Trick or Treat

TRICK OR TREAT

"Right then, our Charlie," said my mam. "I want ye to go to the shop
fer us."

"OK, mam, what ye want then?"

"I've made ye a list out. A five-pound note is wrapped inside. Now
don't ye lose it, else yer life won't be worth living," said me mam,
shaking her finger under me nose.

"No mam, I won't lose it. I'll be real careful." I would to. I remember
the last time I'd lost some money. Eeh, I couldn't sit sown for a week;
my backside was that black and blue.

It's not that me mam's cruel. No, what with me dad getting killed a few
months ago, me mam finds it hard making her money last 'til the end of
every week. By the time she pays out on a Friday, there's never a great
deal left for the rest of the following week. She used to work herself,
but now she's got what she calls the 'aches'. Arthritis was what the
doctor said. Now I do all of the shopping for her.

Anyway, off I went to the shops. However, as I turned into the next
street, some of my friends were playing. Normally if I'm going to the
shops, I go straight there and back. Just in case I lose me mam's money
again. But on this particular occasion me friends were playing my
favourite game: 'rounders'.

I hesitated. Should I go shopping? Should I just have one game? Ah
well, one game couldn't hurt, I decided. Me mam would never know. I
could tell her that there had been a queue.

"Hey, Smig. Can I have a go on bat?" I shouted.

"Get out of 'ere," shouted Smig. "You field first, then you can bat.
Right."

"OK, keep your hair on," I shouted back, as I put the shopping bag and
list in a doorway.

The game went on for a bit longer than I'd thought. I looked at my
watch. I couldn't believe it. Five o'clock, the shop would be closing
soon. I picked up the bag and ran full pelt towards Mr Hopkins's
shop.

"Hello, Mr Hopkins," I panted.

"Hello there Charlie. Now what can I get you today, and how's your
mam?"

"I've got a list here, and me mam's just the same, thank you," I said
as I rummaged around in the bag for list. I couldn't find it. It was
gone. Oh no, not again. Me mam would kill me this time for sure.

I retraced my steps. I searched every doorway, every bit of pavement
all to no avail. Now what was I going to do? I could run away. No, that
wouldn't work. Who could I run to? I had no relatives. One thing for
sure, I wasn't going home.

I wandered for what seemed hours. Although in reality it probably
wasn't that long. As I walked aimlessly, I realised that I was in the
'posh' side of town. In the distance I could see some other children. I
walked towards them. As I got closer I could see that they were wearing
masks.

They were obviously 'Trick or Treating'. I carried on walking, and then
I stopped. Suddenly I had an idea. I could go 'Trick or Treating'.
Maybe I could earn back me mam's money? It would be too late to get the
shopping, I'd still get an ear bashing, but not half as bad as not
having neither.

After knocking on what seemed hundreds of doors, I'd amassed a grand
total of ?1. It was really dark now. I was hungry, tired and fed up.
Just one more street then I would have to go home and face the
consequences. I knocked on the last door. An old lady answered.

"Hello dearie," she said. "What can I do for you?"

"Trick or Treat," I said.

"I'll give you a treat if you'll show me a trick."

Now this threw me. This was not what she was supposed to say. "I
haven't got a trick," I replied as I started to cry.

"Come on in and tell and old lady all about it."

It was a beautiful house. Not at all like my house. This one smelled of
polish and flowers.

"Now then, what's your name dearie?" asked the lady.

"Charlene," I answered. "But all of my friends call me Charlie."

"Well then, I shall call you Charlie. How old are you?"

"Thirteen," I replied.

"I'm Mrs Carter. I would like to be your friend, will you tell me
what's wrong?"

I don't why, but I trusted this little old lady. So, I proceeded to
tell her all of the events leading up to my knocking on her door. When
I'd finished she patted my hand and told me that if I would trust her
without question she would give me the money.

"But why?" I asked open mouthed.

"No questions. All I ask is that for six months you come every day
without fail. I shall ask you to do little jobs for me. I must stress
that you do not miss one day in that six months. Do as I ask and the
money is yours."

"OK. I won't let you down. I promise."

"The money's in the drawer over there," she pointed to some drawers.
"Take it, it's yours."

When I got home me mam didn't half give me an ear bashing. I didn't
tell her about losing the money again. How could I? It was easier to
say that the shop was closed because I'd stopped to play
rounders.

"Well young madam, don't think that you'll be playing rounders for a
long time to come. You're grounded," screamed me mam, cloutin' me with
each word she uttered.

Now how was I going to repay my debt? I didn't know how, but I knew I
had to find a way.

For the next six months, I never missed a day. It was difficult for the
first few weeks, I'd had to sneak out when my mam wasn't looking. She
never missed me. Thank goodness.

Funny, though Mrs Carter never asked me to do any jobs for her. She
certainly never asked me to go shopping. I think I know why. I was
really sad when the six months drew to an end. On the last day I asked
Mrs Carter if I could still visit her every day.

"No dearie," she said. "You must never come here again after
today."

"But why?" I asked.

"No questions, please. Just trust me as you did in the
beginning."

I didn't want to say goodbye but I had no choice, so I said: "Ta-Ra,"
and left.

For two weeks I did as I'd been instructed, but I missed my old friend.
I decided to go, just this one more time. I knocked on the door. No
reply.

"What do you want?" shouted a voice from behind me.

"I'm looking for my friend," I replied.

"Nobody's lived there for over a year. Now clear off. Afore I call the
police."

I didn't need telling twice. I, scarpered and quick. Once I'd stopped
running, I started to think. That man must be lying. It was only a
fortnight ago since I'd been there. Who could I ask to find out? Then I
remembered Mrs Philips the librarian, or old nosy Philips as she was
known to everybody. She knew everything about everybody. I hurried to
the Library and asked Mrs Philips if she knew Mrs Carter?

"Ah yes," said Mrs Philips. "It was tragic really."

"What was?" I asked.

"Well Mrs Carter was a frail old soul. Her granddaughter used to visit
her every day after school. About your age she was. She would shop and
she did the odd job now and again for her grandmother. One day,
however, she didn't go. She has lived to regret it ever since."

"Why, what happened?"

"Apparently Mrs Carter had taken a fall the night before. She'd only
broken her hip, which she could have survived. Trouble was, she
couldn't get up, and because her granddaughter had missed coming the
following day she had to lay there where she had fallen. It was nearly
forty-eight hours before her granddaughter found her. She was
unconscious. She died later in hospital. Like I say, tragic really. It
happened on Halloween night, eighteen months ago."

Halloween night. Suddenly the penny dropped. That was she had insisted
on my never missing a day.

"Why did you want to know?" asked Mrs Philips.

"Oh nothing. It doesn't matter anymore," I answered as I turned and
left the library. I looked up at the sky. "Rest in peace Mrs Carter and
thank you."