Waylon and his older brother Jesse were spending another Halloween pounding the pavement. Night came on that cold Washington evening, and their mom and dad were almost done, sitting in the minivan across the street. They drank coffee and listened to the radio while the kids knocked on doors and did their best to scare the residents of Tacoma. Waylon was dressed as a punk vampire, while his older brother dressed up as Jack from A Nightmare Before Christmas. Of course Jesse was the best, he told everyone that. “This better be the last WayWay home. It's getting cold and mom is tired. Jesse said holding his hand. "Good, then let's do the scary house last." Waylon said. “The spooky house?” Jesse asked. Waylon smiled widely and pointed across the street to a huge, secluded black house. It was at the end of the dead end, with black wooden boards and a yard that didn't have a single blade of grass alive. “Oh… the spooky house.” Jesse replied. He knew about this place. His friend Mark told him some stories and how he refused to hand over the documents there. Jesse was less than thrilled at the thought of going to the "spooky" house. But he knew WayWay would only cause a scene. “OK WayWay, let's do our last Halloween trick or treat, okay?” Jesse took Waylon by the hand and led him across the street. As they got closer the air grew colder. The leaves on the asphalt shook and swirled around them in a way Jesse had never seen before. The beams of the ghostly black house creaked in the breeze. The entire place was in total darkness, except for a single lamp burning in the front window. A dull yellow glow that illuminated a long-cast shadow on the worn tent. They reached the edge of the courtyard and stopped. Yes... in the middle of the paper... mounds and half-broken bicycles. Jesse quickly turned and could see the man looking at them, chasing them with his arms outstretched. "I'll get your children!" The madman screamed as he ran and ran. The children reached the sidewalk and headed towards their parents' car. Screaming all the way. "Mom!" Jesse screeched. Just then his mother jumped out of the car. And he caught them on the sidewalk as they came running. "Hey guys, what's wrong?" the mother said with a worried look. “We went to the crazy man in the creepy house and he… is chasing us.” Jesse gasped. "The streets are emptying, darling." His mother said. Jesse and Waylon turned to see the empty street. There was no one around except themselves. “I think your imagination is a little too vivid, dear.” His mother said. Jesse looked at Waylon and started laughing. I guess it was a long Halloween for both of us.