This is my submission for the
Annual Halloween Contest
. I would be pleased if you read the story, then vote the number of stars you feel it deserves. Your vote tells me how well I'm doing. So it matters. Special thanks to PrivatesFirstClass for helpful comments. Thank you from an author with a warm heart, hands, and feet!
A COLD DAY IN HELL
By Rachel Anne Wallace
It was a cold morning in late November as I stood in the parking lot between the Hell General Store and Screams Ice Cream in the small hamlet of Hell, Michigan. The temperature had dropped to a few degrees above zero overnight as a cold front, an Arctic Express, came down from Canada. I was thankful there was no wind. Otherwise, the wind chill would have added to my discomfort with my head bare to ensure I could hear well enough to do my work. I was working as a Wildlife Ecologist, conducting the last of my ten-minute point counts for birds while standing outside my warmed car. The counts would allow me to conduct habitat specific analyses, if conducted over a period of years it would allow accurate assessment of population trends.
It's incredible how long ten minutes can be when you're uncomfortable for one reason or another. But there was another reason I was looking forward to finishing the count. Her face had appeared in the window of the general store with a smile, followed by a friendly wave before it disappeared.
It was Samantha, a name that seemed to fit so well with the theme of the area. I always wondered if her name alone had gotten her the job. My mind wandered back to the first time I met her, and I couldn't help but smile. It was warmer then—mid-summer. She had affected me from my very first gaze at her pretty face and attractive form. But it was her infectious smile and honeyed voice that had melted me.
The count finished, I placed my binoculars and paper forms on the warm seat of the car, then walked inside. I knew Samantha would be waiting for me with a warm drink and a breakfast sandwich from the small deli kitchen. I was a creature of habit, so after several months of my coming in for a mid-morning snack, she knew what I would order. Not that Samantha didn't take pleasure in teasing me about it. She had a wonderful personality, and we frequently engaged in friendly banter.
I remembered those early days. At first, I kidded her that she had a neck that begged a vampire to kiss it. It had made her blush red the first time I had said it. After several times she had gotten over that, so I switched to telling her she had the loveliest knees I had ever seen—she was the bee's knees. Making her laugh outright, and she had suggested I was looking at her all wrong. If she had only known it was far more than her knees that I was interested in. The slight wiggle of her behind as she walked away, the subtle bounce of her breasts within her bra and blouse when as she approached always grabbed my attention. She was a dream to watch in motion. Those are the kinds of subtle things a man can appreciate in an attractive woman.
Memories of how we had gotten comfortable with each other after several weeks flooded my mind. There was seldom anyone present during my stay and she seemed eager for the company. At the time, she was wearing a promise ring signifying her future engagement. At least, that was the explanation she had provided. Three days before Halloween I had noticed the ring missing from her finger. She never gave a reason, even though she knew I had noted its absence. All I knew, was that after that point, she joined me at one of the small tables when no one else was present so we could talk face to face, rather than across the counter.
*****
It was on Halloween day that had I picked up a pair of fake vampire teeth from the shelf, put them in, and then waited for her to sit down across from me. Then I gave a deep laugh, followed by a swooning—
I need to drink your blood
—bared my fanged teeth, and slowly bent down to kiss her bare neck. She gave a small shriek, regained her poise, and then giggled delightedly. She watched me as I sat back down with a broad smile. As I looked into her beautiful brown eyes they seemed to sparkle.
Then she said, "Grover. I can't believe you. Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"Guess you bring out the best in me," I countered with a smile, then reached over to take her delicate hand and kiss the top of it. She looked at me as her face flushed red. It was then I felt a surge of warm energy. My goodness! I had kissed her. I could tell it had affected her. We just sat across from one another, looking into each other's eyes, not saying a word. I couldn't help myself now, not after this acceptance of my spontaneous affection. I stood and stepped to her, extending my hand.
*****
I took Grover's hand as we stood in front of one another. The kiss on my neck had sent a powerful surge of warmth coursing through my body. His soft, moist lips on my neck matched my fantasy where he kissed me and held me close. I leaned towards him and closed my eyes. It was as if my body was on automatic, knowing what it wanted without me telling it. When our lips met, I felt my knees go weak, a masculine odor infused my nostrils, the soft swish of the overhead fan felt cool on my warm, bare skin as a jolt of electricity surged through me. He pushed his lips firmly onto mine as I gave him as much in return. When our lips parted, I took a breath and looked at him with a smile. It was all I could do, my entire body flushed. It had felt so wonderful, so romantic, standing in the dim light of the store, only the two of us.
