Autumn I

The Halloween Fete
By
Sunflower


I took a deep breath as I peered toward the setting sun, a cold wind blew across the land, the wind shook the orange leafs and tossed up a few fallen ones. The laughter of school children could be heard, a small smile played cross my lips as I looked up and observed the last faint rays of sun, shining down from its place in the sky.

“Its almost time.” I said as I shivered a little as I pulled my pastel pink jacket a little closer around my railroad thin frame. The wind tossed a few strains of my coco brown hair around and caused me to shiver even more. It was clear to me the warmth of summer had passed away and the cooling breath of Autumn was upon me. Or was it the first taste of winter. Hard to tell this late in the year.

Sucking in some of the cool air, I turned toward my right to where my little cottage stood. It was in all honesty my great-grandmothers old house, a humble little dwelling of locally fired brick. The roof was constructed of imported slate, floated down by barge from somewhere up north.

Releasing my drawn in breath, I stepped off the cobblestone road and onto the brick paved walkway that connected my front door to the road. Before I could blink a eye, I found myself reaching down and wrapping my fingers around the tarnished brass door handle. The wooden door gave way with a load groan.

“Finally..” I said stepping across the threshold of my front door and into my living room. The air inside my living room was nice and warm and very inviting. Though I knew I had little time to enjoy the feeling. For tonight, being Halloween, was a night of bewitchment. It was also the night of the major social event of the season ’The Halloween Fete’ that was being hosted in stoned paved town square.

The next hour and a half was spent in preparation and chores for the coming events of that evening. Dish’s left over from breakfast had to be washed, dried and put away, I had to bath to rid myself of the odd medicine smell that clings to all of us who find work in the medicinal field and above all I had to brush and comb my hair out.

The minutes quickly ticked away, and before long the old grandfather clock living in the corner of the living room, chimed the time to seven o’ clock in the evening. I was almost done curling my hair when the deep throated melody reached my ears. A small, little smile graced the bow of my lips as I counted off each ring.

“Almost finished.” I said walking leaving the bathroom and heading down the hallway toward old master bedroom that had become my new bedroom. Once within the confines of the bedroom, I removed my bathrobe and allowed it to drop down upon the old wooden floor. Smirking a little, I walked over to my closet and started to dig through the dozen or so dress’s, skirts, and other odd item of clothing.

A minute or two passed before I happen to come across what I was looking for. Without a second thought I reached up and pulled out a low cut, white bodice that would show a good bit.
Halloween was after all the only night out of the year a girl could wear, reveling clothing and not have there good name tarnished or soiled in any shape or form. And to be blunt, this festival was all about hooking up with a cute guy or gal depending one’s preference. And having a flattering and creative costume was the key to ones success.

Without a second thought I reached up and removed the bodice from its hanger and placed it down upon the bed. Smiling then I dug out red, checkered pattern gingham dress, quickly I found a crimson red petticoat to give the bottom half a nice little flare. Another dozen minutes of searching followed before I found the missing piece that would be the lynchpin in outfit, a finally brushed woolen cloak.

With all the pieces to my outfit present and accounted for, I quickly started to dress myself. Once I had finished dressing myself I took a chance and peered into the floor length mirror. Call it what you will, but I could not help but smile as I ran my hand down my side, smoothing out the wrinkles of the dress.

“Well, little red riding hood.” I said under my breath as modeled my dress for myself. “I think its time for you to go out and bag yourself a big bad wolf.” And so with that being said, I flipped the light switch off and started toward the door. As I passed the kitchen table, I quickly snapped up little basket.

A minute or two passed before my feet touched down upon the brown cobblestone squares that paved the small section of road that ran by my house. The moon it seemed had over taken the sun in the course of my getting dressed, for the landscape was now veiled in shadows of night.

Though surrounded my inky darkness, my path was not totally void of light, for the village’s gas powered street lamps scattered along the path provided small halo’s of golden light. Further illumination was provided by the light spilling out from the shop windows that line the path to the square. Each window was decorated in  a Halloween theme, with witch’s riding broomsticks and smiling jack-o lanterns being a popular choice, among the shop owners.

