No Plagiarism!y3PpHz4gHxTxCv7lTK0gposted on PENANA It was the morning of Halloween when Rhonda opened up her kitchen door, walked in and started cleaning. The boys had made a proper mess of things. Dishes were piled up, the margarine had been left on the counter and the bananas were so dotted with black and brown spots that they could barely be considered edible. And what was that horrible smell?8964 copyright protection834PENANAO9hNwfuC0g 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAYANSQ2aqOu
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Rhonda sighed as she changed the garbage sack. There was a wicked crick in her neck and her back hurt. Such is the price of getting old she thought to herself. She took the trash out and threw it in the rubbish bin. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAyERrP9113x 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAenDkb0U8X9
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Mrs. Wiggins, from across the street, was doing the exact same thing. She had a gaggle of boys, too. Mrs. Wiggins was dressed in a baby blue bathrobe and slippers. She hadn't quite gotten her day going from the looks of it. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAOt55cwSB9y 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAGHyN2RwPDz
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“Hello, Regina,” Rhonda said. “How’s Henry and Matthew?” Henry and Matthew were her two boys. They went to the same school as her Johnny, Mikey and Billy. They played football together and got on very well. So well that their families had spent many a summer day together having barbecues and swim sessions in the Wiggins’ pool. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAoxptKWVHpJ 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAqojnDzJGYO
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Much to her dismay, Mrs. Wiggins didn't return her cordial greeting. Mrs. Wiggins dropped the trash bag she was holding and it split open and spilled rubbish onto the sidewalk. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAxtPeHburfB 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA95NHEF3kJ5
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Regina Wiggins whimpered and ran back into her house with a look of terror on her face. “How very rude,” Rhonda said, but then she thought better of it. “Don't be judgmental,” she muttered to herself.8964 copyright protection834PENANAPKs8utJ9cA 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAmVyBhzAuz5
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She remembered that Regina suffered from IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome. When she felt the need to run to the bathroom she had to go right away or an unfortunate accident was sure to follow. The IBS had taken it’s toll on her poor neighbor. Aged her prematurely. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAZcpNvPaxzQ 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANANCOyOwyeaE
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Being the good neighbor that she was, Rhonda cleaned up the trash that Regina had spilled onto the sidewalk. She decided that she would bring Regina a nice cup of tea later and find out if she was all right. But not until she finished cleaning that dreadful kitchen.8964 copyright protection834PENANADTjB5goxYM 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAopITEYbuAc
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She filled the sink with suds and water and began cleaning the dishes. Most of he kitchen had been put back in order, but there was still a dreadful smell coming from something. One of the boys had probably dropped a piece of fruit behind the trash can. It wasn't unusual. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAMl5jhpUhA2 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANANk5JMtf5mK
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The clinking and clanking from her cleaning of the dishes awoke her husband Eddie. Eddie walked into the kitchen and he paused at the door. He looked at Rhonda for what seemed an eternity, but was actually no more than a few seconds. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAaOBFTXwWmC 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAB9mGdHq2oP
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The look on his face was one of bewilderment and worry. “Well hello to you, too, dear,” Rhonda said. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “Have a seat and I'll make you a bite.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAFkZLSiFo8C 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAVmMsgsYgch
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Eddie stood there in his boxers and white tee shirt intently watching his wife of twenty seven years. His eyes were wide and his wispy, white hair was out of place. He took a step backwards. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAV2GxserhpB 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAnfSENG9V2B
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“Sit down if you want some breakfast, Eddie,” Rhonda said again. Eddie took a step forward and paused. He took another sheepish step. “Sit down, you unusual man,” she instructed him again. 8964 copyright protection834PENANA47Egha3fS2 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA2lkfgEqE9O
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Eddie pulled a chair out and sat at the table. Eddie’s eyes never left Rhonda as she stepped over to him, bent down and kissed him on the forehead. Eddie’s brow wrinkled in horror and confusion.8964 copyright protection834PENANAe3Xa9DWIqv 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAXu3Skkf6vj
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Rhonda grabbed a skillet that she had just washed and sat it on the stove. She walked to the refrigerator and shook her head when she opened it. “My word,” she said. “I really need to go grocery shopping. It's as bare as bones in the ice box.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAwlW6kEcT9I 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAca9AUnpz8g
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She pulled out an egg carton and opened it. There were only two of them in it. Clicking her tongue, she took the two eggs and sat them next to the skillet. She ignited the burner and put a wee bit of olive oil into the skillet. Before long the two eggs were sizzling.8964 copyright protection834PENANAzQIRuCnUMY 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANArdfmGMJXS8
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“I would make you some toast, but it seems we are out of bread,” she said. Eddie watched her in silence. When the eggs were finished she dished them onto a plate and sat them in front of her husband. He just stared down at plate of eggs. Every now and then he would look up at his wife, who was now sitting across from him.8964 copyright protection834PENANAiNQ0LM12e1 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAHAlyHCUKrt
