Tales From the Glades of Ballymore (26 page)

They went down to their dock and looked out over the pond.  They were waiting for Sam.  He had borrowed the raft from the ducks and would be arriving soon.  They noticed Grenby’s flagpole.  The top three flags were red-green-green.  Translated, that meant rain, moderate winds, and cold.

Wilde said, “It’s clear now, but something must be coming.  I hope it doesn’t rain too soon.”

“It won’t.  This is still going to be the best Halloween ever.  It already has been great,” responded Wilder.

He was remembering Grenby’s shock at the weasels’ weather forecast and the new saying ‘You’ve been Weaseled’.  Wilde spotted the raft coming around the island.  Sam was obviously pulling it, but he was too far away to be seen.  The raft made the trip across the pond and approached the dock.  They still couldn’t see much of Sam as only his head was above water.  This would prove to be advantageous this evening.  Sam positioned the raft next to the dock.  The weasels jumped on.

“Morning, Sam, how you doing?” asked Wilder.

“Good morning, guys, I’m fine,” he answered.  “I lighted my fireplace for the first time this week.  It’s wonderful!  The whole cottage is nice and warm.”

“The beavers are great builders.  I think they’re building the pavilion now,” said Wilde.  “Our first stop will be to pick up the pies from Mrs. Porcupine.”

“I’m ready,” said Sam.

It was a short trip to her cottage, and she was expecting them.  Sixteen large pumpkin pies were boxed and sitting on the counter.  She had been up since 4 bongs making them.  The aroma in the kitchen was marvelous.  The weasels thanked her, quickly loaded the pies, and headed for the west end of the island.  The HMS Ballymore was moored there.

Every time they saw the boat, they were impressed.  The morning sun gleamed off of the shiny, black hull.  The boat, with its tall rigging, rocked back and forth in the water, waiting for the next cruise.  Sam tied up the raft to the dock.  Wilder jumped onboard and lowered the gang plank.

The swans had delivered a large quantity of fireworks and pumpkins.  They were sitting on the small dock near the boat.  It took about two hours to move the pies, pumpkins, and fireworks onboard.  The pies were taken below out of the sun.

The weasels thanked Sam for his help and reminded him that they would “sail” at 6 bongs.  “Sail” was not the correct term to use.  The sails would be down, and Sam would pull the HMS Ballymore around the pond.  Sam wished them well and left with the raft.

Now, they had much to do to prepare for tonight.  The first task was to turn the pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns and then mount them on the railings.  Wilde had made a scary face pattern.  It was mid-afternoon before the pumpkins were carved and in place.  Each had a large candle in it.  Since they couldn’t count, the weasels didn’t know how many jack-o-lanterns there were.  I can tell you there were five on each side railing, two on the stern, and the largest one sat on the bow.  They were very impressive and would be even more so when they were lighted this evening.  A few extra pumpkins were left on the dock.

The second task was to place firework sparklers on the railings with the jack-o-lanterns.  People used a lot of fireworks on Halloween, so it wasn’t surprising that the swans found everything requested.  The weasels lined the railings, stern, and bow with varied colored sparklers.

The third task was to arrange the remaining fireworks on the deck so that they could be launched in an orderly manner.  They also placed buckets of water on deck just in case there was a problem.

The church bell bonged four times.  That gave them enough time to eat something and take a short rest.  While they were eating, the sky turned cloudy.

The final task was putting on their makeup.  Wilde had gotten some black dye.  They mixed it in a bucket of water and sponged each other from head to toe and nose to tail.  When they finished, their appearance was rather ghastly.  Perfect, they thought!

As darkness dropped over Ballymore, thicker clouds rolled across the sky, and the wind picked up.  It was cold and certainly felt like Halloween.  The weasels brought the pies up from below and lighted the jack-o-lanterns.  Waves rocked the boat, causing the gruesomely carved pumpkins to seem to come alive.  From a distance it appeared that there were two black ghosts moving on a deck of strange rolling jack-o-lanterns.  Wilder then began a kind high-pitch, baleful wail.  The frightening sound echoed around the island.

When Sam first saw the boat and heard the wailing, shivers went through him, and he stopped in the water.  Was this the H.M.S Ballymore that he was to tow?  It took some time for him to adjust to its new appearance.  The weasels had created a boat that few would want to get close to tonight.  The residents of Ballymore didn’t believe in ghosts or so they said.  However, very few would go out on Halloween night, and there was no trick or treating done.

After he calmed himself, Sam swam closer and yelled a hello.  One of the “ghosts” moved to the bow and said, “Sam, there you are.  Come on over here.”  It was Wilder speaking.

“Is that you Wilder?  I hardly recognize you or the boat.  Everything looks so scary.  It’s as if it came from another world.  Are you sure you want to do this tonight?” he asked.

Both weasels were pleased with his apparent fear.

Wilde said, “This is the best night to do this.  The spirits will be out.  Have you ever seen a spirit, Sam?”

“No, and I don’t want to.”

He shivered again but approached the strange sight.

“We’re ready if you are,” said Wilder.

Sam slipped into the harness and began to pull the boat along the shore of the island.  Wilder resumed the wailing.  Since only Sam’s head was above water, he couldn’t be seen in the dark.  The “ghost boat” moved through the water without sails.  From the shore you saw only the glowing and glowering pumpkins, the dark masts and rigging against the clouds, and two black shapes on deck.  You heard the rising and falling of the wails through the wind.  They stopped at the ducks’ dock.  The Duck family was peering from their windows but not making any effort to come out.

