Unsafe Halloween

By: Sidra Akhtar

Another year, another Halloween. Little children dressed in costumes, not realizing the dangers of the real world. It’s strange to look at a five year old dressed as a mass murderer. In this day and age, anything is possible. You know that person who killed that teenage girl last week? He’s a mass murderer. But, other costumes amuse me. A doctor, police man, and even a gorilla. I wonder how kids think. Why did that boy dress up as a doctor instead of Batman? Or why is that girl dressed like a vampire instead of a princess? It’s strange. For Jack, Halloween is a day of freedom. That’s the one day he’s allowed to go out without his parents. They’re always worrying about Jack and that he’ll get lost one day. When Jack get’s excited, he doesn’t pay attention to his surroundings. He’s a kid, it’s a common trait that all kids share. Ignorance. But, on Halloween he is allowed to go out and trick or treat with his friends. Of course he has a curfew. 8:30 sharp. The current time is 6:15. Jack is out the door, with his bright orange jumpsuit on. No, no, no. He’s not  a pumpkin. He’s a prisoner. An escaped prisoner, to be exact. Jack’s neighborhood is bustling with kids, teenagers, and adults. His friends were all dressed differently, but had the same goal. To fill up their bags by the end of the night. As they walked out of Jack’s driveway, they looked around. They didn’t even know where to start. “Over there!”, shouted one of his friends. It was MaryBeth’s house. She was the sweetest lady in the neighborhood and always gave out the best candy. As Jack and his friends made their way up the steps, they were in awe. Marybeth had covered her entire porch with pumpkins, and there were lights everywhere they turned. “TRICK OR TREAT!” the children all sang, harmonizing in unison. But, as the children were reaching into the bowl, Jack saw something at the end of the street. A man with a HUGE bag of candy. And he was wearing an orange jumpsuit, just like him. Fascinated by the thought of matching with an adult, he walked up to him. “Hey Mr., we have the same costume!”, Jack screamed. Startled, the man turned around.  “Yes, yes we do.” The man seemed traumatized and tense, but Jack was too excited to care. “Hey kid why don’t you come with me. I know this house that gives away ring pops!” Intrigued, Jack followed the man. But, before they could even reach the house, the man shoved Jack into an open garage. Jack, frightened, went and crouched behind the shiny silver car. The man was pacing, and Jack was trying to figure a way out. Before Jack could even lift himself from the ground, the psychotic man grabbed him and threw him into the rusty cabinet. “HELP ME!!!?” “SOMEBODY HELP!?” Jack screamed. Unable to comprehend what was going on , he slammed his head against the metal green door. And like the fire in a jack-o-lantern on Halloween day, he was out, and never to be lit again.