by Kunz, C. A.
“They’re just over there,” Duffie said, pointing to the coffee bar where her father Gerard was setting up samples of his signature café drink. Gerard waved to the group. “He’s so silly sometimes. It’s interesting how into all of this he gets. He kind of gets a little geeky. But he’s my dad, so I’ve got to love ’em,” she chuckled.
Matt rejoined the group with a plate piled high with food. “Hey Duffster, what’s this I’m eating?” Matt asked, holding a pastry up to her.
“It’s a sausage roll,” she replied.
“Man, its delicio-” Matt stopped, his mouth gaped wide open, and his eyes fixed on the store’s entrance. The bit of food that was in his mouth rolled out onto the floor. “Is that Elle?” he asked, pointing with his fork. Elle walked toward the group, her arm linked with Brandon Esham’s, the captain of the football team’s younger brother.
“Hi guys,” Elle said shyly.
“When did this happen?” Amanda asked bluntly. Elle giggled at Amanda’s costume, and found it hard to answer her seriously. Matt was too stunned to say anything. Elle looked beautiful. Realizing Elle and Brandon were there together, Matt glared at him, pointing his plastic fork in his direction.
“You!” was all Matt could get out.
Pulling Matt’s hand down, “Sorry, Brandon, Matt gets a little overprotective sometimes,” Cat explained.
“He’s really harmless,” Amanda quipped, ignoring Matt’s glare.
“Am not!” Matt defended himself.
“Anyway, Brandon, how’s practice going? My brother isn’t being too hard on you is he?” Cat asked, trying to ease the awkwardness.
“Don’t change the subject, Cat. We’ve got a right to know what’s going on here!” Matt declared, puffing out his chest.
“We’re just out on a date, okay?” Elle replied, feeling embarrassed.
“Next thing you know he’ll be asking what Brandon’s intentions are,” Amanda mocked.
“What are your intentions?” Matt asked, raising his fork to Brandon again.
“My intentions are to go get some drinks, Matt. Why don’t you come with me and we’ll talk,” Brandon said, and then winked at Cat.
“Alright, but I’ll be watching you,” Matt murmured, following Brandon toward the refreshments.
Waiting until the boys were out of earshot, Duffie, Amanda, and Cat all turned to Elle. “Well?” Amanda asked eyeing her.
“What?” Elle responded evasively.
“The boy!” Amanda replied.
“Your date,” Cat added.
“Spill the tea,” Duffie chimed in.
“Well, what can I say? He likes the panther,” she stated plastering a huge smile on her face. All four girls squealed while jumping up and down and holding hands.
A loud guitar rift sounded as The Damianic Bombshells took the stage. Bridgette, the lead singer, raised her hand into the air as she looked out at the crowd gathering before her. Slowly bringing down her hand, she put her finger to her lips, signaling for the crowd to quiet. As silence fell, Bridgette motioned for the drums, tapping her foot along with the thunderous hypnotic beat while looking menacingly out at the crowd. Cracking a smile, she began to sing their song, Complicated.
Amanda had run to the front of the stage when she heard the band starting up. Matt joined her, gawking at Bridgette’s chest in her torn black shirt held together by safety pins. Brandon returned to what was left of the group alone, juggling refreshments for the remaining three girls.
“Everything alright, Brandon?” Cat asked.
“Yeah, everything’s copacetic,” he replied, passing out the drinks.
“Oh good, glad to hear all’s fine in boy world,” she joked.
“Hey, where’s Julie and Ryan?” Duffie asked loudly, trying to talk over the music.
“Well Julie said she had to do something with her parentals tonight. And Ryan was busy too,” Cat replied.
“It looks like the band has a few crazy groupies,” Elle commented, pointing at Amanda and Matt who stood mesmerized in the front row. All four of them laughed at the pair.
“Is that Mrs. Rosenbaum in the crowd over there?!” Cat asked in a shocked tone.
“Where?” Elle asked.
“You can’t miss her, she’s the only adult over there,” Cat said loudly.
“It is!” Duffie yelled back. “She did say she was a huge fan of Craven’s.”
“And with that outfit, she’s not leaving much to the imagination,” Cat commented, looking disgusted. “You know, I don’t get it. Something’s up with her. How could I hear horror stories about her as a teacher from my brother, and now all of a sudden she’s this buxom beauty? And by the way, where’s Mr. Rosenbaum?” Cat and Duffie looked at her suspiciously.
“People change, Cat. I mean look at me, I too was once a caterpillar, and am now a beautiful butterfly,” Elle explained dramatically with her hand across her chest.
“Can’t argue with that statement,” Brandon agreed.
“Aww, you both are too cute for words!” Cat exclaimed. “And I guess you’re right, Elle, but I’d still like to know where Mr. Rosenbaum is.”
As The Damianic Bombshells finished their last song, Friend Me Or Die, the crowd dispersed. “That was, hands down, the best concert ever!” Amanda declared as she rejoined the group, clutching a band shirt in one hand and their demo CD in the other. “They just gave us this stuff for free! For free!” she exclaimed.
“I think Matt’s a little love-struck,” Elle said, waving her hand in front of his face.
“Ya think? She had two legs and boobs! Of course he’s love-struck,” Amanda said dryly.
Breaking out of his trance, “Hey, I resent that remark,” he replied with a grin.
Cat left the Three Penny Brit with a ton of Robert Craven swag, which included one of the cardboard cut-outs of Bartholomew Drake, under her arm. Matt and Amanda followed behind Cat toward her Jeep, toting their swag with them as well. “What a night!” Amanda declared as she settled into the passenger seat, her Damianic Bombshell T-shirt over her Robert Craven one. Too tired to respond, Cat and Matt just sighed contently in agreement as they pulled out of the parking lot.
Ryan watched as Cat drove away. Lifting his nose to the air, “What’s that smell? Cinnamon? That’s strange, it’s really strong,” he said. He then noticed The Damianic Bombshells packing up their van while talking to Mrs. Rosenbaum. Hmm, interesting, he thought.
11
Are You A Good Witch Or A Bad Witch?
“Cat, please slow down and chew your food,” Rachel said, looking sternly at her daughter. She grinned when Cat groaned.
“Mom, I need to get going,” Cat replied as she shoveled another spoonful into her mouth.
“And where are you off to this hallowed night?” Sam asked, taking a huge bite of pumpkin cheesecake and then closed his eyes as the delicious taste filled his mouth.
“I told you at dinner on Monday that Miss Amaya invited me to an All Hallows Eve festival at Wedgewick Village. I decided to go, remember?” Cat watched as her dad seemed to sift through his memory, apparently coming up blank. “Anyway, I’ve got to run. And don’t worry, Mom, I’ve got a jacket in the car, so I’ll be warm enough. See you sometime later tonight. I won’t be too late, promise,” she said quickly when she noticed the frowns appear on their faces. Giving them both a quick kiss, Cat rushed out of the kitchen.
“Cat, are you going by yourself?” Sam asked to the closed door. Scratching his head he turned to Rachel. “Do you remember discussing this on Monday night?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t mention it, does it?” Rachel’s puzzled look met his.
“Well, I guess it’s too late to stop her now. I thought she was spending the night with Amanda and the rest of the gang like they normally do on Halloween.”
“So did I,” Rachel replied, picking up the empty dinner plates and putting them in the sink.
Cat felt the cold as soon as she stepped outside. It’s freakin’
freezing, she thought. She rushed to her Jeep, not realizing someone was sitting inside until she opened the door. “Julie, what are you doing here?!”
“I’m coming with you. Wherever that is. Do you think after all these years together I wouldn’t see past the little untruth you told the others so you could have the night free to do…whatever you’re doing? I can’t believe you tried to skip out on us tonight,” she chastised, watching Cat look away ashamed.
“Okay, so I lied a little. I’m just taking a minor detour.” She saw Julie smile mischievously.
“So where are we going? And don’t say I’m not invited, because that’s just tough. I’m going. And hurry because a certain snow-woman is making her way across the yard to converse with us,” Julie said, pointing to Maude Roberts who was bundled up in a ghastly white coat and a black ski hat.
