A spooktacular evening
Hello patrons and viewers. Welcome to the first of three special holiday short stories.
This one will be focusing on Halloween. This is a favorite holiday of mine. I've cosplayed at anime conventions, so I love dressing up as fictional characters.
For this one we’re going for a heartwarming story. This takes place in the universe of the Sci-fi serial Clanless.
Lance Goodwin and his wife are taking their boys trick or treating. Then heading to a party in downtown Three Lakes Minnesota.
Enjoy this freebie everyone.
The man looked over himself in a mirror. Lance Goodwin looked like a zombified World War II soldier. The late thirties man said, “I have to admit you outdid yourself this year babe.”
“Halloween has always been a favorite holiday to do,” quipped a woman from the bedroom.
The woman entered the bathroom. She flashed Lance a perky smile. She looked like Sally from Tim Burton’s a Nightmare before Christmas.
“You may not be Jack Skellington but you’re still the handsome man I married,” she chimed before she pecked him on a cheek.
“So, you ready to do this?” he asked.
She nodded her confirmation. “Has there been any word about losing contact with Junper-7?” She asked in worry.
Lance shook his head.
“Nothing yet Toni and that’s what has me worried. I’m afraid my time of peace may soon be over. Starburst Company will without a doubt get called to duty soon.”
The woman sighed and shook her head. “I knew this time of prosperity for the Tri-Worlds alliance couldn’t last.”
“That’s how history works love. But let’s not worry about what could be. Remember what we’re doing tonight.”
She nodded, “Yeah I do.”
She walked out of the bathroom. Lance followed her as they exited. He walked through the master bedroom they shared.
She opened another door at the southern end of the room. “Ronald, Joseph get your butts up here now if you want to go trick or treating!” She called in an authoritative tone.
Lance slipped past his wife and added, “Move it little soldiers that's an order from your mom and me!”
The two heard a couple sets of footsteps climbing some stairs. One little boy wore the attire of a Jedi. The other looked like a Starfleet officer from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Jedi had caramel colored hair. While the Starfleet officer had deep maple brown hair. The two 8-year-old boys had trick or treat bags with them.
The boys weren’t terrified. But the looks on their faces made it clear they understood who ran this house. Lance nodded his approval.
“That’s the get up and go I know. So, you boys ready for this?”
Ron and Joe Goodwin both said jumping up and down "Yeah-yeah-yeah!”
“All right you little rascals settle down!” Toni Goodwin chided.
“I'm gonna’ get more candy than you, the force is with me,” Ron stated.
“No, when it comes to getting more candy, I’ll make it so!” Joe retorted.
“Wanna’ make something of it!” The caramel haired boy stated.
“Now stop that you two!” Lance warned.
“Save that sort of energy for PE at school!” Lance chided.
The boys looked shame-faced, “Yes Dad,” they both said in resignation.
Toni smirked and added, “You are such a good dad.”
Lance smiled and added, “Hey only because I have the best wife in the galaxy!”
“Flatterer,” she said in a teasing tone.
“Only because I mean it,” the Goodwin male added.
They turned to the two. “All right little soldiers outside now and wait for us. Unless you want to see your mom and I make kissy face.” Lance ordered.
The boys headed for the front door as they called, “Ew no!”
“First some trick or treating with our sons. Then the big Halloween party.” Lance commented.
Toni nodded and added, “I hear Pastor Jerrod will be dressing up. He'll be Brother Maynard from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
Lance nodded his confirmation. “Thank God we have a church pastor who has a sense of humor.”
Toni giggled and added, “I thought the Church Lady costume he wore last year was hysterical.
Lance chuckled. “Like I said thank God we got a pastor with a sense of humor.”
The man dressed in decrepit World War II soldier attire extended an arm. “Well, my lady let's join the little rapscallions before they get into too much of a frenzy?”
“Let’s," she added.
The two headed down the hall and turned to the left. They headed out the front door and locked up the house.
Three pumpkins two big and a small one on top decorated the front porch. Along with a Skeleton and a cartoonish black cat.
One of the pumpkins had a face of a vampire with long sharp teeth. Another looked like a goofy ghost. The smallest one had a cat’s face shape to it.
“How did you learn to carve pumpkins so well?” Toni asked.
Lance swelled with pride. “One of the advantages of getting raised on a farm that grew pumpkins love. My Dad taught me everything I know.”
“Dad,” Joe whined.
Lance looked at his maple brown-haired son. “Okay-okay we’ll get to it.”
