The Halloween Treasure

THE HALLOWEEN TREASURE

By SAG-AFTRA Locals’ Staff

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter

Authors

One……………………………………….

Locals Administration Staff

Two………………………………………. New England Staff Three……………………………………..

Washington-Mid Atlantic Staff

Four………………………………………. Ohio-Pittsburgh Staff Five………………………………………. Missouri Valley Staff Six………………………………………... Dallas-Fort Worth and Hawaii Staff Seven……………………………………..

Atlanta Staff

Eight……………………………………… Philadelphia Staff Nine………………………………………. Miami Staff Ten……………………………………….. San Francisco Staff Eleven……………………………………. Seattle Staff Twelve…………………………………… Locals Administration Staff

CHAPTER ONE

For the Laborsmith twins, Sandy and Alfred, Halloween had always been their favorite holiday. Oh how they loved dressing in crazy costumes as they wandered around the neighborhood and collected lots of treats.

They always squealed in delight to see what their friends were wearing. This year Sandy said she thought they should dress as pirates. Alfred clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Great, I love adventures! We can pretend we’re sailing the seven seas.”

So when October 31 arrived, the twins, dressed head-to-toe in orange and black, left their house in search of great treasures. But when they headed toward their first house they noticed none of the porch lights on the block were glowing. Did this mean that no one was home with baskets of candy?

Suddenly, a pumpkin rolled by and stopped at their feet. He had a cutout smile and a bright light behind his eyes.

“Hey kids! I’m Mr. Pumpkin. Don’t look so sad. There’s a world of places to find delicious goodies. If this isn’t the place where you will trick or treat, you can have an adventure and take a trip for treats.”

With little hope of a treasure of candy, Sandy and Alfred listened very carefully to the pumpkin. He told them to shut their eyes and chant this verse:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER TWO ...In Boston!” Sandy and Alfred opened their eyes and found themselves in Boston. It was not like the Boston that they had heard of. There were no paved roads or tall

buildings, instead, the roads were made of dirt and marked by the footprints of horses.

Sandy and Alfred began exploring this strange old land hoping to find some candy.

They came across a man who looked very nervous. He was pacing around and whispering to himself. “The British are coming and no one can warn the people of Boston,” the man kept saying to himself. The man had an old leather bag by his feet, Sandy noticed that inside the bag were multicolored gems attached to sticks. “He’s got lollipops in his bag!

Maybe, if we help him, he’ll give us some candy” said Sandy excitedly to Alfred. Alfred nodded and they both walked over to the nervous man.

Alfred walked right up to the man and said “hello sir! What’s your name? You seem very nervous about something, can we help you?” The man looked up at Alfred and Sandy and said “My name is Paul, and I am very nervous because the British are coming.

Someone needs to alert the people of Boston, and I cannot find my horse!” Sandy and Alfred said, “We can help find your horse!”

Sandy and Alfred began to search all over for Paul’s horse. They walked by the ocean and saw many old wooden ships with men bringing large boxes, with the word tea written on the side, off the boat. They could not find any lost horse here so they continued to search.

They approached a large grass filled park in the middle of the town and started looking around. Suddenly, Sandy spotted what looked a horse’s tail behind a tree near a pond. She approached the tree and there she saw Paul’s horse, lying by the pond, getting a drink of

water. know the good news.

Sandy and Alfred ran back to find Paul and let him

Paul was so excited and thankful. He opened up his leather bag to reveal a ton of multicolored lollipops. “These are called rock candy. Take them all as a token of my

appreciation.” Sandy and Alfred excitedly grabbed the rock candy. As they each enjoyed a delicious rock candy lollipop, Mr. Pumpkin rolled by their feet again.

He told Sandy and Alfred to shut their eyes and chant this verse:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER THREE …In Washington D.C.” Sandy and Alfred (now back in present day) were walking merrily along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. A cold front was moving in, but Sandy and Alfred were so warm and cheerful because they decided to wear well-insulated costumes and comfortable shoes. They came upon the Washington Monument (known to some as King Kong’s pencil), went inside, and began to climb the 100 steps (they were unsure of the right number of steps because they were not interested in doing math on Halloween, but rather having an adventure). Halfway up the monument, they saw two costumed dogs, Desmond and Charlie, dressed as pirates.

