"Peter & The Psycho Trick-Or-Treaters" Pg 12

“That’s one for you, and two for me,” Dill continued. “One for you, and two for me…”

“YOU’RE GIVING ME THE CRAPPY CANDY!” Peter shouted. It was true: so far Dill had a Milky Way, a Hershey’s Bar, two Blow-pops, a Snickers, and a Baby Ruth. Peter had mostly ‘mystery candy’ – the black- or orange-wrapped stuff that old ladies gave out, and which usually tasted like crusty peanut butter or sub-standard chocolate.

“You have a package of Candy Corns,” Dill pointed out.

“Cuz you don’t LIKE Candy Corns!”

“I like all candy,” Dill said haughtily. “I just like some candy better than others.”

“You little punk, you can take your Candy Corns and stick them up your – ”

“Boys,” Mom called from the staircase in the hallway. “Keep it quiet, I just put Beth to bed.”

“Yes, Mrs. Normal,” Dill said sweetly.

Peter gritted his teeth and wondered if he could get one of the monsters he’d tussled with to come back from the dead and take Dill with them.

The doorbell rang.

Mom looked down from the stairs at the front door. “I wonder who that could be?”

“Somebody brave or stupid,” Dill remarked. He saw Peter’s quizzical look and explained, “They say some high school kids TP’d this place years ago, and your grandfather tracked them all down and killed them.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” Peter protested. “You’re just afraid of him.”

“I’m just sayin’, that’s what they say. Besides…I’m not the one who gets beat up by four-year-olds.”

Peter narrowed his eyes. “I am gonna wring your scrawny little neck,” he whispered.

Dill just smiled. “One for you, two for me…”

They could hear Mom open the door and use the fake voice that grown-ups reserved for little kids during Halloween. “Well, aren’t you scary! That’s a wonderful little costume you have there!”

“Not like some people’s girly ghost costumes,” Peter sneered quietly to Dill.

“Who has the candy?” Dill asked. “And who’s begging for some of it?”

“I’m sorry,” Mom continued from the door, “but I don’t have anything for you – I was out taking my daughter trick-or-treating earlier, so we didn’t buy anything…”

There was no answer from the trick-or-treater. Maybe the kid looked really disappointed, because Mom seemed to reconsider.

“Well…you know what?…hold on, let me check,” Mom said. She walked over to the living room and stuck her head in. “Hey, could you guys donate some candy?”

“Do I look rich?” Dill huffed, and pointed at Peter. “I already have one mouth to feed.”

Peter gathered his pieces of black and orange mystery candy and held them up in his cupped hands. “Here, you can have this.”

Dill shook his head. “Some people just don’t appreciate anything these days.”

Mom walked over and took the candy. “Thanks, Pete.”

“No problem,” Peter said as he glared at Dill.

Back in the hallway, Mom handed the candy over to the unseen child. “Here you go. Happy Halloween! Keep safe!” Then she closed the door.

“One for you, two for me…” Dill droned.

“Would you at least give me something good?!” Peter griped.

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