It was as if one of my fantasies about him had come true. I had tried hard not to show how much I was attracted to him. The attraction was more than physical—his sense of humor, intellect, and the respect he showed me garnered my attention too. Whenever we spent time together, my fondness for him had grown. Each time I longed for an opportunity to see him other than at work. And now this, coming from out of the blue, completely spontaneous. It seemed to surprise him as much as it had me. My reaction had been instantaneous and unambiguous. There was no denying there was an attraction between us.
It was Halloween day and the store was going to remain open until eight-thirty as this was one of the biggest events of the year in Hell. After all, where else would you want to spend your time? The owner, Marge, had asked if I wanted the extra hours and I had agreed. After breaking up with my long-term boyfriend I didn't have any plans. I guess I could have, as two guys I knew from high school, who knew of the breakup, had asked me out. I had declined knowing where they wanted it to lead. I wasn't that desperate yet.
I had continued to wear my promise ring for weeks longer than I should have. The reason wasn't apparent to me at first, though as I thought about it, I recognized it was because it gave me cover from being hit on too often. It finally occurred to me, Grover wasn't going to ask me out as long as I was wearing it.
Grover was the man I really wanted to spend time with. Still, he hadn't asked me out after I took the ring off—that was, until this morning, when he stopped in as usual after counting birds. When he came in, it was quiet. The store usually didn't get busy until about eleven when the lunch crowd, such as it was, would come for the deli. This morning had fit the norm. Grover surprised me that morning in a most unusual way and we had shared our first kiss. Before he left, he asked if I had plans for the evening and I told him I was working. I could tell he was disappointed. I explained why and he looked at me with a wide, mischievous, grin.
"Samantha, I would be glad to come back and help you pass out candy to the kids. It sounds as if it would be a good time."
I was almost speechless. I mustered my wits after a few seconds "Are you sure? It gets a little wild with kids yelling trick-or-treat at the top of their lungs. I'm sure you have better things to do."
"What would be better than spending Halloween with you and a bunch of raucous, candy-crazed kids. You know, I wouldn't mind passing out sweets by helping the sweetest girl I know."
I wanted to simply grab him and squeeze him. Damn if I wasn't getting excited at the prospect.
"My, Grover you are quite the charmer today," I said with a shy smile. My heartbeat picked up again as he paid for his food and the pair of vampire teeth. I stepped out from behind the counter, hoping maybe we would share another kiss.
"Okay. I'll need to ask Marge if it's alright with her. Give me your phone number so I can call you if it's a go."
Grover handed me his business card after he wrote his private number on the back. Just then a customer came in the door, and I headed back behind the counter. My hopes for a kiss were dashed.
Grover called over his shoulder as he headed for the door, "Alright. We have a plan. I'll wait for your call. Behave yourself."
Marge told me she would come in and we would work together until about three when I got off most days. She was going to spend more hours at the store so I could go home and get some rest before coming back to hand out candy to the kids. When I asked if Grover could help she looked at me quizzically.
"Is that the biologist working on birds in the state recreation area?"
"Yeah. That's him. He comes in most mornings to get a sandwich and something to drink."
"Sure. No problem. I've talked with him a few times—he seems pretty nice. You know he's a good looking young man. If I were a bit younger..." She stopped with a laugh, "Okay, I'm going to stop now before I embarrass myself."
I called Grover after I got home and he told me he was looking forward to seeing me. I was certainly looking forward to seeing him. The memory of our kiss had stuck with me all day, and it warmed me each time it came to mind. Marge was right—he was an attractive man. It wasn't like it had entirely escaped my attention, but it had never been uppermost in my mind as he was simply fun to be around. That, and the fact I was already involved.
But there was another reason I hadn't considered a serious relationship with Grover. We were talking over a month ago when he told me he had applied for another position farther north that would be a promotion for him. He hadn't mentioned it but once after that, saying the decision was still pending. He lamented the fact that Civil Service procedures took so long. He was sure it would be a while before the final decision would be announced. He clearly enjoyed his work and I was a little envious—who wouldn't want to be outside most of the time watching animals.
It was well after supper and I was busy with a customer when Grover walked in. Though I didn't know it was him at first, as he was wearing a very convincing gorilla mask and a pair of gloves that went in under his shirt sleeves that mimicked ape hands, hair, and all. It was only after he approached me and asked if I had any fresh bananas that I recognized his voice.
