the babysitter’s here . . .

. . . though I don’t think this is the sort of babysitter who will teach you the sign for “peace”, or sit on her hair, or have a boyfriend called “The King of Romance” (apologies to Dar Williams). This is the sort of babysitter who prefers to separate the heads of tots from their little bodies and has been known to roast little limbs for a midnight snack.

We visited our friend Paul’s house in Apple Valley to see his elaborate Halloween display, with creepy characters, eerie sounds, and disturbing gravestones. If you’re trick-or-treating around 136th Street Court, follow the screams to this spot if you dare: Paul promises good Halloween loot, but there’s a price to pay for it . . .