“The Halloween Monster” by Alison Littlewood

The Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories (2018) edited by Stephen Jones

Readers unfamiliar with The Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories may prefer to read these notes only after reading the anthology.

After such coming-of-age knowledge, what forgiveness? From a dark alley to a witch's house, a boy discovers life's monsters can be unimaginably near.

This Halloween Dad was gone and I knew Mum wouldn’t open the door, not for anyone. She had that hollow look about her, her eyes focused too far away. It was only four o’clock but it was getting dark outside, and she’d already started walking past the drinks cupboard, back and forth, running her fingers over the wood. She didn’t like to start before five. Not like him, she always said, as if Dad didn’t have a name any longer.

Setting: A suburban street and alleyway, likely contemporary.

Characters: Cam, a teenage boy; his mother; Gary Turner and his friends, bullies.

Halloween seen as: A time when cruelty and darkness can emerge.

Style: Coming-of-age, with elements of psychological horror.

Point of view: First person, from Cam's perspective.

Jay