Post by Chris Hedges on Oct 15, 2010 17:08:35 GMT -6
SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT
By: Mark Allan Gunnells
By: Mark Allan Gunnells
Edna Harris heard the footsteps clomping across her front porch, and she opened the door before the little ones even had time to ring the bell. She held in her hands a large plastic bowl brimming with an assortment of candies.
She absolutely loved Halloween. She’d never married, never had any kids of her own, so this one time of year she got to ooh and ah over all the tykes that came to her doorstep in their fun and imaginative costumes, handing out treats while basking in the warmth of the children’s joy and laughter. She looked forward to Halloween much more than Thanksgiving or Christmas, which were holidays for those with families.
These were the first trick-or-treaters of the night, a boy and a girl of no older than twelve it seemed. Although it was hard to tell under such elaborate makeup jobs. They were wearing matching costumes, both done up as zombies. Torn and filthy clothing, hair matted and caked with something red and sticky. Some kind of prosthetic appliance made it appear as if the boy was missing an eye, just a gaping oozing hole where it used to be. Part of the girl’s left cheek seemed to be eaten away, revealing teeth and gums. It was very elaborate and Edna was dutifully impressed.
“What scary little monsters,” she said with a faux shiver. “I’m afraid I don’t have any brains for you two, but I have many other tasty treats.”
She paused, waiting for them to yell out the holiday chant, “Trick or Treat, give me something good to eat!” But they said nothing, just stood there motionless, staring at her with vacant eyes. Or in the boy’s case, vacant eye. For the first time, she noticed neither of them carried a bag or jack-o’lantern bucket to collect their Halloween candies.
Edna bent over so that she was on their eye level. “Dears, are you alright? Where are your—”
And that was when the children pounced, grabbing the old woman and dragging her down onto the porch, sinking their teeth into her plump flesh.
And out in the night, more of the undead wandered the streets…
