I wanted to make it the best Halloween ever, you know? For the kids? Anyway, Elaine went out soon after so I made a start. I carved out the eyes first... Two symmetrical triangles topped with a thin upturned 'V' for eyebrows. They looked great. Another triangle for the nose. And then, as I cut a slit to start the mouth - you know, the traditional gaping jagged jaws - something stopped me. Yes. Stopped me dead. A thought, a voice in my head. Can't describe it any other way. It spoke to me. No -. I finished my cigarette, told them that it was nice to meet the two of them, and went back to my office. I sat there, head in hands, mentally beating myself up for not coming up with something clever. Later that evening, I walked back out and lingered by the adjoining back doors again. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Tom walked back out and I started grilling him. Who is she, what's her story, what do you know about her, anything I could find out. It turns out the two of them were. She had gone about her preparations in such a deliberate manner the scare of an hour or so earlier had completely left her mind. Now she was famished, not having had anything to eat since early that morning, and then only a toasted English muffin with a little jam. She stopped and ate the sandwich she had prepared at noon, but had been unable to eat. The bread was a little stale after having sat on the cabinet all afternoon, but the sandwich worked well to sate her hunger. She went to her room. " I can, Dad." TJ was obviously pissed as he put his arm around his friend's shoulder. "Benny's dad beat the crap out of him when he found out he was gay. Shit, Dad, he's got bruises all over his body!" Tell me about it!" Warren demanded."It was yesterday afternoon. Mr. Solomon saw me and Benny holding hands and went ballistic. He ran me off and hauled Benny into the house and laid into him."Warren's anger was on the rise. "Sit down, guys and let's talk about this. Benny, didn't your teacher do.