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“Well eat them,” she said with an annoyed tone. “Would a thank you and a good morning be too much to ask?”8964 copyright protection834PENANAaehILtkPdg 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAmwfWLe2OH9
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Eddie shook his head. “Thank you, dear,” he replied. “And good… good morning.” He picked up his fork and began to put small bites into his mouth. He chewed, but all the while he never took his eyes off of Rhonda. 8964 copyright protection834PENANArpNcAMHw8S 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAWztXgoL6Eb
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“I swear,” she said, “everyone has forgotten their manners today. It must have something to do with it being Halloween.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAvqtsFwfTmB 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAc5gEDvKKHG
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Eddie just nodded his head. The look of worry and confusion hadn't left his face. He took a few more bites of his egg. 8964 copyright protection834PENANANbtJOJ9ucz 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA2DYFM3zTY4
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“Well what is on your mind?” she said to him. “I can see something is bothering you. Out with it then.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAvmRKFzoung 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAbo7jj2DUOG
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He sat his fork down and looked at her intently. “How?” he asked gingerly. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAGOEiQTDczb 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAaM5GOHZEK2
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“How?” Rhonda asked. “How what?”8964 copyright protection834PENANANT4UMOud9H 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAplcJ1KdrE8
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“How are you here right now?”8964 copyright protection834PENANAep2Wnx4K3L 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAIZVwJH6SgZ
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“What kind of question is that? I live here.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAufhe7Qv42M 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAzvQY7LYHxV
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“But, but…”8964 copyright protection834PENANAF1nkcdE2yG 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAkbQlp0PKdY
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“But nothing. I live here. What kind of question is that? I swear, Eddie, old age is finally getting to you. Making your mind soft.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAfoXa8clYpM 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAg1l2SZZtXz
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Eddie picked up his fork again and took another bite. He sat the fork back down on the plate. “I don't know what's going on right now.”8964 copyright protection834PENANACpkVDZhz5P 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANATNQw9RP4S8
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“You are sitting with your wife having breakfast,” she said to him. “As pathetic of a breakfast it is. I apologize for letting the shopping lax.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAN5n6JUNHN1 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAqmimsznm37
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“I'm the one who does the shopping now,” Eddie replied. “I don't keep much here. I eat out most nights.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAaq8Z68jtys 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA6EfYn4kwRR
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Rhonda rolled her eyes and stood up. She walked over to the garbage can and looked behind it. “Do you smell that?” she asked. “It smells like something's gone rancid.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAgltxlFlRWi 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAQPMhcBu5MM
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She searched the kitchen for a few minutes. Her husband stared at her the whole time. His look of worry turned to one of wonder. Then his wonder turned to seriousness. His eyes hung on the floor while she searched for what was rotten. 8964 copyright protection834PENANA7T6Y5F7JSa 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANADvcXzPIjyC
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“I bet Mikey left a piece of fruit out,” she said. “It wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAuziun0O7FC 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAFYX4k0iKow
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“Mikey doesn't live here anymore, babe,” Eddie answered. “None of the boys do.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAosEc0EfaWP 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAcoe8kTaQ2V
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“Nonsense,” she replied.8964 copyright protection834PENANAEvbTtqYTMx 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA2Q1C7VE6Bg
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“Mikey is off in college now,” he said. “Johnny is in the army and Billy is working at the DMV. He has a family of his own now.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAD6XTlwTgDM 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANApJeO0hYb12
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“Ha ha. Very funny,” she said with no amount of amusement in her voice. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAR4Y0uSNi11 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAi4bWAMKeVS
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“I'm telling you the truth, babe,” he said. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAnFVoGywgGk 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA2fdmtx9wKc
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Rhonda grabbed the small pad that sat on top of the refrigerator and grabbed a pen. She started making a shopping list. “Is there anything you need from the market? Razors? A new toothbrush?” she asked. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAZ4Qsh7tRh5 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAdWcvBdgHzY
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“Sweetheart,” he said, “you have to listen to me.”8964 copyright protection834PENANA19zyGy9kN8 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA3pwMOcpeyA
