Eric's Excellent Halloween Evening_New October 20
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2026 6:12 pm
Eric's Excellent Halloween Evening
Chapter 1. The Evening Begins
The phone did not ring or buzz with an offer of invitation. Nobody in the High School halls called Eric over to ask "What are you doing
for Halloween?" No party invitation arrived in the mailbox. That was not unexpected, such offers had never come before, and likely
were not to occur in the future.
Let's face it, sixteen year old Eric Smiley is a nobody, a member of the Loser's Club.
Eric isn't mean, or bossy, or pushy, or comes across to people as a know it all like some geeky nerds can be most annoying. Eric is too shy,
too insecure, too wrapped up in his own little fantasy world where there is little room for others. Fitting into the normal social patterns
of the lives of kids his age isn't what Eric is good at. Role playing and pretend are how he fits into this world. Few people know the
decent lad who gets good grades and rarely causes trouble has troubling delusions of grandeur with a side dish of exhibitionism.
* * * * *
Eric left the house just before sundown. The streets outside are filling with youngers and their overprotective parents. It's Halloween
evening, and the weather is pleasant, not a hint of rain or cold, breezy winds. It's the perfect night to dress up and scare some little
kids.
Eric is dressed as the Grim Reaper, thick black cloak and wide hood showing the lifeless face of the Reaper. With a menacing but totally
fake wheat scythe Eric wanders up and down the streets. He looks for bushes near the front porches of houses. He looks for good places
to wait in ambush.
Eric steers clear of any group that has parents on patrol. Unescorted groups of children who bravely go up to a house to ask strangers for
candy are met by an even stranger figure dressed in black. Eric shrieks and waves the long-handled scythe back and forth like he is going
to mow the children down. Shrieks and screams fill the night air as the group of youngsters run away.
After one such ambush of kids, Eric is surprised to hear a voice behind him say, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size."
It's a girl's voice. Eric turns around to see two girls he recognizes from school, both in the freshman class. Both girls live on a street fairly
close by. Eric has only occasionally spoken to these girls, as they ignore him the same way every other girl does.
Standing boldly on the sidewalk, showing no fear, are Bethany and Scarlet. The two girls make the perfect couple as they are dressed
as opposites. Bethany wears the costume of an Angel. Scarlet is dressed as a little red she-devel with pointed tail attachment and
cute little trident in her hand.
"Who are you?" Scarlet demands to know. "You better not be some pervy grownup who gets his jollies chasing little kids."
"Yeah," Bethany joins in. "Tell us who you are. You are too tall to be out here Trick-or-Treating."
The two girls are not exactly the appropriate age to be going around asking for free candy. Bethany and Scarlet are both fourteen
years old. They could be accompanying a group of kids as the protective older ones, but these two are off on their own with no
children to bother with.
The Grim Reaper can either run away, or he can stand his ground. It was a tough decision to make. Eventually, the cuteness of the
good and evil couple persuaded the dark entity to stay. A slightly muffed voice comes from the black mask with the white cheap
plastic face attached, "I'm Eric Smiley. I go to your school".
The Angel recognizes the name first, "Oh...Eric Smiley. I have seen you around. You are one of the geeks from the chess club."
The Devil shows she too knows who is in the dark costume, "I've seen you riding your bike on our street. You ride back and forth up and
down, but you are never with anyone else."
"I'm with you two now. You want to help me scare some kids?" It's a bold move to attempt, but Eric has always been more bold
and infinitely more daring when he has a mask on. As himself, Eric would only slink away in disgrace. As the Grim Reaper, Eric
can challenge the very existence of right and wrong.
After a short conversation of whispers between Bethany and Scarlet, the two girls turn to face the much taller Reaper. "Yes you can
join us. We'll help steer groups of kids to your hiding locations," Bethany seems eager to form the partnership.
Even the angel can see the logic of it, "Whatever candy is spilled on the ground is ours to take."
The unlikely pairing of the Angel and the Devil have an accomplice, a partner in crime. With the Grim Reaper tagging along the three of
them saunter down the street after a group of unprotected children.
