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Happy Birthday/Merry Samhain, calendula_witch! :)

11: Walk Around the Neighborhood

Everyone knew each other in the neighborhood
So our mothers knew where we would be
(Though, thankfully, not what we might be up to)...
And so my friends and sisters went for walks at night,
Mostly around the quarter-mile block near the house,
Where the street was lit every other telephone pole or so,
And we'd talk about whatever came to mind.
Some nights we'd make jokes and get rowdy
and play "ditch it" whenever a car came,
Laughing as we'd re-emerge from the trees,
Brushing off dirt and pine needles once all was clear.

On some nights, though, like on Halloween,
We'd steel ourselves and walk around the back streets,
The ones that went around dark corners and into the woods,
And we'd dare each other to head up the street alone,
Or to investigate a noise that may or may not be real.
In the back of our minds the only dangerous thing out there
Was a stray dog, or an irritated skunk ready to spray us
(This was long before the bear was seen earlier this year).

But the fear still grabbed us,
Pinched us between the shoulders,
Though none of us would admit it.

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