Chippy's Halloween Adventure (with pictures, of course!)

[Bonsai]

As his Mom prepared little bags of candy for the Trick or Treaters who would soon be arriving at the door, Chippy's dad was rattling off the rules for the evening. Chippy was so excited that his dad may as well have been speaking French! He wasn't listening - he just wanted to go meet up with his friends - this was the first year that Little Chippy was allowed to go Trick or Treating with his friends... and no parents! He couldn't wait.

His dad droned on, "Make sure you stay with the group. Don't eat any candy until you get home. And you'd better be in the door by 9 o'clock... understand?" Chippy was already halfway out the door as he yelled back, "Sure, Dad!"

Chippy hurried across the street to meet his friends. "Nice hat!" Ginger shouted as he approached. Chippy picked out his costume himself this year - he was a mariachi band member, outfitted in a red sombrero and carrying a maraca in each hand. He even learned a little Mariachi song, just in case someone asked him to earn his treat. He didn't want to be put on the spot like last year, when his neighbor asked all the kids to tell a joke or show off a special talent, and he didn't have anything prepared. His Mom saved the day by reminding him of a silly joke he could use - "What do you call a fish with no eyes?" ... "A Fssssshhhhhh!" It got a giggle, but Chippy felt pretty embarrassed that his mom had to come up with the joke. This year he'd be ready!



Chippy's friends all made their own costumes this year as well. Ginger was dressed as a witch. She borrowed her older sister's witch costume from a few years ago, and added some personal touches to make it her own. Checkers was dressed as a ghost - he bragged that he'd even cut the holes in the sheet all by himself! (Of course everyone would have known, even if he hadn't mentioned it - the left eye hole was twice the size of the right!) Persia was dressed as a candy cane, Pepe was supposed to be a duck, and Clover was dressed up as a pair of flip flops. The friends took turns complimenting each other's costumes, and then they headed off.

At the first house, sure enough, they all had to tell a joke, sing, or do a dance. Chippy proudly performed his mariachi song, and everyone clapped when he finished. All that hard work was worth it! The rest of his friends told silly jokes. Checkers' joke was everyone's favorite: "Knock knock." Who's there? "Gorilla." Gorilla who? "Gorilla me a hamburger, I'm starving!!" It got a lot of laughs!

The rest of the houses were mostly all the same: lots of candy at some, not so much at others, but overall, everyone had fun and got plenty of candy!





Just as the sun finally disappeared from the Horizon, they came upon a house with a big sign on the porch that read, "Enter at your own risk. Prepare for a fright!" Chippy didn't like haunted houses much, and he was starting to get tired, so he told his friends he was done for the night and was going to head back home. Checkers teased him a little for leaving early, but the rest of the gang thanked him for trick or treating with them, and said they'd see him at school tomorrow. Chippy turned his flashlight on, and went on his way.





About halfway home, Chippy decided he'd take a shortcut - there's a path that runs through the woods, and ends right near his house. The shortcut usually saves him about 10 minutes worth of walking, so it was an easy decision.

Chippy starts down the path, kicking up leaves and singing to himself as he goes. It's dark though, and he only has a small flashlight, so he can't see as well as he'd like. At some point, he looks around and realizes that he's not on the path anymore. Uh oh! "Don't panic," he tells himself, "just keep walking." And so he does.



After about 2 minutes, he sees a light up ahead. Thinking it's a street light at the edge of the woods, Chippy runs toward it. As he gets closer, he realizes it's not a street light at all - it's a camp fire! He recognizes some of the boys sitting around the fire - they're older, and went to his school last year. As he runs toward them, one of the boys screams! Then they ALL jump, and some even start screaming! As they turn and see little Chippy standing there in front of them, most of the boys start laughing. One looks angry though, and he asks, "What did you do THAT for? Were you trying to scare us to death?" Blushing, Chippy apologizes, and he explains that he wasn't trying to scare anyone - he was lost and trying to get home. The boys all laugh and tell Chippy it's alright. He's only a few hundred feet from the road, and not far off the path at all. Someone offers to take him the rest of the way home. Chippy starts to say yes, but then stops himself, and instead asks if he can stay by the fire for a few minutes to warm up. "Sure, but we're telling ghost stories. You sure you can handle it?" one of the boys asks. Chippy nods his head, and takes a seat on a log near the fire.



One of the boys hands chippy a marshmellow on a long stick, and Chippy starts to toast it as the oldest boy begins his tale. Just as the story of a haunted mansion on a hill comes to an end, Chippy's marshmellow catches on fire!





The boy closest to him helps blow out the flames. They ask if he's sure he doesn't want a new marshmellow, so he can try not to burn it... but Chippy shakes his head no. He carefully slides the Crispy marshmellow onto a graham cracker and plops a chunk of chocolate on top.



Chippy's very first smore! He tells the boys that he loves it, and doesn't care that it's a little burnt. He thinks to himself, "I wish dad was here to see this! ... Uh oh! Dad! I was supposed to be home by 9!" He quickly thanks the boys for being so nice, and yells "Happy Halloween!!" as he runs toward the path that will lead him home.