“Too late, she’s blocked us in! How the heck does she move so fast?” Cat sighed, grabbed her flannel, faux fur-lined winter coat, and put it on before she rolled down the window.
“Catherine, where are you off to tonight? Don’t you and your little friends usually get together on Halloween and watch those trashy movies you young people like so much?”
“Oh, hello Mrs. Roberts. How are you?” Cat tried to keep a straight face as she heard Julie giggling quietly behind her.
“Why thank you for asking. Well, my arthritis is acting up something fierce, and I’ve had a pain in my neck for a couple of days. Those stupid doctors can’t find anything wrong. Don’t know how they can feel justified in taking my hard-earned money for nothing. No help at all,” Maude grumbled as she struggled to pull back her pooch’s leash. “Fredricka, leave those tires alone! Bad girl, stand over here by Momma.” She pulled hard on the leash, making the little dog turn and grab it with her teeth, tugging with all her might. “So where are…you…off…to?” she finally got out, her face turning red from the effort of trying to get the leash out of the little dog’s mouth.
“Have to run, Mrs. Roberts, I think Fredricka needs to pee.” Cat’s face was strained trying to hold back the laughter as Maude realized Fredricka was peeing all over her shoe. Maude could swear the little dog had a defiant look as Fredricka stared up at her while squatting down over it.
“Oh my! You little devil! You just wait until we get home and I tell your daddy! He won’t be happy, no sir. Bye girls,” Maude called out as the Jeep backed down the driveway and took off up the road. Cat and Julie burst out laughing so hard that Cat had to stop the car and wipe the tears from her eyes. When they had regained their composure, Cat looked to Julie.
“Alright, you can come, but this is our secret. Number one, I don’t want to hurt the others’ feelings. And number two, I don’t want them to know where we went. Understood?” Cat watched as Julie nodded. Quickly looking in all of her mirrors, Cat slowly pulled back onto the road.
“That was hysterical. Poor Fredricka! Did you see the jacket she had on? It matched Maude’s. And those little doggy boots! I bet she feels like a real freak. So where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Cat replied, keeping her eyes on the road. Julie was silent until they turned down a lane, making their way toward the woods.
“I’ve never been this way before. Are you sure you’re not lost?” Julie asked as they entered through an archway of large, bare, and ominous trees that towered over them.
“No, we aren’t lost. It’s just a little farther. Now Julie, I want you to keep an open mind tonight. This place we’re going is hard to explain, and you might see things that don’t make any sense. And the people are also a little different than your usual Astoria native, but they’re good people. So please be nice.”
“When am I ever not nice?” Julie turned and looked at Cat trying to keep a straight face.
“Sometimes you can be a little blunt and you know it,” Cat laughed, seeing her friend’s stern mouth break into a grin.
It seemed like they had been driving through the forest forever with no sign of exit. Cat slowed the car and pulled off the trail. “Damn, I forgot, I can’t get in without the words,” Cat murmured to herself. Listen to me. I can’t get in without the words? I sound like a crazy person. Who would have thought all of this exists. Magic, vampires, witches, what’s next? She thought.
“What? What’s wrong?” Julie asked confused.
“Oh nothing, I just need to make a call really quick,” Cat said, pulling out her cell. “Great, no reception! Now how are we supposed to get in?” Just as the words left her mouth a car pulled up beside them. Inside, a round face with frizzy hair beamed at them, her face slightly illuminated by the soft glow from the car’s inside lights. As they watched, she rolled down her window and gave them a kind smile.
“Forgot the password have we, dearies? Don’t worry. I do it all the time. Just follow me,” she laughed pulling ahead of them. As Cat followed the car, suddenly the forest opened up and they were bathed in the moonlight. Sneaking a look at Julie, Cat saw that her mouth was gaped wide open.
“How…did…that entrance wasn’t there before?” she stuttered.
“Now Julie, I told you that you’d see things tonight that might not make sense. This is one of them. Just go with it. Okay?”
“Okay…I think,” Julie muttered while shaking her head.
“Look, the road is lined with carved pumpkins. There must be hundreds of them!” Cat said, distracted by the sight before her.
