BEN'S HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE

Ben looked out his window at the street below. Dusk was settling
in,wrapping the
city in a blanket of illusions. glancing at his watch, he knew there were
only a few minutes left and anxiously glanced at the bowl of candy sitting
by the door. Even Dief knew enough to stay away from the treats. all year
long he had been looking forward to tonight. Briefly, he wished he would
have been able to dress up as a child, to go 'trick or treating.'
The sounds of laughter made it's way to Ben long before the owners came
into view. Finally he was rewarded by the sight of a group of children
rounding the corner. Even from this distance he could make out the costumes.
a vampire, a clown... there was even a scarecrow to name a few.
Smiling to himself, he watched as the children entered his building, and
closed his eyes concentrating as they made their way up the stairs to the
different floors. For the first time, he wished he didn't live so high up.
Dief whined anxiously by the door, tail wagging furiously. "patience Dief,
they will be here soon enough." he stated, knowing though, that the wolf's
impatience mirrored his own.
Ben walked over to the bowl and picked it up in anticipation of their
guests. looking at the contents, he thought of how careful he had been to
pack each little bag with care.
The sounds were only one floor below now, and he indulged himself by
opening the door a crack, and peeking out. the sounds of greeting from other
residents as they opened their doors to the children drifted up to him, and
he had to remind himself they would be at his door soon enough. it was the
only way he could contain the urge to meet them halfway in the hall.
Reminding himself he was, after all, a Mountie, Ben shut the door and
looked around his sparse apartment. Finally, he decided to sit at the table
to wait, his mind drifting back to his childhood.
Once, he decided to surprise his grandparents, and made himself a
costume out of an elk hide. Knowing he wasn't close enough to any towns to
go door to door, he never the less picked up an old burlap sack and left the
barn to go to the house. Only two months earlier had he read of the
Halloween tradition, and anxiously planned the day ever since.
With a big smile on his face, Ben had strode up to the door and knocked.
When his grandmother appeared, he proudly announced 'trick or treat' and
held up the sack.

A knock on his own front door brought him out of his reverie and Ben quickly
scrambled to answer it, bowl in hand.
"Trick or treat." the group chimed in well practiced unison.
"well good evening." he greeted.
Ben reverently placed a small bag into each of theirs, and watched as their
faces lit up. After a chorus of thank-you's they were gone all too quick. He
watched until he couldn't see them any longer, and went back over to the
table to wait on the next group.

once again, his mind drifted back to that blustery day. His grandmother took
one look at him, and yanked him into the house lecturing all the while about
him catching his death of cold not being properly dressed.
Oh how he tried to explain it was Halloween, but she wasn't listening as she
promptly stripped him of the elk hide, and tossed his empty sack into the
corner. After she settled him down with a blanket wrapped around his
shoulders and a cup of soup, did she start her hour long lecture of what a
waste of time Halloween was. Never since, had he tried in the slightest to
celebrate the day. Until now.
Crossing to the window, Ben smiled a huge smile as he saw another group
of children crossing the street to his building. He was going to be alright.
it was Halloween, and he was after all, a Mountie.

The end -- Happy Halloween all
(no feedback requested)

zzzaney