SUSANNAH STEWART | PUMPKIN JACK, BLOODY BONES, AND THE BAD CHILDREN, PART TWELVE

A Happy Ending

Monsters don’t always win

Synopsis of Parts One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, and Eleven

Pumpkin Jack has a plan to save himself and a reluctant Bloody Bones from life as Halloween decorations and to become fierce monsters once more. The other Halloween decorations, Agatha and Phineas Greystone, Ambrose and Oscar Swopes, Jacky O, and Dracula lecture, mock, and plead with Pumpkin Jack to accept his fate. Enraged, he threatens everyone and plans to use the children who visit the cottage in his scheme to get his power back. He knows he can feed on the cruelty in Muffy and Buffy Haynes and Vance Parker and the fear he can create in Melanie and Charlie Harrison. He unwisely ignores the threat posed by Susannah Stewart. Penelope gives the children permission to visit the attic, though she knows Pumpkin Jack is up to something. She sends her little dog, Sherlock, to watch after them. Pumpkin Jack traps the children in the attic. Sherlock attacks Pumpkin Jack and Bloody Bones and the children escape. Charlie finds Susannah Stewart and her animal companions, telling her of the children’s narrow escape. Susannah goes to Penelope’s cottage to remove Pumpkin Jack and Bloody Bones to the Stewart house. Pumpkin Jack and Bloody Bones meet a fitting end, Bones as a salt shaker and Jack as a pepper shaker, Halloween knickknacks.

When we’re young, we like happy endings. When we’re a little older, we think happy endings are unrealistic and so we prefer bad but credible endings. When we’re older still, we realize happy endings aren’t so bad after all. Margaret Atwood

Back at the cottage, tucked into its cul-de-sac at the farthest end of the lane and surrounded by its neatly trimmed and winter-ready garden, all was peaceful. The kitchen, though brightly lit and still warm from the afternoon’s baking, was empty.

Penelope had wondered how things were in the attic, without Pumpkin Jack and Bloody Bones. She and Sherlock had gone to stand on the top step of the staircase, quiet and intent, listening to the discussion within, the merry voices, the relieved joking.

Carried away by the shared gaiety, Jacky O and Dracula had attempted a shrieking, off-key rendition of “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” changing the lyrics to insult the departed Pumpkin Jack and Bloody Bones. The vampire busts and talking jack-o’-lanterns lamented their lack of hands, wanting to cover their ears.

What has happened to Pumpkin Jack? The big bad man, the big bad man What has happened to Bloody Bones? Gone gone gone gone gone

Jacky O said to Dracula, “My friend, you’re looking good, I am my usual splendid self, and even the vampire snobs and grumpy pumpkins aren’t as unbearable as usual. Best of all, the two bullies got their just deserts.”

“It’s our house again, No tricks and many treats. Happy Halloween to everyone.”

Penelope smiled and with Sherlock returned to the kitchen to bake more of her special Halloween goodies: chocolate mice, witches’ hats, peanut butter spider cookies, meringue bones and ghosts, and Ronan’s favorite, double layer pumpkin spice pie.

It was good to remember that the monsters don’t always win.

To Be Continued Through Halloween

Part one

Part two

Part three

Part four

Part five

Part six

Part seven

Part eight

Part nine

Part ten

Part eleven