Page 6 - The Jack O Lantern Scare

The Jack-o-Lantern Scare

We joined them under the shielded canopy of the

tree, slouching to the ground and positioning

ourselves. We were immediately intrigued by

Tanty’s animated expression as she shared with

Uncle Rasford the story of the time her cousin
Mable was almost drawn into the

Jack-o-Lantern’s light.

We sat silently, listening to Tanty’s surely

exaggerated stories, hanging on to her every

word. As the evening went on, Grandma switched
from Jack-o-lanterns to childhood memories

spent playing “coupie” and cricket in the old dirt

pasture near the river.

She joked that her parents would send them to

the shop and spit on the ground as a sign that
they had to get back before it dried. We laughed

very hard, picturing the stubby, younger version

of Tanty running to the shop.

The evening came to an end when mid-story,

Tanty tilted her head and took a deep whiff of the

air and declared that the pudding was done.

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