Like a vulture in the sky

I’m reading submissions to TC for our 2010.1 issue and got a cover letter that states that the following work is free of the graphic sex and vulgar language in so many stories today. I felt like looking around and doing the “Who do you think you’re submitting to? She who conservatively uses “fuck” about six times a page and thrives on a good graphic sex scene? Yeah so that’d be a “no” on principle but as a good editor, I read the story anyway.

So anyway…

It made me want to take a break so here I am. Of course I should be doing about 87 other things but I want to do something for myself and so here it is.

This is Halloween, so say the residents of Halloweentown. We have a tradition here at Chez Piggyhawk: much like his friend Santa Claus does in two months, Jack Skellington visits Zoe and Holden on Halloween. They leave their pumpkins out and Jack comes to fill them. We’re never sure what Jack will bring. Could be books, toys, art supplies, a shrunken head, a striped worm as big as your leg, a vampire doll…

So I tell my kids during the month of October, “You’d better be good or Jack will bring you a head in a box!”

So today Zoe has been saying to her brother, “Holden, you should be good. Jack Skellington will bring you a head in a box tonight!”

We also talk about what they might like Jack to bring, since Jack can pass any lists or requests that have been made on to his friend Santa. Jack brings small things, although he is particularly fond of books, like his other friend The Easter Bunny. What Jack likes more than the Bunny though are games. Jack likes to bring at least one game and the request by Madame, who saw the commercial roughly 18,923 times while she was home sick for a week, was for Uno Moo. Well I had trouble finding it anywhere I went this week so we’re crossing our fingers that Santa will be able to hook Jack up with an Uno Moo for the kids. It’s shaping up to be a popular Christmas toy so I recommend getting your requests to Jack tonight.

Jack also brings candy for Mommy & Daddy. Jack also might leave a note for Zoe and Holden. You never know with Jack.

Happy Halloween, my tender lumplings.