The group looked around the suburban neighborhood of Three lakes Minnesota. All the houses around the block had decorations for Halloween. “So which house should we start off with first?” Lance asked.
A couple of hours later The Goodwin family walked into Three Lakes town square. “Can you believe what Ned Barker did?” Toni snapped.
“Trying that whole water in a plastic bucket schtick, the nerve of that guy.”
“Now Toni he is the town prankster and the owner of the local joke shop.” Lance pointed out
“Fair point,” she conceded.
“At least his wife had some good candy for the kids. I’m still worried about what he’ll pull tonight at the Town Hallows Eve festival”
Lance snickered and said, “Well it’ll be interesting. And the good news is we’ve made it in good time despite the hefty trick or treating we did with the kids.”
A lot of townspeople had gathered there. The local businesses and the church had decorations up for the holiday. The spooky but fun ornaments, lights, and music added to the atmosphere of the square.
Some of the local merchants had booths set up. They were selling various items perfect for Halloween. “Oh wow,” Ron and Joe stated.
Toni added, “Yeah looks like the local Hallows Eve festival in town is doing great.”
Lance nodded his agreement.
“I knew this town’s Hallows Eve festival was a big deal. But since that report on the local holo station it seems to be more popular than ever. I suspect we have people here all the way from Minneapolis.”
The family walked into the square. “Hello Lance and Toni,” called a familiar voice.
They turned in the direction of the voice calling. “Hey pastor Jerrod” Ron called.
The head of the local Presbyterian church in Three Lakes walked up. The pastor approached adorned in his costume of Brother Maynard. “Hello Ron and Joe, God be with you youngsters.”
He then extended a box he held. "So, youngsters would you care to see what I have inside?" he asked.
The kids opened up the box to see an egg-shaped object with a crucifix on top. Jerrod flashed a wry smile. "Go on press the crucifix," he told them in an assuring tone.
"I dare you Joe," Ron chimed in.
"I double dare you Ron," Joseph retorted.
Lance and his wife couldn't help but snicker. "If you two kids won't I will," Lance coaxed.
"Fine," both boys snapped as they pressed the crucifix.
The device lit up first with the sound of an explosion as lights flashed. Followed by a choir singing, "Hallelujah!"
The explosion caused the boys to jump back in surprise. But when they herd the "hallelujah," they burst out laughing.
"Someone has to give Ned Barker a run for his money,” The Pastor quipped flashing a wry smile.
He then looked around and pointed at some of the games. “You know I saw Eric, Carl, Cathy, and Wendy over there at the games. Why don’t you go join them?”
The boys’ eyes lit up as they headed off. The pastor turned back to the Goodwin couple.
“Don’t worry you two. Chief Lanston and the police are keeping a close eye on things. The kids will be fine.” He assured
He set the box down and clasped hands with them. “God be with you Lance and Toni. How are you this fine evening?”
The Space Marine snickered. "We're fine pastor. We had a good night trick or treating. I see the Holy hand grenade bit still gets them every time."
The pastor smirked and said, "All part of maintaining a good relationship with the Lord. One must maintain a good sense of humor."
He then looked around before he half-whispered, “Also, I wanted to talk to you when the kids aren’t around. There are some things that we should discuss in private. Has there been any word from Junper-7?”
Lance shook his head a dark expression coming to him
“Nothing from the top brass yet and that’s what worries me! As I mentioned to Toni, I have a feeling I'll get deployed soon. I’m afraid our time of unprecedented peace and prosperity may be over soon,” he whispered.
Pastor Jerrod shook his head.
“Alas such is always the case. War and death rear their ugly heads again when one least expects it. God knows why this is so.”
Toni noted, “I suspect the local theater and plays we put on are going to be even more important soon. Holos are good but live plays still give that sense of feeling and connection to real life people.”
Lance added, “Not to mention plays these days are far cheaper than holos. Add to that the community, and money it will bring into Three Lakes and enough said.”
Pastor Jerrod snickered and said, “Amen to that. There's truth in those words Lance”
His face brightened, “On a brighter note how has the trick or treating been?”
Toni spoke up. “It’s been good, but I swear those two boys are competing to see who gets the most treats.”
“Now-now Toni,” The town pastor chided.
“Remember they are boys. Males of the human race have always been competitive. it’s part of the way God made us.”
“I get that but sometimes those two get a little too competitive.”
“That’s why I’ll help keep them in line love,” Lance assured.
