A Haunting Halloween

A Haunting Halloween

By Judy Pierce

Copyright 2012 by Judy Pierce

Smashwords Edition

Halloween was almost here, and Gizmo and the chipmunks were excitedly deciding what to be for the holiday.

“We want to be pirates,” said Beemer, the eldest chipmunk, brandishing his rather shop-worn sword and his tattered eye patch. Harley and Suzuki nodded enthusiastically.

“How about you, Gizmo?” What do you want to be?” Ozette asked.

Gizmo ran through - and rejected - a list of ideas. First he wanted to be a pumpkin, but there was the matter of his bushy squirrel tail, which presented a problem.  

“How about a squirrelly scarecrow?” Ozette suggested. 

Gizmo shook his furry head, deep in thought.

“Maybe a prince?” Suzuki chimed in.

“Or a tree?” Harley added. “You'd be a natural.  We could fasten nuts all over you and trick-or-treaters could gobble them up.”

Ozette gave the chipmunk a stern look, and he gave her a rue ruefulgrin.

“I know! I know!” shouted Gizmo.  “I can be a dragon. We can cover my tail with scales. That would be so cool.”

“Hmmm,” Ozette thought. She raised a paw and said, “Sydney is a genius when it comes to sewing. Let's see if she would make costumes for all of you.”

They scurried over to Sydney's cottage and found their fairy friend putting the finishing touches on her own costume.

“A witch!” Gizmo shouted. “I didn't think there were witches in our realm.”

“There aren't any real witches here. She's just dressing as a witch for one night,” Ozette explained, patting the agitated squirrel.

The animals explained what they would like to be for Halloween, and Sydney nodded, smiling with anticipation.

“We already have our costumes,” Beemer said, waving his little sword dangerously close to Sydney's ankles.

“What you have is looking a little, well, ratty,” she said, jumping back. “I will make you even better pirate outfits.”

 The chipmunks nodded happily, displaying their sharp, rodent teeth.

 “And you, Ozette, what will you be?” Sydney asked.

“Hmmm,” she said scratching her head with her paw. “I have been so busy I have not thought of a costume. Maybe I will just go as a white squirrel,” she said.

Sydney scrunched up her fairy face, deep in thought.

“It has to be really special,” Gizmo said, hugging Ozette's leg. “Ozette is such a super squirrel.”

Sydney snapped her fingers. “That's it! I will make you a super-squirrel-girl costume.”

 Gizmo rolled on the floor with laughter, and the chipmunks soon joined him, chanting “Super-Squirrel-Girl. Super-Squirrel-Girl.”

“I don't know, Sydney,” Ozette said. “That seems a little pretentious.”

Knowing how modest Ozette could be, Sydney said, “Just leave it to me. It will be perfect for you.”