"Hello, adorable dogs!” said Sandy. “Do you want to trick or treating with us? We are going to go to the White House.”

"Sure. But, what ARRR you dressed as?" asked Desmond the pirate dog.

"We are dressed as campaign finance reform. Our parents are political science professors at a major university, so it is a complex concept and costume. Adults find it humorous," said Alfred.

"ARRR you serious?" said Charlie. "Let's save America from THOSE pirates!" And they stood there on the steps and began to lay out a plan for saving America.

Suddenly, they heard a voice from behind them.

"ARRR you being a fire hazard?" asked the father of family from Ohio. "Maybe step to the side and let others enjoy the beauty and wonder that is America."

Sandy, Alfred, Desmond and Charlie realized that they were blocking the stairwell. So, they turned and walked briskly down the steps of the Washington Monument and out onto the National Mall.

Outside, sitting atop a drone was Penelope the new baby. "ARRR you going to the White House?" she asked.

"ARRR we done with that joke yet?" asked Alfred.

"Hop on!� said Penelope the new baby. “As you can see I'm dressed as a skeleton. It's a pretty hip costume - make no bones about it."

Obeying all traffic signals, the group got to the White House safely. The kids, dogs, and new baby knocked on the front door and were greeted by Barack and Michelle. "Happy Halloween," the President and First Lady said.

"Trick-ARRR-Treat" said the group.

"As you may know, President Reagan used to give out Jelly Beans. We have also created our own Halloween treat: it's Barack-oli!"

Dumbfounded, the children opened their bags to accept the Presidential broccoli.

"Um. Thank you?" the kids said.

"Remember candy is a sometimes food," said Michelle.

"I love your costume," Barack said to Sandy and Alfred.

"Great concept, but hard to pull off."

The kids turned and began to walk away. Suddenly, they heard a sound in the bushes. The kids turned and screamed. In the bushes stood Kevin Spacey and Julia Louis- Dreyfus!

"I know, we aren't the real thing, but we do play presidents on TV," said Mr. Spacey

"Well, I don't, but I am close enough. I just play the VP, but that is still good." said Ms. Louis-Dreyfus.

Then, Mr. Spacey turned to an imaginary camera and said in an aside: "As I have learned on the set of House of Cards, life is not fair, but who am I to ruin the Halloween of two adorable children, two pirate dogs, and one skeleton baby on a drone?" He turned back to the children, "We thought you might be frustrated by the Presidential broccoli, so we have some treats for you if you promise not to do any tricks."

"Thank you, Mr. Spacey and Ms. Louis-Dreyfus."

"You are welcome, children.” said Mr. Spacey. “I would invite you to visit the House of Cards set, but I am afraid the TV show, like most pirate films, is rated ARRR." Suddenly, Mr. Pumpkin met up with Sandy and Alfred, and reminded them that they had more adventures ahead. So he again told them to shut their eyes and chant this verse:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER FOUR …In Germany.”

On the Brocken, the highest peak in Germany’s Harz Mountains and the gathering place for ghosts on Walpurgisnacht. The mountain’s thick forest surrounded Sandy and Alfred, and the air that hung around them was soft and moist, mistily dense and difficult to see through. Though Sandy and Alfred were only small children, their shadows, stretching out before them, were giants *Photo credit http://wikitravel.org/en/File:Ule.jpg and the mountain’s mist magnified their movements.

When Sally turned to Alfred she saw that he carried a pitchfork and wore a red cape. She was dressed like a witch, with a pointy black hat, a handmade broom in her hand, and a

tiny black kitten at her feet. Together they made their way up the Brocken in the direction of a glowing fire. As they approached, they saw that the fire burned atop a pile of stones.

Alfred turned to Sandy and exclaimed, “Sandy that must be the Teufelskanzel!

