Birthday Blaze

Hudson finished carving her last gourd and wiped the pumpkin seeds and sweat from her brow. She was about to light all the votives in her display when she spotted the neighborhood curmudgeon walking briskly toward her.

“You won’t want to be lighting those candles, if you know what’s good for you,” the ornery old man said. “Surely you heard what happened last time.” Hudson looked on with suspicion.

Hudson ignored the man and lit the candle. A bright blaze overtook the room, banners fell from the sky, confetti flew everywhere and thirty people ran out singing ‘happy birthday.’ “Told ya” the old man said. He walked away smirking, leaving behind the befuddled Hudson.