*The Mermaid and Me by Ron Hamburg

The 5 year old mermaid princess knocked on several doors. "Hello is there anyone home?" No answer because every year in the poor, South Central LA neighborhood, maybe 6 or 8 houses hand out candy. We spoke of the haunted alley, the mop head goblin, and the dark scary porches. We held hands. "I love you daddy!" It was Halloween night.