks and footsteps with the occasional sound of a door opening e!ery so often. &as it  "ust his imagination' ,aybe. He pon dered if it was him tryi ng to tell himself

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he wasn’t the only one working o!ertime. A sense of community or mutual

understanding with the in!isible worker was all he seemed wanting of in that

moment. To witness someone going through the same strife he was would

be like ha!ing a best buddy in prison. -ure it was prison but at least you

weren’t alone.

Diego mo!ed as fast as he could on his way out. The dim lighting had

perhaps messed with his eyes too much making the dark cold night so much

more in!iting. He had a coffee in his hand that kept him warm on his

decepti!ely long way to his parked car. &hen he finally reached it and

entered inside he felt "ust how tense he was. He could’!e fallen asleep right

there but he knew he couldn’t. &ith a roar of the engine he pulled from thelot and drifted into the night.

  He arri!ed at ele!en feeling more defeated as he tried to parallel park in

front of the house. The row home sat at the top corner of the street. The

lights seeping out through the windows made the house more homely than

it should. -eeing the bright lights re"u!enated the hope that was missing in

him. It could only mean one thing that e!eryone was still awake. He gently

swung open the gate inserted his key through the knob at the door andwondered "ust what he would witness before him. &ith a push through he

bared witness to nothing but heard a small amount of muttering from the

dining room kitchen. /!entually he saw a figure appear in a light blue robe.

Diego’s wife approached him from the dankness of the li!ing room. Her face

was discolored and her hair looked stubbornly thrown up into the worst pony

tail he had e!er seen.

0They’re not happy with you1 she said with a dry groggy and an almost

imperceptible tone of humor. It had to ha!e meant that the kids were still

awake. Diego walked fearless towards the kitchen table where they sat with

their heads slumped down. They weren’t crying nor did their eyes show any

sign of misty waters ahead but that still didn’t pre!ent the bullet that hit

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Diego’s heart. They looked utterly defeated as if a puppy dog had drawn its

last breath clawing at their feet for support before them. One boy and one

girl with the girl being "ust a year older sat there dressed in costumes. He

wasn’t really sure what each kid was supposed to be dressed as but he

supposed his guesses weren’t too far off. Adam was dressed as 2obin from

3atman though it didn’t appear to be the 2obin he remembered as a kid.

-till 2obin had ne!er looked more broken. The girl was e!en harder to look

at. -he was dressed as a kangaroo but to be more specific 2oo form &innie

the )ooh 3ear. There was a part that was supposed to be co!ering her head

but she had it off. It looked as though she wouldn’t be needing it.

04ood 4od1 thought Diego. 0I’d rather be in a war zone right now thanhere. This is too much.1 The dark yellow light shining o!er their gloomy

heads created the atmosphere of what a cartoon funeral might look like. He

had hardly noticed his wife Andrea looking o!er his shoulder in the dark

li!ing room at them. He was sure the kids were aware of his presence but it

didn’t matter. He was no hero and his kids knew that. 0They know it1 thought

Diego. 0They know it. I’m nothing to them. 5o sa!ior. 6ust some tall guy they

know of.1 He wasn’t sure what to say or e!en do for that matter. He wanted

to back up slowly and think of a plan of action but Andrea’s presence behind

him pre!ented that. He could stomp triumphantly in the kitchen telling them

he would make it up to them but he knew there was nothing that really

could. This was the second year in a row his kids wouldn’t go trick or treating

and it was all because he couldn’t finish.

One glance at his watch and all he could see were the numbers ele!en ten

laughing at him. He finally turned towards Andrea and gently backed her up

into the li!ing room. 0&ell I gotta take them trick or treating1 he whispered.

He could see Andrea’s dark figure with her arms crossed mo!e back in

disbelief.

0&hat'7 Are you crazy' It’s too late for that71 she argued.

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  0It’s the only way around this1 he said. 08ou saw them. 9ook at them7

3esides it’s ne!er too late for Halloween. That’s what it’s all about heading

out in the dark of night wearing some costume and sca!enging for candy.

 That is the !ery essence of the holiday.1

  08ou’d need a flashlight "ust to see.1 she said. 08ou can’t "ust knock at

people’s doors at ele!en thirty. They’re going to think you’re insane. /ither

that or they "ust won’t answer. It’s pointless. They could be out of candy

anyway. Also it’s cold outside so they can’t e!en go without coats on thus

destroying your whole :essence’ of Halloween71 )erhaps she thought Diego’s

short speech on the holiday was childish causing her to insult his words the

way a harsh critic tears a work of art and scatters its remains in front of the!ulnerably stupefied painter. 08ou should ha!e "ust taken them trick or

treating at noon.1

  0That’s dumb1 said Diego. 0&ho goes trick or treating with the sun out'

 There’s no one else in costumes. 8ou go to three houses and then that’s it.

 That’s "ust dumb. -top being dumb.1

  04oing late at night is what’s dumb. &hy didn’t you1 she ga!e up

realizing she was about to ask the same ;uestion. Diego took it as a sign of

weakness howe!er.

  09ook. The longer we argue the later it’s going to be.1 He said. 0<an’t we

 "ust try it' If it doesn’t work we’ll come right back.1 Andrea didn’t belie!e it.

-he complained that they wouldn’t come right back. That he would look at

their faces and continue to march on. And if that happened%

  08ou’ll get lost71 she cried in a whisper.

  05o we won’t.1 said Diego ;uickly shaking his head. 0I:!e dri!en around

the place a ceaseless amount of times and at night sometimes when I come

back from work.1 He seemed a little offended at the idea of getting lost e!en

though Andrea insisted that he would. -he ne!er understood how Diego

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could recognize neighborhoods and their layouts so easily. In a city where

buildings seemed to blend in with each other it didn’t seem possible. There’s

nothing to let you know you’re going in the right direction. Diego handed out

some possibilities that he e+plained helped him find his way but they didn’t

sound !ery landmark worthy. 0There’s the yellow bench1 he said 0and the

hubcap store and the one row home with plants surrounding it.1 Andrea

laughed for the first time today.

  0&ow% you’d make a great tour guide here then wouldn’t you'1 she

asked. =nmocked Diego played into the humor and made himself that

imaginary tour guide.

