Free All in the Family by Taft Sowder

elderly couple sat on the front porch swing at the first house Bobby came to. The man had on an old tattered suit and fake blood running from his mouth. His face was painted to be pale and dead looking. The woman wore a bonnet and a billowing dress; she looked like an Amish woman. An ancient looking churn sat in front of her, and she held the bowl of candy on her lap. Bobby smiled as he walked up the steps, revealing his plastic fangs.
    “Now here we go, Count Dracula!” The man said with a chuckle as Bobby approached. “You know, I remember the old black and white movie was one of the first I took you to go see, remember that Doris?”
    The woman turned to him and blushed. “Well, of course I do, Herb. Like it was yesterday, you and that old clunker that you were so proud of pulling up out front, and Daddy about running you off with the shotgun. You know I saved your hide that night, right?” Doris giggled like a shy schoolgirl.
    Bobby held out his bag. “Trick or treat!”
    “Why I suppose treat. Lord knows I don’t need any tricks at this age,” Doris said.
    “Don’t let her fool you, son. She turned a few tricks in her day,” Herb mouthed off. Doris nudged him hard in the side. He glared at her and then, like a light bulb came on, he realized he wasn’t talking to one of his drinking buddies. “I’m sorry, what I meant ... Just have a good night, kid.”
    Bobby cocked an eyebrow and hurriedly left the porch and then the yard behind. What a couple of quacks, he thought.
    The next house looked promising. It belonged to one of the rich business men in the neighborhood. The light was on, and kids were lined up at the door. Bobby got in line behind the last child; there were eight of them waiting to get candy.
    “No one is answering,” said the child at the front.
    “Bastard’s probably not home. We ought to go in and fuck the place up just for leaving the light on,” said the boy in front of Bobby. He was older than Bobby, probably too old to be out trick or treating, but he was here anyway. Bobby recognized him, but didn’t know his name.
    Some of the other children booed as they left the porch.
    The boy turned to Bobby. “What do you say? You want to bust some windows or something?”
    Bobby could see him clearly now; he was dressed like a pirate minus the eye patch. His face was pale and covered with bad acne. His flashing eyes seemed to burn like fire in the light from the lamppost.
    “Not really, I just want to get some candy,” Bobby replied.
    “What’s the matter, ya chicken?”
    “I’m not afraid. I just don’t want to.”
    “Then prove you’re not afraid.”
    “How?”
    “This rock,” the boy replied and held up a rock that he pulled from the pocket of his costume. “Bust that window, the front glass, and I’ll say you ain’t chicken of anything.” He offered the rock.
    “Fine,” Bobby said, assuming the boy would leave him alone if he threw the rock.
    Bobby held the rock a moment, weighing it in his hand. Then, he looked around. No one was nearby; the other children had run along in search of candy. He looked at the glass and then back at the rock.
    * * * *
    Jessica sat on the couch in the living room of Mister Fairfield’s house. It was a lovely room, decorated with designer curtains and modern contemporary furniture. It could use a woman’s touch, she thought. She sipped an ice cold soda. The fizzing bubbles tickled her nose; she wiped the feeling away.
    Mister Fairfield had stepped outside to pay the pizza boy who had arrived moments after they did. He had called the pizza in on the way back. She knew what he was doing: give her pizza and pop, and he’ll have his party alright, but not a Halloween party, a blowjob party. That was what he wanted, and that was what she intended to give him; anything to get a passing grade. Her mother and father would be happy as would Mister Fairfield, and it would even please her to get through school. The sooner the better, she