Halloween evening, Glen Oakes, Queens

"What a cute little bunny!" squealed Mrs. Gill, handing the costumed Rosie Stabler a chocolate bar. "And Elliot-have one too. It seems like just yesterday you were coming here with your mother."

Elliot, slipping the bar temporarily into his sister's bag, was thanking his longtime neighbor when he heard a shriek from across the street. Turning quickly, he saw a younger boy---he couldn't have been more than 10 years old---sprinting across the road. There was a trick-or-treat bag in his hand. On the other side of the street, a "witch" was helping a "pumpkin" up from the sidewalk.

Knowing that Mrs. Gill would watch Rosie, Elliot raced across the yard to confront the thief. The latter proved to be a coward, slowing to a halt, dropping the bag, and turning to run away from the stern-faced boy with the clenched teeth and glaring blue eyes. Smirking triumphantly, Elliot stopped and picked up the abandoned booty while his sister and Mrs. Gills clapped and cheered happily.

Soon the two trick-or-treaters raced across the street to stand in front of him. The elder one seemed to be about his age. Her green tinted face had striking features and the eyes beneath the bristling black bangs were as blue as his.

Hey, am I staring??

"Thanks a lot! You've just saved Halloween for us!" the girl exclaimed gratefully.

"Oh, uh, you're welcome, Miss Witch," he managed, handing her the bag, which was passed to the younger girl. Since she had no bag herself, the elder girl obviously was, like Elliot, an escort---though a costumed escort.

"Her name is Kathy," laughed the smaller girl, "and my name is Charlotte---but you call me Charlie!"

"She's a tomboy," explained Kathy.

Just then, Mrs. Gill walked over with Rosie. Smiling, she distributed candy bars to the girls, plus two more to a surprised Elliot, who thanked her before placing them in Rosie's bag.

"I'm Elliot, and this is my sister Rosie," the boy said. "We're on our way back home---"

"I go 'round the block 'til Ima big girl!" Rosie broke in. "Dis is my firss time!"

"Well, it's our first time, too---in this neighborhood," Kathy explained. "We just moved into our new house---it's six blocks from here---after leaving Forest Hills. And a minute ago, I wished we were back there---until you sprang into action!"

"I was just being a good Catholic," Elliot said casually with a grin.

"Hey, we're Catholic, too!" Kathy said, eyes lighting up. "In fact, Mom's enrolling us in the Sisters of Mercy Academy tomorrow."

Elliot's eyes almost popped. "I go there! I'm in the 7th grade."

"Then I'll probably see you!" Kathy said excitedly. "I'm in the 7th grade! Boy, what a relief. You see, all of the kids we've met on our block so far go to the public schools. I was starting to wonder if I would have any school friends nearby."

"Do you have any younger brothers or sisters?" inquired Charlie.

"I have three brothers that are around your age," answered Elliot, nodding.

"Terrific!" Charlie said as she and Kathy exchanged smiles.

"I'm really glad we ran into Elliot," the older sister added.

"Me too." Did I say that??

"You wanna be her boyfriend?!" Rosie piped up suddenly.

His face burned, but Elliot's heart was light as he joined the ensuing laughter.

Meanwhile, in Bensonhurst…

Marge was busy in the living room, handing out candy when she wasn't preparing baby shower invitations. As she worked, she glanced repeatedly at the wall clock and then at the front door, straining to hear Olivia's footsteps. When the telephone rang, she hastened to the kitchen.

"Hello?" She forced herself to sound calm and affable.

"Hi, honey," Don said, somewhat anxiously, "is our girl back from collecting for U.N.I.C.E.F.?"

"Not yet, but I suspect she'll be home at any moment," Marge replied placidly, stepping towards the living room to peek at the front door.

She heard Don sigh and quickly continued: "We told her to stay with Kenny and his father and not to enter any homes, even if invited---"

A loud knock sounded at the back door.

"See, she's at the back door now!" She turned to move quickly to answer the summons.

"Marge remember to check through the curtains first!"

"Relax, I see her," she reassured, hiding her relief at seeing Olivia, Kenny, and his father, Joe, when she parted the back door window's curtains.

"We didn't want you to think that we were trick-or-treaters," Joe explained seconds later as he followed the children inside, "so Olivia suggested the back way."

So what if I did greet you with candy? But Marge only said: "Did the kids behave themselves?"

"Oh, sure," Joe replied, "and I inspected the candy that some of the folks 'forced on' them."

"Well, we did tell them that were collecting for U.N.I.C.E.F.," Olivia said, dropping a few confections into a small bowl.

Remembering her husband, Marge said, "Olivia, please say your goodbyes and talk to Daddy."

"Good night and thank you," Olivia said to Kenny and his father as she crossed the room to take the receiver from her mother.

While Marge escorted the Briscoes to the front door, Olivia greeted her father warmly. "Hi, Daddy!"

"Hey, Sweetheart!" Don answered lightly, concealing his relief. "Did you have a great time collecting donations with your boyfriend?"

"Daa-dee!" The girl blushed. Though I kinda like how he feels about me.

Bensonhurst, a few days later

Olivia sat on her bed pensively, a letter from Elliot in her hand. After a few minutes, she stretched out on her back and reread it. But it still said the same thing:

Dear Olivia:

How are you? I'm fine. Did you have a Happy Halloween? Let me tell you about mine! I was taking Rosie around the block when this little punk stole a bag from a girl across the street. But when I ran to get him, he turned yellow and ran, leaving the bag! Of course, I returned it to its owner, a girl named Charlie Maynard---she's a tomboy---who was trick-or-treating with her sister Kathy, who's in my class at Sisters of Mercy. She and her sister have just moved here from Forest Hills and live only six blocks from my home. They've since come over a few times. Charlie gets along great with my brothers---she can even throw a baseball overhand! And Kathy's cool. When I first met her, she was dressed like a witch, with green makeup and an ugly black wig. But at school the next day, I hear someone in the hallway call "Elliot!" I turn around, and I see this blond girl smiling at me. I'm confused at first, but then I remember whose voice it is and say, "Oh, hi Miss Witch." Then everyone freezes, and the ever-present and always fearsome Sister Superior begins "MIS-ter STAY-blerrr…" I'm freaking out, wondering if she'll let me explain, but Kathy, the new kid, just holds up her hand and walks up to her and explains everything. Then Sister apologizes, which has never happened before, and goes on her way. And then later, in gym class, Kathy makes it all the way to the top of the rope. She can cook too. The first time she and Charlie visit, she brings a big batch of sugar cookies that she made as a thank-you for helping her and her sister. They're better than my mother's. (Don't tell anyone. Since the Halloween caper Dad's been acting like he's actually pleased with me for a change!)

Well, I've got to go help chase Rosie down for her bath. Hope you have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Elliot

Why did the letter bother her? He seemed happy. He had performed "a good deed" that pleased his father. He hadn't got into trouble with Sister Superior because this new girl Kathy---

Kathy.

Kathy Maynard.

…Kathy's cool. And she can cook…

Something started forming in the back of her head, but she forced it back into its pit with a balling of paper, which she pitched into her wastebasket. Then she went downstairs to the kitchen to see if there were any ingredients for chocolate chip walnut cookies. They were Kenny's favorites.