Growing Up Halloween Pt.4

A Short-Cut

As soon as Keith and Francis reached the edge of the field, the morning mist took control of the day. It took only a few steps in between friends to make one disappear from view. "Keith...", "Eric?".."Hey, where did you guys go?.." It seemed as if this mist had carried Francis far away from where he once stood. Without moving a muscle, the sound of someone yelling far off in the distance was heard. "FRrrr rrrrrrrrrr rrrrraaa aaaaaaa ncis!" "Frrrr rrrrrr ranc" "Here I am!!" "I'm over here!" Francis let out a sharp report before the second call had finished the call. "Where are you guys?" The mist was still blocking out all but the muted sunlight that fights its way against a fog. The sun was all that gave the scene a grip on reality as what appear to happen cannot have happened. How it came to be that now his friends were no longer right by his side, but almost too far away to be heard when yelling out a call.





The Separation

Once again the sound of footsteps were close by. "Francis..where did you go?"... That was Eric, Francis was glad that one of the brothers was close by because for as fast as it all happened, this trip in the field was causing alot of delay in their walk to school. "I'm right here Eric, where's Keith?" Eric was close enough now to be seen. "He was right in front of me." "I don't know, he must have missed you and went right on by..KEITH!" The air was still cold enough so that any breathing added to the thickness of the mist. When you shouted, a lrge growing plume of condensed breath could be seen to push and blend with the surrounding fog. While both Francis and Eric had reconnected in the mist, in the field that was supposed to be a morning short-cut, they still had to gather up Keith, and get along with their walk. What was supposed to be a short mornig excursion, had turned out to be a pain in the neck. Without figuring out exactly what had happened in the mist so far, Francis and Eric looked to call out to Keith until the three of them were together again.

Growing Up Halloween

A Ludlow Halloween

The sun sets early. It's been weeks since the end of burnt umber leaves and rustling sounds of piles pushing against the fence. Drier is the season in New England when October falls. For now, the days are filled with friends and school. Bells ring forever in the crisp rolling airs of Ludlow, and Harris Brook bubbles under the way. Oh, what a sensational moment for a child who while smelling the cordwood freshly blowing up a chimney, thinks about the golblins and ghouls who soon will be running these small town streets for candy, goodies and fun.

Halloween in a 4Seasons Town

Francis pulled on one boot, and noticed the left had once again found the bottom of the cellar stairs. Now was the time of year that smells were at their peak. With the infiltration of Autumn, temperatures drop quickly and rise slowly in the morning. Even in the mud room the wet air of the morning hung low above the floor. Going down the stairs in the morning gave Francis the chance to feel the damp coldness of the cellar where not much went on but laundry. But this morning would be the same as any other which started off with a trip down to the 1st step, the boot catcher who caught foul ball boots, sneakers, socks, and the like.

Morning Retreat

Now that there was more in between bare skin and the encroaching frost finger of Autumn, there would be cereal and toast. Soon the kitchen would empty of the morning crowd. Mom made sure everyone left on time. Autumn in Ludlow was a time that had the feel of Halloween. Dark mornings and early nights mixed with blowing leaves and crisp, whispering winds which carried sounds and smells that screamed of Halloween.