Everyone went to the football game that night. They split off from their families and gathered in a group, Corey sitting with Jessy and Karma, in the top row of bleachers, which weren't actually high up, since they were all carved into a curved hill around the football field. They screamed until they were halfway hoarse, and in between caring about the game, they yelled greetings, and poked at the friends sitting in front of them. At half-time, as they all milled around the Concession Stand, Scott and Troy came up to them, looking around like they were afraid of being watched.
“We were talking about those lights in the cemetery,” he said. “Do you guys want to check it out? See if there’s anything to it.”
They turned and looked at the visible dark area where the cemetery was, hardly more than a block away.
“Yes!” Jessy said.
“Right now?” Karma asked.
“We could sneak over while the game is going on,” Jessy suggested. “But there are probably too many people around.”
“Yeah,” Scott said. “We wouldn’t want anyone to know.” Everyone knew you weren’t supposed to go in the cemetery after dark, even if they didn’t believe in ghosts.
“And besides, we want to see the rest of the game,” Karma said.
“We'll all be going out on Halloween,” Scott said.
“If there’s any time ghosts are going to be out, it’ll be Halloween, right?” Jessy asked.
“That makes sense,” Karma agreed. “So we can find out once and for all.”
“But, we still want to get candy,” Troy said.
Everyone agreed to that.
“So we can meet up after trick or treating, and walk over to the cemetery.”
The crowds were wandering back to the stands, so the game was going to be starting soon.
Corey had been quiet during the discussion, but as they neared their old seats she asked, “You're really going to do it?”
“Sure, why not?”
“But you're not really going to ring the doorbell at the Murder House.”
“Well, I'm not scared to ring the doorbell,” Jessy said, more determined than ever not to wimp out this year.
They won the game, and afterwards, Jessy's parents hunted her down.
“We want to stay for the bonfire,” she said.
“There's not going to be a bonfire,” her Dad said. “It's too windy.”
****
The Jack-o-Lantern Box Page 11