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“I don't have time for your nonsense,” she replied. “I have to get the house in order before the boys get home.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAPQ7ZIh58nE 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANATITK7tG99P
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“Baby, the boy's ain't coming home,” he said, “I told you. They don't live here no more.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAf4Y0sX74Br 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAf3r4LMqxUe
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This time she slammed the yellow pad she was writing on down on the counter. “Enough with this nonsense, Eddie!” she declared. “I have enough to do without you adding to the list with your foolish pranks! I need to go to the market and get groceries and Halloween candy for the kids in the neighborhood. Now are you going to make yourself useful and help me or are you going to sit there and continue to be a horse’s ass?”8964 copyright protection834PENANAmb7wzip3Lr 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAicqwSiYQS4
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Finally finding the courage, he stood up and walked over to his wife. He gently put his hand on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. “Babe,” he said quietly, “you've been dead for twelve years.”8964 copyright protection834PENANARHmU2zDsfu 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAppLsUNy5ZZ
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She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Rhonda,” he said, “honey, you've been dead for twelve years.”8964 copyright protection834PENANA2FrrGAgSXJ 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAvMIaXC45sg
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Rhonda pushed him away. “Enough of your tomfoolery!” She cried out and then went back to writing her list. 8964 copyright protection834PENANANgXZqk4t5e 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANArQEpG4DoFa
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He put his hand on hers and stopped her from writing. “I'm not fooling you, babe,” Eddie told her. “You got in a car accident after you dropped the kids off for school. Twelve years ago today.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAu6gUvSbdWP 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA3b9h5kmMCi
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She put her pad down and sat the pen on top of it. What was he saying to her? Then suddenly it came back to her. Just like Eddie had said, she had been driving to the market after dropping off the boys and a van came out of nowhere and hit her station wagon. Then there was nothing but blackness. Until earlier when she walked into the kitchen. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAQxYYgbHs6m 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA9NsTIhpqXb
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Pulling out a chair for his wife, Eddie sat her down and then sat on the edge of the table. She looked confused. Almost as confused as Eddie did. “Okay,” she said in barely a whisper. “Okay. Will you help me find what that horrible smell is, Eddie? And then I'll go back to where I came from.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAjVZchLl4V4 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAqKNlF7yFWU
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Eddie nodded. “I would help you with anything, darling,” Eddie replied. “But I think what you are smelling is yourself. You been in the grave a long time.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAiCW2H7c3P7 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA7fk5fydxiW
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“He’s right, mom,” came a voice from the entrance to the kitchen. It was Mikey. There he stood, grown and handsome. Beside him stood Billy. He was much older than he was the last time she saw him.8964 copyright protection834PENANAcoHgqcyKcj 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAc85B5HjUcd
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“My boys!” Eddie cried as he ran over to hug them. “When did you get here?” 8964 copyright protection834PENANAdsJ6Ye4YGi 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA1C9AXLQSlN
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Billy returned his embrace. “We got here a few minutes ago. It took us a few minutes to process what was going on, so we just sat quiet in the hallway.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAjRZVcjjOyu 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAigszmRvtp7
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“We figured you could use a few minutes alone,” Mikey added. “To sort things out.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAexQW586s78 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAHwyFvqKOUD
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“Oh,” Eddie replied. “Where’s Johnny?”8964 copyright protection834PENANAHCPvvuHBJb 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAqJIoU0eRgB
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“Johnny couldn't be here, pa,” Billy replied. “He's living overseas now. You know that.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAOJVUXnwgGM 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAj1sUx9LWE9
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“Oh yeah,” their father replied. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAMTCCZZ3Nuw 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANArjHLBiLYGA
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The boys turned their attention to their mother. “Hi, ma,” they both said. They took turns giving her a long hug. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAQKTM3v2Wht 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAyoggYqZS76
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“I don't know how I got here,” their mother said to them. 8964 copyright protection834PENANA0NfN6vddlc 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAX0dVlzt1Sq
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“It don't matter,” Billy said softly. “But you can't be here anymore. It isn't right.”8964 copyright protection834PENANA4pi3r1fmyi 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAWrTnVRvuhm
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Mikey took his mother’s decaying hand into his own. “You need to go be at rest again, ma,” he said. 8964 copyright protection834PENANA7MKZhj0P8N 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAGpGlZm4CPK
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“Okay,” Rhonda relied. She knew he was right. She didn't know where he came from, but she knew it wasn't natural for her to be where she was now.8964 copyright protection834PENANAR7Mf3Gc51p 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAYrAY0XE43B
