by 
Jack O’Lantern
Jack’s hands trembled as they clutched the newspaper tightly. He couldn’t believe it! All this time he had waited to get his revenge on his ex-best friend and here was his opportunity. The PTO hosted Fall Festival at Mountain Vista Elementary, his school, would be the place to take his stand, make his mark and somewhere in those wee few hours, when his former friend sought merriment, he would find horror. Yes! On October 28, between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., that boy’s life would certainly change!
Throwing down the newspaper, Jack wiped his sweaty brow and considered his options. That he would take revenge was a certainty. But, how? He stepped into the kitchen and slid open the drawer that his mom always told him to stay out of. Picking up and putting down each knife in turn, he thought about the pumpkin carving contest. Yes! He could bring a knife, pretend to join the pumpkin carving contest and then, when Bobby was lost in concentration, he could stab down and …
But, no! Que Pasa said the pumpkins had to be in by 5:30 p.m. and if he was going to be in all sorts of trouble for the rest of the night, he’d like to get into that trouble as late as possible! Besides, there was the $5 entry fee. He wanted Bobby to pay, not to pay himself!
What about the costume contest? He could get the Freddy Krueger gloves Shaun, his big brother, had hidden away under his bed and, standing next to Bobby at the contest, he could reach out and … “Mmm, yes!” snickered Jack. “That is how I will get him!”
It was a perfect plan, including that the contest started at 7 p.m. and the winners would be announced, along with the pumpkin carving winners, at 7:30 p.m. “So, he always enters both contests. He’s sure to win one or the other. I can join both, too! Then, when we get up there on stage to gather our prizes, I will exact my deliciously plotted revenge!”
Friday night rolled onto the scene and all the cool kids sauntered into the festival just a little after the doors opened. Jack was among them, not wanting to seem too eager by waiting around for the doors to open. Let Bobby and his crowd play that!
Things were going smoothly, everything falling into place to give Jack the revenge he plotted for, the revenge that he deserved to mete out upon the treacherous Bobby, the … Jack cooled his thought, before he began to cackle like a B movie villain. Still, things were going well. The other kids were playing innocently, unsuspectingly, enjoying the jumping castle with its slide, listening to spooky stories from a witch, eating special purchased goodies and never suspecting …
“No. Never suspecting that tonight one of them will fall! Well … so to speak!” Jack did allow himself a little cackle at this thought.
Then, finally, the contests were all over and Jack’s time had come. “This is my own private witching hour.” he thought. “This is when I get my Halloween revenge.”
He was on stage, standing next to Bobby. Just as planned. Jack was the winner of the costume contest and the second place winner of the pumpkin carving contest. Bobby was first place winner, having carved up a pumpkin that was not to be believed.
Jack turned to the side, reaching a little behind him, getting his weapon ready. “Bobby!” he barked out as he turned, so that Bobby would be facing toward him as he swung back around.
“Oh! Great! So you are still talking to me!” said Bobby. “I wasn’t sure after ..mmmpphhh.”
Jack’s eyes flew wide open in horror. “Oh know!” he cried out. He’d never have done it if he’d known Bobby was going to say something like that. Now, it was too late. His weapon had found its mark and Bobby’s face was a sodden mass of goo.
Parents and teachers, clowns, ghosts, witches, Power Rangers and all manner of creatures shrieked at the sight, but, couldn’t move due to the emotions that shook their frames.
“Hey, that’s alright.” said Bobby, wiping the cream pie from his face. “I deserve it after putting your hand in the warm water that one night.”
Which is how Bobby and Jack ended up taking the $25 first prize and the $15 second prize for the pumpkin contest, and a bucket of candy for the costume contest and getting a pizza dinner, complete with dessert, for both their families. Just as soon as they cleaned the floor.
Now, you might not win first prize, second prize or even the $10 third prize for carving a pumpkin or a bucket of candy for having the wildest, weirdest costume around. But, there’s every chance, if you make your way to the Fall Festival you’ll enjoy your evening just as much as the other festival goers who we leave still clutching their bellies, laughing so hard they can’t even move.
If you go:
What: Mountain Vista Fall Festival
Where: Mountain Vista School, Oracle, AZ
Date: Friday, Oct. 28, 2016
Time: 5-8:30 p.m.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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