Ms. Leckerekekse, my German teacher, told me all about it!” Getting ever closer, they spied a woman standing next to, and apparently stoking, the fire.

Alfred approached and, in his most formal broken German, asked her for her name. She said that her name was Fräulein Katharina Blum, that she had done something not very nice a long time ago, and that she now lived out her days on this mountain.

Sandy asked if she knew how they might get home. Fräulein Blum asked Sandy if she was a reporter and, having learned that she was not (yet), offered to show them an easy path down the Brocken. “But not before we get you children something to eat!” said Fräulein Blum. “You both look famished! And besides, isn’t it Halloween where you come from?” The children confirmed Fräulein Blum’s suspicion, and she gave them each a Braunschweigereule, a sweet pastry in the shape of an owl.

She then led the children past the fire and, poking a long, thin finger through the mist, pointed them in the direction of a stone path. “That’s how I got up here, and it’s how you will get down.” And so, with a Braunschweigereule in each of their hands, Sandy and Alfred made their way out of the mist and off the Brocken.

The pumpkin had been following from afar because he didn’t want to be near a baker and turn into pie. He soon rolled up to Sandy and Alfred and said that it was time to move on.

So altogether, they ate their pastry and repeated:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER FIVE …In Siena, Italy.”

When Sandy and Alfred opened their eyes, they blinked because they found themselves in the center of the huge Piazza Dei Campo surrounded by hundreds of other children dressed in every conceivable costume imaginable.

Alfred and Sandy were still dressed as pirates and began to mingle with the others while trying to get some idea at where to start trick or treating. Laughter and non-stop chatter filled the air. They had never seen such an enormous open space before but didn’t feel frightened because the ghosts and goblins, cowboys and gypsies around them were small size.

As they slowly turned they could see the outer edge of the plaza was lined with many small shops dotting the perimeter. Each shop was lit from within and their doors were open and welcoming. The only building that stopped them in their tracks was the Gothic, Medieval Cathedral that stood so tall beside all of the other buildings.

Sandy noticed some of the other trick or treaters darting in and out of the shops with hands clutching cookies and candies, so she headed in that direction thinking only of the goodies that were waiting. It wasn’t until she entered the first shop and was handed a big slice of pizza and turned to ask Alfred if he wanted his own slice or wanted to share, that she realized he wasn’t behind her. He was nowhere in sight. Sandy took a breath and told herself not to panic, that she would find Alfred right outside the shop.

While Sandy continued walking from shop to shop, somewhat slowly, all the others skipped and ran full speed. She kept busy craning her neck and looking this way and that, searching every direction, trying to spot the black and orange pirate. Although Sandy didn’t stop collecting treats as she wandered from store to store, Alfred was always, only, a thought away. Just as she was feeling really lonely and thinking of tearing up, that out of the next building sauntered a familiar black and orange pirate licking a gelato cone almost as big as he was. Sandy

shrieked his name and could barely be heard above the noise but could see Alfred looked quite relieved and smiled a big grin as he spied his twin. They spent the next few minutes reliving their time apart and noting how full their treat bags had gotten. They also, spent the rest of their time touring Siena holding hands, tightly, as they made their way through the Halloween crowd.

They didn’t find Mr. Pumpkin, but they wanted to be closer to home, so they repeated the words:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER SIX …In Texas (and then Hawaii).”

It was a beautiful fall day in Dallas, Texas! The sky was clear blue and the State Fair of Texas was in full swing. The Cowboys University of Texas Longhorns Sooners.

were playing tomorrow and the just won their game against the Oklahoma

Sandy and Alfred couldn’t contain their excitement. Not only was it football season but it was also Halloween time!

Each day after school they had run home to put their heads together to come up with the perfect costume. They had chosen pirate costumes but, since they just landed in Texas, they decided to change costumes. The Dallas neighborhood always had a costume contest and they were determined this year to win! Sandy thought dressing up like a Cowboy Cheerleader would be fun but everyone does that! Ho Hum. Boring! “Aha!”,

She thought and came up with an idea of being a Fighter Pilot from Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio!