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Billy opened the back door and motioned for her to follow him. Holding Mikey’s hand all the while, she did. The four of them walked out into the back yard. Under a tall tree there was a hole dug in the ground. There was a wooden cross at the head of the hole. “That's where you came from, ma,” Mikey said to her. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAQE8U0w8Bwv 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAuxREEyTMkh
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“I'm buried in the back yard?” she asked. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAEM5G9JXBmz 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA7Z5Ge8psIl
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“We had you in the cemetery for a while,” Billy answered, “but every year on Halloween you would dig your way out of your grave and make your way back here. It got to be a real hassle sneaking you back into the graveyard, so here you lay.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAunJwGQNrXG 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAENe0ifMorF
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They all sat and just stared in silence for a few moments. Rhonda broke the silence. “I guess it's time for me to go,” she said. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAMswsxdSzRw 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAesOpWxpV4n
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The boys and their father nodded. They boys took two shovels that were there waiting for them and turned the hole into a nice, deep, rectangular grave. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAzOikMPhRtx 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANATnInmP2fgI
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They all said their goodbyes and their mother climbed into the freshly dug grave. As soon as she laid back in the dirt her eyes closed and she was gone once again. The life had slipped from her. 8964 copyright protection834PENANA01fexRE37f 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA2zQXJ8zQzw
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“How did you boys know? Why did you come here? You aren't playing hooky from school are you, Mikey?” Eddie asked. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAmxJK25wt92 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANACRVmxondSH
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“No, pa,” Mikey replied. “I'm not playing hooky from school. I haven't been in college for ten years. I graduated. I have a family of my own now.”8964 copyright protection834PENANA35t68uMnr1 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAefg7vWapka
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Eddie’s brow furrowed once again. “What?” he asked. “You just enrolled last year! You couldn't be done already!”8964 copyright protection834PENANAAjWONwDHBW 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAlDiU84IDXT
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“Billy patted his pa on the back. “It's true, pa,” he said. He's been out for years now.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAZVkUfKMwi5 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA96w9DYlJH9
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“This is insane!” Eddie exclaimed. “This whole morning has been bonkers!”8964 copyright protection834PENANAzfUklxy3qU 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAQX0qBlxvoW
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“It has, pa” Billy answered. “It is every year.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAmJHvsSm6Ct 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAzlpf0rDrPQ
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“Every year?” Eddie said. “It ain't ever been like this! I would have remembered a morning this whacky!”8964 copyright protection834PENANAULPND8Hqwa 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAFCQy8FWURU
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Mikey turned his father a half turn and nodded towards the east end of their back yard. A hole, not unlike the one Rhonda has come from sat there waiting. “It happens every year, pa,” Mikey replied. “We don't know why, but it does.”8964 copyright protection834PENANA2ysmKfwJLE 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAmVUMky9fbb
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“Naw,” Eddie responded, shaken. “Naw it can't be right.” He looked at his hands. There was no decomposition of the skin like Rhonda had. There was no stink on him like there was on her. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAhtZTmyn5V3 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANALAzZ0CnUFT
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“It is, pa,” Billy answered. “You died six years ago. Had a heart attack at the factory. On Halloween morning. Just like ma.”8964 copyright protection834PENANABDe4bFjdIC 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA6H7pxL5R8o
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“But that ain't right,” Eddie muttered. “I ain't rotten like she was.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAzocbL7s2So 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAfE6o46uuFz
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“It's true, pa,” Mikey said. He put his arm around his father’s shoulders and led him to the hole. “Every year on Halloween you and ma both come back. We don't know why. You just do. And we don't know why you aren't rotten. We can't figure that out.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAivgDdrPFDh 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAbNzJkO4z3Z
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Eddie’s look of confusion turned to one of acceptance. “Well it is what is I guess. It was good seeing you boys again. You know your mother and I love you dearly.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAyh4U93W4NR 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANAqZLy2ywJbE
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“We know,” Billy replied. “We love you, too.”8964 copyright protection834PENANAhvHq9YokQ3 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANArFCqNwGpqr
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The boys took their shovels and dug the grave while their father watched. When it was finished Eddie walked over to it and said, “I guess I'll see you next year,” he and the boys both laughed uncomfortably and Eddie jumped into the hole they had dug. As soon as his feet touched the dirt of the grave his body fell limp and lifeless once again. For another year at least. 8964 copyright protection834PENANAC9LnrNtwRK 維尼838Please respect copyright.PENANA51CJG0aEWU
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