"Trick or Treat"
By Tony Thornley

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

Sue Ellen Martin rushed to the door. Her candy bowl was close to empty, but the children were still coming. It had been a long Halloween, and she and her husband Tom still had a party to go to. She looked in the mirror and adjusted the skirt of her Supergirl costume. She had told Tom that the skirt was too short, but he said it was fine. A typical comment from her new husband. They were still in college and had only been married three months. Despite his faults, she still loved him.

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

"Coming, sorry!" Sue Ellen cried. She grabbed the candy bowl, turned the doorknob and threw the door open.

"Trick or treat!" A young boy, maybe ten years old, stood on her doorstep. He wore a red Superman costume left over from the hero's time with electrical powers. He held out his bag with a large grin.

"What a great costume!" Sue Ellen said. "Who are you?"

"I'm Superman!" the boy said. Sue Ellen suddenly realised how deep the youngster's voice was. She grabbed a small handful of Jolly Ranchers and Tootsie Rolls and tossed it in his bag.

"Well, you have a great night!" She shut the door. She stepped over to the table where she had set the candy down before and replaced the bowl. She turned and took a step.

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

Rolling her eyes, she turned back to the bowl, picked it up and reopened the door. Another young boy stood on the step, this one wearing a Martian Manhunter costume.

"Twick o' tweat!"

"Oh, another superhero!" Sue Ellen giggled. "You look adorable!" He held out his bag and Sue Ellen threw a handful of candy inside. "Are you going to save the world tonight?"

"Uh-huh," he said. "Wif the Justice League!"

"Well have fun!" Sue Ellen shut the door again. She set the bowl on the table.
"Are you ready to go hun?" Tom yelled from the back door.
"The trick or treaters haven't stopped yet!" she called.
"Put the last of the candy in the bowl and leave it on the front steps!"

"Okay," she said. She grabbed the last bag of candy and dumped the few remaining pieces of candy inside. She reached for the doorknob.

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

Sue Ellen frowned and opened the door. Another young boy stood in front of her, this one in a Firestorm costume.

"Trick or treat!"

"Here, take the rest," she said, dispensing with the pleasantries. She dumped the candy in his bag, smiled, turned and shut the door.
"Okay, I'm ready!"

Eel O'Brien looked in his bag, taking inventory of his night's take. His three costumes had tripled his candy. It was idea he'd have to use next Halloween. He grabbed a mini Snickers, tore it open, and popped it into his mouth. He began chewing.

"Sweet, sweet chocolate," he muttered happily. He licked his lips and looked into his bag again.

"AHHHH! Leave us alone!" Eel's head snapped up. That sounded like a kid in distress. He quickly shifted his body into a spring and bounced towards the cry.

The two bullies towered over the little boys. The boys were in costume while the bullies were not. From the size of their bulging candy bags, it wasn't the bullies' first take of the evening.

"Hand it over now!" one growled.

"We don't wanna!"

"I said now!" One of the bullies shoved the boy facing him. Eel quickly shifted his body into a different form. He tapped on one of the bullies' shoulder.

"'Scuse me," he said.

"What?!" he said, turning angrily. He came face to face with a large red-clothed vampire. Fear struck his face. A wet spot spread across his pants.

"Uh, Jimmy," he stammered.

"What?!" Jimmy turned and screamed. "RUN!" The bullies dropped thier bags of candy and broke into a sprint. Plastic Man shifted into his normal form. The two young trick-or-treaters suddenly became very excited.

"Wow," said one, "it's Rubber Man! He's a member of the Justice League!"

Eel smiled. "Uh, yeah. I am."

"Wow," the other said. "You want some candy?" He held out his open bag.

"Well... okay!" Plas took a large handful and threw it in his mouth. The boys walked away, excited to have met a real-live superhero.

"Aw in a day's wowk," he said through the mouthful of candy. He looked down and saw the bullies' candy still on the ground.
"Score! Wonder in they have any Snickers."

THE END

"Hey, what about the part where I crash the Halloween party as Batman?!"

I said, THE END

"Or where I make out with a babe dressed as Wonder Woman?!"

I really mean, THE END!!!

"Oh man... okay... but can I just-"

No, end means end! Enough!

"Okay there's a little hostility here..."

THE END (for real)

"Really!"

SHUT UP PLAS!