Alfred? He knew he would win wearing his costume of his hero, Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

On to Neiman Marcus where everyone who is anyone buys everything they need!

The neighborhood party was great. Kids were dressed as the usual firemen and ballerinas but there were also kids in jerseys from the Dallas Stars Hockey team

as well as dressed like Big Tex from the State Fair.

And like any good Texas event there was lots of good food to eat! Besides the candy apples and rice crispy treats there was a table full of Bar B Q, and some good Tex Mex Nachos packed with jalape単os!

WHAT??? Everyone heard thunder and before they knew what was happening, the skies and opened and a huge thunderstorm started. The party was over and now we will never know who had the best costume in Dallas.

Sandy and Alfred were okay because, to their surprise, they looked in their pockets and found tickets on Southwest Airlines to fly to Hawaii to meet their new friends, Alika and Lani!

After a long flight the cabin door opened to what Alfred thought must be Paradise!

Such a beautiful place.

They were greeted at the airport by Lani and her big brother, Alika. Sandy loved the beautiful, fragrant ginger flower lei (garland of flowers) that Lani placed around her neck and Alfred’s.

“Hey, I know you had a long flight. Come to our house for some snacks before we head out tonight”, Alika said.

On the way to their house, Alika and Lani took their new friends on a quick tour of some famous spots; Pearl Harbor’s Arizona memorial, Hanauma Bay, the fish sanctuary, and the famous Waikiki Beach where they saw surfers riding waves. They also stopped for yummy snow cones (shaved ice) and fresh pineapple fruit. “This hits the spot,” said Alfred as he gulped down his shaved ice cone.

When they reached Alika and Lani’s house it smelled delicious and the twins couldn’t wait to get their hands on the Hawaiian desserts, haupia or coconut pudding. “Alfred, you’re going to get a tummy ache the size of the Lone Star State if you take one more serving of “Kulolo”, Sandy told him. He especially loved the kulolo or coconut, taro, sugar dessert and told himself to ask Mama to make it for him when they got back home.

The children were excited new costume and was going decided to go as a Cowgirl native and donned on her on her head. Meanwhile

to be going to their first Boo Luau. Alfred had his as the Pitcher for the Texas Rangers and Sandy complete with her rope tricks. Lani was going hula attire complete with haku lei which she wore Alika was going as Spider Man, his comic hero.

Lani and Alika gathered their treats for the Boo Luau; chocolate covered macadamia nuts and coconut cookies that their Tutu (grandmother) prepared for them. Children from all over the island were going to the Boo Luau.

Alfred and Sandy dug deep into their suitcases and to find the special treats to share with their guests. “Straight from Waco, Texas is a bottle of Dr. Pepper for ya’ll!” Sandy squealed while Alfred passed along some bags of Frito chips from the factory in Dallas.

“We would have brought some Fletcher’s Corn Dogs, like we eat at the State Fair but didn’t know how to keep them hot on the plane”.

The children enjoyed the Boo Luau. The girls showed Sandy and Alfred how to dance the hula. Alfred talked the band into singing “The Eyes of Texas are Upon Us” but lost in his quest on teaching the crowd how to dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe. He seemed to have forgotten the steps himself. It’s a lot more fun to hula, it seems.

Alika coaxed his guests into eating “poi” a Hawaiian food. But he could see from the look on their faces it was not a hit like the kulolo and haupia.

The next morning, four sleepy-eyed children were on their way to the airport. “We are so glad you came to visit our island home”, said Lani. She and Sandy hugged each other tightly while promising to send daily emails. Alika and Alfred shook hands while marveling at their new matching cowboy boots; Alfred had hidden an extra pair in his suitcase.

“Aloha ya’ll! Thank you for visiting us! From now on, you are family! No longer Haole or foreigners!” shouted Alika as he and Lani waved goodbye.

Although they hated to leave this paradise, Sandy and Alfred knew it was time for their chant:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER SEVEN …In Atlanta.”

