Theo was the most excited person on the day of the dead- Halloween. He was eager to reach home but had to wait till school got over. Theo was a 11 year old and the only child of Elmie and Gark. Gark died when he was just three, but that never broke his spirit.
The most hyperactive of his class, he studied well enough to gain his teachers' attention too. That day, after the final bell rang, he rushed out of class into the corridor. On his way, he tripped and fell. One of his teachers, Miss Fluory reached out a hand. That was strange, Theo had not noticed Miss Fluory being there earlier, in fact, she was on leave since last month!
He once again started hurrying towards the buses. He stopped to let a mob of eighth graders through. Just at that moment, he heard a coversation from behind.
"Yeah, I'm sure he can see us. He keeps glaring at me. He tried to take my hand too."
The voice seemed quite familiar and distant at the same time. He turned around to see no one there. Theo slowly started walking down the halls.
He heard someone speaking again. "Did you see that? He totally heard us now." A chill ran down his spine. He immediately turned around and saw Miss Fluory there. There was a look of mild surprise on her face. There was one more lady there, someone whose face she had only seen in the photos placed in the Gallery of Fame. He was sure, she had the same flaming-red hair and emerald green eyes.
"Is there anything you want from me Miss?", he asked cautiously.
Even as he was speaking, they suddenly disappeared. He made sure to look around before he set out again. Slowly, he set deliberate footsteps, making sure that no one was following him.
He let out a sigh of relief, one that indicated that he was happy to be back in the warmth of the midday sun. He hurried towards the buses. They were all moving out of the gate one by one. He quickly got onto his and sat in the first seat. He set his bag next to him. Slowly, his tired eyelids closed in and he dozed off.
He was woken up by a sudden lurch, the sounds of the bus suddenly braking scared the little boy. He looked around, searching for someone. All the others were sleeping too. The bus seemed to be suspended mid-air. It was like time had completely stopped around him. Even the driver was asleep. Theo seemed to be the only person who could move. All the vehicles on the road had stopped. There was not even a breeze blowing. The crows had stopped their cawing.
He closed his eyes and whispered a silent prayer, hoping he could at least understand what was going on. As if on cue, he heard some whispering again. "What's wrong now? Do you think the time's stopped for him, like it is for us? He seems to be going through something, to say the least."
He was sure now. It was definitely Miss Fluory's voice.
He suddenly felt another lurch, this time, signalling the bus' movement. The normal chitter-chatter had resumed. The honking and the cawing too. A cool breeze ruffled his unkempt hair. Now, he wasn't eager, but desperate to reach home. He longed for the loving hug that his mother would be waiting to give him at the door.
He changed his seat. He was now next to an eighth grader, one he was sure would be able to protect him. His heart skipped a beat when he saw his house passing by. He quickly ran up to the front and jumped off the moving bus, not wanting to have to wait anymore. He did not feel any pain. He ran back a block and banged the door. His mother slowly opened it and let him in.
As son as he was inside, she gave him a warm hug, one that melted away all his fears and worries. He recounted the unexplainable events to his mother through sobs. She just ruffled his hair and told him it was all a bad dream. She told him to go freshen up, so he could change into his Frankenstein costume.
The idea of going to trick or treat was too appealing. He quickly changed into the sickly-green costume, one that he really loved. His mother dressed up in a white lab-coat and held a long silver, metallic instrument in her hand. They both held a bucket with the face of a monster on it.
It was already dark, they both held torches in their hands. There were children everywhere, all with their parents. All the houses in the neighborhood were dab, but decorated magnificently. Theo was too lost in eying someone's bucket of candy to notice that his mother was missing. When he finally realised it, it was too late. He searched around everywhere but it was of no use.
He slowly broke into sobs, wandering here and there. Finally, he was lost in a gathering crowd. He saw a sign board indicating that this was a completely different place. He could no longer hold it together. He sat down then and there, whimpering in the cold. Slowly the people started moving. After what felt like an eternity, he was alone in the alleyway.
He was too scared to go anywhere, he sat silently as two figures approached him. It was difficult to identify the silhouettes, but Theo could make out the familiar figure of red hair. He sat still, resigning to his fate.
Just then, a third one emerged from behind, this time, of a man. Just then, Theo remembered his torch and slowly removed it from his pocket. He turned it and pointed it towards the three approaching figures. He could tell one it was Miss Fluory, the other was the one with the red hair. The third one, was a man whom Theo felt he had seen somewhere.
The two women made way for the third man, murmuring all the while. He slowly came to Theo and lifted him up, aking him into his arms. This sudden display of affection eased Theo, though he did not know why. The man spoke up.
"Theo my dear! How strong you are. Look how large you have grown. You would fit in the palms of both my hands put together when you were born! My dear, it is me, Gark, your father here. At long last, it is time we meet. Thank the Heavens son!" He exclaimed with joy. There were tears in his eyes.
Theo slowly understood. Everything fit in together. It was Halloween after all, the day of the dead! He could now remember the lady with the red hair, it was his aunt Georgie, who had died with his dad in an accident. When Miss Fluory and Aunt Georgie had noticed that Theo could see them, they had gone back to the land of the dead, to bring back Gark.
They both embraced again. Theo slowly walked with his father, enjoying time with the spirits of Halloween, quite literally! In fact, it seemed funny to him, the three ghosts of Halloween! He jovially waved back to the three as his mother lifted him into a hug, right outside his house. He mouthed to them, "See you next Halloween!"
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