Paranormal Properties

I love the cooler autumn weather and the beautiful colors of fall in Tehachapi. Carving pumpkins and displaying them out front is a favorite seasonal pastime for our family. Regrettably, as the kids get older, their jack-o’-lanterns become less friendly and now I’m the one that’s afraid to walk up to the porch at night by myself. Of course, it doesn’t help that they are constantly sneaking up to startle me.

I think the only one who shares in my sentiments is John Hancock our dog. He’s been a little nervous ever since the kids discovered that putting the popcorn popper next to the clapper light, would eerily turn it on and off sporadically to the popping kernels. It’s become a common sight to see my kids running through the house, my oldest son with the lamp, my younger son with the air popper and my little daughter, in close pursuit, with the popcorn jar, to display their find for any visitor who chances by: Yesterday it was the mailman who promised to bring his kids by to see our Halloween decorations. Everything that creeps or crawls goes onto our lawn this time of year.

Still, I put up a brave front and dive into as many of the seasonal actives as possible. Even if it does mean watching scary movies with my eyes closed. I thought no one had noticed this, but when my daughter asked, “Mommy, what are you going to be for Halloween?” My husband had announced, “A chicken!” to the pure amusement of my children.

Now the day had finally come and we all dressed in our costumes and readied ourselves for Trunk or Treat in town. But when I found out my boys were planning on sneaking into the trunks to scare unsuspecting small children, I decided that I should probably leave them at home. They could terrify our own trick-or-treaters, while my mother and I took my daughter out for a little while.

The younger two were on the porch raiding the Halloween candy bowl set aside for the forthcoming pandemonium, when my mother walked through the door sharing her hesitations, “People in masks approaching your house at night,” she said. “What could possibly go wrong?”

“Everybody get in here and grab a coat!” I called out preparing to leave when I noticed an extra child who had obediently run into the house with my brood.

I approached our masqueraded guest and asked, “Who is that behind the kitty cat mask?”

The kitty cat looked to the left and then to the right wondering who I might be talking to.

“Who are you?” I asked touching our tiny visitor on the nose.

“I’m the Lion King,” answered a little voice.

“I see that!” I chuckled, “and what is your name?”

“Simba!” exclaimed our guest excitedly.

I tilted the mask up but didn’t recognize the face. I lowered the mask and glanced outside to see if there was a stray parent wandering around but saw no one.

“Well, we can’t keep it,” my mother said. “Put it back outside. Somebody’s probably looking for it.”

“I can’t just leave it outside?” I argued.

“Why not?” reasoned my mother. “That’s where you got it from.”

I heard my daughter’s muffled voice from behind me saying something indiscernible. I turned toward her and was met by her costume’s gigantic teeth. I had hoped she would be a ballerina, or a princess, or something whimsical like that and was happy when she eventually decided on being a gold fish. Not the pet… but the cheesy snack cracker. Unfortunately, with a little coercion from her brothers, her costume had slowly morphed into a giant killer Piranha that stood before me now, complete with gnashing teeth. I pushed the enormous teeth out of the way so I could see her face.

“He came with him,” she repeated pointing out the window at the neighbor boy who was helping my oldest son put the finishing touches on the Halloween decorations. They had just added a giant pop up spider that the dog wouldn’t go near.

“Can you breathe okay?” I asked concerned, but then I noticed an air hole she had made. “Good thinking!” I praised her.

“It’s for the candy!” she said pleased with herself.

I may never have an overwhelming desire to draw dark circles under my eyes, or tease my hair into a matted frenzy, or drag my leg behind me like a Zombie: Actually it’s quite the opposite; I am forever trying to hold those susceptibilities at bay, but it appears that I am officially outnumbered and find myself happily so.

I am grateful to be living in a community that values our young people by providing fun and safe family activities. Tehachapi really went above and beyond to ensure that there were events for every age group and I hope that you had the opportunity to participate.