2007 Cheaper by the Dozen Special

Chapter 2: Halloween 2 2004

Rumors and Scares

Charlie was once again asked to take the kids trick or treating again. That one Halloween night, Sarah took full advantage of everything. Last Halloween failed because of all the suspicions. This Halloween would be different.

"Only the lighted houses," Kate called as a reminder. Nigel, Kyle, Mark, Mike, and Jake followed Charlie outside.

"Wait, I'm coming too," Sarah called. She ran up to them.

"Where's your bag?" Jake asked suspiciously.

"I don't need one," Sarah replied. "I'll just go with you a short way, and then go my own way."

"This time, we're going left," Charlie said.

The six followed Charlie up the road. Many houses were darkened, Jake started to shake his head and click his tongue impatiently. "We go left, and there're no houses. Let's just turn right."

Sarah also seemed all for it, so all turned around. They were walking two miles, and already got a ton of sweets by the time Sarah split up with them, "I'm meeting my friends in the cemetery."

"See ya," Charlie said, sounding glad to get rid of her.

"Stay away from the darkened house," Sarah called, sounding like Kate. "Especially the one ahead."

"What"- Nigel began, but Charlie interrupted, "Shut up, Sarah! Just go." Sarah was looking straight at the twins mysteriously as she disappeared in the darkness. "Ignore her," Charlie said in a bored voice.

But after Sarah's warning, it was difficult for children like Nigel and Kyle to ignore her. Jake was fine though. He thought of nothing but pity for the simple minded girl his sister was. A mysterious house? What the hell? When they reached the next house, Mark turned around to announce Mike's turn to ring the bell. That was when he, Jake, and Charlie noticed they were not there.

"Oh my God," Charlie said, pissed. "This is the last time, I swear. C'mon guys, we're going home!"

"But what about"- Mark started, but Charlie interrupted.

"We're going HOME!" Charlie said angrily. He led them home firmly. Jake couldn't wait till next year, when he'd be free to do what he wanted. They passed the house where Charlie bet they went off too, but he couldn't care less.

Charlie was right though. When Nigel, Kyle, and Mike entered the house, they came into a large room. It was dusty, cobwebbed, and creaky. The second they entered, a black cloth flew past them. Mike screamed in terror, but it dropped to the floor, unmoving.

The twins dragged Mike along up the creaky stairs. "Where is everything?" Kyle asked rhetorically, sounding disappointed.

"It's cold," Mike complained, hugging himself. "I'm going back." He turned and walked down when a bang sounded from downstairs. He squeaked and ran back to the twins. Why was he running to his younger brothers?

Nigel and Kyle looked around. They liked the adventurous times, and were more than eager to look around some more. A creak sounded from upstairs. Mike yelled. Kyle squeaked. Nigel shook his head, "o-ok, let's go"-

A bang sounded from downstairs.

"Upstairs," Nigel finished, just when something sounded from upstairs. "Ok, downstairs."

Two bangs sounded from upstairs and downstairs. The only soundless option was a door to their front. They ran towards it, right into someone. "AHHH!" A black hooded figure walked smoothly towards them. It raised its hands in a zombie-like way. A shriek of laughter sounded from behind them, and somebody familiar yelled, "STOP!"

Charlie ran in. From behind the figure were Tom and Kate, both looking very angry, "Come with us, Sarah Baker!"

Charlie seized too more kids. They must've been Sarah's friends. One was tall with long black hair falling over his ears. He was laughing. The other was shorter, and must've been the other one's younger brother. He also had black hair, though shorter. Both were carrying drums, which must've been the source of the banging. The twins and Mike were scared pale until Kate comforted them, and they walked back home.

"I hate that girl," Mike said dirtily. "I ought to"-

"You ought to nothing," Kate said firmly. "She's being punished and next year, she'll be getting nothing!"

"Hey, where's our bags?" Kyle exclaimed as he looked for his and Nigel's small bags.

Only one person in the house knew where the bags were, and two others outside the house. Sarah was of course punished, but why didn't it seem to affect her? Because she was in her room, smirking over candy. Little did the family know that few blocks away, two kids were enjoying their share of the candy from the bag the two little boys dropped in fright back in the house. Boy, did she put the fear of God in them or what? She once again claimed victory.

A/N: That's this year. I seem to be having a signature statement this year, 'the fear of God.' Another way of stating someone was scared shi&less. Scared out of his/her wits. I can't help using it. Anyway, see ya all on Christmas.