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Chew the H, Swallow A, Digest N, Choke on K.

Hank!"

Their mouths watered. But was it Poison they held?

"Would you guess? Such happiness, such joy

As each boy dines on darkness, makes a meal of the night?

What delight! Snap a bite!

Go ahead! Munch that fine candy head!"

The boys tapped the sweet candy names to their lips and were about to bite when--

"Ole!"

A mob of Mexican boys ran up yelling their names, seizing at skulls.

"Tomas!"

And Tom saw Tomas run off with his named skull.

"Hey," said Tom. "He sorta looked like--me!"

"Did he?" said the Vendor of Skulls.

"Enrique!" shouted a small Indian boy seizing Henry-Hank's skull.

Enrique pelted down the hill.

"He looked like me!" said Henry-Hank.

"He did," said Moundshroud. "Quick, boys, see what they're up to. Hold on to your sweet craniums and get!"

The boys jumped.

For at that very moment an explosion hit the streets below, in the town. Then another explosion and another. Fireworks.

The boys took a last look in at the flowers, the graves, cookies, foods, skulls upon graves, miniature funerals with miniature bodies and coffins, at candles, crouched women, lonely boys, girls, men, then whirled and exploded down the hill toward the firecrackers.

Into the plaza Tom and Ralph and all the other costumed boys raced panting. They jolted to a halt and danced about as a thousand miniature firecrackers banged around their shoes. The lights were on. Suddenly the shops were open.

And Tomas and Jose Juan and Enrique were lighting and tossing the firecrackers with yells.

"Hey, Tom, from me, Tomas!"

Tom saw his own eyes glinting from the wild boy's face.

"Hey, Henry, this from Enrique! Bang!"

"J.J., this--Bang! From Jose Juan!"

"Oh, this is the best Halloween of all!" said Tom.

And it was.

For never in all their wild travels had so much happened to be seen, smelled, touched.