Of course, after a few minutes of arguing about which room to go to first, Shirley started walking away, and of course, everyone followed. That wasn’t surprising since she was the one of them who had run for class president. She hadn’t won, but then again, that might have been because she hung around nerds instead of cheerleaders.

They stopped at the cakewalk first. Arthur won, which was a little unfair. After all, he already had everything at home. He didn’t need any cake. The only time Merlin ever ate cake was at someone’s birthday party. At least, even the losers were given a piece of candy for participating. Yep, the story of my life, he thought. Not first place, just the participation prize.

The next room they stopped in had them bobbing for apples. Not really wanting to stick his head in water that had already been bobbed in by who knows how many others, he declined his chance and took the consolation prize.

After that, they went to the ring toss room. Robert actually ended up doing the best of the group. Go, Robert, he thought. Robert wasn’t very athletic and rarely did well in sports. Maybe the Robin Hood costume was bringing out his inner marksman or gave him a needed boost in confidence.

Merlin glanced at his sister, making sure she hadn’t wandered off. Luckily, she seemed stuck with glue to Peter’s sister. Sometimes he almost forgot she was around. He’d never heard of a girl as quiet as she was. For a second, he wondered why she was always like that. At least she rarely got in trouble at school because of it.

Even that wouldn’t help her in Ms. White’s room though. The substitute teacher always seemed to find something to scold each student about. Maybe that was why Merlin wasn’t sure he wanted to go into Ms. White’s room. Something about the substitute teacher was a little off. She had been their long-term substitute teacher for almost four weeks. In fact, it had been her last day, and he was a little surprised to see her at the Fall Festival.

While she wasn’t mean, and never raised her voice, all the students seemed to listen to her. No one, not even the Monster Mob, acted up in her class. Correct that. Frank had once said something under his breath after she corrected him, and Ms. White had taken him outside the room for a quick talk in the hallway. A few minutes later, Frank had come in crying like a little baby. He never told anyone what she said, but after that, he was a model student. In fact, after that, no one had so much as whispered anything under their breath again.

Ms. White looked normal and almost always wore a dress. Actually, if she ever smiled, some of the students might even say she was beautiful. Still, there was something about her. Merlin finally settled on it being her eyes. They seemed to stare at everyone as if she had seen everything and done everything, and somehow this had robbed her of her soul. She had a hollow vacant stare that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who looked her in the eyes.

Of course, Shirley wasn’t going to let that minor detail come between her and sweets. She had a positive addiction to anything sweet. In fact, he was amazed that she hadn’t gained any weight from all the sweet snacks she would sneak into the school. She had to have the metabolism of ...Merlin paused in thought, trying to figure out which animal was constantly eating but never showed any signs of doing so. He finally settled on a hummingbird. They were small, pretty, and couldn’t go for very long without eating.

Reluctantly, the group followed her into the room. Merlin noticed everyone was careful not to question Shirley’s decision. After all, Ms. White might overhear somehow. She seemed to have the ability to see and hear everything.

Ms. White met them at the door and smiled a blank smile, her dead eyes looking at them as if calculating how much longer they had to live. Merlin shivered, which of course Ms. White most likely noticed. “Welcome students. I’m so very glad you decided to visit my room tonight. So very few students have dropped by tonight.”

Merlin wasn’t surprised by that. In fact, he was slightly surprised anyone had gone to her room in the first place. Then again, sweet chocolate candy could cloud the minds of many children.

Before he could say anything, Arthur blurted out, “Trick or Treat,” holding out a large plastic bag.

Ms. White raised an eyebrow and motioned for them to move toward a table. “Here you go,” she said as she delicately chose among the various candy stacked neatly on the table and dropped one in each of their bags, or in Merlin’s case, the plastic pumpkin. Of course, he thought, he was the odd one out of the group.

He was the only one with a kid’s plastic pumpkin instead of a big plastic Halloween sack. Even his sister had brought a sack. That would teach him not to plan ahead, he thought. Oh well, both would hold the candy equally well, although perhaps not quite as much.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Odd, he thought, Ms. White gave him a Snickers, his favorite candy bar. She had given Robert a Three Musketeers bar and Arthur a One Hundred Grand bar. Even Shirley had been given her favorite candy bar, a Butterfinger. That made him raise an eyebrow. How did she know what their favorite candy bars were? She was so strange.