"In the meantime, Toni," Jerrod noted.
"I hear Hamburg theater is putting on A Midsummer night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.”
The woman nodded. “We are and getting the make-up to match up with the characters has been a bit of a nightmare. But we should be ready by November the 15th for the debut.”
Lance sighed and shook his head. “Only wish I could be here Toni. But if my hunch is right, I suspect I’m going to get called up very soon.”
Toni took a hand and explained, “I’m the wife of a Galactic Marine of the Tri-Worlds Alliance. I knew what I was getting into when I said I do.”
Pastor Jerrod put a hand on Lance’s right shoulder. “I would only ask that you stay safe boy. I’d hate to explain to your parents or Toni’s parents that you died in the line of duty.”
Lance smirked and answered, “As long as I’ve got God watching my back and my teammates, I’m in good shape.”
“Evening Pastor, there you are boy.” Came another voice.
The three turned to see an older man dressed as a horror movie farmer walking up to them. “Hey Dad,” Lance greeted.
Ralph Goodwin clasped hands with his son. “Good to see you. Based on what I saw it’s safe to say Ron and Joe have had a hefty night trick or treating?”
Lance nodded his confirmation. “Toni here is a little flustered because they’re such competitive trick-or-treaters.”
The grey-haired man with a thick mustache laughed. “Toni, I’ll have you know Lance and his brother were much the same way when they were kids.”
Lance asked, “Where’s Mom?”
“Where else when she spotted her grandkids, she wanted to see what they were doing. Becky’s always been nosy when it comes to family.”
Lance grimaced, “That's mom for you.”
Ralph said, “Well I hope you’re ready to lose boy. Because the pumpkin I have in store for the Jack-O-lantern contest is gonna’ knock you flat.”
“You forget who taught me how to carve a pumpkin Dad," The marine pointed out.
"I’ll be winning back-to-back Jack-o-Lantern contests.”
Toni rolled her eyes and snapped, "Men!”
Pastor Jerrod added, “Don’t be so quick to assume gentleman. I’m entering the Jack-O-Lantern Contest and I have a good chance of winning Lord willing.”
The two men stared at the pastor in shock. “You Pastor?” Ralph asked.
“You forget Ralph as well as being a servant of the Lord my family are also farmers. We're well versed in growing and carving pumpkins.”
“Oh, it’s on!” Lance stated with a smirk.
And then his vidcomm went off. “Excuse me a moment,” He explained before he headed off.
Once in a private place he activated his communicator. On the screen appeared a man in the grey uniform of a Captain in the Tri-Worlds Alliance Marine corp.
Lance saluted the Hispanic man. “Captain Sanchez sir,” he stated in respect.
“At ease Commander,” the black-haired Hispanic man said his voice thick with a Texas accent.
“What’s going on sir?”
The captain's face darkened.
“I got off the comms with the top brass. We got some pictures back from Junper-7. I can’t reveal the pictures on comm but I can tell you it’s bad, very bad!
“The major cities and towns of the planet got attacked. A lot of innocent humans, Lorcarshans, and Illurians got slaughtered. We don't know much only a name, the Illmadians.”
Lance’s face paled. “Then it’s as I was afraid of sir. Our time of peace…”
The Hispanic man nodded. “Is at an end. The hell of war is coming, and it’s hit a major planet on the outer rim of Tri-Worlds Alliance space.”
Lance sighed and shook his head. “So, what do I do now sir?”
The Hispanic man stated, “Enjoy these last few days of peace Commander Goodwin. Meanwhile send word to the members of Starburst Company to get suited up. I’ll be calling again in a couple days with your walking orders.
"Meanwhile enjoy this Halloween mister. And get ready because hell is coming for us all and it isn’t going to be pretty.”
Lance saluted and stated, “Yes sir we’ll be ready!”
Sanchez nodded and stated, “No less than what I expect from you Goodwin. Be ready because we’re about to take God’s vengeance to these Illmadian things. And have a happy Halloween.”
With that the vidcomm shut off. Lance looked at the party and sighed knowing that this would be the last bit of calm he’d have for a while.
Well, there you have it folks. A happy story that ends on a grim note. I hope you enjoyed this story and it put you in something of a mood for Halloween.
And it’s a reminder to enjoy the times of peace while they last.
eanwhile like this and comment below. Did I do good or could my story and writing use more? Constructive criticism is always welcome here.
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Thank you for reading this story. Have a Happy Halloween. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all.
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