Halloween Night Remembered

REWRITE 2
editing in progress

Jumping, scurrying about, and dashing through the Halloween costumes hanging on the display rack the children shouted joyfully. Their parents raced after them, gently but firmly grabbed them to get their attention, to calm them, and defuse the crazy situation. They wriggled free as excitement grew like an uncontrolled force was pushing the limits of chaos into realms never before experienced. Working together to corral the children, their parents finally got the children focused enough to choose their costumes and the on-lookers went back to their shopping.

the store owner was relieved to sell the costumes and not be stuck with unwanted merchandise, the excited children were gone, and Halloween was tomorrow night so being stuck with three costumes wasn't too bad. Three costumes hanging on the large rack didn't seem appealing. They were moved to the front window and displayed along with the other Halloween decorations.

Later that day a new family with three children entered the store. Yesterday, they had just moved into the neighborhood. Roaming through every department there were no costumes to be found. The store manager noticed the drooping heads, rounded and sloped shoulders, and dragging of feet as the children reluctantly were ushered toward the door. The parents had a sad countenance that spoke volumes.

Compassion and a huge smile upon his face, the manager asked if he could help them. then showed them the three costumes in the front window. Screams of delight and jumping with arms flapping their parents purchased the costumes for their excited children. Relief spread over their parents' faces. This was the first time their children had Halloween costumes. Usually, they had to scrounge for items to create make-shift costumes.

As soon as they arrived home the costumes had to be tried on to make certain they would fit properly. Fortunately, there was a fairy costume for the smallest child, a fireman's costume for the middle child, and a nurse costume for the oldest child. When the oldest child modeled her costume, it seemed to be tight and lopsided. Tears began to flow until her mother promised to fix it for her. She gave her mother a big hug and then skipped off to her room. This was going to be the best Halloween ever because they all had costumes this year.

The neighborhood had enough decorations to decorate two neighborhoods. Excitement rippled through every home as children dressed for Halloween night. This town loved Halloween because it was fun seeing all the children in their costumes enjoying themselves as they gathered their scrumptious treats.

Nobody noticed the strangers until the bully of the bunch started pointing and making fun of the costumes their children were wearing. One by one the children began to taunt them and threaten to run them out of town. The wonderful Halloween evening turned rapidly into fighting and picking on the three children who had, according to the children's opinion, stupid sissyfied, and uninteresting costumes. The scary and horror costumes were the only acceptable costumes. Anything else wasn't even a costume as far as they were concerned. Before things got worse the police arrived and sent everyone home.

Feeling sad and dejected the nurse, fireman, and fairy returned home. Their parents were bewildered and sad for their children because this Halloween should have been the very best experience. Together they prayed and then everyone went to bed.

The next morning everyone rose early because it was a school day. Many of the children couldn't wait to badger the newcomers again because their costumes weren't costumes at all and nobody celebrates Halloween without a costume. A few children didn't have any problems with the costumes and were anxious to get to know the new family.

At school, there were very few children who showed up that day. Wondering why the school principal called parents and was told the children were sick. Because of such a small attendance and many sick children, the school was closed early. Together, the small handful of children who walked home decided to pray at each house for the sick kids.

Days later none of the sick children were ever seen again. After investigating, the school found a mysterious event that had happened that Halloween night. Somehow the faces of the costumes were now the permanent faces of those children who had taunted the three children that Halloween night.


REWRITE
The children jumped, scurried about, and dashed through the halloween costumes hanging on the display rack. Their parents did everything they could to calm the situation, yet excitement grew like an uncontrolled force was pushing the limits of chaos into realms never before experienced. Working together parents finally got the children focused enough to choose their costumes, and then the crowd dispersed.

Because halloween was the next evening, the store owner was reliever to sell the costumes and not be stuck with unwanted merchandise, plus the excited children were gone. Three costumes hanging on the rack didn't seem appealing. They were moved to the front window and displayed along with the other halloween decorations.

Later that day a new family with three children entered the store. Yesterday, they had just moved into the neighborhood. Roaming through every department there were no costumes to be found. The store manager noticed the drooping heads, rounded and sloped shoulders, and dragging of feet as the children reluctantly were ushered toward the door. The parents had a sad countenance which spoke volumes.

Compassion and a huge smile upon his face, the manager asked if he could help them. then showed them the three costumes in the front window. Screams of delight and jumping with arms flapping their parents purchased the costumes for their excited children. Relief spread over their parents faces. This was the first time their children had halloween costumes. Usually they had to scrounge for items to create make-shift costumes.

As soon as they arrived home the costumes had to be tried on to make certain they would fit properly. Fortunately there was a fairy costume for the smallest child, a fireman's costume for the middle child, and a nurse costume for the oldest child. When the oldest child modeled her costume, it seemed to be tight and lop sided. Tears began to flow until her mother promised to fix it for her. She gave her mother a big hug and then skipped off to her room. This was going to be the best halloween ever because they all had costumes this year.

