As a young vampire and young knight, carrying green and purple Frankenstein bags, waited their their turn in line on Halloween night, a few drops of rain snuck past the leaves of the hundred year-old trees in the Elmwood neighborhood — the mecca of Columbia Trick-or-Treating. Neither knights nor vampire was pleased.

Their adventure was over.

“HERE IT COMES!” shouted a witch nearby, as the sounds of the downpour approached. Princesses screamed. Their shrieks moved through the neighborhood like sports fans doing the wave. The little monsters in the front yard with the giant flashing sign, “BEETLEJUICE” — scattered like bugs and as the panic ensued, a flash of lightning lit up the night. Boom!

Happy Halloween!