  0And if you look to your right% you’ll see that there’s a house with a

bunch of plants7 &e call the lady who li!es there ,rs. <hia after falling in

lo!e with her 3rad )itt <hia head. 5o one e!er goes in% no one e!er comes

out7 On my left you’ll see a homeless man taking a wiz. 4o ahead let those

shutters fly. A true defining picture of the >>? in -eattle &ashington7 3ack

on your right you’ll see ,rs. <hia swiping at our bus with broom in hand.1

Andrea hadn’t laughed though it would be hard for her. -he lost herself in

thought. 09ook time’s a wasting. I promise I’ll be back by midnight.1 Andrealifted her head up from the floor and said defiantly 05O you will not7 I will

not let you take my small children out in the dark and cold. 8ou will lose

them71

  0If you’re so afraid of that happening you could "ust come with us1 said

Diego in something of a scornful matter. Andrea knew what he meant by

this but ga!e her reasons anyway.

0I’m in no condition to look o!er them outside. I’!e only been up for this

long waiting for you. ,aybe if you got here an hour earlier% Diego took

e+ception with the simple narrowing of his brow and slight fle+ing of his

lower "aw. Andrea realized this stopped talking and put her head down.

Ironically Diego was hoping for something like this to happen. -he felt guilty

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now e+tra guilty. Diego walked away back into the damp yellow light of the

kitchen. The children still had their heads down but their chairs looked

somewhat remo!ed from the table and their faces looked more like a feigned

sort of sadness this time then the one that had harshly hit home. If Diego

hadn’t known any better he would’!e guessed that they were trying to listen

in on the argument. There was no way they could ha!e heard what they

were saying but listening on what kind of tone the argument was taking had

been more a reason to listen than any other. &hat else could depict the

hope of the situation' *inally Diego spoke aloud.

0Alright7 &ho’s ready to go trick or treating'7 <’mon get your costumes

on'1 He asked as if he was wondering whether they wanted to anymore.Adam and *elicia looked at him with doubt in their eyes which ;uickly

transformed into e+citement as they grabbed their bags and other

accessories to their costumes. Their smiles were beaming as they ran past

Diego into the other rooms running with the energy of =sain 3olt after

drinking se!eral shots of @ hour energy. He wondered if they were "ust ready

to go or thought there mother was taking them. Andrea stood in her robe

astonished at what was happening. Diego hoped to walk by her in the still

dark li!ing room undetected. -he grabbed his right arm as he walked past

saying loudly 0&ait. &ait.1 The kids in the lit entrance of the home stopped

to see what she was saying.

Andrea noticing tried to gi!e a face that would tell e!erything she had to

say to her husband.

  08ou don’t look well1 said Diego lea!ing her grasp. He had two light

 "ackets in his hands for his kids to wear. The black "acket fit Adam’s costume

nicely and the pink "acket contrasted sharply with the light blue shirt of

*elicia’s costume. They looked good but *elicia was ha!ing a hard time

putting on her kangaroo head. It had to be tied underneath the chin. Diego

bent his tired legs to tie it as Andrea stood stupid not sure what to do.

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  0Honey could I talk with you for a moment please'1 she asked

pleadingly. They stood in the darkness of the li!ing room again only with the

kids being able see them as they talked this time. Andrea eyed Adam and

*elicia sputtering about near the door then focused on shoulder slumping

Diego. 08ou can’t do this. It’s crazy. How do you e+pect to get any candy

anyway'1 Diego e+plained it was Halloween decency.

  08ou can’t not gi!e candy to kids who ha!e trekked miles to your

doorway1 he argued. Andrea shook her head and blew steam. -he then

spoke more defiantly than e!er.

0As mother of this family I must do what’s best for this family1 she was

about to say more until Diego interrupted her.

0And we lo!e you for that but wouldn’t you say that what’s best for the

family is whate!er benefits the ma"ority of them'1 A bit tongue and mind

tied she could only spout in agreement 0wellyes1 Diego mo!ed away

towards the kids circled around them got on his knees behind them and

pulled them closer to him with a smile looking up at his wife. 0Then let’s take

a !ote then1 he said. 0All opposed to trick or treating this Halloween raise

your hand.1 Andrea raised hers slightly. 0All for it'1 he asked. Adam and

*elicia raised their hands ;uickly followed by Diego a second after. 0B to $%

that settles it let’s go.1 They hurried to face the door.

0Hey71 shouted Andrea. 08ou seem to forget a mother’s !ote counts for B

people.1 Adam was the first to turn back around pointing.

0That’s not fair71 he said. Diego walked back o!er to Andrea.

08ou’re not trying to break the democracy of this homestead are you'1

he whispered playfully in her ear.

05ot that it matters I’m already seen as the !illain here.1 -he

complained weakly.

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  0Awww..Is that what you’re upset about' 8ou know I hear it’s "ust one

moment like this and they’ll resent you for the rest of your life. That’s "ust TC

doctor ad!ice though so I wouldn’t pay any attention to it1 he "oked. Her

face sunk more than it had that night. 0<’mon let us go already. Do you

want to be the !illain here' I can still sa!e you in their eyes if you do so

now.1 -he ga!e out a breath that barely sounded the word fine. 0Alright

then <’mon guys let’s go7 8our mother was "ust confused is all. -he thought

she had to go along e!en though she was sick. I said she didn’t. 8ou don’t

want to force your sick mother to go outside do you'1

05ooo1 they each drawled making it clear that was ne!er their

intention. Andrea smirked lightly then rushed into the darkness without aword. Diego happily bent down to continue tying *elicia’s head piece

together. 0Darn this thing1 he said. Once they were all set Diego opened the

door as a colder than e+pected air hit his face. He hadn’t e!en stepped out of

the house before becoming doubtful as to how this would work. -uddenly

Andrea came back into the room with a camera in hand.

0Hold on71 she said. 09et me take pictures of them before they go. 4i!e

me some kind of fighting pose 2obin. Okay now a nice pose for your mom.1Adam hesitated not wanting to represent his hero poorly. *inally he "ust

stood straight and smiled up towards the camera. Andrea then did the same

for *elicia as they walked out the screen door. After they walked outside she

opened the screen door once more and walked up behind Diego. 0I don’t

want these to end up on milk cartons1 she whispered in his ear holding the

camera. 0Or worse.1 Diego looked at her in a rushed confusion.

0They still do that' 3esides there’s no point. 8ou’d need two milk

cartons "ust to print Adam’s name.1 he stole a kiss on her cheek and walked

down the brick steps.

02emember to be back by midnight71 yelled Andrea.

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  0=nless we don’t ha!e enough candy1 spoke one of the kids loudly.

Andrea threw her arms up in protest realizing her words "ust went through

the ears. And with those parting words Diego 2obin and 2oo went off on

their ;uest.

It was ele!en twenty fi!e. &hen Diego originally got home he saw that many

people still had their lights on. That was twenty fi!e minutes ago. He hoped

nothing had changed. He decided to keep his eyes out for open lights and

Halloween decorations. They started with the !ery house ne+t to them.

Andrea made sure to go back inside not wanting to be seen. The kids had

passed him on the way up the steps and knocked before Diego could e!en

say anything and before he could finish walking up the steps a door wasopen. 9uckily he knew the people who li!ed there. They were an old couple

that seemed ;uite nice though that was really all Diego knew about them.

 The old man answered as the kids politely spoke the magical words. He was

sort of taken aback by the situation but called for his wife yelling 0&e got

kids71 The lady came to the door with bowl in hands. The kids reached out

for a handful of whate!er it contained.

0Ha!e a bit more if you like1 she said graciously. 0I’m sure you’re our last!isitors. &e can’t ha!e too much sugar around.1 Thank you they each said

politely than turned back down the steps. The old lady backed away as the

old man stared at Diego with a bit of kind concern. He hadn’t e!en realized

he was still at the bottom of the steps.

06ust finishing up eh'1 said the old man.

  08ep71 answered Diego. They departed to the ne+t house as the old man

looked on from

behind his door with a puzzled smile on his face. Diego didn’t e!en realize

how many more times he would ha!e to answer that ;uestion with a simple

lie. At the ne+t house he made it a point to knock on the door first then step

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aside for the kids to ask for their treat. A young woman stepped outside the

door wondering where the parent was. Diego tumbled around the open door

to show he was present. He took a glance to see that she was smoking. Her

hair was done up like she had "ust gotten out of the shower. &ithout e!en

gi!ing a look to any of them she went back to get what was hopefully candy

and not a shotgun. -he returned ;uickly with a wicker basket of ,usketeer

bars. The woman hadn’t spoken a word other than 0here1 when she was

showing off the basket. The kids reached out for three or four and politely

said thanks. -he looked up at Diego.

0Thanks1 he !oiced out stupidly.

08ou’re welcome1 -he said softly looking at all three. As they turned

back Diego was disheartened. Of the three lit homes that he witnessed on

his block earlier two had gone out. Defeat sunk in again as he crossed the

empty dark street with his kids. The streetlights were enough to see for now

but he somehow felt like he was going to need his flashlight soon.

0&here are we going'1 asked 2obin walking ne+t to Diego. He pointed to

the row home with lights coming out from what looked like the li!ing room.

Again his kids got in front of him as they walked up the steps.

0&ait. Dad has to knock for you1 he said. 0&e know1 they said. He

knocked on the door then stepped and looped around behind his kids. Half a

minute passed before Diego decided against his better "udgment to knock

again. *inally the door opened and a frail black woman appeared looking a

bit spooked. -he looked at Diego who looked back with an ashamed smile.

*ortunately for him 2oo was tall enough to be seen o!er the screen of the

second door the woman stood behind.

0Trick or treat1 they said. -he looked back up at Diego. He couldn’t help

but silently mouth the words 0I’m sorry1 afraid that he may ha!e frightened

her with his insistent knocking. -he looked back at the children and said with

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understanding in her !oice 0okay.1 -he went back into the house and came

back with bowl in hand as she opened the screen door. The kids held out

their bags.

0Oh my is that all you ha!e' Here ha!e some more. -he lifted out the

candy from the bowl the way a crane does picking up the treats

mechanically mo!ing them o!er the bag and dropping them with slow

loosening of the tightened fingers of her fist. 0&hat are you supposed to

be'1 she asked kindly.

0I’m 2obin1 said 2obin.

02oo71 happily shouted 2oo.

0&ell that’s who I thought1 she said "okingly. Diego tried his best to

laugh as he guided his kids down the steps nodding thanks to the woman.

-he looked on for some time then hurried back in closing both doors. 0I liked

her1 said 2oo. 2obin agreed. Diego looked at his watch.

He decided to lead his kids to a dark house back on their side of the street. It

was one of the houses that had "ust turned its lights off but of all the houses

on that street it had the most decorations. It was a bit odd they had turned

off their lights inside but the Halloween lights were still on. He wasn’t sure

why this house but he had a gut feeling that things would go smoothly

enough there. They walked by an unthreatening scarecrow and approached

the orange glow of the porch. 0&ell they ha!e the festi!e spirit for the

holiday1 thought Diego. He swallowed his ner!es and muted common sense.

He decided to ring the doorbell instead of knock. He heard commotion so he

put his ear to the door. It was as though he heard a TC playing. He backed

away as the door opened. Answering it was a moderately aged woman. -he

looked as though she were in her forties. -he opened her door half way only

showing her arms and head poking out from behind.

08es'1 she asked uneasily.

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  0Trick or treat1 they said timidly. He hadn’t e!en realized that his kids

had probably wondered why they were approaching a dark house. They

hadn’t said anything though. ,aybe they felt the decorations were

suspicious enough too.

0Oh my7 Isn’t it kind of late for trick or treating'1 she asked.

0It’s about time somebody asked1 thought Diego. 0Although I really wish

she hadn’t.1 He wasn’t sure whether his kids realized that Halloween wasn’t

supposed to be this late. It was night so as long as you went around that

time they probably didn’t think it much of a difference when you went trick

or treating. 0I hope they don’t think I’m doing this late1 he thought. 0If they

do they’ll know I’m grasping for homes and "ust like that I’ll ha!e ruined

another special day for em.1 He wanted them to ha!e fun and this lady’s

words hadn’t helped. 06ust finishing up71 he said to the woman. His kids

looked back at him.

0&hat'7 5O7 &e wanted to go to more houses71 they pouted. The woman

looked at Diego for a moment and stood silently with a slightly opened

mouth. -he was thinking of saying something but he wasn’t sure what.

*inally she asked a rather odd ;uestion.

0Ha!e you seen a man dressed as *rankenstein'1 Diego laughed.

0=h no. I ha!en’t.1

  0Hm1 she said disappointed. 0Are you sure' It’s not the typical kind of

*rankenstein. 9ike a rough bulky !ersion of him but not tall or green or

anything.1 He shook his head no. 0Hm alright then. -he swung the door

open and e+ited to the left of the room. It was completely dark e+cept for the

light radiating from the TC. &hen she came back with bowl the orange lights

from her porch showed her to be dressed as a witch. Diego’s eyes widened

but he kept "aw afloat. The costume was short and tightly wrapped around

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her. At first it looked as if it was "ust a bath towel. He assumed it wasn’t

thanks largely to the witch hat she decided to put on.

