{"id":537,"date":"2011-10-18T03:12:00","date_gmt":"2011-10-18T03:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/2011\/10\/18\/a-loose-halloween-story-pt-2\/"},"modified":"2018-11-04T18:16:11","modified_gmt":"2018-11-04T18:16:11","slug":"a-loose-halloween-story-pt-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/2011\/10\/18\/a-loose-halloween-story-pt-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A Loose Halloween Story Pt. 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
(Click the picture to learn more about Halloween from Wikipedia)<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
A week or two ago we got a bunch of snow in the mountains. I thought we might have bypassed Autumn altogether, so I was glad when the snow all melted. As you can see from this picture I took today, plants in Provo have largely turned orange; those that haven’t will do so soon. Even the skies want to remind us that winter is on its way.<\/i><\/div>\n

<\/i><\/div>\n
But based on my title, you’re not reading this to learn what’s going on with me and the weather. You’re here for part two of my Halloween story. By the way, part one is indeed the original complete story. Kind of sad, isn’t it? That’s why I decided to write a part two. It’s cruel to leave a person hanging with too many unanswered questions – even in a Halloween story. Then again, it’s cruel to write a pitiful second-half to a story when you know it’s worse than the first part…<\/i><\/div>\n

____________________________________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

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            \u201cWhat\u2026happened?\u201d I ask. I almost don\u2019t want to know, but they\u2019re my friends. How could I not want to?<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cI wish I could tell you,\u201d Ryan says, \u201cbut I have no idea.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWhere were you?\u201d I ask.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Ryan looks embarrassed like I\u2019ve just discovered some secret of his.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cI don\u2019t know where I was,\u201d he says. \u201cI saw that thing running at you and I shot. But I don\u2019t even remember how I got the gun.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I want to ask more, see how the others are, but I\u2019m in a lot of pain and I black out again. I wake up once more in my own bed. I know that\u2019s not where I last woke up.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Looking at my clock I see it reads 12:00. Midnight. Once more.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I panic. It\u2019s the same time I last got out of bed, and I do not want to relive that all again \u2013 even if it is all just in my head.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            My body still hurts like crazy and I know how real my last memories are. No dreaming around I\u2019m certain. My clock stares back at me. 12:00 midnight. It waits for me to make the first move.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I refuse to. I do nothing until it changes to 12:01. Just after midnight. No longer midnight.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Something darkens my bedroom window. I\u2019m no fool. I can see the shape of it.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
I want to hide under the blankets and make it all just go away, but I know it won\u2019t. I debate what to do and cannot decide. If I try to run it could hear me. I might not even make it far in my condition.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            And if I stay put<\/i>? What kind of dummy just waits for a monster to attack<\/i>? I do.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            The monster jumps at my window. Something stops it but I cannot see what. It tries again with the same result. Maybe I should feel relief or something but I don\u2019t. I know the moment the monster breaks free from whatever has it, I\u2019m still a goner.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            But I\u2019ve got a second to prepare at least. I sit further up but the pain in my back nearly puts me under again.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Don\u2019t fall asleep<\/i>! I tell myself. DON\u2019T FALL ASLEEP<\/i>!<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cHELP!\u201d I shout hoping someone is even here to hear me. \u201cHelp!\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            A few seconds pass and the monster growls at me. Then I hear someone in the hall. Man, I\u2019m relieved to see who it is.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cRyan?\u201d I say. \u201cThe monster\u2019s back.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I point to the window in case Ryan did not hear the monster\u2019s growls. Ryan looks ready to run from the room.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWait!\u201d I say.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            He stops but looks about as scared as I feel.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWhat\u2026what do we do?\u201d he asks.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cI\u2019m not sure, but I don\u2019t think it can get inside for some reason.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I spoke too soon. The monster flings an arm through the window and starts to climb in. It suddenly hits that invisible barrier once more. I am both confused and scared now \u2013 with no idea how the barrier thing works I have no way of knowing whether to stay here or run to some other room.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cThat\u2019s your mom!\u201d Ryan shouts, scaring me out of my wits.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWhere?\u201d I ask. I look all around my room but don\u2019t see her.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cShe\u2019s the monster!\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            He has lost it. Just what I need right now, a friend gone insane while I\u2019m too injured to help him, and a monster trying to climb in my window.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cRyan, get yourself together. Where are the others?\u201d I ask.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cThey\u2019re out in the barn still. But I\u2019m serious. That monster\u2019s your mom!\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Ryan goes to turn my light on but the power had gone out. I try to even figure out why Ryan thinks my mom\u2019s a monster, and my jaw drops.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            It is my mom. With a hairy face and a werewolf body.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            She\u2019s snarling at us, growling and fighting against the invisible barrier.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d I ask, just as much to myself as to Ryan.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cI\u2026am not sure. I\u2019ll go check on Evan.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cAnd leave me here? Are you crazy? My mom\u2019s a\u2026uh\u2026werewolf! And all you can think to do is check on Evan?