The Old Man has become accustomed to passing people while they stare or drop their heads. Today, two women smiled and waved. Friendly brightens the day. I noticed that when I visited Manhattan, thousands of people passed by without making eye contact. Many are deep in their thoughts. Some are a bit afraid. Modern life has brought us fear. We hear often about our enemies and seldom about our friends.

Halloween is approaching. The Monsters are planning a Halloween party. ‘I think this year we will have rides for the kiddies,’ Frankenstein said with a grin. ‘A hayride and an apple bobbing contest,’ Frankenstein continued. ‘I do love to bob for apples, I have won the contest three years running,’ Frankenstein noted. ‘I have a special technique,’ Frankenstein explained. ‘I wear my President Kennedy mask until the moment that it is time to bob, then remove it just before we submerge our faces in the water,’ Frankenstein laughed. ‘The shock on the children’s faces gives me just enough time to get the largest apple and win,’ Frankenstein winked. ‘Mrs. Frankenstein says that I have an unfair advantage, but I think not,’ Frankenstein chortled. ‘Mrs. F loves to bob for apples, but her high hair gets in the way of the bobbing bowl,’ Frankenstein wryly observed. ‘One time she bobbed before me and knocked off my Kennedy mask early, spoiling the surprise,’ Frankenstein said.

‘I love a good sack race,’ Mummy said. ‘I do well in the sack as it reminds me of my sarcophogas,’ Mummy observed. ‘Also, I do not trip over my mummy wrappings,’ Mummy grinned. ‘Chet beat me last year in the sack race, but he had the advantage of gliding to the finish as the Lost In Space Robot,’ Mummy frowned. ‘I asked Chet for a redo, he responded, ‘That does not compute.’

‘I make a mean Blood Punch,’ Dracula announced. ‘I spike it with Grey Goose Vodka, everyone is happy after a tumbler or two,’ Dracula laughed. ‘The kids especially enjoy the Grey Goose as they are not accustomed to the benefits of Vodka,’ Dracula observed. ‘After the Punch I enjoy playing Old Maid Cards with the kiddos,’ Dracula said joyously. ‘We eat candy corn and popcorn balls, then we take a nap due to the Grey Goose,’ Dracula said with a shrug of his shoulders.

‘I wonder why we get such a bad rap,’ Wolfman asked. ‘We want to let the children not fear,’ Wolfman added with a toothy grin. ‘I understand why there is fear that some people are not good,’ Wolfman reflected. ‘We are the Storybook Monsters who will never harm you,’ Wolfman advised. ‘We have fears just like you, like the dreaded silver bullet, Wolfman observed. ‘I suppose wolfbane as well,’ Wolfy said, as Wolfy is his preferred name. ‘I come from a long line of good people who have the peculiarities of the full moon blues,’ Wolfman whispered. ‘I go to church every Sunday and sing in the choir,’ Wolfy said. ‘I enjoy fancy walking sticks and three-piece suits,’ Wolfy reflected. ‘I read history at Oxford,’ Wolfy noted. ‘I am different but not bad, only painted that way by many,’ Wolfy said sadly.

‘You all are a bit much, Wednesday said as she entered the Halloween Party Planning Meeting. ‘We are not the normies and we are comfortable in our skins,’ Wednesday proclaimed. ‘For instance, Thing is but a hand, but what he can do with that hand,’ Wednesday observed. ‘Thing saved me many times from peril,’ Wednesday informed. ‘Thing communicates fluently through sign language and is the most insightful Thing that I know,’ Wednesday explained. ‘The Normies are who scare me,’ Wednesday said. ‘Their masks do not fall off in the apple bobbing bowl,’ Wednesday continued. ‘The Normies hurt and destroy people for blood sport and their own gain,’ Wednesday observed. ‘Innocent people believe their lies as they wear sheep’s clothing but underneath are wolves,’ Wednesday said with a glint in her dark eyes. ‘My Normie Neighbor was robbed of her inheritance by a church, which is a cult that promised her riches and reward if she would give her small savings to the preacher,’ Wednesday said with passion. ‘Avarice and vice murder and mayhem follow their government,’ Wednesday said with a tear coursing down her cheek. ‘We plan a fun Halloween Party with no hidden agendas while the real monsters wait at the gate,’ Wednesday announced.