08ou’re a witch71 said 2obin.

08es I am1 she said happily 0and who are you supposed to be'1

02obin71 he stated.

0Here why don’t you each ha!e the rest of this candy before I eat it all.1

Diego laughed to himself a bit. )eople had gi!en them more candy than they

would normally. This wasn’t trick or treating this was "ust knocking on

people’s doors and asking for charity.

0Thank the witch1 said Diego.

  0Are you a good witch'1 asked 2oo.

0&hy yes little thing I am. I wouldn’t ha!e gi!en you this candy if I

wasn’t.1 They ga!e thanks in unison and began to part. Down the steps they

paused as the witch called out from behind them. 0<ould you do me a

fa!or'1 asked the witch. 0If you run into someone dressed like I said could

you tell them $$B'1 All he could say was 0yeah sure.1 -he thanked him as

the three departed.

0-houldn’t be too hard to find him1 said Diego under his breath. 06ust

follow the angry torch carrying mob. That usually does the trick.1 9ike the

twitching neck of a bird Diego scouted for more houses reassuring his kids

they were far from finished.

0*rankenstein’s on the looooose71 shouted 2oo humorously. 2obin

laughed then sort of screamed to himself.

0,ore like *rankenstein backed out1 muttered Diego.

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  0He’ll try to take our candy71 shouted 2oo. Diego noticed other houses

with their lights on in the ne+t block so he took them across the street to

e+plore further. The fifth house they e+plored went successfully enough.

 They had a skeleton band in their front yard. It was some kind of statue

about only three feet high but the skeleton playing the fiddle pi;ued their

curiosity. They insisted on !isiting that house. The people there barely

;uestioned why they were out so late and handed them the much co!eted

treats. They were on a roll.

 The ne+t house had no decorations aside from a pathetic looking cardboard

ghost hanging on the door. Diego knocked and e!entually a hea!y set black

man emerged. He wore nothing but pa"ama pants and a white undershirt. Helooked at the three upset.

0Trick or treat71 they said kindly.

08eah I sorry% there’s no candy here. It’s all gone. All been had1 the man

said rushed and detached. There wasn’t really anything they could do.

0Oh okay.1 Diego noticed his kids lowering their uplifted bags back down

unfilled. The image stung Diego’s heart as if a hornet was stuck inside hisbody. 9eading them back down the steps he could feel the swelling. There

was sort of a !ulnerability to trick or treating. That’s what Diego had

obser!ed. /!en at a more common time you still dress yourself up and ask

random strangers for candy with the off chance of being denied or not

ha!ing anything left. They walked to the ne+t house with Halloween

decorations.

0There was candy left1 insisted 2oo. 0He ate it all71 Diego laughed as

they walked pass eight houses to the ne+t one that was lit.

It was the last house on the block and it was surprisingly dark. Only one light

was on in the back of the house. Diego’s best guess was the dining room.

 The rest of the house was dark especially at the front. Artificial cobwebs

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co!ered the porch steps and a small coffin found support against a tree.

&hat the eye couldn’t fail to miss of the decorations though was a life sized

man hanging "ust o!er the porch rail from the edge of their roof. The man’s

face was co!ered with a classic potato sack bag. He was hung from the

noose of a rope with his hands tied behind his back. Despite being outside

the front yard in!ited dankness to it like that of a late night poker game in a

deli basement. There was an odd lack of street lights to gi!e off light but

what did reach it created a yellowish hue on the left side of the house and

dark shading on the right. All that was needed was a cold wind to blow the

small gate open in front of them. 5o wind came so 2oo opened it for them.

2obin stood behind not wanting to enter. Time being of the essence Diego

had to think of something ;uickly. He didn’t want to carry him against his

own will.

0<’mon 2obin It’s okay. There’s no real threat of danger. 5othing is

going to actually happen to you. <’mon.1 2obin still stood motionless and

worried. 2oo on the other hand was already walking up through the yard as if

she hadn’t e!en seen the hanged man. Diego laughed a little to himself

finding the image funny for some reason. 09et’s go 2obin. There’s nothing to

fear.1 Diego tried sounding as laid back as possible to calm him. It seemed to

get his stiff feet mo!ing again. 2obin took Diego’s left hand but stayed as

far back as possible making it look like Diego was dragging him against his

will. They caught up to 2oo who then walked with Diego on his right. They

each ascended the stairs slowly looking up to the porch as they did. Diego

reached the final step onto the porch past the hanged man ho!ering o!er the

step before it. 2oo hopped up beside him. &ith some kind of forceful tug

Diego pulled on 2obin’s hand to lead him to the door. He ran up ;uick then

tried to get as close to Diego’s side as he could. It was too late "ust then the

hanged man made a sound of mad muffled but loud screams as he kicked

his legs about in a fe!erish struggle. 0HO98 shit% 4awd Dammit1 6umped

Diego sharing a moment of fright and frustrated shame in the same second.

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His spooked reaction was enough to loosen his grip on 2obin’s hand who

went running all the way back outside the front yard to find safety. Diego’s

back lay against a stone support of the porch. His back hurt only a little but

his pride was scathed. 2oo was crying she distanced herself from Diego and

kept her head bowed down for some reason. Diego wasn’t sure if she was

crying because she was frightened or because he had sweared. He found his

footing and tried his best to regain his composure. The hanged man had only

kicked and screamed for what seemed like fi!e seconds. He was now

motionless again. He walked o!er to 2oo trying to console her. 0Hey honey

it’s okay% you’re fine. It was "ust some prank1 reasoned Diego.

  05ooo71 muttered 2oo trying to control her breath. 08ou hit me in thehead71 Diego dumbfounded for a few seconds asked to ha!e her point

where he hit her. He asked how she was hit. 08ou’re hand71 she yelled. Diego

tried rubbing her head with his thumb. It was surprisingly worse than he

thought although he did recall feeling some kind of stone on his knuckle as

he fell back "ust a moment ago. As crippling as the situation was Diego

couldn’t help but laugh again this time at himself. He had been more of a

threat to them then hangman. He lead 2obin right to the guy and managed

to clock 2oo in the forehead. 0&hy’re you laughing'71 asked 2oo rubbing

away any tears she still had.

0Oh honey%I’m not laughing1 laughed Diego.

