Many Halloweens later, the weeks leading up to the final day seemed to have changed very little since all those days ago. As the sun was on it's slow descend downwards, the night was awaiting in the shadows to come out and lead forth the charge of the holiday. Because only when it was dark would all the ghosts and goblins come out, including a bunch of familiar monsters.

"Good evening Mrs Johnson. Is your cat behaving today?"

Walking up to the edge of the fence that split their two lawns, a older gentleman leaned upon the wooden boundary to greet his next door neighbor as she finished up some last minute decorating. With a exhale and wiping of her brow, the woman smiled over at her friend.

"Yes, she usually stays indoors on these kinds of days. To many kids running around for her liking. So it's usually pretty quiet around here except for next door."

Thumbing a finger, she pointed to the other side of her house. Looking almost innocent with the strange lack of decorations, sat the house of Mystery Inc. But while the front of the house looked untouched, the backyard sat dark and ominous. And she would bet her cat, that inside was just as bad as the back. The older man laughed as he looked at what she was pointing to.

"Do you think their 'friends' will be coming over again this year? I think they know by now we are humoring them, but it's still nice to see people with so much life now a days. I hear all this practice has helped them on some of their mysteries as well. Funny, that. And it all started here."

The older man smiled, he remembered that first day all those years ago when they were just pups themselves. At first he didn't even know, but it felt odd to him. The year after that, it was even more fishy but he couldn't put his finger on it. But they were good at their plan, and the quick costume change was what threw most of the adults off for a few years. But after a while the parents caught on too the plan. Though by the time they had, the gang was old enough to travel out further.

But there was something, almost habit about hitting their old block a few times with the plan that had worked for so long. Usually finishing off the night with a few rounds. The adults bought extra candy by now, keeping track of just how many times they were swindled out of it.

"Oh you're just as bad as them, Nate McNallie. Really, handing out maps to the kids on Halloween? What kind of treat is that?" The woman laughed at the shop keeper that was her neighbor.

"What, where does it say that a 'treat' has to be candy? But I did include cookies of all the different states. I bet by the end of the night they could all make the whole USA with them. I've always had an odd fondness for maps, I don't know why." The man pushed off the fence and held up his hands innocently.

"Maybe I'll made it an atlas this time."

"Oh, you. Haha. Oh, it's getting dark. Better get ready. Have a good Halloween Mr. McNallie." The woman smiled and waved, heading herself to get into her witches costume. Pity her cat would be hiding all day. Mr. McNallie waved and headed back to his house. Stopping at the door, he got into character as the mad scientist as he hung on the door frame and play acted a sneer to some of the early little kids running by his house.

"Happy Halloween. Trick or treat if you dare."