Sandy and Alfred always enjoyed trick or treating but this year was obviously different.

Since they had the ability to travel with Mr. Pumpkin’s help, they decided to make a wish to land in Atlanta where they could their grandparents. However, they knew that they wouldn’t be with their friends to celebrate. Although they were having a great adventure, they were bummed out. The started to think about how they would be missing the biggest middle school party of the year and the costume contest.

There wasn’t any way of getting out of it so they were on their way to Atlanta whether they liked it or not. Sandy and Alfred were tired after they arrived but it was stil Halloween after all so they got in their zombie gear and headed out on the town in hopes

of finding a frightening good time! As they drove into the city they passed the Margaret Mitchell House, the GA Aquarium, and a ton of tall buildings.

Their grandparents dropped them off down the street from the Fright Night event. As Sandy and Alfred turned the corner of the street they saw a crowd of people dressed just like them.

They walked with a limp and growled. Sandy thought, wow these Atlanta kids are really into Halloween. As they got a little closer they noticed these weren’t kids in costumes, they were real zombies! Alfred cried “Come on Sandy, we’ve got to get out of here!”

As they turned and ran to try to find their grandparent’s car they tripped over a big cable on the ground and a lighting rig crashed over right in front of them. The Zombies were close behind and leaned over Alfred and Sandy lying on the ground.

Then a gross, gray hand reached down close to Sandy’s neck as she let out a big scream.

The zombie then reached for her hand and pulled her back up and said “Hey, what are you kids doing on the set?” “What do you mean?” asked Alfred. “You’re on the set of the Walking Dead.” I’m not sure how you got past security but we’re filming on location right now.” “You’ve got to be kidding me” cried Sandy. “We love this show!” Sandy and Alfred were no longer bummed about being in Atlanta for Halloween and couldn’t wait to share their spooktacular story with their friends back home.

So they again decided it was time to move on. The pumpkin surprised them by rolling up to their feet, and the three of them shouted:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER EIGHT …In Philadelphia.”

Sandy and Alfred were very excited: they learned that they were going to a Halloween Party! But not just Halloween party, a special party in Philadelphia to celebrate our nation’s history. They changed into new costumes.

“Hi Alfred, what are you dressed as” asked Sandy. “I have a bonnet, a long blue dress, a needle and thread and an American Flag; I’m Betsy Ross!”.

“That’s great,” said Alfred. “I have a tri-corner hat, buckles on my shoes, and a sword. I’m George Washington”!

They both laughed and laughed as they walked through Olde City, passing Independence Hall, the Constitution Center, and, of course, The Liberty Bell.

“This was our Nation’s first capitol, Alfred, and the best place for Trick or Treating because there are so many old buildings and houses”, Sandy said excitedly. “I hope it’s okay, but I invited my friend Ben along to Trick or Treat with us; he loves Halloween”.

“I love meeting new people,” Alfred responded, “I can’t wait to meet him”.

And just as the words were out of his mouth, a boy with a bald wig, a button down vest, small round glasses and a kite came over to say hello.

“I’m Ben Franklin, one of our Country’s greatest citizens. Look me up in your history books and find out all of the things I invented, all of the books that I wrote, and all of the countries I visited in my life.” Sandy and Alfred were delighted and three had a great night of collecting treats, and also giving out tricks.

At the end of their night they all said good-bye and Sandy and Alfred starting walking back home. After a few blocks they ran into ANOTHER Ben Franklin! “Sandy, I’m so sorry I’m late,” said Ben. “I was taking a horse drawn carriage along the Delaware and it was such a nice trip that I lost track of time!”

Sandy and Alfred were shocked! “But we just went trick or treating with you, Ben – you weren’t late at all!” they said. “That wasn’t me, you guys that must have been someone else”.

Sandy and Alfred looked at each other; did they just go Trick or Treating with the ghost of Ben Franklin? “I guess on Halloween, Alfred, anything is possible” said Sandy. And together the three of them laughed and laughed.