08es you are71 claimed 2oo. Diego apologized profusely and then

insisted they forget about it and ask for a huge amount of candy. He looked

o!er to see 2obin cautiously walking back to the porch. Diego rose his head

to inspect the hanged man. It was startlingly realistic and it was perhaps the

confusion of whether it was machine or man that had caught them so off

guard. Diego still wasn’t sure so he poked its leg with his finger. He then did

so a second time which got a reaction. Again the hanged man uttered

screams of terror as he kicked air with his legs. His kids stood behind him

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silently watching him test the decoration. -uddenly the front door of the

porch swung open fiercely. 3ehind the screen door was a frazzled and

flustered white haired man gasping holding his flash light firmly like a

weapon. He wore light blue bo+ers a white under shirt and a black satin

robe with silk red stripes.

0&ow1 thought Diego 0a lot of people ha!e robes.1 The man flicked on

his flashlight and aimed it at Diego’s face.

08eah'1 asked the man. 0&hat do you want'1 his !oice trembled. His

kids hadn’t stepped around the door to introduce themsel!es. )erhaps they

were afraid. Diego was afraid too.

0I’m sorry sir1 spoke Diego. 08our decoration scared me was all%and my

kids.1 The man "ust stared at him frozenly for about twenty seconds. Diego

took his eyes away from him and drug his kids o!er to shield him. He aimed

the flashlight at the kids who looked dishe!eled and slightly upset. They

didn’t seem to look him in the eyes either. The man lifted his head down and

breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then he turned around and shut the door.

Diego wasn’t sure what to make of it. Till then they had been on a fairly good

roll. He was hoping the man would ha!e some compassion seeing as how he

frightened his kids with a decoration that should ha!e been taken down or

switched off if he wasn’t in!iting anybody to stop by his house. /!en if he

didn’t ha!e any candy left and "ust forgot to take down the decoration he

could’!e at least "ust apologized. That’s how Diego felt anyway. He realized it

was late in the night but it still didn’t seem right. Diego a little bit annoyed

now thought of knocking on the man’s door again. He decided not to and

gently pushed kids in the other direction. They didn’t say anything. It

seemed as though they wanted to but nothing would arri!e. 09et’s go to the

ne+t block1 -aid Diego calmly enough. They made a turn around the

sidewalk which didn’t last long and upon re!eal most lights of the block were

off. Two or three remained but they were so far up the hill Diego couldn’t

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tell. Out of the corner of his eye he felt he had spotted something. The first

house on the second block which they stood in front of had a medium sized

bowl laying on a table ne+t to a lifelessly stuffed scarecrow sitting on a

plastic porch chair.

He lead his kids up to the porch who now also noticed the bowl as they

rushed too it. The scarecrow didn’t scare them of course. It was an old

raggedy thing stuffed with hay. 9ooking at it though Diego grew en!ious of

its slouched position on the chair. There was hardly much candy left in the

basket so 2oo and 2obin scrimmaged for what they could till they ended up

taking most of it. A message was written on the door reading 0-orry we

couldn’t be here for Halloween7 &e’!e left candy ne+t to the friendlyscarecrow. )lease take no more than B pieces of candy and please be

considerate to other trick or treaters7 Happy Halloween71 Diego laughed

mockingly. 0Don’t assault our home71 he thought. This house was like the

polar opposite of the last one. 5o scary decoration or frightened home owner

was to be confronted. 0&hy can’t Halloween be more like this'1 he thought.

0I bet only a few people ha!e come up to this house. They took most of what

was here already. I’m surprised the bowl is still here.to which really it

wouldn’t hurt to ha!e an e+tra one.1 Diego ;uickly shook the idea out of

his mind and saw the kids were through choosing what they wanted. He

remembered that Andrea had been looking for some kind of !ariety bag but

couldn’t find one. -he got a bag of Eit Eats instead. &here had these people

gone to get such a wild mi+ of treats' It also brought up another ;uestion.

0Hey I "ust remembered1 he !oiced to his kids. 0Did you guys get any trick

or treaters'1 They paused slightly as if they didn’t want to answer him.

05ooo..1 they both e!entually said. 05o'71 ;uestioned Diego aloud.

0-o what did your mother do with all that candy then'1

  0&e don’t know1 they said in an annoyed unison.

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  0<ouldn’t we "ust ha!e had that'1 thought Diego out loud.

  0&e don’t want "ust Eit EAT-71 whined 2obin loudly. Diego reassured him

that he was only "oking. He looked at the rest of the block which was almost

completely lights out now. It might ha!e been a discouraging sight but

Diego had one last plan of action in mind. The thought of his current

predicament and the idea that no one had e!en !isited their house or

possibly any other’s on the block had gi!en him a moment of inspiration. He

took out his phone and called a friend.

0Halloween may not be for the kids anymore but I know one such crowd

that refuses to grow up1 thought Diego

  0<arlos here71 greeted a man belie!ed to be <arlos. Diego had sent his

kids back up to the porch of the house they had last stopped at. They looked

a little confused and upset but Diego was about to make it up to them big

time.

0Is that party you’re ha!ing o!er'1 asked Diego.

  08eah man why' &ell I mean it’s dying down. 8ou hoping to get one

hour in of fun or somethin'1 asked <arlos. Diego e+plained his situation

asking if he had any candy and if he didn’t whether or not he could get

some for him. He made sure he would pay him back later. Diego was at the

end of his rope. This was it. If <arlos couldn’t do this one thing for him the

kids would ha!e to retreat back home unfulfilled. There was a slight problem.

<arlos insisted he couldn’t lea!e with the mostly unknown people still

inhabiting his home. The plan was for Diego to reach him wait in the li!ing

room and ha!e <arlos come back with the candy.

  0-o how was the party'1 asked Diego considerately. 0Aw man. It’s "ust

about as bad a night as you’re ha!ing1 said <arlos. 0There’s all these girls

here dressed up like 2ed 2iding Hood% shit.1

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  0Oh yeah'1 !oiced Diego. 0Is *rankenstein there'1 <arlos only ga!e out a

weak 0&ha'1 as if he hadn’t e!en been listening. 05e!ermind so how has it

gone then' Did you get lucky' Any numbers'1

09et’s "ust say1 said <arlos 0that after all the strikes I’!e seen I may be

sent back down to the minor leagues first thing in the morning.1

0Aww1 !oiced Diego. 0&ell I’m sure the ,ariners will miss you any way.1

Diego said goodbye and hustled back to his kids. 0Okay guys good news.

 There’s a house eight or ten blocks from here gi!ing away a lot of candy. If

we can get there in a hurry we’ll get a whole bags worth.1 2obin’s face lit up

but 2oo’s smile seemed feint. 2obin insisted that they hurry. 0&hat’s the

matter 2oo'1 asked Diego. -he looked at him with her feint smile gone.

