Pine Tree Village Retirement Community was

a nondescript two-story brown brick building that

could have doubled for an apartment building. It

included assisted living, independent units, and a

full nursing wing and was about ten minutes

north from my house.

I enjoyed volunteering at the nursing home.

If I had a dismal day at school or was struggling

with Nash, I forgot my worries. These seniors

were very different from the seniors at my school.

Most of the residents were happy to see a fresh,

young face. And even though many of them told

me the same story over and over, it was

interesting to hear the tales of past generations in

Legend's Run or cities and countries I'd never

visited.

Abby and Ivy, convinced wrinkles were

contagious, refused to set foot in the senior

community, and Nash was always too busy,

practicing, playing, or preparing for sports. I knew

it was unlikely he'd come to visit other people's

grandparents. That didn't make my friends bad,

but it would have been cool if I could have shared

the experience with them. It was something I'd

always done on my own.

Mr. Worthington was my favorite resident at

Pine Tree Village. For a gentleman who was

eighty-nine years old, he was quite cute. Mr.

Worthington was alert, mobile, and in shape. We

walked the hallways or outside commons areas

together. He always dressed in khaki pants and a

cardigan sweater and kept his fuzzy white hair

neatly combed.

Every time I visited Pine Tree Village, I was

always greeted by the receptionist, who had me

sign in and pointed me to an area where the staff

could use an extra hand. Today's visit was extra

special. It was Halloween and I'd dressed as

Little Red Riding Hood . I wore a red hoodie, the

arms loosely tied around my neck and the body

as a cape, along with a black bodice, white T-

shirt, and red flippy skirt. I finished off my fairy-

tale look with white folded socks and a pair of

Juliette's black pumps she'd left behind in her

closet. It wasn't a good idea to pass out candy

to the residents, so I came with " Happy

Halloween" pins I'd made instead. I grabbed a

small basket my mom used for magazines and

stuck a loaf of bread in it.

The normally hospital white lobby was

decorated with black and orange streamers,

cotton-candy-like spiderwebs, and ghost,

mummy, and black-cat die cuts. A sign posted in

the lobby read: HALLOWEEN DANCE AT 7 P.M.

I teetered over to the reception desk , where I

was welcomed by a very friendly witch.

"You look great," Sally said through

blackened-out teeth. I could barely hold my

laughter inside as the straitlaced receptionist

offered me a tray of pumpkin cookies.

"I'll grab one on the way out," I said.

"Little Red," I heard a man's voice call.

I didn't even respond to my new name until I

heard it called again.

"Little Red, over here."

An elderly man wearing werewolf fangs, a

brown-tipped nose, and a fluffy brown wig was

standing a few yards away in the lobby next to a

grand piano. I almost didn't recognize Mr.

Worthington at first, but his brown cardigan

sweater and khaki pants gave him away.

"Happy Halloween," I said, handing him a

button.

"It's Halloween?" he asked. "No one told

me."

I laughed at the elderly werewolf. I really

adored Mr. Worthington. His youthful spirit was

like a chandelier illuminating a darkened room.

"Let me help you," I said, pinning the button

on his sweater. "I'm not sure I should be seen

with a wolf, much less a werewolf. The residents

will think we planned this."

"Let them think what they want," he said.

"I've never seen a prettier girl in red."

I blushed to match the color of my hoodie.

"Well, I've never seen such a kind-looking

werewolf," I commented back.

"So you've seen one?" he asked seriously.

"The closest thing I've seen to a werewolf

was when my sister, Juliette, tried to perm her

own hair."

Nurse Bridget, the head nurse on the first

floor, walked by. Overhearing the final part of our

conversation, she stepped over.

"Charlie, are you going on about werewolves

again?" she asked, putting her arm around him.

"You don't want to frighten Celeste away. She's

our only steady volunteer."

"I haven't said a word. No one wants to

listen to an old man, anyway."

"That's okay," I assured Nurse Bridget. "I

promise I won't be too frightened."

"Every Halloween," she said, "Charlie tells us

about the Legend's Run werewolf. Someone says

they saw something furry in the woods years ago

and people can't stop talking about it. It's like

the Loch Ness Monster. A big hoax."

