wanted Wally to attend the funeral, telling Wallyâs father that the boy was too young. But Captain Day insisted his son be there to watch his grandmother lowered into the ground.
Wally was glad to go. He loved coffins and the people in them. On Dark Shadows an old lady died and they laid her out in her coffin right there in the living room. She even opened her eyes and sat up, scaring everyone on the show. But as hard as Wally willed his grandmother to move, she remained still and waxy lying there in the funeral parlor.
I wonder what she looks like now , Wally thinks, sitting there holding his motherâs hand, imagining the maggots and worms eating through Gramma Dayâs face.
âAnd the winner for the second gradeâs Most Creative Costume goes to our always imaginative Wally Day!â
Sister Marita Claire leads the applause. Everyone turns around in their chairs to find the little witch. Wally doesnât dare look up at his father. He just slides out of his seat and hurries down the row of folding chairs, his heart beating in his ears. He trips over his long black dress as he climbs up the steps to the stage, but quickly catches himself. He accepts his award from Sister: a small carved pumpkin with candy corn inside.
âI think itâs marvelous that Wally came as a witch,â Sister Marita Claire says into the microphone. âHow very, very clever!â
Wally feels as if he might break down and cry, so much attention is suddenly thrust upon him. He seems to float back to his seat rather than walk, lost in the sound of the applause.
âHeâs a good boy, Robbie,â a man tells Wallyâs father afterward. âEven in that girlâs costume, heâs still got your charm.â
âA smart boy,â another says. âEveryone says that about Walter. Smart and clever.â
âClever,â his father repeats.
âHeâs going to go far, Robbie.â
âThat boyâs going to make you proud.â
âCongratulations, Wally,â his Aunt Bernadette says, leading a tearful Kyle out of the auditorium by the arm. But she doesnât mean it. Sheâs angry because Kyle never wins anything. He brings home Cs and Ds and his teachers all ask him why he isnât as smart as his cousin Wally.
âWill you stay for more cider?â Sister Angela asks.
âNo, thank you,â says Wallyâs father. âWe have to be heading home.â
âYou must be so proud of Wallyâs creativity.â
His father smiles.
âAnd might I add, Captain Day, how proud everyone in Brownâs Mill is of your service to this country. At a time when so many are out in the streets protesting and shouting, your bravery and patriotism are inspirations to us all.â
No one speaks on the ride back home. Wally just sits in the backseat with his pumpkin in his lap.
In the morning his father is gone.
âHe got a call,â his mother explains, ironing shirts. âHe was needed back on the ship.â
âSo he wonât be coming back for a while?â
âNot for a while.â
Wally smiles. But his mother doesnât keep eye contact with him. She just concentrates on her ironing.
Pretty soon, though, she starts to sing, low and sweet.
â My little baby loves shortâninâ, shortâninâ â¦â
Wally joins in. â My little baby loves shortâninâ bread .â
Fade in on a boy, a few years older. Heâs in the basement, stacking comic books on a shelf. Each one is carefully bagged in plastic, labeled with issue date and number. On a lower shelf he notices a box. He bends down.
On the soundtrack: âIf happy little bluebirds fly â¦â
He stares down at the box.
âBeyond the rainbow â¦â
He lifts the lid.
âWhy oh why â¦â
Itâs a pointed witchâs hat.
âCanât I?â
Fade to black.
4
TOUCH ONE
The phone rings like a witch at the