0That’s far1 she said.

0It’s not that far1 said Diego 0I can carry ya if you get tired.1 He hunched

o!er and 2oo hopped on his back. He asked 2obin to hold her bag so he

wouldn’t drop her. It was $#($@ as the two walked into the night with 2obin

about ten feet ahead of him. That was more than he was comfortable with.

He kept calling for him to slow down.

2obin got more agitated the more he was told to slow down. It was strange.

2obin who was scared stiff a while earlier was leading the charge at night.

Diego hadn’t been scared by the decoration. He was scared by the complete

absence of danger. It’s right when any parent sits down to rela+ that

e!erything hits the fan and chaos strikes. The night was still young to him

and ga!e off a feeling of easiness that seemed to roll around in his mind. The

moon was being swarmed by a dark cloud as if a painter were ha!ing a

tough time co!ering it up with his brush. The sound of whooshing cars could

be heard but Diego ne!er seemed to witness one go directly by him. The

wind picked up e!ery now and then as a means to distract those caught in its

gust. The haze of street lights made him tired and the thought of ha!ing to

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get up early for work tomorrow made it e!en more so. The thought weighed

hea!y on him as he directed 2obin across !arious streets and where to turn

at the end of the block.

 The unthinkable happened. Diego was lost. He hadn’t e!en realized how

aimless he had been with his directions. 0Hold on a second e!eryone stop% I

need to figure something out1 said Diego as he bent down to get 2oo off his

back. He took her hand then looked at se!eral street signs. Diego seemed to

get his neighborhood land marks confused. He now hea!ily ;uestioned his

natural inclination of being aware of his surroundings. He decided to call

<arlos. It would be embarrassing after gi!ing Diego what sounded like simple

directions but it was better than calling Andrea. Diego reached for his phoneand pushed on the power button. It didn’t go through. Diego was confused

thinking his phone was busted or that he was doing something wrong but

the ob!ious realization came all too ;uickly. 0-hit71 whispered Diego. 0It’s

dead71 the problem was much worse than he had anticipated. 6ust then

Diego noticed that he saw nothing in front of him. &here was 2obin' He

looked to his left and right ;uickly then looked behind him. There was no

child in sight. He had to be somewhere nearby. He couldn’t ha!e gotten far

and it’s not as if there are prowlers at night "ust waiting to snatch up a kid for

e!ery parent that takes a moment to look at their shoe laces. These thoughts

didn’t keep Diego from sweating hot bullets in the piercing cold. Instincti!ely

he snatched 2oo closely to him by his side and gradually shifted her o!er on

his back. He walked ahead and continually called out 2obin’s secret identity.

0Adam7 Hey7 Adam7 4et back o!er here71 He walked faster and still couldn’t

see him. He tried to keep his eye out for the cape that he wore which the

wind had constantly lifted. The constant worry of where 2obin was lay at the

forefront of his mind. 0Andrea’s gonna kill me1 assisted as an echo behind it.

2oo remained silent so it seemed clear she hadn’t seen where he went

either.

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homes. A small fence lay in a colonel of light guarding it from intruders e!en

though a !ery small dog could "ump o!er it if he put his mind to it. Diego had

about a thousand words to gi!e 2obin but he landed on the most oft used

ones.

0&hy on earth would you go into a dark alley way'71 he asked. It seemed

like a fair ;uestion. 0In the middle of the night'71 whined Diego. This was not

as fair a ;uestion. He began to wonder if some of his own reckless abandon

had rubbed off on his kids within the time span of a day. 09et’s go trick or

treating at midnight7 It’ll be fun. 5othing can go wrong71 was Diego’s

attitude earlier and his disregard for his wife’s warning laid bare the false

reality he was li!ing. &hat he was doing was crazy% not different and herealized "ust how selfish he had become. He put his kids in danger "ust to

spend some time with them at a stage in his life where it did more good than

harm to stay away from them. He was a !ariable A sham A fraud. He had no

idea who he was to his kids and had no idea what he was as a person

besides someone who couldn’t finish. He couldn’t finish work he couldn’t

finish school and he could barely e!en start his marriage. Hell he ne!er

could bring himself to finish the di!orce proceedings so Andrea was still

technically his wife. He had no right to call her that but it sounded nice. 06ust

what the hell am I'1 thought Diego. He could only slowly breathe out the

worry he felt se!eral minutes earlier and stare at 2obin’s uneasy face.

He was still mad at him but he was mad at himself too. *or some reason a

part of his brain insisted that he lay in a good part of the blame as much as

he wanted to refuse it. This e;uilibrium Diego found himself stuck in caused

a massi!e head ache. To end it he decided on being a responsible parent

and heading back home% where!er that was but "ust as he was about to

speak it something didn’t seem ;uite right. It felt like a cop%out to "ust head

back home now as unbearably sore as his legs were and as much of a safer

bet as it seemed to find home than it was to find his friend’s house and get a

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ride back he felt inclined to soldier on. )erhaps getting a sense of what

Diego was going to say ne+t 2oo decided to gi!e her two cents.

0Are we almost there'1 she asked hanging on Diego’s back like a three

toed sloth.

0Here’s the deal1 said Diego. 0&e’ll go but you both ha!e to hold my

hand along the way. 8ou’re already co!ered 2oo so that means you 2obin.1

He said his name a bit mockingly. 2obin begrudgingly obliged and they

presumed to head down the ne+t block.

 The moon continued its descent into foggy clouds as the three tra!eled on.

Diego was still struggling to find familiar sights to help him find his way. -o

far he had only recognized one street address but hadn’t found any of the

others <arlos was talking about. He wondered if <arlos was too drunk at the

time to gi!e proper directions. The ine!itable moment was here and Diego

decided it would be best to head back home without telling his kids hoping

they would be too tired to be upset. He decided to finish walking down the

block with them. It hadn’t taken long for 2obin to let go of his hand and walk

by himself se!eral feet from his side. It didn’t bother him much% it was "ust

nice to spend time with them e!en though the night had gone so terribly.

0I may be out of my mind but at least it’s not completely for the wrong

reasons1 thought Diego. 0I don’t think it is anyway.1 He looked o!er at 2obin

and asked him why he went in that alley way to begin with hoping to make

small chat and forget the altercation they had earlier. )erhaps feeling less

opposed 2obin opened up and e+plained.

0,ost crime happens in alley ways1 he said. The statistic made Diego

laugh a little.

