fake your death, be the ghost of me

In the beginning

October 31, 1940

It was a good day. The warm autumn air
blowing the orange leaves as children in
costumes ran the streets. It was always
strangely wonderful having my birthday
on Halloween. Up until today I'd always
had a costume party with all my friends.
But today was my 19th birthday and my
parents thought I was too old to dress up.
Oh well.
I decided to go check the mail, hoping
there would be a birthday card or two
from relatives. I grabbed my hat and
walked out the door. I love autumn. It's
so beautiful. I almost bumped over a trick
or treator. A little girl wearing a princess
costume. "Hi" she said. "Hi. Are you
having a good Halloween? " I asked. I
could tell I scared her somehow because
before she answered she ran away.
Children were always acting like this
around me.
As I opened the mailbox I could tell
something wasn't right. I pulled out the
letters. Among the birthday cards and bills
there was the something strangely out of place.
I turned it over and my heart sank.
An army draft letter addressed to me.