Chapter 2
Despite her mocking, Lisa had not forgotten about House.
"Trick or Treat … Trick or Treat"
As the gang ran from door to door, collecting their goodies, Lisa held up a second bag, in addition to her own.
"Can I have some extra candy for my stupid friend?" she demanded at each house. "He couldn't come with us because he's waiting for the Great Pumpkin."
"This is so embarrassing," Lisa sighed.
"I got a chocolate bar," said Foreman.
"I got a quarter!" added Chase.
"I got a lump of coal," said Jimmy Wilson sadly.
And still, no had noticed that Hector was missing.
oOoOo
Hector scoured the streets of Princeton.
As the dusk faded to dark, his despair grew.
It has got to be around here somewhere … I saw it yesterday when Mom dropped me off to visit Daddy …Hector stopped in his tracks.
There it was.
The most magnificent dog house he had ever seen.
It had shutters and doors, and was paneled in wood painted red as the ripest tomato.
Hector climbed on the roof and clutched the stick of his Sopwith Camel,
then fired up the engine and soared into the autumnal sky.
Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tat!
The World War I Flying Ace fires his machine guns.
Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tat!
The Red Baron fired back!
Curse you Red Baron!
The brave pilot went down with his plane.
The World War I Flying Ace found himself trapped behind enemy lines in Plainsboro. He took shelter where he could, but pressed on fearlessly towards his goal.
oOoOo
After they finished trick-or-treating, the gang stopped off at the pumpkin patch to drop off House's candy and pick up Ally.
They were stunned when she decided to skip Violet's party.
"You're just as much of a moron as your boyfriend, Ally!" sneered Lisa.
Although House was furious at Lisa for calling Ally a moron, he liked being called her boyfriend.
"We're not morons Lisa," shouted Ally,
"Just wait until the Great Pumpkin comes … my Greggie knows what he's doing.
The Great Pumpkin will be here!"
My Greggie … I'm her Greggie? … House beamed with pride.
But deep down inside, as much as she wanted to believe him, Ally was beginning to have her doubts.
As soon as they left, Ally turned to House and asked,
"All right, we're alone Greg … just where is this Great Pumpkin?!"
"Just be patient, my love …" he whispered, as she nestled in his arms.
oOoOo
While Ally and House scanned the dark, pumpkin-filled horizon, the rest of their friends were having a blast at Violet Vogler's Hallowe'en Hootenanny!
They ate caramel apples and popcorn balls, danced to "The Monster Mash" and played Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Wombat.
It was great fun!
But the highlight of the evening was when Chase bobbed for one apple too many.
"Will this embarrassment never end?" Lisa cried, as she began mouth-to-mouth-resuscitation.
"Th-thank you Lisa," Chase sputtered.
"You're not the sharpest scalpel on the instrument tray … are you Chase?" Lisa said harshly, snarking more out of fear than of anger. "C'mon everyone, it's time to go home … and Chase, next time … just be careful, okay?"
oOoOo
Meanwhile, back in the pumpkin patch, Ally sighed a very long sigh.
"What's wrong, angel?" House asked.
As much as she tried, she couldn't hide her disappointment.
When House asked her to spend the evening with him in the pumpkin patch, the last thing she expected was to really spend the evening with him in a pumpkin patch!
She had honestly thought that "pumpkin patch" was just one of House's euphemisms for something much more romantic.
"Nothing sweetheart … It's just I never expected, in my wildest dreams, that I'd be spending Hallowe'en here … with you." she said gently.
"I know …" he said enthusiastically, "it's great, isn't it?"
"Just think Ally, when the Great Pumpkin rises out of this pumpkin patch tonight, we'll be here to see him together!"
Suddenly, there was a rustling in the nearby pumpkin vines!
Could it be?
Was the Great Pumpkin about to appear?
House saw a dark, ominous shape rising in the distance.
His heart pounded …
And then House fainted!
Ally stepped gingerly towards the shadowy figure.
She stopped.
It wasn't the Great Pumpkin, the Lesser Pumpkin or any other pumpkin for that matter.
It was Hector, The World War I Flying Ace!