0And I suppose you were going to go do something about it if such an

incident arose' *ight the bad guys in their alley ways'1 2obin e+plained he

didn’t e+pect to find anything but he did eye a black cat head into the dark

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alley. 08ou didn’t touch it did ya'1 asked Diego. 2obin shook his head no and

e+plained that the cat was meowing constantly. He couldn’t see it though

because it was too dark. ,ore and more meat was being added to this story.

Diego wondered how much of it was fib and how much of it was truth.

0-ounds almost like you caught <at woman1 "oked Diego. 0&ho cares

about <at &oman'71 whined 2obin suddenly as if he were offended about

something. 0&ell 3atman does.doesn’t he'1 asked Diego perple+ed.

0&ho cares'7 2obin’s way cooler than 3atman1 argued 2obin.

0I don’t know about that1 said Diego in mild dis%belief. Diego tried

retracing his steps again. He was pretty sure he would find home but he was

shocked to find how little he knew of the neighborhood. He had settled down

here once and now it was as if he ne!er had. He wasn’t sure if his mind

wanted to forget those days or if nightfall’s blanket had put a different spin

on the city. They had reached the end of the block. *ailing wasn’t so bad. He

would try to make it up to his kids somehow. ,aybe he’d use up his entire

pay check to buy a !ariety of candy for them but he knew that was

impossible. His apartment rent would make sure of that. Diego worried 2oo

and 2obin would complain the whole way there if they found out they were

going back home which they e!entually would. It would make the task of

finding home e!en more difficult.

*or a few seconds Diego stood at the end of the sidewalk facing the pitch

black rubble of the road. Diego looked at a street sign that read ,aple

A!enue.

0That’s it7 &e’re here71 thought Diego e+citedly. &e would "ust ha!e to

walk three more blocks and% suddenly Diego witnessed a !ehicle dri!e right

by him as it came to a screeching stop. It was a police cruiser.

0Are you Diego'1 asked the officer as he popped out of the car at an

alarmingly fast rate. 0Diego Ortega Torres sir'1 His loud tone of !oice

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frightened Diego. He answered yes and the officer simply ga!e him a face of

diss%appro!al and shook his head. 08our wife was worried about you. Asked if

we could find you and the two kids to bring back to her.1 Diego confirmed

that was them. 0*ront seat on the left then.1 He pointed back with his thumb

towards the car. 0All three of ya.1 2oo and 2obin showed their

disappointment instantly but found themsel!es heading in the cruiser all too

soon. The officer seemed to channel them out. Diego told them to ;uiet

down as they sat on his lap. The officer stumbled his way into the car and

started the ignition. Diego obser!ed his badge and asked Officer 6ones in

something of a whisper if Andrea had sounded pissed. 0)issed'71 asked

Officer 6ones with surprise in his !oice. 0-he sounded worried more than

anything.1 Officer 6ones took the monitor microphone of his car and spoke.

0,ira can you tell the Andrea lady we found her husband and two kids

they’re fine and I’m bringing em back now.1 Diego heard a loud few seconds

of static which the officer seemed to take as confirmation. &anting to shows

his kids he tried as much as he could Diego summoned the gall to ask the

officer if they could go to his friend’s house real ;uick to get his kids candy.

0Does this look like a ta+i cab to you'1 he asked. There was a pine freshener

hanging from the rear !iew mirror but Diego chose not to be smarmy about

it and stayed silent.

Diego ;uickly noticed someone in the back seat though they appeared as

nothing more than a silhouette of a lump. He had paid no attention to 6ones

who suddenly asked him why they were out trick or treating so late. *inally

he noticed Diego looking at the man in the back seat. 0Oh don’t pay any

attention to him. Ole *rankenstein is wasted o!er there ain’t you *ranky'1

0*rankenstein'1 muttered Diego. 2oo and 2obin’s eyes suddenly lit. They

got up behind them and looked o!er to obser!e the dark lump. 6ones who

hadn’t e!en started dri!ing yet looked at the three in confusion.

0This ain’t a freak show ya know.1

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  08eah1 muttered Diego 0,ore like monster cab confessional.1 The kids

giggled as ;uietly as they could. Officer 6ones appeared offended. Diego felt

it was only right to e+plain himself. 0&e ran into a woman who asked for a

*rankenstein. -aid she was waiting for him. $$B7 That’s what she said. To

ha!e me tell *rankenstein that71 He finished speaking with a decidedly

enthusiastic tone.

0=h huh1 !oiced 6ones as he finally began to start dri!ing. As soon as the

words came out of Diego’s mouth he regretted them. He meant to tell

*rankenstein not the guy who arrested him. He didn’t realize the urge he

had to play messenger all of a sudden. 09emme tell ya1 spoke Officer 6ones

0between you and *rankenstein here I’!e absolutely had it with thissacrilegious holiday. If it was me% if I was president there’d be no Halloween.

/nd of story. I’m tired of picking up all the dead beat nut cases like your back

seat friend here e!ery time. -ick to death of it7 It’s bad enough that I ha!e to

work shifts the entire day on it. I can’t spend that time with my daughter

can’t e!en see her in her costume. 6ust ha!e to be shown pictures. This "ob

keeps you busy. 8ou can’t e!er be off work it seems. I "ust get pictures of

most things. Halloween e!ery time they make a big fuss about it at the

department. Dri!es me crazy like we already aren’t doing our "ob.1 Diego

wondered why this man was fuming all of a sudden. )erhaps he had said the

wrong thing. 0I gotta get a big bowl of candy for no reason and lay it out

there on the porch.1 Officer 6ones then made a gleeful smirk that was hard

not to see e!en from the side. 03ut you know what I do don’tchya' 8ou know

what I do' I gotta camera. Tiniest thing I’!e e!er seen. I put it in the

scarecrow ya know' And it watches how much candy is being taken out of

the bowl. I see a real selfish brat take more than three pieces and I got him

on camera. I know all the people in this neighborhood. ,ost of them so they

know I’ll complain.1 Things grew a bit awkward in the car for Diego. They had

stopped at this man’s house but Diego couldn’t ;uite remember how much

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candy they had taken from him. 0Did you stop by my house'1 asked 6ones.

0Ha you probably did. 8ou didn’t take all the candy out my bowl did ya'1

  0There wasn’t much left1 said 2oo. Officer 6ones seemed to make a self%

pleased laugh in his throat.

  0I’d imagine so but I can always check and see how that happened.1

 6ones said happily.

