Six-word stories: IJ readers share short tales of the ghosts of Halloweens past

Next month we'll talk about what we're grateful for.

We’re inching closer to Thanksgiving, when we celebrate family, friends and all the things we are thankful for.

So for November, please share a story — just one — of gratitude with the IJ.

Please make it a story, a personal story, with a beginning, middle and end — not six adjectives, not a cliche and not advice. Make us laugh or cry or at the very least feel something. For an example, here is the famous story attributed to, but not proven to be written by, Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That’s quite the story! Need more examples? “It can’t be. I’m a virgin,” writes Kate Atkinson. “Set sail, great storm, all lost,” says John Banville.

If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:

• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line

• Send one story. Just one

• Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments

• Write your short story in the body of the email, no attachments

• Use proper punctuation and spelling

• Use sentence style in one line

• It should not rhyme

• Do not submit six adjectives — that’s not a story

Please send to lifestyles@marinij.com by Nov. 17 and look for it in the Nov. 28 lifestyles section and online.

Last month we asked IJ readers to share their thoughts about a childhood Halloween memory. Here’s what they had to say.

My cat costume won first prize. — Pamela Lunstead, Novato

Halloween like Día de los Muertos. — Mary Ann Gallardo, San Rafael

Feared razor blades, got caramel apples. — David E. Gilbert, Santa Venetia

Best friends dressed up as dice. — Kerstin Nash, Mill Valley

Dad! What? Teenage you toppled outhouses? — Bill Blackburn, Novato

Pumpkin-shuttered candles greet my ghostly guests. — Jan Weeks, San Rafael

Dad in costume! Scared us kids! — Nancy Greenfield, Larkspur

Full-size candy bars? I’m going back. — Jami Ellermann, San Rafael

Oops! Here comes my dad! — John Lind, San Anselmo

Halloween house so scary, I cried. — Richard Schneider, San Rafael

Sick sister, two bags, happy sister. — John Hanson, Novato

Cardboard boxes; sister, washer, me, dryer. — Connie Morse, Inverness

Three little pigs, sisters get first prize. — Jeanne Imai, Ross

Queens neighborhood: real devil, really there. — Jim Koger, San Rafael

Kids going through dad’s costume trunks. — Diane Ryken, Novato

1960: Cousin went as Aunt Jemima. — Carole Bonhomme, Greenbrae

Trick or treat, smell my feet. — Scott Kempf, Novato

Give me something good to eat. — Karen Zizzo Kempf, Novato

Crisp air, scared giggles, safe adventure! — Nancy Masterson, Larkspur

1950s’ autumn leaf-burning aroma harkened Halloween. — Hank Simmonds, Kentfield

One-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater. — Monica Rudden, Mill Valley

In ’55, we bobbed for apples. — Susan Lundy, Fairfax

Dreams came true: bags of candy! — Becky Bingea, San Rafael

Treats galore! Then mom always misplaces?! — Spencer Seidler, Greenbrae

1960s teens throwing eggs in Greenbrae. — John Neuenburg, San Rafael

Northern Minnesota: snow to my waist. — Doreen Malin, Ross

Excitement builds, surprises ahead, darkness sets. — Beth Kraft, Novato

Impersonated a pirate before Johnny Depp. — Sam Fleeger, Marin City

Full-sized candy bars were the ultimate. — Janice Kohnhorst, San Rafael

Somebody wanted to steal Bruno’s skull. — Heike Dittrich-Kruljac, Corte Madera

Halloween TPing houses isn’t as fun. — Georgia Flake, Novato

Kissed a vampire, lived to tell. — Sharon Eide, Novato

Chickenpox for Halloween; trick not treat. — Sarah Weller Leipsic, San Rafael

Cabbage Night, Halloween: N.J. kids’ thrill. — Gael Chandler, Novato

The Great Nike at Redwood High. — David Leipsic, San Rafael

No candy, got model trains instead. — Patrick Ritter, San Rafael

Neighbor’s homes. Kids’ candy. Dads wine. — Janice Burke, Novato

Two costumes: one Halloween, one saint. — Kate Martin, San Rafael

Bags full of heaven for all. — Hal Jennings, Mill Valley

School kids all costumed as beatniks. — Karen Arnold, San Rafael

Halloween was all trick, no treat. — Dart Cherk, Mill Valley

Politicians seek treats while we TP. — Mark Green Solomons, Fairfax

Scorched pumpkin, excitement abounds, sweet dreams. — Georganne Brumbaugh, Novato