Chippy has his candy bag and maracas in one hand and his flashlight in the other, and he's running as fast as he can, not thinking about anything except how much trouble he's going to be in when he gets home! He's running so fast that he quickly runs out of breath. He stops to catch it for a moment, and he hears leaves rustling in the woods behind him. He takes a few more steps and then stops, holding his breath the entire time. Crackle. Crunch. Crackle. Snap. Crunch. Crackle. Okay, there's definitely someone or something behind him! Chippy can feel his heart beating 10 times faster than it ever has, and he's breathing even harder than he was just 20 seconds ago. "Okay, don't panic. Just run!" he tells himself, and he takes off running again. His arms are flailing and he's running so fast that his flashlight isn't keeping up with him, yet he knows he can't afford to slow down. "Come on, Chippy, FASTER!" he keeps saying in his head.



*thud*

"OUUUCCCHH!" Chippy feels a sharp pain in his foot, and feels himself going down. His foot got caught up on a tree stump, and he's flying through the air. Another thud. He hits the ground, and his flashlight lands a few feet in front of him.



Chippy quickly grabs his flashlight, scrambling to his feet and wildly spinning around, shining the flashlight in every direction. "AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!" he screams, as his flashlight illuminates a shadowy figure a few feet away, and he falls back to the ground.



Chippy tries to get up to run, but the shadow reaches out and grabs him. "NOOOOOOO!!!! HELLLLPPPP MEEEEEEEEE!!!" He screams even louder this time, desperate for help.



"Chippy... Chippy, it's okay!" a familiar voice sounds off. Chippy lets out a sigh of relief and feels himself calming down instantly. "Chippy, where have you been? Your mother and I have been worried sick. All of your friends got home over half an hour ago! We've been looking everywhere for you. Are you okay?"



"Oh Dad, thank goodness it was you! I was so scared! I got lost, and then I, I ran into these boys at a campfire, but then I realized how late it was... and so I was coming home, but then someone, then you were chasing me and, and... I thought... you were... I... Dad, can you please take me home?" Chippy's dad couldn't see his face in the dark, but he knew that his son was in tears. Chippy was so scared and upset, his dad didn't have the heart to yell at him - not tonight, anyway!

[Bonsai]

They headed home, and Chippy told his mom the entire story once he got there. She gave him a big hug, and both of his parents told him they were glad he was safe.



Chippy's Mom suggested that he go wash up and change out of his costume, since it was so late. He did, and felt much better afterward - so much better, in fact, that all he could think about was his giant bag of Halloween candy! He dumped it out onto the kitchen table, and his eyes widened with delight. What a haul! Full size candy bars, Reese's cups, tons of fun size candy bars, and his favorite - Chocolate Long Boys! (Long Boys are a lot like giant Tootsie Rolls - everyone in Chippy's neighborhood gives them out for Halloween.) Chippy's dad sat down with him, and stopped him just before he unwrapped his first Long Boy. "Not so fast, son. You know we have to go through the candy first, make sure nothing's open." Chippy sighed, but knew it was no use arguing - they went through this every year.

Chippy's dad sorted through everything, one piece at a time, checking for holes or open wrappers. Chippy watched intently as the "discard" pile grew - 2 Long Boys, a Jawbreaker, 2 lollipops, 2 little hard candies that Chippy didn't care for anyway, a Starburst... "Can I eat it yet, Dad? Can I?" Chippy's dad shook his head. "Come onnnn. Just one piece! I'm starving, Dad!" One more minute, he was told. And the pile continued to grow - another lollipop, a handful of loose candy corn, and 2 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.



"Alright, knock yourself out." Chippy's dad gave him the go ahead, as he disappeared with the candy that he'd determined to be unsafe.

Chippy dug right in! He ate 6 Long Boys in under a minute!!

His mom sat down next to him, eyeing up the pile, and asked Chippy if he'd mind sharing a Long Boy or two. He slid a pile over to her, smiled, and whispered, "You know, I think Dad ripped those Reese's wrappers himself just so he could eat them later." His Mom didn't say anything, but she smiled knowingly as she unwrapped her own Chocolate Long Boy.



After a minute, she chuckled to herself and, looking in Chippy's direction, said "Why don't you go brush your teeth and get ready for bed? I'll be in to check on you in a few."



And thus ended Chippy's Halloween Adventure.

[mayapal]

Very cute!

[photomommy]

LOL too cute will have to let my daughter read in the morning

[celinab123]

lol but OMG UR CHIPMUNKS BROWN!!?? MINE IS YELLOW!!

[tpfkb2]

Wow how cute Bonsai, and what a great little story!!

[tpyo]

I love your story. It was just fantastic. I sent a link to my grandkids so they can read it also. I just love how inventive everyone is here. I look forward to reading and seeing the stories. Keep up the grea work.

grandma tpyo

[d8471]

I enjoy your stories so much! Thank you for making my day!

[LunarKitten]

hahaha that is so cute Good job!

[Jake]

Lookin' good.
I love this picture: