Sefton - HALLOWEEN SCARE: Featuring Characters from the Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries

Youre kidding? Lisa said, staring at Greg across the patio table filled with pizza boxes. Half the kids in town will be dressed as Zombies. Walking Un-dead, Dead Again, Used to be Dead.

Waitll you see me. Im gonna have scabby wounds, rotten skin, and blood dripping. Totally gross, Greg bragged then tipped back his bottle of ale.

Hey, Im still eating here, Marty said without looking up from his pizza slice. It disappeared quickly.

We havent decided what were going as yet, Megan said, leaning back in one of the wrought iron chairs on Kellys and Steves backyard patio. I was thinking of dressing up like that vampire woman that used be in late night horror movies. Then Marty could be the mad scientist with crazy hair and glasses.

Thatll be easy. He wont have to dress up. All hell need is the glasses. Greg inhaled half his slice of pepperoni pizza.

Actually, Im thinking Count Dracula from Transylvania, Marty said in an exaggerated horror movie accent.

Do we really have to get in costume? Steve looked over at Kelly as he reached for another slice of pizza.

Kelly smiled at her boyfriend. You need to if you want to scare people and raise money for the new kids Pediatric wing at the hospital. Mimi says only costumes are allowed on the Lambspun Cemetery grounds.

Steve swallowed a huge bite of pesto cheese pizza. Okay, I need ideas, then. Weve got a zombie, Count Dracula, and Vampira.

Kelly stared out into the backyard, prettier now that there were several shrubs and Fall flowering mums planted around the edges. Why dont you go as a cowboy? Then you can wear what you wear every weekend, she teased. Stetson, denim shirt, and jeans.

Boring.

Thats not a costume.

Youll be banished from the cemetery.

Yeah, doncha want to scare little kids. And their parents? Marty asked with an evil grin.

Steve just laughed, clearly enjoying the pizza too much to reply.

I know. Steve can be Bad Bart. Meanest hombre in town, Kelly said. Big scar on his face.

Still not scary enough, Greg decreed as he tipped back his bottle of local craft brew.

How about a noose around my neck, Steve ventured, eyes lighting up. I can be returned from the dead or something.

Put some blood on that scar, Marty offered.

Thats got possibilities, Lisa said, reaching for another pizza slice. But lets put a bullet hole in your chest.

Excuse me, Steve gave her a quizzical look.

Ive got a grad student friend who works part-time as a graphic artist. Maybe shed like to make some realistic wounds we could use. On paper of course. We could pay something. Shes just getting by on her graphics part-time income.

Kelly sat up. Hey, that sounds like a great idea. She could make a knife wound, too. With blood, of course.

How many times are you gonna kill me? Steve asked with a grin.

As many as it takes, dude.

Okay, Ive decided. You guys are getting way out there, so Ill stay Old School. Im going to be a witch, Lisa announced. Plain, old fashioned ugly witch. Straggly hair and snaggled-tooth. Oh, and Ill paint my face green. Gross green.

Thats my girl. Traditionalist. Greg saluted her with his ale.

The doorbell sounded faintly with its cascading rings. Kelly rose from her chair. Thats probably Jennifer and Pete. I told them wed be out here on the patio.

Did you guys leave any pizza? Megan accused, looking at Marty then Greg.

Uhhhhhhh, one or two, Marty said sheepishly.

You two are pathetic.

Hi, there, Jennifers voice called through the sliding screen door. Kelly said youd all be on the patio.

Hey, guys, Pete said with a grin as he followed Jennifer.

Kelly pointed to two chairs. Grab those, and well expand the circle, she said, pushing her chair back. Then you can tell us all about the seventh grader birthday party.

Oh, yeah. Its one of Cassies softball friends, right? Lisa asked, shooing Greg and Marty into widening the circle.

Yeah. Beth, who plays catcher, was the birthday girl, Jennifer said as she sat in the chair Pete pulled out for her. Brother, Id forgotten how loud seventh grade girls can squeal.

Pete laughed. Scream is more like it. I think they broke through some decibel levels when we went through that corn maze.

Steve handed Jennifer a canned soda. Was it scary? Were trying to figure out how we can scare kids for charity.

Oh, they were scary, all right. Zombies were everywhere. Blood all over their faces. Jennifer shivered. Gross.

Yeah, kids were crashing into corn stalks trying to get away. Pete laughed then tipped back his Fat Tire ale.

Ive been to those corn mazes, and they really are scary, Megan said. Howre we gonna make Lambspun scary, even if we turn the outside and the garden into a graveyard?

Good point, Marty said.

Youre right, all weve got is us dressed up as zombies and vampires. Thats enough to make it fun for little kids. Elementary school, Lisa observed.

Greg nodded. Yeah, thats elementary school scary. What we need is junior high school scary. Then theyll tell their friends.

And well make more money for the kids hospital unit. Kelly sipped her Fat Tire ale, pondering. Then, an idea wiggled from the back of her brain. She thought for a second. Hmmmmm, that might work.

She leaned forward, setting her ale aside. Guys, I just got an idea. A really wicked idea. Maybe it wont work, but tell me what you think. It could be scary. We could make the Lambspun basement into the Haunted Cellar. All of the rooms would be dark except for candlelight. I mean, that basement is kind of spooky anyway with all those little rooms running into each other, lots of dark corners. Then you guys could be hiding in each of the rooms and scare the kids as they go through.

Greg sat up. I like it.

Yeah, I do, too. We could have some Halloween sounds in the background, like banshees wailing. Martys eyes lit up.

Oooooooh, yeah. And we could have cobweb things and spider webs covering up the yarn down there. Make it spooky dark, Megan said.

Speaking of yarn, wed better not use candles, Lisa added.

Ooops. Good point, Kelly said. We can use some of those special colored bulbs that glow or send pulsing light through a room.

Love it. Great idea, Kelly, Jennifer said. I already have an old nurses uniform and hat and stuff. I can go as a horror nurse. Nurse Wretched.

Kelly laughed, picturing Jennifer as a freak show nurse. Yeah, and we can make a gigantic injection needle and fill it with a yucky colored liquid. Then you can squirt it at people.

Ooooooo, nice.

Okay, I can be the doctor, Pete said.