Chapter 1. The Evening Begins
The phone did not ring or buzz with an offer of invitation. Nobody in the High School halls called Eric over to ask "What are you doing
for Halloween?" No party invitation arrived in the mailbox. That was not unexpected, such offers had never come before, and likely
were not to occur in the future.
Let's face it, sixteen year old Eric Smiley is a nobody, a member of the Loser's Club.
Eric isn't mean, or bossy, or pushy, or comes across to people as a know it all like some geeky nerds can be most annoying. Eric is too shy,
too insecure, too wrapped up in his own little fantasy world where there is little room for others. Fitting into the normal social patterns
of the lives of kids his age isn't what Eric is good at. Role playing and pretend are how he fits into this world. Few people know the
decent lad who gets good grades and rarely causes trouble has troubling delusions of grandeur with a side dish of exhibitionism.
* * * * *
Eric left the house just before sundown. The streets outside are filling with youngers and their overprotective parents. It's Halloween
evening, and the weather is pleasant, not a hint of rain or cold, breezy winds. It's the perfect night to dress up and scare some little
kids.
Eric is dressed as the Grim Reaper, thick black cloak and wide hood showing the lifeless face of the Reaper. With a menacing but totally
fake wheat scythe Eric wanders up and down the streets. He looks for bushes near the front porches of houses. He looks for good places
to wait in ambush.
Eric steers clear of any group that has parents on patrol. Unescorted groups of children who bravely go up to a house to ask strangers for
candy are met by an even stranger figure dressed in black. Eric shrieks and waves the long-handled scythe back and forth like he is going
to mow the children down. Shrieks and screams fill the night air as the group of youngsters run away.
After one such ambush of kids, Eric is surprised to hear a voice behind him say, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size."
It's a girl's voice. Eric turns around to see two girls he recognizes from school, both in the freshman class. Both girls live on a street fairly
close by. Eric has only occasionally spoken to these girls, as they ignore him the same way every other girl does.
Standing boldly on the sidewalk, showing no fear, are Bethany and Scarlet. The two girls make the perfect couple as they are dressed
as opposites. Bethany wears the costume of an Angel. Scarlet is dressed as a little red she-devel with pointed tail attachment and
cute little trident in her hand.
"Who are you?" Scarlet demands to know. "You better not be some pervy grownup who gets his jollies chasing little kids."
"Yeah," Bethany joins in. "Tell us who you are. You are too tall to be out here Trick-or-Treating."
The two girls are not exactly the appropriate age to be going around asking for free candy. Bethany and Scarlet are both fourteen
years old. They could be accompanying a group of kids as the protective older ones, but these two are off on their own with no
children to bother with.
The Grim Reaper can either run away, or he can stand his ground. It was a tough decision to make. Eventually, the cuteness of the
good and evil couple persuaded the dark entity to stay. A slightly muffed voice comes from the black mask with the white cheap
plastic face attached, "I'm Eric Smiley. I go to your school".
The Angel recognizes the name first, "Oh...Eric Smiley. I have seen you around. You are one of the geeks from the chess club."
The Devil shows she too knows who is in the dark costume, "I've seen you riding your bike on our street. You ride back and forth up and
down, but you are never with anyone else."
"I'm with you two now. You want to help me scare some kids?" It's a bold move to attempt, but Eric has always been more bold
and infinitely more daring when he has a mask on. As himself, Eric would only slink away in disgrace. As the Grim Reaper, Eric
can challenge the very existence of right and wrong.
After a short conversation of whispers between Bethany and Scarlet, the two girls turn to face the much taller Reaper. "Yes you can
join us. We'll help steer groups of kids to your hiding locations," Bethany seems eager to form the partnership.
Even the angel can see the logic of it, "Whatever candy is spilled on the ground is ours to take."
The unlikely pairing of the Angel and the Devil have an accomplice, a partner in crime. With the Grim Reaper tagging along the three of
them saunter down the street after a group of unprotected children.