“Now that you have had a treat, I think it is time for you to get your choice of a Trick or Treat,” she said, motioning them toward the back of the room. Standing against the wall was a large mirror. It looked like something you would see in a fairy tale or a castle, or perhaps in Arthur’s closet. If only life had given him looks or brains to go with all his parent’s money, Arthur would be unbearable. As it was, they were able to forgive him for his father’s money.

“Now listen closely,” Ms. White said, leaning forward as if to tell them something secret. She looked at each one of them for a moment, then looked around the room as if to make sure no one else would overhear. “I am going to tell you the magic words that can make all your dreams or nightmares come true. Of course, the result will be up to you,” she said, pointing a finger at each person in turn.”

“Let these words slip into your mind and hold on tightly. If you don’t say the words correctly, you will lose your chance.” She then took one final look around and whispered the words.”

“Mirror, Mirror, reflecting me,

Listen to and answer my plea.

Nothing is free, collect your fee,

Genie, fairy, or destiny,

Grant unto me that which I see.”

Merlin noticed each of them was mouthing the words, trying to remember the words. He listened closely as she repeated the words one more time.

“Now, each of you will step forward and approach the mirror. Stare deeply into the mirror and think about what you see. Think deeply. Do you see yourself as brave and strong? Do you see yourself as quick and agile? Maybe you see yourself as smart and funny. Think about what you see. However, one warning. Do not dwell on the bad. Do not think about your flaws. Don’t think about how short you might be, or how ugly you look. Then when you are ready, repeat the words three times. After all, three times call the magic forth.” With that, she motioned them forward.

Peter’s sister went first, and although she stumbled through the words, Merlin didn’t think she had actually missed any of the words. She did seem a little ruffled when she stepped away from the mirror, however.

Merlin’s sister didn’t do as well. Shirley went next, staring at the mirror for a few seconds, and then began saying the magic words. Of course, she said the words flawlessly. He frowned a little when she stepped away from the mirror and seemed confused. Had she really expected something to happen?

Robert and Peter went after her, followed by Arthur. Ugh, he thought. Even Arthur got the words right. Man, now he would be really embarrassed if he didn’t say the magic words correctly. After all, even Arthur had memorized the words and hadn’t forgotten any.

When it was his turn, he moved in front of the mirror and studied his image. At first, it was hard to concentrate on the good. He saw himself and noticed how silly he looked in the Halloween costume. His hair was a little messed up under the hat and there was acne on his face. Still, he pressed on trying to concentrate on the good and not the bad.

Had Ms. White intentionally tried to sabotage them when she said don’t think about the bad? Really? When someone is told not to do something, of course, they are going to do it. Pushing aside such thoughts, he concentrated on the good things.

Yes, he did look like a magician in the outfit, he thought. Maybe not one of the new modern-day illusionists, but they were fake anyway. Merlin had real magic. He could do just about anything. All he had to do was chant a few magic words and his wishes would come true.

He kept these thoughts in his mind. For tonight, maybe he could be at least a little like Merlin the Magician. After all, they did share a name together. And he was smart. The proof of it was the fact that he made the honor roll every year. He had even mastered a few simple magic card tricks.

Looking in the mirror, he concentrated on being that magician with true magic powers and said the magic words with the total control and strength of a real magician.

“Mirror, Mirror, reflecting me,

Listen to and answer my plea.

Nothing is free, collect your fee,

Genie, fairy, or destiny,

Grant unto me that which I see.”

With each word, he could feel something building inside of him, begging for release. At the same time, he felt something pressing in on him from the outside, as if searching for a way inside. Then, after the pressure built and built, he finished the third repetition of the words. Suddenly, he was lightheaded and felt like he might faint.

Staggering back a few steps, he organized his thoughts. The others seemed lost in their own thoughts, which left him without having to hide how much it had affected him. In fact, it was strange, but everyone seemed affected as if it had been real.

The surreal feeling was abruptly shattered when Ms. White said, “Thank you for coming children. It’s time to move along now,” while making shooing motions towards the doors. He barely noticed when he brushed past Angela on the way out the door.