It was one week left, that Halloween was approaching and both the twins- Jack & Joe, were dreaming about Halloween and the fun they would have. They loved to enjoy funny tricks played on others and that day, Halloween was the only special day for them to become ghosts and doing tricks.

Usually like every year, they enjoyed the sweets and chocolates that were made by others on the eve of Halloween. They were waiting anxiously for the seven days to be passed very quickly. Their father had purchased them two Halloween costumes for them. They also brought some tricky items for making trickery by scaring the people in Halloween with the pocket money that they had saved.

They had told their friends about the funny thing that happened during the previous year's Halloween. They had dressed up so spooky with the costumes and when they came to the kitchen to inform their mom that they were going to hangout with friends to enjoy Halloween. Their mom screamed out loudly when she saw them because she couldn't recognised them.

She asked, "Who are you and what both of you want? Please don't kill me." At last, she recognised them when they open their masks. Their friends had a hearty laugh after hearing their tale.

That evening, when they arranged all the items, the phone rang. Jack picked up the phone their mom was making dinner.

It was their maternal uncle from countryside. Their uncle said, "Jack, your granny is not keeping well and we are taking her to the hospital. Inform your mummy about this and I will call her late at night."

Their granny had neurological disorder and it had worsened now. So, their mom was worried. They loved their granny very much. They wanted her to get well soon.

When Joe returned from his tuition class, their dad had also returned from office. He changed his clothes and quietly slipped into his study room. When he entered Jack told Joe about their granny's physical condition.

Then Joe said that when he was entering into his house, he heard some conversations between mom and dad. He heard their mom telling to their dad, "I may have to go and see my mom. You can't come before your vital meeting. So, I will take both Jack and Joe along with me when I go there. Mamma wanted to see them last time."

Hearing this, they felt worried if they went to the village, they couldn't enjoy Halloween with their friends in New York. Moreover, nobody enjoyed Halloween in rural areas. That day, both of them eat meagre dinner and went to bed thinking about Halloween.

Their mom woke them up in the early morning and said, "Jack! Joe! Get up and be ready quickly. We are going to see your granny."

They said, "But, mom, what about our Halloween? Can we can't go there after Halloween?"

Their mom said, "No, no, you forget about Halloween now. Your granny wants to see both of you very badly."

Jack asked mom, "Can we bring our Halloween costumes there, mom?"

"No! No! Never, your granny will be scared and may increased her nervousness to see both of you in these costumes," said their mom angrily.

Then Joe asked, "Mom, what about our tricky materials?"

"Forget everything about Halloween now. Inform your friends that both of you can't join them in Halloween preparations," shouted their mom.

Jack almost had tears filled in his eyes and Joe became dull. They gazed at their Halloween costumes and materials of making tricks. They cried out loudly, "No, mamma. We are not coming with you. Please allow us to enjoy Halloween. Mamma, we beg you. We want to enjoy Halloween by playing tricks. We want to enjoy Halloween."

"Wake up! Wake up! Your friends have come. They want both of you to discuss about the plan of Halloween. Why both of you are murmuring 'Halloween-Halloween' in your dream? Get ready and consult with your friends about Halloween preparations." It was their mom's voice and they opened their eyes.

Everything has been a dream only. They looked at their mom and said, "What about our granny?"

Their mom patted them and said, "Your uncle called me late at night and said that your granny is fine now. She is at home. Both of you had gone to bed, so I could not tell you last night. Now, hurry up! Get ready and discuss with your friends about Halloween preparations." Saying this, she went away.

They became somewhat stunned as they can't even think that their mom had told this. Then they pinched each other. After a while, their mom called them, "Jack! Joe! If, both of you are ready then come quickly. Your friends were waiting for a long time."

Jack said, "Hey! It is proved. Our mom has called us again. Be ready."

"Yeah! Right. That means, it is not a dream," Joe cried out joyfully.

© Baishali Mandal