Neighborly Behavior

So you’re the new neighbor? Since you’re not familiar with the street let me be the first to warn you. Do you see that house at the end of the street? It’s the one that looks like it’s frowning at you. That’s the Munro house and you don’t want to go anywhere near it… at least not yet.

It’s out of place for a reason. It’s a warning to all of us kids that trouble is just beyond that red door in the front. But don’t worry; we won’t make you go inside. That would be just awful of us! All the other kids are busy right now, but you’ll meet us all tomorrow.

We’re not use to just letting anybody play with us. So you’re going to have to prove your loyalty to the rest of the group. Tomorrow’s Halloween so you can imagine how big a deal it is on this street. And that’s how you’re going to show us that you’re worthy of becoming the new guy. All of us are going to walk you up to the Munro house and—I know, I know. I said we wouldn’t make you go inside. But you have to prove you’re big and brave enough don’t you? We want you to knock on the door, AND someone has to answer.

You seem like a nice enough guy, and I really want you to pass the test so I’m going to give you a couple of tips. What’s that? Well, of course I did! We all had to go knock on his door on Halloween at one point in our lives. My dad calls it a “rite of passage” or something like that. Now remember, someone has to answer, but that doesn’t mean you have to be their when the door opens. So knock hard and fast and dive into the shrubs if you have to, but get out of the way!

Monster Munro is definitely dangerous; I can’t believe you would ask that! What’s so scary about the Munro house? Look at the place; it just doesn’t fit with the rest of our neighborhood. The colors don’t look right. It smells funny. And shivers slide up and down your back when you walk by the front gate. And nobody ever sees the old man outside of the house except on Halloween.

Well, that’s not true. I saw him once. I couldn’t sleep and happened to wander to the window and saw him up and about in the strangest hour of the day. When everyone else was asleep, there he was, just walking around on his front lawn.

What does he look like? He’s old and wrinkly like paper that’s been buried in the ground. And he’s tall, but I think that’s how most monsters are. He doesn’t talk like we do. It’s more of a growl than saying actual words. I heard that he even ate of one of the kids that used to live here. The kid snuck into his backyard and was never seen again. His family moved not too long after that.

But do you want to know what I think? I think he’s more that just a monster, but he’s definitely not like you and me. When it was my year to knock on his door, I jumped into that shrub right there by the door. By the way, you want to avoid jumping into that same shrub… trust me, thistles are not fun.

Well, when I hid in that pile of thistles that passes for a shrub, the door opened slowly and Monster Munro crept out looking for his would be passerby. But it wasn’t the sight of Munro that caught my eye. I saw that contraption that he sleeps in and it’s not like what you and I sleep in.

He sleeps in a bed! And from what I’ve seen he probably sleeps at night! I know! That’s so strange! But don’t tell anyone that you know he’s not a vampire like us. They’ll know I’ve been giving you tips. I have to go now, but I’ll see you right in front of your house tomorrow night, and I’m going to bring everyone with me. We’re going to have the best Halloween this year. And welcome to the neighborhood!