Dare: ramshackle house with spooky trees. — Kate Brouillet, Novato

Great safe Halloween memories in San Anselmo. — Mary Lou Hayward, Novato

Endless Halloween candy collected in pillowcases. — Peter Hayward, Novato

The pinto horse costume was perfect. — Diane Cokely, San Anselmo

Shadows, costumed, egged — tricked, no treat. — Lucille Herger, Novato

1970s Halloween in Marinwood: pillowcase kids. — Kelly O’Haire, Marinwood

Four kids, always made homemade costumes. — Dee Vela, Novato

Phantom haunts Terra Linda; demands martinis! — Katherine Ware, Belvedere

Oh no, no, not again. Snowing. — Bill Kruljac, Corte Madera

Bedsheet, two eyeholes, I’m a ghost! — Norm Levin, Terra Linda

Counting candy, hot chocolate, with friends. — Ann Eller, Woodacre

Lots of candy, little for me. — Timothy Warden, San Rafael

Mayhem and murder. News at 11. — Gigi Bibeault, Terra Linda

Brother and I collaborated during Halloween. — Evelyn Riebe, Mill Valley

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Reese’s! — Leslie White, Larkspur

Pumpkin carving with costumes and candy. — Stacy Burroughs, San Anselmo

Neighboring farmer, giant pumpkin wagoning home. — Pierrette Montroy, San Rafael

Upended bag; sorted candy; kept chocolates. — Karen Hazlehurst, San Rafael

Hated costume. Boo hoo. In garbage. — Dave Myles, San Rafael

Kids’ treat bags, parents’ wine glasses. — Becky Praun, San Rafael

Pillowcases, homemade costumes, monkey masks — terrified. — Stephanie and Kimi Praun, San Rafael

Carved pumpkins, masquerading, treats with laughter. — Antoinette DeLucchi, San Rafael

Switch costumes — visit “treat” houses twice. — RG Langenhan, Terra Linda

Twilight, child ghosts rattled UNICEF pennies. — Pam Klein, San Rafael

Halloween window painting contest. Third place. — Amie Rudolph, Fairfax

1970s Halloween: Spirits roamed West Blithedale. — Jane Mock, Novato

Designing, creating spookiest garages with Brian. — Celeste Lindemann Chapman, San Anselmo

Fifth Halloween: live goldfish party favors. — Ann Davis, Tiburon

Bag ripped! Retraced steps! Candy found. — Dara Moskowitz, San Rafael

Brother saw candy: “Get my jacket!” — Jeri Sternenberg, Mill Valley

Zodiac Killer, no Halloween that year. — Marina Korman, Woodacre

“Vicky, who would egg our house?” — Victoria Worch, Novato

Costumes, candy, chaos! A child’s dream. — Gretchen Davidson, Mill Valley

Witches, magic broomsticks, no leaf blowers! — Mary Lock, Woodacre

Dressed as Elvis, high-five from police. — Steve Bouchard, Mill Valley

Clara’s candy apples: strong Halloween memories. — Elaine C. Johnson, Greenbrae

English Halloween lanterns made from rutabagas. — Susan Savage, Novato

Homemade ghosts toting flashlights and soap. — Lynn Arias Bornstein, Greenbrae

Magic broom, I sailed over moon. — Gailya Morrison, Lucas Valley

Pick one, cat suit or skeleton. — Diana Knight, Fairfax

Pops designed costumes, always too big. — Daniel R. Maloney, San Anselmo

Trick-or-treating outgrown, childhood nostalgia overtakes teen. — Alison Ferguson, Mill Valley

Halloween fun! Yeah! Then measles struck. — Pat Long, San Rafael

My dad. Porch. Mask. Hatchet. Candy. — Kathy Lococo, San Anselmo

Witch sleeping; reacts badly if disturbed! — Melodie Baird, Novato

Japanese girl … kimono — so un-P.C. now. — Diane Lynch, Tiburon

Costume? Meh! Candy! Collected year’s supply. — Elaine Reichert, Santa Venetia

50,000 jelly sandwiches stuck on garage. — Monte Summers, San Anselmo

Everyone fairy princess but me, ham sandwich. — Spirit Lynn Wiseman, Fairfax

Drawing pumpkins, witches in school — happy. — Lucy MacSwain, San Rafael

Two pillowcases full of candy, yum! — Keith Granger, San Rafael

Door opened, gorilla suit, peed pants. — Al Shaver, Novato

We waited till dark … such fun! — Billie Forer, San Rafael

Mom sewed princess. I wanted clown. — Jane Ure, Mill Valley