And on that note, they were eager to move on, wishing to land somewhere with weather warmer than Philadelphia. Yes, we all know the chant:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER NINE …In Little Havana, Miami, Florida.”

Sandy and Alfred walked around for a while and felt as if they were on the Island of Cuba, not Miami.

Everyone was speaking Spanish; some were playing dominoes at a corner park and many ordering a cafecito cubano at the many cafeterias on Calle Ocho.

Sandy said, “I’m hungry”. Alfred looked across the street and said, “Look - La Malanga Café! Let’s go in and see what they have to eat”. “Ok,” said Sandy, “I’m thirsty too.

Would you order for us Pumpkin since we only speak un poquito de español? ” They ordered a media noche sandwich and a batido de mamey to share. Sandy and Alfred took a bite and a drink and said “delicioso.”

When they were done eating, Pumpkin said, “Puerto Rico is not far from here. Do you want to go to the Caribbean?” “SI!” said the twins. Pumpkin said, “Well you know what to do.” “We do!” said the twins. So they shut their eyes and shouted “BOO” and they were in Puerto Rico, La Isla del Encanto . Sandy and Alfred were in awe with the beauty of the island.

Sandy said, “There is a Halloween party at Luquillo Beach.

Let’s go there!” “Wow, look at the beautiful beach and all of the great costumes, what are they?” asked Alfred. “They are dressed as Vejigantes, said Pumpkin. “We want to be Vejigantes too”, said the twins. So they went into a small shop and bought one colorful outfit for each. “Yeah, these costumes are great! Now, let’s go partying and get some treats” said Sandy “piraguas de tamarindo and dulce de coco, sound yummy!!!”

“Boy, it’s getting hot with these costumes on, let’s go to El Yunque rainforest and cool off” said Sandy. The temperature started to go down as the twins began to go up the mountain … they were immediately enchanted by the cool dense green vegetation and the rhythmic sounds of the Puerto Rican coquis.

Vejigantes

Mr. Pumpkin, along with Sandy and Alfred were completely exhausted, but they still hoped for a few more trips. So they sat on the beach and chanted:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER TEN …In San Francisco.”

Sandy and Alfred felt a little off balance, but then realized that they were standing half way up a very steep hill. They were trying to decide if they should climb to the top and take in a panoramic scene, or take the easier route of walking to the bottom.

Even though they were definitely tired from all of their travels, they decided to scope out the area after climbing to the top. The huffed and puffed and reached the top and feastedtheir eyes on a beautiful bay.

Mr. Pumpkin met up with them. Suddenly, they heard lots of horns and cheers. At the bottom of the hill was a parade of (all the crazy and unexpected things) – pandas! How weird!

As they ran down the hill, them, the learned that this pandas.

and as the pumpkin rolled along with was a parade of people dressed as

Sandy and Alfred read big banners that announced “The San Francisco Pandas won the World Series Championship.” They landed in the middle of the parade that celebrated the city’s victory of the World Series baseball games. One parade marcher threw two panda hats to Sandy and Alfred. The hats were soft and cute so the twins donned them with pleasure.

Along the water were many picnickers watching the parade. One family invited Sandy and Alfred to join them. Since this was Halloween and this adventure was providing some delicious treats, they were only too happy to accept the invitation. They had second thoughts, however, when they saw what they were eating. The family was eating kale salad in a compostable bowl with no plastic silverware, and organic, fair-trade vegan local chocolate.

Well, when in Rome – or in this case San Francisco – do what the others are doing. The food was surprisingly tasty, but they quickly ate because they were ready to leave. The pumpkin had been hiding because he was also organic and didn’t want to be part of the meal, but he rolled to the twins’ feet and chanted:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER ELEVEN …In Canada.”

They were standing on a muddy path with new costumes. It was night, and a large crescent moon filled the sky above. The street ahead of them was lined with large leafy trees just turning from green to orange. Bright yellow streetlamps threw circles of illumination onto the ground. Large houses with covered porches and big windows lined both sides of the avenue.

