Once upon a Halloween night, in the small, misty town of Blumenfield, there was an old, abandoned house that everyone avoided. It was decrepit and eerie, with a gnarled, ancient tree knocking against the loose shutters, making ghostly raps in the stillness.”>
On this particular Halloween, young Tim, wrapped tightly in his mummy costume, dared to approach it. His friends had challenged him and though his heart pounded against his chest like a frantic drum, upper school prestige awaited him. He looked back at his friends once before disappearing into the house, their nervous giggles hushing down.
With each step, the house creaked and groaned like a beast waking up. He had only gone a few steps when a sharp cry cut through the silence. He spun around and saw a ghostly apparition, beautiful in a ghastly way. Tim screamed, his young heart promising to break out and run before him.
Just as he turned to flee, a sudden burst of warm light bathed the room. Bewildered, Tim paused. From the corner entered an old woman, shaking with laughter, the ‘ghostly apparition’ a mere cleverly crafted shadow. “Happy Halloween dearie,” she cackled, her toothless grin hidden in the shadows. “You’ve always been the bravest yet.”
It turned out the ‘haunted’ house was where the old candy lady, Mrs. Winters, lived. All the ghostly noises? Her pets playing tricks with the light and shadow. As for the reputation? Let’s just say that free candy was Mrs. Winter’s clever way to ensure year-long peace. Ah! The sweet taste of Halloween pranks.