Author: Sam

Story: Halloween in Hazzard: 2 of 10

Series: n/a

Characters added: Lulu and Roscoe

Feedback: Yes, please? Especially constructive. samwise_baggins@yahoo.co.uk

Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/samwise_baggins/index.html

Chair settled firmly on four legs, Jesse Duke considered the bobbing compass in the bowl. It was pointed directly at him, much to everyone’s delight, since Jesse was considered one of the best storytellers in those parts. He nodded and slowly looked up at the crowd of expectant faces around him. “Well, I wasn’t all that young or foolhardy when I seen me a ghost. And it was on Black Holler Road, just like the boys seen.”

“Only with us, we heard rather than seen.” Bo set the fresh drinks before everyone, helping Daisy with the large round. He slipped into the chair Enos had provided.

Jesse frowned at the young blond, though. “Now, you done had your turn, Bo Duke, so let that tongue of yourn rest whilst I tell my tale.” As Bo grinned, lifting his mug for a drink, Jesse turned back to the rapt audience.

“Now as I was sayin’, I was not quite as young as the boys had been, but not as old as a man should be, when I got my chance at a ghost. We was drivin’ down Black Holler Road in an old, beat up truck my daddy owned. It was me and my sister in the truck that day and we was goin’ to meet up with some friends down back by the Black Holler Pond.”

After a long, thoughtful drink, the older man nodded again and continued in the same, slow manner. “Well, it was gettin’ on to sunset when we passed the beat up old Fuller place. It was still standing strong back then, though weren’t nobody livin’ there for nigh on five years. Well, my sister was looking out the window on her side, commentin’ on the scenery and such, jus’ passin’ time like girls do. And I was lookin’ out for anythin’ blockin’ the road from the last big storm we’d had.”

Bo jumped in again. “Was that the one that took down the ole...”

Uncle Jesse’s glare shut Bo up quick, and the younger man settled back in his chair with a sheepish look as the elder went on with his tale.

“Now, out of nowhere come this big ole dog, only he’s white as snow and looks more wolf than dog. He tears over towards Sissy’s side o’ the truck, his mouth agoin’ but no sound comin’ out, and that’s when I notice he’s so big, he can look right in the window as he’s runnin’ up aside us. Mind, we was goin’ a good clip, thirty mile an hour or more, and he just keepin’ right up with us. Then Sissy, still lookin’ out that window, screams that the dog was smilin’ at her. Weren’t no dog look, neither, but that his face gone and turned funny-like and his mouth grinnin’ up like on a human. I hit the brakes right there, wantin’ that dog in front or back behind or anywhere but right next to us. And he drop back real quick, as if I’d a gunned her ‘stead of stoppin’. I start up that truck real slow like, lookin’ in the rearview the entire time. And then, I seen it disappear. It just faded out. I hit them brakes again and watched in the mirror as it continued to fade like a television light going dark. And when it weren’t there no more, that’s when I step on the gas and tear on outta there.”

The men gathered round were quiet, staring wide eyed at the man who’d just finished talking. When the door slammed open, everyone in the room jumped ‘bout a mile and there were gasps from some of the women folk... and a couple of the menfolk, too.

Everyone turned to stare at the pair just entering. There stood Lulu Hogg, Boss Hogg’s wife, dressed in a long sheet, done up like a Grecian toga. Her hand was resting regally on the arm of her baby brother, Roscoe Coltrane, Sheriff and all-around flunky to Boss. He, too, was dressed in toga fashion, but his expression was more sullen than regal.

Around the room, men raised to their feet, privately glad, each and every one, that there was a good interruption to hide their reactions to the story Jesse told. With an expansive smile, Lulu tugged Roscoe into the party and asked, in an overly loud voice, “Can we join the party, boys?”