"I'm goin' to go guising just like you did when you were young in the old country. I got a costume all made, Hannibal helped me make it, and we're gonna go to them big houses up on the hill! We're gonna be outlaws! Hannibal has got party tricks all sorted, so we'll beat all the other kids with how many nuts and apples we get."
Grandpa Curry who was looking after the boys, while both their folks were away visiting family, looked a bit concerned. "Jeddy, I'm not real sure your Ma would be happy you being out on All Hallows Eve even with Hannibal."
Grandpa Curry was the only one in the family who still called him Jeddy, even his Ma called him Jed, or Jedediah when he was in trouble, which was probably more often then either of them liked, and he sighed. He was nearly seven, far too old to be called such a babyish name, but it didn't matter how many times he complained, his grandpa never listened. "Aww, Grandpa, Hannibal made a bet with the older boys that we'd win, I can't welch on him now. 'Sides there ain't nothing to be scared of, I don't believe in scary beasties!"
Grandpa Curry sighed and shrugged, not convinced, but recognising the stubborn set of his youngest grandson's chin, realised there would be no budging him, so shrugged. "Well just be sure to be home good and early." He paused and looked round him, surprised not to see the older boy around, as lately it was rare that you saw one of the boys without the other."Where is Hannibal anyway?"
Jed paused his face crinkling up as he thought hard about something. "He's gone apple scrumping in Old Man McGregor's orchard. I was gonna go with him, but he said be easier on his own. I ain't sure what he was meaning."
Grandpa Curry sighed, wondering which book Hannibal had got that little term out of. "He means stealing, boy!"
Jed looked down at his feet. "Well it ain't like Mr McGregor needs all those apples anyway. Most of them just end up rotting on the ground." Jed paused, then added almost fiercely as he looked up to meet his gaze unafraid. "He was real rude to Ma when she asked him if she could have apples to bake some pies for the Harvest festival last month. He's such a misery, he'd rather miss out on something then share, and Ma makes the best pie!"
Grandpa Curry forced himself not to smile at his grandson's annoyance, understanding his point, though he knew he should probably set him right, but before he could say anything, Hannibal came running into the yard, his arms full of apples, a huge smile on his face. "Jed! I did it. I did it." He pulled up short when he saw his grandfather, and his face showed several different emotions as he obviously tried to come up with an explanation that wouldn't involve him using the word 'stealing.'
Giving up on trying to discipline his grandsons, when he pretty much agreed with them, the old man laughed a little and said. "Ach boys, get inside will ya! If ya gonna go guising you need some food inside ya."
About an hour later, he and Jed were watching in some amusement at Hannibal's attempt at juggling with some of the apples he'd 'scrumped as Jed said doubtfully. '"Hannibal I ain't sure them ladies at the big houses are gonna be impressed you throwin' apples at 'em."
"Kid, you gotta have faith, I'll have it by the time we get there."
"Iffin you say so Heyes."
Jed looked up at his Grandpa who had coughed at the names and gave him a bright smile.
"Them's our outlaw names, Grandpa."
ASJ
Seamus Curry looked between his two youngest grandsons, and felt a sudden chill. It was said the oldest boy in every generation of the Curry family, had the gift of sight and he had been troubled with strange visions and sounds all of his life, and they'd never been wrong yet. So as he was assailed by a sudden scent of burning in his nostrils and the vision of two familiar boys, not too much older than they were now, crying in front of a burnt out home flashed across his mind, he shivered, his chest tight, as another crystal clear image crossed his mind:Two young men, mounted on horses, looking up at someone, their eyes alight as the darker one said cheerfully. "Stand and Deliver."
The need to pull the boys close to him, became overwhelming, and Hannibal dropped his apples as he and his cousin were drawn into a fierce hug. Neither complained, though they both gave a slight oomph as they were pulled close to his chest. He felt them look over at each other and even not being able to see their faces could imagine the expressions there, knowing they were thinking, Grandpa Curry is having one of his dos again. But they didn't pull away simply snuggled in close to him, waiting for the moment to pass.
Finally after a few minutes, he was able to release his hold on them and stood them on their feet gently as he said softly. "Now the night isn't getting no younger, so you dress in your costumes and go beat them other boys!"
Grandpa Curry's heart felt heavy, and his heart thudded loud in his ears as he watched them run off to change, wondering how many years of innocence his two youngest grandsons had left. War was already all around, and if his vision was true, and he had no reason to doubt that it wasn't, it seemed like they were all going to be swept up in its jaws. He feared for all his boys, the older ones away fighting, and these two precious youngsters. But that was for the future, today, he'd just enjoy them and whatever time God would give them together.
As the boys returned, dressed in their costumes, he couldn't help but smile that despite the outlaw outfits, they'd made no attempt to disguise their faces and he said mildly. "Ya know boys, the point of dressing up to go guising, is to hide who you are."
"That ain't no fun, Grandpa, I want everyone to know just how good Hannibal Heyes is at juggling."
"And I want people to know just how good Kid Curry is with a catapult."
"You know boys, if you cause too much trouble, I'm gonna have to whup your asses, or your Ma's will whup mine when they get home!"
Hannibal and Jed exchanged a glance then looked over at him hopefully. "Can't it just be our secret Grandpa? Besides with my juggling and Jed's skill with a catapult, there ain't gonna be no trouble, as folks will be happy to give us more fruit and nuts then we can eat by ourselves."
Grandpa Curry couldn't hide a smile as Jeddy nodded vehemently in agreement and he raised his hands in defeat. "All right boys, just don't be late home!"
He laughed as the boys headed out, bickering genially as to whose skill would impress the women more, and provide them with a greater amount of bounty. "If the juggling' don't impress 'em, Jed, I'll just weave a tale that will."
"I can't be showin' off my skill with a catapult, if they're listening to you!"
"Oh you can just smile at 'em or look mean...women seem to like that." There was a pause, then Hannibal laughed and said approvingly. "Yeah just like Jed, that'll convince folk to give us what they have." As they got the door and exited into the cool autumn air, the boys threw over their shoulders. "Bye Grandpa! We'll have plenty to share." And with that they were walking quickly away, Hannibal's arm slung over Jed's shoulder, their heads close together as Seamus watched.
Just before he turned back into the house, another image drifted across his mind, the two of them much older, with children running ahead of them, laughing together, in much the same posture as the youngsters were in now. And he was left with the certainty his boys would make it through, whatever life was going to throw at them.
ASJ
. /blog/the-origins-of-guising-and-halloween-traditions/
If you're interested.