Once in a Full Moon Page 0,8

decorated with black and orange streamers, cotton-candy-like spiderwebs, and ghost, mummy, and black-cat die cuts. A sign posted in the lobby read: HALLOWEEN DANCE AT 7 P.M.

I teetered over to the reception desk, where I was welcomed by a very friendly witch.

"You look great," Sally said through blackened-out teeth. I could barely hold my laughter inside as the straitlaced receptionist offered me a tray of pumpkin cookies.

"I'll grab one on the way out," I said.

"Little Red," I heard a man's voice call.

I didn't even respond to my new name until I heard it called again.

"Little Red, over here."

An elderly man wearing werewolf fangs, a brown-tipped nose, and a fluffy brown wig was standing a few yards away in the lobby next to a grand piano. I almost didn't recognize Mr. Worthington at first, but his brown cardigan sweater and khaki pants gave him away.

"Happy Halloween," I said, handing him a button.

"It's Halloween?" he asked. "No one told me."

I laughed at the elderly werewolf. I really adored Mr. Worthington. His youthful spirit was like a chandelier illuminating a darkened room.

"Let me help you," I said, pinning the button on his sweater. "I'm not sure I should be seen with a wolf, much less a werewolf. The residents will think we planned this."

"Let them think what they want," he said. "I've never seen a prettier girl in red."

I blushed to match the color of my hoodie.

"Well, I've never seen such a kind-looking werewolf," I commented back.

"So you've seen one?" he asked seriously.

"The closest thing I've seen to a werewolf was when my sister, Juliette, tried to perm her own hair."

Nurse Bridget, the head nurse on the first floor, walked by. Overhearing the final part of our conversation, she stepped over.

"Charlie, are you going on about werewolves again?" she asked, putting her arm around him. "You don't want to frighten Celeste away. She's our only steady volunteer."

"I haven't said a word. No one wants to listen to an old man, anyway."

"That's okay," I assured Nurse Bridget. "I promise I won't be too frightened."

"Every Halloween," she said, "Charlie tells us about the Legend's Run werewolf. Someone says they saw something furry in the woods years ago and people can't stop talking about it. It's like the Loch Ness Monster. A big hoax."

"My boyfriend was just telling my friends and me about that recently."

"So you already know?" Mr. Worthington asked.

"I guess as much as anyone else knows. But I'd love to hear about it from you."

Mr. Worthington brightened, knowing he finally had a captive audience.

"Celeste," Nurse Bridget said in an apologetic tone, "I'd love it if you could visit with some of the other residents. I'm sure they would be delighted. Mr. Worthington, can you tell her the story later?"

"Of course," Mr. Worthington said. "It's one thing I never forget. Now, where I left my glasses - that I can't remember."

"I won't be long," I said. I didn't want to abandon Mr. Worthington, but I had a number of pins I had to pass out and was more worried about upsetting Nurse Bridget.

I pinned, hugged, and took pictures with as many residents as I could find.

When I returned to the lobby, I found the elderly werewolf sleeping on a sofa. I was tempted to sit down and take off my painful pumps, since I was exhausted, but I knew I'd have as difficult a time getting up as he would.

I grabbed a small blanket from an adjacent chair and placed it on his lap.

"Is it time for dinner?" he asked, suddenly stirring.

"Yes, and it's time for me to go - "

"So soon?"

"I'm sorry it took so long," I said. "But I can walk you to the dining room."

"What did I do to deserve such a beautiful escort?" he asked kindly.

"You were going to tell me your story," I replied eagerly.

"Oh yes. You remind me of my wife when she was very young. We met here in Legend's Run."

I nodded. I'd heard that story many times but tried to pay attention as if I were listening to it for the first time.

"When we were young, Legend's Run was still a farming and mill town along the river. Not like now, where custom homes dot the landscape.

"But in the last fifty years the mill closed and people moved away from the town and came from the neighboring cities and developed the eastern side of Legend's Run. The Westside farmers continue to maintain their land. The east side became too congested and Riverside's commercial property too vacant. We