Ten minutes into my walk, I had to pause in order to allow myself to soak in the sights and sounds of the holiday. The laughter of children filled the chilly autumn air, and the ringing of doorbells echoed across the cobblestones as the greeting of ‘Trick or Treat’ was heard from a dozen or so costume clad village children.

Smiling a little more, I once more started my journey, and soon enough I found myself standing in the brick paved town square where the majority of the major social events was held. A sudden shiver passed over me as I stepped into the square, lighting was scarce and a air of mystery filled the air.

My eyes where quickly drawn toward a large phone looking booth located in the center of the plaza. A old wooden three legged stool was located within the confines of the tank. My eyes seemed to zoom in on the stool before shifting upward, before coming to rest upon a large clear container that had held a brownish sludge looking mixture.

I swallowed hard as I peered toward the brownish sludge, poised it seemed cover anybody unlucky enough to be seated below. My gaze was broken by a loud cackle and there standing before the booth was a young women around my age.


She wore a lose fitting midnight black dress, and a wicked little grin played across her face as she stirred a large black cauldron that was sitting a few feet away from the door of the booth.

“Round about the cauldron go; in the poison’d entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone day and night has thirty one swelter’d venom sleeping got, boil though first I’ the charmed pot.” The young women chanted as she stirred the bubbling pot that seemed to hiss and groan. Her wicked little grin turned into a full blown smile as she caught sight of me standing before her.

“Come here my pretty, and listen to my warning, for tonight all the villagers shall cast lots, for who among them shall be doused in th brew you see in yonder hold.” She said pointing toward the container full of that dark brown mixture. Another loud cackle followed as she gave me a sideways look.

“The appointed time is near, so be careful where you tread.” She said returning to her brewing and stirring. All the while she wore a evil grin, something that reminded me of a cat eyeing a feeding song bird.

A sudden blush crept across my face as I turned toward the gathering crowds. Every person it seemed, save me wore a feathered masked, adding a noticeable flare of village decadence to the whole scene. Still blushing, I walked into the gathered crowds, nobody really seemed to pay me much mind, as the ladies of the crowed seemed to more content to carve away the hours in fruitless flirting with the land owning farmers, who formed the bulk of the bourgeoisie class.

Quickly I worked my way over to the refreshment table, where drinks and such where being served. Still blushing I eyed a large crystal bowl filled with dark crimson red punch. Minding my manners, I walked over to the bowl and picked up the serving ladle, quickly without much thought, I poured some punch into a paper cup and took a shall draft to calm my beating heart.

“Fillet if a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, wool of a bat and tongue of dog, adder’s fork and blind-worm sting, lizards leg and owlet’s wing. For a charm of powerful trouble, like a hell-broth boiled a bubbled.” Cackled the witch from her position next to the tank. With a wicked grin the turned toward the full, autumn moon that shown like a star in the cloudless night sky.

I must confuses a chill ran down my spine as all turned toward the witch, all the senseless flirting stopped and hushed silence fell upon the crowed as all peered toward her. The witch, loving the attention, stopped her stirring and peered toward the rising moon.

“Tis almost time!” The women said as she peered toward the rising moon. A small smile playing across the bow of her lips. “Now ‘round about my children gather, to listen to my decree. A guinea is the price, to put thy rivals name into the box, or your own if you feel so inclined to do so.” She said. She then took a deep breath and said.

“And in a hour, all the names shall be collected, and who so ever shall be choose, will be placed under my tank of doom and gloom. So come now don’t be shy a little goo never ruined any curls or pretty little things.” And with that being said, the witch stepped down from her platform.

A little smile crossed my face, as my mind dispelled the notion that I would be the one chosen to sit under the goo. I mean nobody in there right mind would pay twenty and one shilling for the chance to see me covered in sludge. That was a hours wage in the fields, or in the office. Surly one of the village’s Bella’s would be the one to sit under upon the stool.