“Cat, keep your eyes on the road,” Julie preached, even though Cat saw she was just as astonished, looking on with awe at the sight before them.
“Where’d she go?” Duffie asked Leif, who was sitting next to her in the car. He shrugged his shoulders.
They had followed Cat and Julie from Nehalem Avenue. At lunch the day before, Cat had made an excuse why she would be late to Amanda’s horror movie fest. Duffie couldn’t figure out why she was the only one who knew Cat was lying, especially since these people had known Cat all her life. She thumped her hand on the steering wheel in frustration. Something’s strange about Cat, and Julie’s another mystery, she thought. “I guess we’ll just wait in the woods until they come back out,” Duffie muttered while backing up the car and settling into the darkness.
Wedgewick Village’s town square was bustling with activity. Taking on a very traditional Halloween feel, it definitely looked different from the last time Cat visited. Julie grabbed Cat’s arm, determined not to lose her in the crowd. Cat was amazed at the transformation the village had undergone. The cobblestone streets had changed as well, and they were now black instead of the pristine reddish-orange color they were before. Festive Halloween flags were hung from every store front, and the window decorations were full of color and little macabre touches. Old-style lanterns with a faint, ghostly light emanating from them, illuminated each store sign.
“Wow! They really went all out for Halloween. Look Julie!” Cat exclaimed while admiring all of the decorations. Cat stopped every few seconds to take in the sights, “This is so awesome! Hey, look at that store,” Cat said, pointing to Spells Are Us. Its store window had a large black cauldron, which was bubbling furiously with a putrid, green smoke flowing from it.
Next door, within the window of Familiarity: A Store For Familiars, a black cat rose from its nestled position on a dark purple velvety cushion. As the feline arched its back into a stretch, its mouth gaped open in a yawn. The cat’s bright green eyes found Julie’s. A look that resembled a smile appeared on its face.
“Come on, Julie, people are saying there’s a parade starting soon,” Cat said, interrupting Julie’s staring contest with the cat.
“Why is everyone wearing witch hats?” Julie asked.
Cat looked around and realized Julie was right. Every man, woman, and child had a pointy black hat perched atop his or her head. The strange thing was they weren’t wearing costumes, just normal clothes.
“Yeah, that’s a little strange, but this place is a little out there,” Cat laughed slightly. “Hurry, Julie, let’s see if we can
find a spot to watch the parade from.”
“Off the street, please! Off the street! Parade’s going to start! Please, off the street, and that means you two.” The pair turned and found a tall, thin man dressed in a black tuxedo, his face painted ghostly white with his hands on his hips, staring at them. The large frilly black-and-white bow tie completed his look. “I need for you young ladies to please move off the street. The show is about to begin. Oh, there goes the bell now.” A loud sound filled the air and people scrambled from the street until there was only Julie, Cat, and the man left standing in the middle.
“Sorry, sir, we’ll move. I think your costume is great, by the way,” Cat beamed as she saw the man puff out his chest, flashing them an evil grin.
Squeezing their way onto the sidewalk, Cat and Julie watched with the crowd in anticipation. Two figures on stilts came into view first. Lurching by, each one wore a pumpkin-head mask with eyes glowing bright orange, like candles flickering inside of them. Their mouths were carved into frightening smiles. To the crowd’s delight, they would swoop down quickly in front of random spectators, startling them. Several more stilt walkers, dressed as ghouls, had masks so lifelike they made Cat and Julie take second looks. Their hands were gnarled and greenish-brown with disgusting wartlike bumps and realistic pus-filled boils. Cat giggled as one of the ghouls reached out for her, but seeing she wasn’t afraid, it shrugged its shoulders and moved on.
Fire eaters, scantily clad men and women juggling sticks of fire, came next. They stopped periodically to eat the deadly flames without any apparent harm. The crowd oohed and ahhed at their dangerous tricks. After the beautiful fiery display, a dazzling colorful group came into view. Figures dressed as flowers danced gracefully around massive tree-looking creatures as they slowly lumbered by.
Small dainty figures resembling fairies followed. As they pranced down the street, their delicate wings illuminated in a range of colors as they fluttered in the light breeze. Their pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes made them look mysterious and ethereal.
