THE BAKER HOUSE

The three boys walked past hordes of eager trick-or-treaters. Don watched the round holes that served as Charlie's eyes gaze longingly at the bags of candy as he passed. As though he knew Don was watching him, Charlie looked up at his big brother. Don was striken by guilt at the confusion and disappointment in Charlie's eyes. He remembered Halloween night seven years before when he stood in Charlie's shoes. Of course, at the time it had just been him and their dad. Don remembered dressing up as a policeman. That was the Halloween when Mom was pregnant with Charlie. Don also remembered that after that night, Halloween slowly lost interest for him.

" Hey, Don, you comin!" Tom yelled calling Don from his thoughts.

Don looked up at him and felt his guilt slip away.

" Yeah!" he yelled back, " Come on, Charlie."

Charlie looked up at his older brother.

" But the better houses are this way," he said pointing in the direction they had come, " Shouldn't we be going there."

Don looked down on his brother. Tom, realizing Don hadn't moved backtracked to him.

" What's with you, man?" he demanded, " They're waiting."

Don looked up at Tom, unsure how to answer. Charlie did it for him.

" The better houses are down there," he said excitedly, " We should be going that way."

Tom smiled a devious smile, and Don knew what was coming. Yet despite the nagging of his conscience he refused to intervene.

" Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie," Tom replied smoothly, " You have it all wrong. Now listen, it's the Baker house that has the most candy, not those other places."

" But...I did the math. Statistically...," Charlie protested.

" Forget the statistics short-stuff," Tom replied, " Look, this is Halloween. It's the only day of the year where math doesn't apply. Believe me. I've been doing this longer then you have, and I know which houses to hit."

Charlie looked at him utterly perplexed.

" But how does math...?" he started.

" What do you not trust me, short-stuff?" Tom replied feigning hurt.

Charlie gave him an analysing look.

" Don't answer that," Tom added, " But if you don't trust me, then trust your brother. He's been at this as long as I have."

Don looked at Tom incredously. He had been alright watching the exchange, and being able to handle the guilt, but this was going to far. He looked at Charlie's pleading face, the one he always gave to their parents when he was upset. The one that normally meant Don was out of the picture. He made his choice.

" Oh, yeah, Charlie," Don said.

Charlie looked questionly at his brother and replied, " Then why didn't you tell me?"

" You had to figure it out yourself, buddy," Don weaving the web larger.

Charlie looked up trustingly at his brother and nodded.

" Okay," he said simply, and they were off again.

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