0How does this guy spend his weekends'1 thought Diego. This officer

scared him a little. He wasn’t the only one. *rankenstein scared him to. He

glanced back one more time at the man lying down miserably in the back

seat. -uddenly Diego made a sudden realization. Only two paths were set

before him. &hat kept him from being *rankenstein or 6ones' Is it "ust a

matter of perspecti!e' 05o. 5o it couldn’t be71 thought Diego. 0Those are

the stupidest people of all7 The ones who change their ideals and beliefs to

make them feel they’!e been dealt a better hand. They trick themsel!es into

being happy% and they belie!e it7 <andide suffered and took it as the way

things go because he was in lo!e. I’m not gonna pretend. I’ll be the one

bra!e man who sees things for how they are and if that makes me unhappy

for the rest of my life.-o be it. If I want to complain about it I will because I

ha!e a right to and that’s the one and only blessing gi!en to America. The

right to complain.1 He was yelling so harshly inside his mind. The thoughts

hit his brain like china plates smashing to the floor. 6ust like when he broke

e!ery single dish in his house the night he had had enough of Andrea and

whate!er it was she did that seemed to matter as much to him now as

finishing his current work. Diego wanted to escape. He had an o!erwhelming

feeling to hop out of the !ehicle and go completely nuts. He would scream

and scream until the officer tazed him and woke up in an asylum. It seemed

like the perfect solution to e!erything. He would ha!e gone crazy allowing

him to stay away from his children without making it seem like he

abandoned them. Andrea would tell them if he was in his right mind he

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assuredly would !isit them as often as he could. 4oing crazy was the answer.

 The only other alternati!e was to continue his office drone "ob and pay child

support until he died or his kids dis%owned him.

/!erything felt like a dream now. The few cars that passed by them on the

dri!e home flashed a blinding white light so strong it felt like they would

transport Diego to a better reality as soon the brightness departed his pupils.

)erhaps he would blink and find this was all a dream. It was real though and

that troubled Diego. It didn’t feel real. 5othing did. They pulled up to the

street where home seemed to sit atop its mountain. He didn’t realize how far

they had tra!eled.

  08our name’s Diego right'1 asked 6ones. Diego shook his head yes.

04eezus you li!e "ust a street by me and I don’t recall you at all.1 Diego said

weakly that he didn’t reside at the neighborhood long which instantly ga!e

 6ones a puzzled face. -oon enough the pieces came together for him. It was

easy to tell. His face seemed to gradually align itself as it did. 0&ell1 he

coughed 0here we are. 8ou can say goodbye to *rankenstein if you want.

 The kids wa!ed good bye to *rank in the back seat. 0&e’ll tell the witch

about you1 promised 2oo. The kids shuffled out of the seat and "ust as Diegowas about to get out Officer 6ones spoke one more time. 0Hey don’t worry

about the bowl or anything% I was "ust "oking around% kidding you know.1

Diego smirked against his will. He was pretty sure 6ones wasn’t "oking earlier.

  02ight thanks1 They nodded in agreement as Diego shut the !ehicle

door closed. The police cruiser departed as soon as Andrea opened the door

to the house. Diego 2obin and 2oo slowly entered inside.

Adam and *elicia shook off all the parts of their costumes that seemed to be

annoying them. They settled themsel!es on the rug of the li!ing room with

more e+citement than Diego had anticipated. Andrea barely had any time to

say anything to him as she was too busy by the kids eager to tell her of the

e!ents that transpired. They poured out the low amount of candy from their

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bags. Together they gathered about thirty pieces of candy. They began to

organize the candy till they each made piles that specified what brand they

were. 2eese’s type candies went where they were designated as did Twi+

and ,ilky &ays. 0&ell that’s not bad1 thought Diego 0they ha!e that and

Eit Eats.1 He decided to call <arlos in another room to tell him he wasn’t

going to show up. <arlos was bummed about the news and asked if the kids

could !isit tomorrow. Apparently <arlos had managed to score a date with a

!oluptuous woman in a 2ed 2iding Hood outfit before nights end.

0-he was feeling all self%conscious about wearing the same costume as

so many other girls so I told her she was the hottest looking one among

them1 boasted <arlos. Diego couldn’t help but co!er his eyes and laugh for<arlos had dug himself in ;uite the predicament. *rom what Diego could

gather <arlos had bragged on about his friend’s kids and how they all lo!ed

<arlos and saw him as something of an uncle figure. This wasn’t true but he

had hoped Diego would bring them o!er sometime soon and if they did he

promised the kids would recei!e a whole bunch of candy.

&hen Diego finally ended his con!ersation he obser!ed Andrea pouring

medicine for herself o!er the sink although she didn’t seem to be listening inon the con!ersation. He entered the li!ing room to see Adam and *elicia

completely knocked out. They lay asleep surrounding their candy as if they

were guarding it from hungry parents. He took each of them up stairs one at

a time. Adam was first followed by *elicia who awoke in a daze as he tucked

her in.

0Dad8ou can ha!e some of my candy if you want% "ust a few.1 Diego

humbly accepted the generous offer. 03ut no "unior mints1 she insisted.

0I won’t take any of your 6unior ,ints1 laughed Diego lightly. He wished

her goodnight and headed downstairs. It was now completely dark aside

from one lamp that emitted as much light as a weak candle. Andrea stood

with her arms crossed at the end of the steps. Diego had ne!er seen her

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more a mess and unkempt yet couldn’t remember a time when she looked

any prettier to him. It sounded like an insult in his head e!en though he felt

he couldn’t be any more sincere. -he asked him about the witch the bowl

the cat and *rankenstein which the kids seemed to spill out. Diego could

only grin and scratch the back of his head.

0It was a crazy time1 he said.

08ou can stay for the night if you want1 said Andrea suddenly. He was

surprised she said it at all. He declined the offer e+plaining his apartment

was closer to work which he needed to get up early for. They each stood

there for what seemed like fi!e minutes. He discussed her sickness for a bit

and marched ;uickly through other irrele!ant topics. They were stalling for

no reason. *inally he e+ited dro!e off and reached his home.

0It’s like my life is me reading the daily paper to tell me all about it1 said

Diego to himself. 0I want that life back but I know who has it.1 He concluded

that he still had no idea who he was aside from someone who couldn’t finish.

He would ne!er finish his marriage he would ne!er finish his separation he

would ne!er finish being a father he would ne!er finish his work and as time

further darkened the sky he felt for the first time that that was okay for

nothing in any respect e!er seemed to end% not e!en pass midnight.

 THA5E- *O2 2/ADI547

If you hated it ,8 -I5</2/-T A)O9O4I/-7

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A -9//)9/-- -9OTH )2OD=<TIO5.