October 22, 1934
Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays as a child. And even though my mother and grandmother were strongly against the idea of us children going out for tricks-or-treats, my father and grandfather always took us. Grandpa even told ghost stories. While we believed those ghost stories to be fiction, there came a time in the Fall of 1934 when they no longer appeared to be "just fiction." It all began on a Monday in late October.
It was a chilly Monday in autumn. The seven Walton children were on their way out the door to walk to school. What started out to be just any other Monday would not end that way.
"Bye children, have a good day." Olivia smiled.
"Bye Mama." They all called back.
"What are we gonna do for Elizabeth's birthday?" 14-year old Mary Ellen asked her siblings. "It's on Sunday."
"Well I suppose we'll go to church in the morning." 18-year old John-Boy replied. "Then we'll come home and eat Sunday lunch. I haven't given it much thought. What do you want to do Elizabeth?"
"I wish my birthday were in the summer so we could go to the carnival." Elizabeth, who would soon be 6, replied.
"I know." 12-year old Erin replied. "I wish we could make our own carnival but you know how Grandma and Mama feel."
"Plus we just don't have enough money right now." John-Boy sighed. "I'm sorry Honey."
"We could carve pumpkins." 16-year old Jason chimed in. "How do you like that, Sweetheart?"
"That sounds fun." Elizabeth smiled. "And we could keep them and use them again on Halloween."
The Walton children always associated Elizabeth's birthday with Halloween. With Elizabeth's birthday on October 28 and Halloween on the 31st, it was kind of impossible not to.
"I sure hope Daddy and Grandpa will take us trick-or-treating again," grinned 8-year old Jim Bob. "That was so much fun."
"Until you ate too much candy." 11-year old Ben teased his younger brother.
"Mama and Grandma sure hate Halloween." Jason remarked. "I hope Grandpa and Daddy are able to convince them it's okay to take us."
"John-Boy, why do Grandma and Mama hate Halloween?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well Elizabeth, a long time ago, over a hundred years ago, people would celebrate October 31 by doing very bad things. The days of those events are over, but your mama and your grandma still think about the things that happened. It's more of an association, I guess."
Elizabeth nodded. "But those bad things don't happen anymore?"
"No Honey, they don't."
"That's good." She replied.
"Yeah it is." John-Boy smiled.
The school morning went as always. There was an hour for lunch and then at one, everyone came back inside to study until four. At four, the children went outside and swung on the swings.
"Push me higher John-Boy." Elizabeth said.
"That's high enough." He replied.
While pushing Elizabeth, John-Boy noticed a man standing at a distance. John-Boy didn't recognize the man and strangers rarely showed up on Walton's Mountain. John-Boy studied the man for a minute.
"Ben, do you mind pushing Elizabeth? I've gotta go tell Jason something."
"Sure John-Boy." Ben replied as he walked over behind the swing Elizabeth was in.
John-Boy found Jason.
"Jason, did you see that man?"
"Yeah I did. I was wondering if you saw him but I guess you did."
"Yeah. It's funny, there aren't too many visitors around here."
"Maybe." Jason replied.
That night after everyone had gotten ready for bed, John-Boy knocked on his brothers' bedroom door. Jason answered it.
"Come on in John-Boy."
"Actually, I had to talk to you about something. Would you mind coming to my room?"
"Sure. I'll be back in a few minutes, Ben and Jim Bob."
"Okay Jason." His two younger brothers replied.
Jason went into John-Boy's room.
"What's up John-Boy?"
"I just can't stop thinking about that man we saw today."
"John-Boy, if I were you, I really wouldn't make it a big issue."
"I know. But you know how I have a 'gut feeling' about things and I'm usually right?"
"Yeah." He replied.
"Well, I have a gut feeling about this man and I don't like what it's telling me. I have a feeling he's dangerous. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't tell any of the younger children, I don't want to scare them. And we can keep this just between the two of us and if needed, we can tell Daddy and Grandpa."
Jason gulped. "Sure John-Boy."
"I don't know Jason, but my gut says this guy is trouble."