A Halloween Tale for Grownups

   It was a cool and crisp fall day. Bill sat at the table staring out the big window and watched the trees, decked out in their autumn finery, cast batches of leaves about their back yard. His wife Jen joined him with two steaming cups of coffee and took the seat across from him.
   "Thanks" he said, taking the proffered mug.
   "Looks like you are going to have to clean out the gutters on the garage again." Jen commented as she sat down. "Think you will have time before the rain comes?"
   "Nothing wrong with the gutters." muttered Bill, as he glanced toward the garage that sat a little back from the house.
   "I think you will have to do something with them." Jen nodded her head. "Remember last year."
  "Woman, can't a man enjoy a cup of coffee?" groused Bill.
   "Fine, fine. I didn't mean right this second, now did I? Don't be such a grump. Enjoy your coffee and the view. It is such a nice view. I am so glad we decided to put this window in when we remodeled the kitchen. It makes such a difference, and it is so nice to sit here with coffee and watch the birds."
   "Hard to watch birds when someone is constantly handing out chores."
   "Oh, drink your coffee, you old grump." laughed Jen. She leaned back in her chair and tucked her graying hair behind her ear. They sat in silence for a few moments enjoying their coffee. "You know, now that we are both fully retired and this kitchen project is completely done, I was thinking we should take a trip."
   "Oh yeah? Where were you thinking." replied Bill with interest. A smile played about his lips.
   "I don't know, somewhere with sand and beaches I think. Get a feel for what we want to do next."
   "Anything but chores. I feel I have done nothing but work since I retired." A frown creased his forehead as he watched a car pull in front of the garage. "Isn't that Amy's car? You expecting her?"
   Jen nodded. "It is, and she looks like she has the boys with her."
   "Why aren't they in school? Isn't this a weekday?"
   "How should I know? I didn't even know she was coming." Jen got up to answer the back door as Amy herded two rowdy boys up the stairs to the back deck. "Amy, " she said opening the door. "Such a surprise."
   The boys shot through the door like dual cannonballs.
   "Boys!" called Amy. "Your shoes. Oh, they just don't listen." she laughed breathlessly.
   "Don't worry about it, it's not important. Come in, we were just having a cup of coffee. What brings you here?"
   "Oh I would love to have a cup. We were just passing though the neighborhood and I thought "You should stop and visit Jen and Bill' OH BOYS, DON'T DO THAT." she called. "They just got those new tools this morning, aren't they adorable?"
   "They look real." said Bill eyeing one of the duo as he hammered on an open cabinet door. "Stop that." he directed. "How come they are not in school?" He watched as the boys moved out of sight behind the kitchen island. A muffled banging noise began to fill the kitchen.
   "Oh they are real! Aren't they just great?" Amy swept into Jen's vacated seat. "We stopped this morning to pick up Starbucks and as the boys were getting their coffees, we saw them in the window and just had to have them!"
   Bill sputtered into his cup. "The boys had their own coffee? Aren't they a little young for that? They are what, 5 and 7?"
   "She doesn't mean real coffee, silly." said Jen bringing Amy her coffee.
   "Oh sure, they get their own coffee. They tried mine once and they really liked it. So I let them get their own. Sure beats sharing mine!" laughed Amy.
   "So do the boys have no school today?" asked Jen changing the subject as Bill purpled. From the corner of his eye, Bill thought he saw one of the boys leave the kitchen.
   "Oh they do, but it was so nice out, I thought we would take a day off..." Amy trailed off as her phone rang from the depths of her cavernous purse. "Hello?" she answered.
   From behind the island Bill heard a sawing noise.
  "Hey!" Bill exclaimed as he jumped up. "No sawing!" he moved around the counter to intercept the small blond haired boy.
   "Yes, I can come right away... Tommy, don't do that Honey....sorry, I was talking to Tommy. He just got a new tool set and they are the most adorable...."
   The blond haired boy named Tommy scooted around the island as Bill rounded the corner.
   "Give me that saw." said Bill as he surveyed the damage. "And where is your brother?"
  "Bye." Amy hung up. "Jen, I have to run a quick errand. That was Kathy and she wants me to come pick her up, her car is in the shop. I know you don't mind if I leave the boys here a little while? They are such a pain to get in and out of the car. You are such a dear. Thanks!"
   Before Jen could answer, Amy swooped up her purse and headed out the door. "No!" cried Bill to the closing door. A clinking came from the next room.
  "Oh my, what is that noise?" asked Jen looking bemused.
   "That damn kid put a huge cut in the cabinets with that little saw!" growled Bill.
  "Do you hear that noise?" asked Jen again. She frowned as she watched Amy's car back down the driveway.
   "And there is a hole in the wall next to the fridge!" roared Bill as he stormed about the kitchen. "We just redid this room and those little monsters are undoing it!"
   "Oh dear." said Jen nodding her head. "I hope Amy is not too long."
From the next room there was a crash and the sound of shattering glass, followed by giggles. Bill and Jen looked at each other and raced from their damaged kitchen... Moments later, two small blond heads peeped though the new kitchen window eyeing the discarded coffee on the table. With a miniature screw drivers they began tapping on the window.