The neighborhood had enough decorations to decorate two neighborhoods. Excitement rippled through every home as children dressed for halloween night. This town loved halloween because it was fun seeing all the children in their costumes enjoying themselves as they gathered their scrumptious treats.

Nobody noticed the strangers, until the bully of the bunch started pointing and making fun of the costumes their children were wearing. One by one the children began to taunt them and threaten to run them out of town. The wonderful halloween evening turned rapidly into fighting and picking on the three children who had, according to the children's opinion, stupid sissiefied, and uninteresting costumes. The scary and horror costumes were the only acceptable costumes. Anything else wasn't even a costume as far as they were concerned. Before things got worse the police arrived and sent everyone home.

Feeling sad and dejected the nurse, fireman, and fairy returned home. Their parents were bewildered and sad for their children because this halloween should have been the very best experience. Together they prayed and then everyone went to bed.

The next morning everyone rose early because it was a school day. Many of the children couldn't wait to badger the new comers again because their costumes weren't costumes at all and nobody celebrates halloween without a costume. A few children didn't have any problems with the costumes and were anxious to get to know the new family.

At school there were very few children who showed up that day. Wondering why, the school principal called parents and was told the children were sick. Because of such a small attendance and many sick children the school was closed early. Together the small handful of children who walked home, decided to pray at each house for the sick kids.

Days later none of the sick children were ever seen again. After investigating, the school found a mysterious event had happened that halloween night. Somehow the faces of the costumes were now the permanent faces of those children who had taunted the three children that halloween night.



ORIGINAL
The children were jumping, scurrying about, and dashing through the halloween costumes hanging on the display rack. Their parents did everything they could to calm the situation, yet excitement grew like uncontrolled force was pushing the limits of chaos into realms never before experienced. Working together parents got the children focused choosing their costumes and then the crowd dispersed.

Because halloween was the next evening, the store owner was reliever to sell the costumes and not be stuck with unwanted merchandise, plus the excited children were gone. Three costumes hanging on the rack didn't seem appealing. They were moved to the front window and displayed along with the other halloween decorations.

Later that day a new family with three children entered the store. Yesterday, they had just moved into the neighborhood. Roaming through every department there were no costumes to be found. The store manager noticed the drooping heads, rounded and sloped shoulders, and dragging of feet as the children reluctantly were ushered toward the door. The parents had a sad countenance which spoke volumes.

Compassion and a huge smile upon his face, the manager asked if he could help them. then showed them the three costumes in the front window. Screams of delight and jumping with arms flapping their parents purchased the costumes. Relief spread over their parents faces. This was the first time their children had halloween costumes. Usually they had to scrounge for items to create make-shift costumes.

As soon as they arrived home the costumes had to be tried on to make certain they would fit properly. Fortunately there was a fairy costume for the smallest child, a fireman's costume for the middle child, and a nurse costume for the oldest child. When the oldest child modeled her costume, it seemed to be tight and lop sided. Tears began to flow until her mother promised to fix it for her. She gave her mother a big hug and then skipped off to her room. This was going to be the best halloween ever because they all had costumes this year.

The neighborhood had enough decorations to decorate two neighborhoods. Excitement rippled through every home as children dressed for halloween night. This town loved halloween because it was fun seeing all the children in their costumes enjoying themselves as they gathered their scrumptious treats.

Nobody noticed the strangers, until the bully of the bunch started pointing and making fun of the costumes their children were wearing. One by one the children began to taunt them and threaten to run them out of town. The wonderful halloween evening turned rapidly into fighting and picking on the three children who had, according to the children's opinion, stupid sissiefied, and uninteresting costumes. The scary and horror costumes were the only acceptable costumes. Anything else wasn't even a costume as far as they were concerned. Before things got worse the police arrived and sent everyone home.

Feeling sad and dejected the nurse, fireman, and fairy returned home. Their parents were bewildered and sad for their children because this halloween should have been the very best experience. Together they prayed and then everyone went to bed.

The next morning everyone rose early because it was a school day. Many of the children couldn't wait to badger the new comers again because their costumes weren't costumes at all and nobody celebrates halloween without a costume. A few children didn't have any problems with the costumes and were anxious to get to know the new family.

At school there were very few children who showed up that day. Wondering why, the school principal called parents and was told the children were sick. Because of such a small attendance and many sick children the school was closed early. Together the small handful of children who walked home, decided to pray at each house for the sick kids.

Days later none of the sick children were ever seen again. After investigating, the school found a mysterious event had happened that halloween night. Somehow the faces of the costumes were now the permanent faces of those children who had taunted the three children that halloween night.

word count: 689

Written for: "No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED"