The Longest Halloween, Book Two. Frank Wood

      “I’m here about the job,” the boy said.

      “I’m sorry dearie,” Mrs. McClafferty replied, snatching the cardboard sign from him, “but I’m afraid you’re too late … the job’s just been filled.”

      “Aww,” the boy said.

      “But do have a candied apple,” Mrs. McClafferty handed him a waiting fruit, “on the house. Sorry you made the trip all this way.” As the boy left, Mrs. McClafferty stomped on the floorboards through which the sounds had been emerging.

      “Be still, you!” she muttered under her breath.

      Aaron was the hairiest boy that Joel had ever met. He couldn’t have been much older than Joel but he was at least a head taller and his long brown hair trickled down his back in a long ponytail. His arms were also covered in hair all the way down to his knuckles. He had a strong grip, and Joel noticed that the palms of his hands were also covered with hair.

      “Sorry about my hairy hands,” Aaron said, noting what must have been surprise on Joel’s face, “we’ve tried everything. Mom says it’s genetic.”

      “No worries,” Joel returned.

      “I’m Aaron and these are my brothers Ezekial and Hezekiah,” he said, nodding to the other boys who nodded in return. “We really appreciate you coming to help us out,” Aaron said, putting on his gloves. “We’re harvesting the pumpkins, Joel, and taking them into town for people to buy. This year the field’s pretty full of them.”

      Joel looked around and saw that indeed the patch was all orange and yellow and green.

      “They can be pretty heavy to move,” Aaron said, “so you’ve got to be pretty strong.”

      “I’m a green belt in tae kwon do,” Joel said. “I guess that makes me pretty strong.”

      “Mom’s supplying the pies for the big Harvest Carnival on Halloween,” Aaron went on. “So far the order is for a cool five hundred pies.”

      “That’s a lot of pies,” Joel said.

      “More like a lot of pumpkins to move,” Hezekiah cut in.

      “But we’ve got to get it done,” Aaron said. “Halloween’s real important this year.”

      “Hey,” the boy named Ezekial suddenly and gruffly cut in, “are we hauling or jawing here? Didn’t Ma say that Joe here needs to leave by half past?”

      “It’s Joel,” he smiled. Ezekial was stouter than Aaron, with thick bushy black hair and eyebrows that were just as dark and also came together as one over his eyes. His long, dark sideburns came down to his lips.

      “Don’t mind him, Joel,” Aaron said, “he gets a little excited is all. But he’s right, we’d better get to it.”

      It didn’t take long for Joel to work up a sweat helping the boys load the pumpkins into the backs of waiting trucks lining the corner of the patch. They are really strong guys, Joel thought; they seemed to load those pumpkins as if they were nothing. He almost wondered why they would even need him.

      “You boys want some lemonade?” Mrs. McCafferty made her way to the pumpkin patch bearing a tray with four glasses of the best looking lemonade that Joel had seen. They rapidly downed the tasty beverage.

      “Well, Joel,” she said, “how do think you’ll like pumpkin harvesting?”

      “I think I’ll be all right, ma’am,” Joel said between gulps of the lemonade. “I’ve done it before, after all. I just need to make sure it’ll be all right with my mom.”

      “Well of course,” Mrs. McClafferty said, “and I’m happy to talk with her on the phone if you’d like.”

      “Thank you ma’am,” Joel said.

      “Oh and Aaron,” she said to her son, “I’m afraid the pumpkins in storage are shifting a bit … it makes for a lot of noise in the showroom. Can you see to keeping things a little more quiet for me?”

      “Sure, Ma,” Aaron grinned, “no problem!” He ambled off to the cellar with a mallet, which Joel thought was unusual.

      “Looky here,” red-headed Hezekiah said, nodding at a rapidly approaching convertible.

      “Your brother’s a little early,” Mrs. McClafferty said, “and it looks like he’s brought company.”

      Joel narrowed his eyes. The other brother was none other than Ian Samuels … and the company was none other than Polly! Ian pulled his shiny silver convertible into the clearing and hopped out. While Joel could see some of the family resemblance, Ian was not as hairy as his brothers.

      “Afternoon, all, Mother,” Ian said.

      “Did you bring my nutmeg and critters, son?” Mrs. McClafferty asked.

      “Of course,” Ian replied, “Polly wouldn’t let me forget. He handed her a large brown bag. “Oh, this is Polly, by the way, the friend from school I was telling you about.”

      Aaron emerged from the cellar with the mallet and tossed it aside.

      “Yes, Polly, how lovely to meet you at last,” Mrs. McClafferty said, taking Polly’s hand as she emerged from the car. “Might I say that you’re quite a brave girl to ride along with my son here. He’s got quite the lead foot, you know.”

      “Mother,” Ian said, his big lips curling in a smile around huge white teeth that Joel was sure looked almost wolf-like.

      “Nice to meet you,” Polly said.

      “These here are Ian’s brothers … Aaron, Hezekiah and Ezekial,” Mrs. McClafferty went on. It was clear that the boys seemed to change up a bit around Polly. They were all looking at her as if they almost wanted to eat her.

      “And here’s our newest worker,” Mrs. McClafferty began.

      “Joel,” Polly finished, “what are you doing out here?”

      “Like she said,” Joel replied, “I’m working.”

      Polly frowned a bit.

      “But Joel,” Mrs. McClafferty replied, “it’s nigh to two thirty. You said you had to get back to town.”

      “Uh … right, thanks,” Joel replied.

      “I’ll be calling your mother tonight to talk more about your work schedule,” Mrs. McClafferty said.

      “Thank you ma’am,” Joel replied.

      “Oh no, thank you,” she said, “we’re very happy to have you on board.”

      “Joel,” Ian jumped in, extending his hand. “I think I’ve seen you around school, haven’t I?” Ian’s grip, predictably, was like a vice. Joel couldn’t count the number of times he had been at the mercy of Ian’s power during practice sessions of tae kwon do. He almost felt tears leap to his eyes. “Just kidding of course. A happy heart doeth like good medicine—that’s in the Good Book,” Ian grinned, “and of course I know one of my most earnest students.”

      Joel would have rolled his eyes had the pain not been so sharp. Ian had to rub in the fact that even though there couldn’t be two years between them, he still regarded himself as the teacher and Joel as the student; and while that was what they were, Ian’s attitude got to Joel.

      “Great demonstration today in school, Franklin,” Ian went on. “I think we’ve drummed up a lot of interest in the Tae Kwon Do Club!”

      “If you say so,” Joel managed to get out.

      “I didn’t slam you too hard, did I?”

      “Not at all. My little brother hits harder.”

      Polly stifled a laugh and Ian turned red. “Funny guy.”

      “How