When House's eyes finally fluttered open, he eagerly asked,
"What happened? Did I see him? Did the Great Pumpkin leave us toys?"
There were no toys, nor a Great Pumpkin.
There was only a dog named Hector.
Tears poured down Ally Cameron's rosy cheeks.
She couldn't believe that House had tricked her into spending the night with him in a pumpkin patch!
"Is this some sick, twisted plan you've devised to punish me for resigning? For leaving you? We could have gone to a lovely party, but instead you've kept me waiting here on a cold dark night, for what? For Hector? You've ruined my Hallowe'en, House!"
Just then the gang stopped by the pumpkin patch on their way home to check on Ally and House.
Ally was furious. But House wouldn't give up.
"Hey, it's great you're all here. We can wait and greet the Great Pumpkin together. It won't be long now!" House shouted.
They all just walked away. Ally started to leave too.
"Ally … don't go." House said softly.
"I'm sorry Greg. I'm cold and I'm tired. Don't stay up too late."
House watched sadly as she left with the others.
"If the Great Pumpkin comes, I'll still put a good word in for you!" House called after them.
"Good Grief! Have I ruined everything? I said if, not when!" cried House.
"One little slip like that can cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by," he said, with panic in his voice.
"Oh Great Pumpkin … where are you? …"
oOoOo
Ding - ding! Ding - ding!
It was four in the morning.
Ally Cameron could not sleep.
She jumped out of bed, threw on her clothes and called a taxi.
A bright yellow cab pulled up in front of her apartment within minutes.
"Where to, lady?"
"The pumpkin patch please, at the corner of Elm and Maple."
Ally stared out the window with a heavy heart.
I should have never left him alone … what if someone hurts him …
"We're here lady … that will be $11.50."
"Just wait please, until I check on my friend."
"The clock's tickin' lady …"
"Here's a twenty for your trouble." Ally pressed the bill into the cabby's hand.
House's motorcycle … it's still by the gate …
It was a good sign.
She buttoned her coat and ran through the patch.
And there he was.
Curled up and asleep, he shivered in the cold.
His limbs poked out from under his makeshift blanket – his beloved motorcycle jacket.
She reached out to touch him, but stopped when she noticed the bright orange harvest moon shining benevolently on House.
Could it possibly be true?
Had the Great Pumpkin come?
"House … House … Greg …" Ally whispered, "It's time to go …"
"Ally?" House said, as he started to stir.
"Are you okay?" she asked helping him to his feet.
"Just a little cold. What are you doing here?" he asked, brushing a tear from her eye.
"I came to bring you home."
oOoOo
They rode on House's motorcycle back to Ally's apartment.
She took off his muddy shoes, made him some nice hot chocolate with teeny-tiny marshmallows and tucked him into bed.
Another Hallowe'en had come and gone.
"I'm sorry Ally … I just wanted you to see the Great Pumpkin with me, that's all … I wasn't trying to punish you for leaving me …" he said as he drifted off to sleep.
"I know sweetheart," she said, stroking his brow, "but don't worry, we still have a lifetime of Hallowe'ens ahead of us …"
"Does that mean? …"
"I love you Greg. I'll never leave you again." she whispered.
"I love you too, Ally Cameron."
And they kissed goodnight.
oOoOo
The next day, Jimmy Wilson spotted House leaning on the brick balcony outside their offices.
He joined him and draped a comforting arm around his friend's shoulder.
"Don't take it too hard House. I've done lots of stupid things in my life too."
"Duh … don't I know it! But waiting for the Great Pumpkin isn't stupid Jimmy Wilson!" House replied. "In fact, it's the smartest thing I've ever done."
Jimmy Wilson studied the enigmatic smile that crept across House's face.
"Something happened to you last night House … what was it?
Did you see the Great Pumpkin? Is that why you're smiling?"
"No Jimmy Wilson … I didn't see the Great Pumpkin …"
House paused for a moment, overcome with love for his beautiful Ally Cameron.
"But just wait until next year," he continued enthusiastically,
"You'll see, Jimmy Wilson. I'll find a pumpkin patch that's real sincere and I'll wait until the Great Pumpkin rises up …"
And who knows?
Maybe next year …
The End
