Sweek woke up to a fine autumn morning. She could see how sunny the day was from her kitchen window. She hopped out of bed and started her day. Today was Halloween and tonight there would be a party. After dressing, the tiny goblin ate a quick breakfast and went to her pumpkin patch. She picked three plump pumpkins and set them aside. She brought out her hamper and started to pack. The tiny goblin gathered a table cloth, some napkins, a few towels, a wooden cup and a wooden plate. She also included her travel cutlery and a warm blanket. Since the weather was warm, Sweek decided to pack her green cloak in the side pocket of the hamper for later. She made a lunch and filled a flask with cider. These went into the side pocket too. The tiny goblin went out to fetch the pumpkins and placed them at the bottom of the hamper. She took out a small square basket and filled it with the fruit tarts. This was covered by a clean dish cloth. The tarts went into the hamper followed by a small bag of raisons and a little jar of spices for mulling. When she was done packing, Sweek brushed her bushy hair and tied it back with a colorful autumn scarf. The last thing she needed was her papier mache mask which she had made last year at Wistful Acres.
When all the packing and preparing was done, Sweek started out on her journey. She walked to the signpost, and saw a paper sign pointing the way to the party. “I wonder if I’ll meet anyone headed to the party”, said Sweek. The path was empty and nothing stirred not even the wind. The tiny goblin enjoyed the warm sunshine as she turned down the path to the party. She thought about the fun things she and her friends had done to get ready for Halloween. She had met up with Lilly Squirt again and they had made a splendid banner. She had visited Granny Krunch again to help her finish the autumn quilt. Sweek looked forward to meeting them at the party and she walked happily along until she reached Bracken Vale.
Sweek looked up the path and saw how dark and dreary the vale was. The trees were thick and the bracken grew everywhere. Leaves were caught in the weeds growing by the side of the path. The place was dark and creepy; just the right atmosphere for Halloween. A soft rustling came from the trees above and soft spooky moans drifted through the air. Sweek wanted to hurry through the vale, but the narrow path and the thick bracken wouldn’t allow that. She trudged on until she started to feel hungry. Sweek looked for a place to rest and found a small log to sit on. After taking off the hamper, the tiny goblin took out an apple, the flask of cider and a ham and cheese sandwich. She was wary as she took a bite of her sandwich. She could hear something crackling through the woods and the branches above her gave out occasional squeaks. Suddenly a voice asked, “Can I have some of that?”. Sweek jumped and looked around. “Who are you?”, she asked because she couldn’t see anyone. “You can’t see me”, said the voice, “I’ll move around”. At first Sweek saw nothing, but then she detected something moving around her face. Suddenly she saw who belonged to the voice; it was a spider!
After Sweek explained about the sandwich, the spider decided she didn’t want a bite but was very interested in why a goblin would be in the vale. When Sweek told her about the party, the spider asked to tag along. The tiny goblin welcomed the company and soon they were walking down the path. They talked about Spider Spinney and Trembling Glade. The spider hadn’t been to either place because she was lost in Bracken Vale. However, the tiny arachnid was full of gossip about the weird doings that happened after dark. As the daylight was starting to wane, Sweek found this news a little frightening. The woods were getting darker as they went deeper into the vale. It was then that they heard an odd noise. It was sort of a buzz and like a chirp, but it wasn’t anything that either of them had heard before. Sweek walked cautiously along and searched the woods for the source of the noise. The trees seemed to become thicker, and twilight seemed to be happening sooner. Suddenly there was a weird buzz and a strange glow. “Greetings earthling”, said an odd looking creature, “I am Lerz from the planet Zilt. I have lost my friends and I don’t know the way back to our spaceship”. Sweek and the spider both let out a sigh of relief. “We’re on our way to a party”, said the tiny goblin, “Follow us and we can ask the other goblins to help find your friends”. Lerz thanked them and followed them as the path took them out of Bracken Vale.
The three friends walked along and talked. Sweek learned that Lerz and his friends had traveled to Earth to find candy. They had figured out that Halloween was a time when many people had candy. He was somewhat ashamed because they hadn’t planned out their mission very well. They were approaching the last part of the journey when Sweek noticed the bridge ahead. It went over Mourning Dove creek and was the spookiest bridge in the woods. Not only was it narrow, but the water running under it made a mournful sound. She took a deep breath and prepared to cross. Halfway there was a terrible moan. “What was that?” asked Lerz. “It’s just the water”, said Sweek, doubtfully. Another great moan came and it was followed by a voice saying, “Oh, can anyone help me? I’m in such a state”. The tiny goblin looked around, fearing to see a ghost but the space visitor took out a complicated instrument and began scanning. “I’ve found a life form trapped in the trees”, Lerz exclaimed. “Yes, right, that would be me”, said the voice, “Now can you help me get untangled?” “How are we going to help this thing?” asked the spider. “A thing?” said the voice, “I’m an owl!” The spider sent out an apology and to everyone’s surprise Lerz started to float upward. The tiny goblin heard him talking to the owl in hushed tones. There was a squawk and a scuffle and then the space visitor slowly descended with a great owl perched on his head. The goblin explained that they were going to a party and asked the bird to join them. The owl hooted gladly and they walked the rest of the way to the party spot.
At last they reached the little clearing were a bonfire was already blazing. The mayor and Granny Krunch were there to welcome Sweek and her new friends. Farmer Frumble and his family arrived soon after and with them was Lilly Squirt. They also brought two strange creatures that looked similar to Lerz. The space visitor was overjoyed to be reunited with his friends. The spider quickly made a fashionable web between two trees. Sweek helped Lilly put up the Halloween banner and then she set the pumpkins in the bonfire to roast. Many of the other goblins began to show up and they had picked up curious new friends too. There were black cats, bats, more spiders and one black shuck. Burp had a raccoon with him. The goblins cooked up sausages and ribs. They had fish pies and honey buns, gourmet goblin eggs and sharp cheddar cheese, fruit tarts and baked pumpkin, and many other wonderful treats. The mayor made a stuffy speech and concluded it with thanking the space visitors for giving the goblins the honor of entertaining them. The space visitors in turned played music out of the instruments in their utility belts. They were accompanied by the hooting owl and the howling black shuck. The goblins danced and sang and they told stories about the spooky things that happened on the way to the party. They decided to stay in the clearing all night because no one wanted to face the spooky places that night.
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