And so with my fears having been put to rest, I set about enjoying the party.  Though a feeling of growing dread seemed to cloud my mind as I observed the Bella’s of the village flashing evil grins in my direction as they pointed and nodded there heads toward me, before returning to whispering something behind there raised hands.

My curiosity was also peeked when I peered toward the table that the votes where being taken. The faint scratching of the pens could be heard, as well as she ringing sound of coins being tossed into the collection box. More than once I happen to see somebody peering in general direction before dropping there coin into the box and inking a name into the small, thin strips of parchment.
*

Quickly I took a deep breath and started toward the nearest exit. Judging by the crowds gathering around the clear, four wall plastic booth, the voting had come to a end, and the votes where now being counted. Sure there was still a good chance one of the Bella’s of the village would be chosen, tavern queens and all. But still there was a good chance that little ol’ I had been chosen.

And I was not about to let myself get covered in that fifth, no way in hell was I about to subject myself to being hauled up on stage, sat down on a little wooden stool and within a matter of seconds covered in what ever in the name of god was in that tank.

I was just about to leave the plaza, when I noticed the route of my escape was blocked by three women. The first one was dressed as a more adult rated ‘Alice’ the main heroine of Lewis’s ’Alice and Wonderland.’ the second seemed to be Cosplaying as a anime character who’s name escaped me. And the third and final one was dressed as a sexy nurse.

“Leaving so soon?” The nurse said to me as she reached up and started to play with a strain of her golden blonde hair.

“And just when there about to draw the name too, I mean.. its not like you have anything to lose from a little slime.” The Alice said to me, as she started to circle around me, in a manner that brought to mind a stalking lioness moving in for the kill.

“Indeed, seems somebody is trying to be a poor sport.” The one who was Cosplaying as a anime character said to me as she peered toward me with her baby eyes.

“Indeed, I mean, who’s going so selfish and self centered as so op out of a village tradition. We’re all taking a chance..” Chimed in Alice again.

A dark crimson color spread over my cheeks as I peered toward the three. I was just about to utter a response to there questions, okay more like verbal assaults, when the voice of the witch rang out across the grounds. It must be time, because for the first time all evening, she broke character.

“Ladies, gentleman, princess’s, knight’s and ghoulish beings. Its time for are drawing.” She said with a broad smile. “I’m also pleased to say, that all money collected tonight will go toward the paving of the outer roads. Housewives, you can start rejoicing, for soon those old pig trails, shall be paved in nice clean cobblestones.”

The crowed responded with a token applause.

“And now, without further delay.” She said moving toward the small black ballad box. Without a seconds delay she reached into its confines and pulled out a small folded piece of parchment. Another quick second passed before she unfolded the piece of paper, “Would Sunflower E. Woodlift. Please join me on stage?”

My heart jumped into my throat as I peered toward the raised wooden platform. Taking a deep breath, I started to move toward the clear plastic booth. It seemed the forces of nature had chosen me.

“Here..” I called, it had only taken a good three or four minutes for me to cross the cobblestones and wade through the gathered crowds and climb the wooden steps, my heart rate seemed to double with every step I took.

“Oh its little red riding hood from before?” The witch said as she held the clear door open for me. “We’ll honey step right in, I think you’ll be pleased to know that several local business pulled together.” She then turned toward the crowd and in a loud booming tone of voice cried out.

“And beside getting drenched in my gooey goo, the little lady will also be receiving a fifteen quid gift certificate for ‘Hind’s Steakhouse’” She paused as she locked me in and then said the last bit. “Proudly serving the Sea Breeze Community since 1948.” And that last bit being said, she stepped back and took into her hand a long piece of nylon rope.

Quickly I crossed myself as I peered up. A chill ran down my spine and the heat was starting to rise in my cheeks. I could only shutter and squeeze my eyes shut as I heard the women yell.

“Okay folks give me a count down.”

Time then seemed to come to a total stand still as the trap door above my head let way and a cascade of mush was poured down upon my head, coating my hair and clinging to the folds of the dress, before sinking into my top.

The whole of my world disappeared under a blinding torrent of sludge, I could feel the weight pressing down upon my hair, and much to my horror, I could feel it sliding down my blouse and over