"My boyfriend was just telling my friends and

me about that recently."

"So you already know?" Mr. Worthington

asked.

"I guess as much as anyone else knows. But

I'd love to hear about it from you."

Mr. Worthington brightened, knowing he

finally had a captive audience.

"Celeste," Nurse Bridget said in an apologetic

tone, "I'd love it if you could visit with some of

the other residents. I'm sure they would be

delighted. Mr. Worthington, can you tell her the

story later?"

"Of course," Mr. Worthington said. "It's one

thing I never forget. Now, where I left my glasses

- that I can't remember."

"I won't be long," I said. I didn't want to

abandon Mr. Worthington, but I had a number of

pins I had to pass out and was more worried

about upsetting Nurse Bridget.

I pinned, hugged, and took pictures with as

many residents as I could find.

When I returned to the lobby, I found the

elderly werewolf sleeping on a sofa. I was

tempted to sit down and take off my painful

pumps, since I was exhausted, but I knew I'd

have as difficult a time getting up as he would.

I grabbed a small blanket from an adjacent

chair and placed it on his lap.

"Is it time for dinner?" he asked, suddenly

stirring.

"Yes, and it's time for me to go - "

"So soon?"

"I'm sorry it took so long," I said. "But I can

walk you to the dining room."

"What did I do to deserve such a beautiful

escort?" he asked kindly.

"You were going to tell me your story," I

replied eagerly.

"Oh yes. You remind me of my wife when

she was very young. We met here in Legend's

Run."

I nodded. I'd heard that story many times

but tried to pay attention as if I were listening to

it for the first time.

"When we were young, Legend's Run was

still a farming and mill town along the river. Not

like now, where custom homes dot the landscape.

"But in the last fifty years the mill closed and

people moved away from the town and came from

the neighboring cities and developed the eastern

side of Legend's Run. The Westside farmers

continue to maintain their land. The east side

became too congested and Riverside's

commercial property too vacant. We moved away

to New York, and eventually the rest of the

Worthington family moved on, too."

My eyes had half glazed over and I tried my

best to listen, as I'd heard this story countless

times. "Did you miss it here?" I asked when he

paused.

"Yes. And so did my wife. I promised her

we'd return to Legend's Run to ride out our years

that remained. I am a man of my word," he said

with a grin.

There was one story I hadn't heard from Mr.

Worthington. "And the werewolf? Did he live on

the Westside or the East?"

The elderly man perked up even more. He

was poised to tell his tale.

"The creature calls the woods his home.

Where he can hide from curious people and most

importantly from the threat of the full moon.

Since the moon can appear to us as full for

several days, it makes the werewolf that much

more tormented. It was many years ago when he

was first spotted in one of the tree-filled areas

along Riverside," he whispered. "But you must

never go in the woods alone, a girl like you."

We reached the dining room, and a staff

member approached Mr. Worthington.

The dining room was full of residents and

staff wearing my handmade pins.

"It's the Legend's Run werewolf," the aide

announced. Several residents clapped.

I watched as the elderly resident was treated

by his peers as if he were a celebrity.

"Please remind him to remove those fangs

before he eats," I said to the aide as I made a

weary exit.

That night Ivy hosted a Halloween party at

her über-house - five bedrooms, a three-car

garage, and a basement that could entertain our

entire school.

Ivy opened the door dressed like a runway

model, in a black-and-white minidress and white

patent-leather go-go boots. Abby stood next to

her brandishing a big smile, two pigtails, and a

borrowed cheerleading uniform - complete with

an "LR" letter and spirit buttons. I felt worse for

the wear in my homemade costume.

"I want to go back and change," I said, still

standing on the stoop.

"What gives?" Ivy said. "You look so cute!"

"I..."

"Get in here," Ivy said.

"No, I think I'd feel better if I changed into

something else."

"Your outfit is ten times more creative than

ours," Abby said.

"But - "

"No buts! Just get yours in here." She took

my wrist and dragged me inside.

There were already a few of our classmates

milling about her home, trying to talk over the

pounding music.