\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWell what am I supposed to do?\u201d Ryan asks.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I don\u2019t know how to answer that, but in no way do I want to let him leave the room without me. My mom may be a werewolf, and she may still be fighting against the open window, but that does not mean I have to sit here and watch. I\u2019m getting away if I can help it.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cHelp me up,\u201d I tell Ryan. \u201cWe\u2019re staying together until someone has a better plan.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            It takes us a while but soon enough we have left the room. I close the door, wanting to put everything possible between us and the monster. A few more minutes pass as Ryan pretty much drags me to the front room. Evan lies on one of our couches asleep.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Ryan says.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            That\u2019s when I remember the others once more.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWhat are we supposed to do about everyone else?\u201d I ask. \u201cWe cannot just leave them in the barn like that, and I\u2019ve never even seen those poles before.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cWe have to worry about your werewolf mother,\u201d Ryan says. \u201cI don\u2019t care what happens in the barn; if we leave this house, your mom will get us.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cEven if we stay inside, my mom still could get us,\u201d I say.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            He has a good point though. What else can we do? I lie down on our other sofa. My mind races round and around but my body screams for rest. I fight.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            And then I wake up. I hesitate to open my eyes, remembering the last few times I\u2019ve looked at a clock. And yet I think it safe to bet a light is on.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            I squint my eyes open and discover a light is indeed on. Evan, Ryan and I are still in the front room. The memory of my werewolf mother comes back and I almost jump from the couch. I can\u2019t, so I look for a clock instead.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            6:00.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Not midnight.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            But that means I\u2019ve been asleep for six hours! Ryan and Evan are both asleep as well. Something pounds on the front door.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cJack?\u201d I recognize Griffin\u2019s voice.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cYou okay?\u201d I shout as I try to get up again.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            \u201cYes, but let us in,\u201d he says. I hear other voices as well, and I figure they must be the others.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
            Ryan wakes up because of our shouting. He\u2019s much faster at getting to the door than I am. The werewolf hadn\u2019t attacked him. He opens the door and the others pour in. Even as they close the door behind them, I hear a car approaching our house.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cWho is that?\u201d I ask.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
Griffin looks out. \u201cYour parents,\u201d he says.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cMy parents?\u201d My eyes go wide. \u201cClose the door!\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Griffin laughs. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cClose the door,\u201d Ryan commands.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
Griffin stops laughing and closes the door.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cLock it,\u201d Ryan says.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
Griffin locks it. \u201cDon\u2019t they have keys?\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
I hadn\u2019t thought of that. Not good.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cTell me something Griffin,\u201d I say. \u201cDid they look normal? Or did they look even slightly unusual?\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cNo. They looked normal to me,\u201d he says.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
One of my parents fidgets at the door. \u201cDon\u2019t let them in,\u201d I say.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d Tyler asks.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll know soon enough,\u201d I say. Through the door I shout \u201cwhat\u2019s going on? What do you want?\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
My dad\u2019s voice comes through. \u201cIt\u2019s safe. Let us in and we\u2019ll tell you.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
I have no reason to trust them right now. Not after last night.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll attack us,\u201d I shout.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t come in if we were dangerous,\u201d my mom shouts back.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
I guess I can believe that.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cLet them in,\u201d I tell Griffin. \u201cBut be careful. When you open the door, stay as far from them as you can.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
Griffin opens the door and lets my parents in. He is right. They do look normal.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d I demand.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a full moon thing,\u201d my dad explains. \u201cThat\u2019s why we have the barn.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Tyler asks. \u201cWe were stuck in there all night. I didn\u2019t see you.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
My dad pauses for a second. I hold my breath anticipating some sort of attack. He turns to me.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cYour mother is a werewolf and so am I. The poles are there to keep everyone safe.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cThen what happened last night?\u201d I ask. \u201cAnd what did Ryan shoot?\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\u201cShoot?\u201d my mom asks. \u201cNothing got shot last night.\u201d<\/o:p><\/div>\n
Ryan and I both know he shot something. But what?<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Click the picture to learn more about Halloween from Wikipedia) A week or two ago we got a bunch of snow in the mountains. I thought we might have bypassed Autumn altogether, so I was glad when the snow all melted. As you can see from this picture I took today, plants in Provo have largely turned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,10,11,1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-halloween","7":"category-holidays","8":"category-my-writing","9":"category-uncategorized","10":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tdspeirs.com\/oldblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}