Ten years in and life was finally starting to pay dividends. Jimmy and Zach could finally trick-or-treat alone.
“Prepare your butthole for the ride of a lifetime,” Zach said, jumping into the treehouse.
“Darn it, Zach!” Jimmy exclaimed and dropped his soda.
Zach laughed so hard he snorted. His round little belly, protruding from his blue Power Ranger costume, jiggled as he laughed.
“Pfft, that damn costume still fits,” Jimmy said, cracking up.
“It probably will till the day I die,” Zach mumbled.
Zach was clearly outgrowing the costume, the rate at which that was happening was the real villain of this story. Puberty is unfair, just like life.
“Kkrrzz Break one-nine, I need a supply check, over” Jimmy said, in his best southern truck driver voice.
“Kkrrzz Yeah, I got ya rubber duckie, stand by for cargo list readoff” Zach responded.
“Kkrrzz OK, we got two flashlights, two bottles of water, two of your dad's night sticks for protection, and a camcorder.”
“Kkrrzz Roger, over and out”
As they finished their bit, they both hung up their imaginary CB microphones.
“No matter what happens tonight, don't lose that night stick. If my father catches us with these… Let's just say my cowardice knows no bounds when it comes to my dad,” Jimmy said.
Zach stood, giving an over the top salute.
Jimmy shot Zach a quick glare and strapped on his backpack. Zach strapped on his backpack and took a double take at Jimmy.
“Where is your costume?” Zach exclaimed.
“I'm wearing it.”
“So you are going as a regular kid for Halloween?” Zach asked.
Jimmy looked at himself and then back at Zach. He realized he was not in fact in a costume. Wanting to save face, he doubled down and said, “No, I'm a ‘Good Idea’”
Zach tilted his head so far it was almost turned upside down.
“Fine! I forgot my costume but it doesn't matter ‘cause tonight is all about Gobbler’s castle, screw trick-or-treating,” Jimmy proclaimed.
“Then what are we waiting for?” Zach asked. “Let's do it, huh?” he asked in his best New York accent.
“Let's do it!” They cheered together, giggling at the end.
They stood in front of the locked gates of Gobbler's castle. The wind wasn't just gone from their sails, someone set their sailboat on fire too.
Zach grabbed the biggest rock he could find and heaved it at the stone at the metal gate.
“This can't be how the night ends,” Jimmy protested. He walked up to the fence and desperately started searching for something.
Anything that might get him past the wall.
Jimmy whirled around in frustration after searching for a few moments. He covered his face with his hands and slid down the wall.
Zach sat beside Jimmy and nudged him with his elbow. A moment later Jimmy looked at Zach, tears starting to stream down his face. Zach nodded at Jimmy and nudged him again with his elbow.
Wiping his tears away, he hopped up and helped Zach to his feet.
“Well, there is always next year, right?” Jimmy said, giving Zach an encouraging pat on his shoulder.
A blue light suddenly filled the air. A small door had materialized on the wall where the boys were moments before, blue light pouring out of the crack at the bottom of the door.
They started to back away slowly.
“Dude, what the f-” was all Zach could get out, before the door burst open and pulled both of them into a blinding light.