Listen, it's not real. None of them are!

It all began on the night of October 31st, 1996 — Halloween's night if you will. At the time, I was 13 and was going trick-or treating with my friends around the neighborhood. Of course, my parents had a few rules for us like "don't talk to strangers" and "don't wear black", but the most important one of them all was: "do not accept anything that isn't candy from anyone!"

Unfortunately, as it is often with children, I and my friends went on to break just about every rule they told us! And in what transpired as a result of a truth or dare game, I was dared by my friends, to go trick or treating at old Mrs Agatha's manor.

You see, just by the very end of the neighborhood, was an old looking manor owned by the neighborhood's very own loon: Old Mrs Agatha or as we as kids liked to call her back then, Crazy old Mrs A. At the time, Mrs Agatha was known around the neighborhood for being irrationally delusional. Ha! She would always go around preaching about how earth had been taking over by these mysterious celestial beings she kept calling the Atheans. Eventually, after numerous complaints had been lodged against her by the other neighbors, Mrs Agatha was kicked to the curve by officials and driven to the very end of the neighborhood, where she remained in solitude — undisturbed — for many years. Well atleast, that was until Halloween came that night.

So there I was, standing outside the front door of the scary looking manor, my friends chittering behind me as I hesitantly knocked on the door. And with every moment my knuckles tapped on that wooden door, I felt an ominous feeling overcoming me. My heart rate increased and I gulped loudly while waiting for an answer. Then, after about ten minutes, I heard shuffling sounds coming from within the manor before, at length, the doors opened

Chilled but all the more surprise to see nothing but darkness welcoming me when the doors slowly creaked open, I scarcely breathed out a low:

"Hello?.... Is anyone home?..."

For a moment there was complete silence and it felt as though someone was cautiously watching me from deep within the darkness, carefully observing.

"Errrrrrr.... good...." a voice suddenly sounded from within the darkness. It sounded like that of an old lady. "You're one of the real ones..."

"Uh... Trick or treat?..." I said again nervously.

"But of course..." the voice replied in a very dry and crooked tone.

"Here, this is for you..." the voice then said as a hand stretched out of the darkness, and reached for my open candy sack.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I think you're mistaken madam. This is isn't candy." I muttered nervously.

"Yes..." the voice replied. "I am aware."

"Okay..." I said. "But i'm not sure i can accept this" I said politely.

"Oh, but ever why?" the voice asked.

"Because... because my father said I shouldn't accept anything that isn't candy from anyone this night!" I exclaimed.

"Ohh... but this is much better than any candy you could receive this night! It is truth!"
the voice kept urging me.

"But... but my father..." I implored. But she soon caught me off.

"No buts!" she said. "You must trust me. Just eat three of these beans before bed tonight, and you will see what I mean."

"Uh..." I muttered.

"Fear not my child. Just do as I have said and all will be clear. Believe me, you will not regret it." the voice urged me once more. "Now go on back to your friends and watch as the night will pass."

Upon returning to my ever so eager friends whom had been waiting outside the gate, I was met with several questions.

"So?... How'd it go?" they all asked eagerly.

"Uh... it was kinda weird. She didn't give me any candy just... some ground coffee ."

"Argh... what a weird hag! I knew she was crazy!" one of the guys scuffed. "Just throw it in the garbage. It's useless". he implored.

However, even as we continued trick-or treating that night, I felt myself unable to forget all that the old lady had told me back then and so, with thought, I decided to keep the beans and give them a try later.

_Nathan

Later that night, at around 10:30pm when everyone else in the house had gone to bed, I grabbed the bag which I had hidden under my bed, and took three of the beans, eating them silently as the old lady had instructed. Honestly, I didn't really feel anything unusual after eating them, apart from the fact that they tasted really bitter of course And so, shortly after that, I went peacefully to bed.

Morning soon came, and I was awaken by mother's voice.

"Honeeyyy... Wake up! You've been sleeping all day!"

"Huh?... Uh mom, give me another hour! Jeez, I had a long night!" I grumbled, pulling a blanket over my head. But it wasn't until my mom gently pulled the sheets from my face, did I get a peek at her face.

"Aaaaahhhhhh Alien!!!!" I screamed.

"What? What??? What's wrong honey" she implored. But all I could see was this light-blue, celestial looking creature, standing beside my bed.

"Ah! Don't touch me!" I exclaimed as I ran downstairs to the living room, looking for my father.

"Dad! Dad! There's something in my..." I yelled but I was cut short by yet another alien creature, with the voice of my father!

"Huh? What's wrong son?..."

"Ahhhhh!!!" I screamed again, pushing my father aside and running out the front door.

"Help! Help!..." I screamed but as soon as I saw what was outside, I was left speechless: nearly everyone on the street - my friends, my neighbors - ALL OF THEM... they were all... aliens.

_{Danke Franco}