Sandy looked down and saw she was dressed as a witch; not one like in the movies she’d seen at home, but old-fashioned, complete with a straw broom and a tall, black, pointed hat. Alfred was dressed like a cowboy: hat, vest, boots, even a belt with a black metal gun tucked into the holster. Both had white pillow cases slung over their shoulders; they were heavy and they could feel the “thunk, thunk” of small objects bouncing against their backs as they began to walk down the lane.

“Well, this looks pretty normal – for a change,” observed Alfred, adjusting the sack on his shoulder as he went.

Sandy paused to peer into the depths of her own bag. “And we have candy, or – something,” she said. Reaching in, she pulled out a bright red apple. “Here, you can have this one.” She stretched out her arm toward Alfred.

“Ugh, I HATE apples!” he said, stepping back. He felt his heel connect with something hard.

“Hey, watch out with those spurs!” a high-pitched voice shrieked! The pumpkin, silent for what had seemed like forever, had finally spoken again.

“Mr. Pumpkin, where are we this time?” Alfred asked, looking around, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Why are the streets so muddy? And where did all these old-timey cars come from?”

Sandy, gazing up from her bag, scanned the street as well. “This doesn’t look right,” she whispered, suddenly feeling scared.“Not to worry, children,” replied the pumpkin, “we’re finally here!”

“Where?” they responded in unison.

“Blackie, Alberta.”

Sandy looked at the pumpkin quizzically. “Alberta – that’s in Canada.”

The pumpkin rolled in her direction, then settled on its base, its triangle eyes and saw-toothed grin glowing brightly.

Alberta

“Correct you are, young lady! And, in answer to your question, the reason all these old flivvers are lining the street is because it’s Halloween – 1927… one of the most IMPORTANT Halloweens ever!”

Alfred stepped gingerly toward his sister, taking care not to gouge the pumpkin again with his spurs. “What makes it so special?” he asked.

“Because, responded Mr. Pumpkin, its eyes glowing even more brightly for emphasis, “on this night, in this place, was the very FIRST reported ‘trick or treat’!”

And with that historic note, Mr. Pumpkin decided that they were done with their travels.

The sun was rising above the clouds and it was time to take Sandy and Alfred back home.

One more time:

“Let’s shut our eyes and feel free to shout out ‘BOO’ and we will be….”

CHAPTER TWELVE …Home.”

The sun was bright in the sky and Sandy and Alfred woke up from their warm beds, wearing orange and black pajamas with a pirate motif. Sandy shouted, “It’s October 31.

Happy Halloween!”

Alfred looked at her quizzically. “It’s November 1. Halloween was yesterday. Wasn’t that the craziest night of trick or treating ever?”

Sandy responded with an equally quizzical look. “What are you talking about?”

“Our adventures with Mr. Pumpkin – trick or treating in all of the states and countries…

Why are you looking at me that way?”

Sandy scrunched her brow and looked very thoughtful. “I had a dream something like that. But it couldn’t have been real.”

“Of course it was real. It wasn’t a dream. Don’t look at me like I am a nut. We couldn’t have had the same dream!”

Sandy still looked very doubtful, and even a little frightened. This Halloween was starting to feel a bit eerie. But then she glanced at her mirror and saw a strange reflection in the corner of the room. She quickly turned around and saw a pumpkin basket with a handle.

Alfred followed her eyes. The face on the basket looked quite familiar to both of the twins.

They cautiously approached the basket, peeked inside, and dumped it out with glee – and a little relief. Because what landed on the floor were: Jeweled lollipops from Boston, an American flag from Washington D.C., an owl-shaped pastry from Germany, pizza from Italy, nachos from Texas, coconut pudding from Hawaii, a zombie mask from Atlanta, a kite from Philadelphia, media noche sandwiches from Miami, dulce de coco from Puerto Rico, kale salad from San Francisco, and apples from Canada.

Together they both shook their heads and agreed that they did indeed experience the craziest Halloween ever. And best of all, they got their wish. The pumpkin basket (or perhaps Mr. Pumpkin himself) furnished an unforgettable Halloween treasure.

Happy Halloween