Wilder lowered the gang plank and picked up the first pumpkin pie.  Both weasels walked down the plank to the dock.  It was only then that the door to the cottage opened.  The ducks walked down to greet them and pretended that they had not been scared.

Wilder gave the pie to Devon.

“This is a good night to keep your doors locked,” said Wilde darkly.  The ducks agreed, thanked the weasels for the pie, and quickly went back to their cottage.  The locking of a latch was distinctly heard.  The window curtains were then pulled tight, but the children peered through them at the boat.  The weasels smiled and got back onboard.  They were already having a great time.

Sam slowly pulled the boat from the dock, and the wailing began again.  The swans were next.  Unlike the ducks, the swans were on the dock to meet them.  They were used to being out in weather like this and were less affected psychologically.  Even so, after receiving their pie, they didn’t waste time in returning to their cottage.  No need to tempt fate.

Now it was time to go to the mainland.  The weather hadn’t changed; there was no rain yet.  They headed for Bartholomew’s treehouse.  The owl was perched on his branch, waiting for something to happen.  He knew the weasels had planned some surprises for tonight.  He spotted the dark shape, highlighted by the orange glow, headed in his direction.  He heard the distant wailing.  As it got closer, he was able to pick out some details and was very impressed by the effect the weasels had created.

He flew down to his dock to meet them.

“Welcome, everybody.  Very well done, indeed!  I’m impressed,” he said.

Wilde threw the ropes to him, which he wrapped around a post.  The weasels jumped down and gave him his pie.  Sam said hello from the water.

“Wonderful!  I love pumpkin pie,” he said gratefully.

Wilde said, “We’re just getting started, and it’s going well.  Be sure to be on your branch around 11 bongs tonight.  There’ll be another surprise.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” said Bartholomew.

“Well, we have a lot of pies to deliver so we must go,” said Wilde.

“I understand.  I hope you all have a great Halloween, and thanks again.”

Wilde and Wilder climbed back onboard, and the boat left quickly.  The next few deliveries were similar to the first ones.  Next, it was the frogs’ turn.

Finn Frog watched from his dock as the “ghost boat” approached.  It was incredible to him that the weasels had created this.  They were so lucky.  He wanted to be like them so badly.  

The boat slid up next to the dock, and Wilder said, “Happy Halloween.”

“Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween to all of you,” he answered.  “This is fantastic!  How did you do it?”

“Just a few ideas, and a lot of effort,” said Wilde.  “Here is a pie for your family.”

He gave Finn the pie.  The rest of the Frog family remained at the door.  They were fascinated but decided to remain a safe distance away.  The weasels waved to them, and they waved back.  Obviously, there were no hard feelings about the trick the weasels played a couple of days ago.

Wilder said to Finn, “How would you like to come with us for a while?”

Finn said, “Really?  Can I?”

“Yes, really,” said Wilde.

“Wow, of course!” exclaimed the frog.

“Then, give your family the pie, and climb onboard Private Frog.”

Finn thought, I’m Private Frog.  Yeah!

He hopped back to his cottage, and gave the pie to his mother.  He told them that Wilde and Wilder had invited him for a short ride.  Then, he hopped back and onto the boat.  Wilder gave him a beret and said, “Wear this when you are onboard, Private.”

“Yes, sir,” he answered and put it on immediately.

The boat moved away from the dock, and everyone waved goodbye.

The chipmunks were next.  The younger chipmunks, Colin, Conner, and Craig were jumping up and down on their dock.  When they saw Finn onboard, they got even more excited and tried to jump on the boat as it docked.

Wilder said, “Whoa there!  Please stay on your dock.  Here, take this pie to your parents.”

The chipmunks grabbed the pie and ran back to their parents yelling, “Finn’s a PIRATE!  Finn’s a GHOST!”

The weasels and Finn had big smiles on their faces.

After they visited the squirrels and rabbits, they got to Grenby’s hut, but he didn’t come out.  Perhaps he was still upset about the flag incident.  Wilder asked Finn if he would like to deliver Grenby’s pie.

“Oh, yes,” was the quick reply.  Wilder lowered the gang plank, and Finn carefully carried the pie down and set it on the dock.  He adjusted his beret and hopped back onto the boat like a member of the crew.

“Private Frog, unfortunately, your duties are over for tonight, and we would like to thank you for your help,” said Wilder.

Finn was disappointed, but he took off the beret and said, “Yes, sir.  Thank you sir.”

He climbed down and watched as the boat moved away.  He thought, someday I’ll be the captain.  After a while he turned and headed for his home.

From Grenby’s, the threesome and their boat continued around the pond.  The last delivery was to Dr. Brigit.  She was waiting for them on her dock.  She accepted the pie graciously and complemented them on their boat decorations.

As I have related, the “ghost boat” drew varied reactions.  The weasels liked it best when the animals chose not to come too close.  For a few hours they had felt like pirates as the chipmunks had yelled.

Now for the fireworks!

Sam was tired as he towed the boat to the center of the pond, east of the island.  He unhooked himself and moved some distance away so that he could have a good view of the show.

Wilder dropped anchor, and both made sure that the fireworks were coordinated properly.  In their adventurous lives they had some previous experience with fireworks so there was no worry.

It was time to light the sparklers.  One by one, they came to life with a sizzle and illuminated the boat in shades of yellow and orange.  A number of animals were already on their docks.  From the shore it appeared as if the boat would lift out of the water, propelled by the sparkling, sizzling light.

The fireworks announced themselves.