The Barn was dark and smelled of rubber and wood. Alice ventured inside and yanked a chain hanging from the ceiling, an exposed bulb that threw light into the center of the room. Although the corners were still in shadow, I could discern enough. The Halloween props were on the right, black and white, cobwebs and drifty gray hair, knives and swords and fake blood.

Alice clicked on another light. “Welcome to your nightmare.”

I could see why Alice’s kids steered clear. There were several life-size figures in front: a Frankenstein and a hooded, cloaked Death complete with scythe. Plastic gravestones were stacked against the wall, and on top of them were body parts, arms and legs, skulls and hands and feet. The cobwebs looked fake, but I couldn’t honestly tell. When I leaned in to get a closer look, there was a loud cackle.

“Death is calling. Are you home?” droned a maniacal voice, followed by a shriek.

I jumped, squeaked, as the women burst into laughter.

“It’s a door knocker. We haven’t replaced the battery in over ten years,” Alice said. “It’s definitely possessed.” She moved past me and hugged Frankenstein to lift him out into the yard. “This guy’s mine. He’s my darlin’.”

“You have to save the spider for Bettina,” Kendra said.

Alice put her hands on her hips, scowling. “Uh-uh. He’s mine this year. I already said that.”

Kendra shrugged. “She said you had it last year.”

“I did not,” Alice said. “Y’all skipped me because Pia’s cousin was visiting and she wanted him. Remember?”

They went back and forth like this for a while before Alice gave in. I understood the battle even less when I saw what they were fighting over—a giant, hairy spider that came in pieces you had to assemble. We had to help Alice drag it out.

“What’s your theme for the house this year, Kendra?” Alice asked, blowing her hair out of her face as she worked up a sweat lugging more figures around. Her theme was classic monsters. Besides Frankenstein and his bride, she had Dracula, a werewolf, and two creepy green children. Her house was deemed the Monster Mash-ion.

“Scenes from famous urban legends. Think—guy with a hook for a hand and a radioactive alligator in the sewer.” Kendra opened a box with what appeared to be a projector inside. “We’ll see what kind of time I have. Just save my zombies as a backup.”

We sorted through the rest, setting aside decorations for each of us. Above me, a buzzing started.

A large bee twittered near the ceiling. I eyed it warily.

“Oh don’t worry about it,” Alice said breezily. “It won’t sting you.”

“I’m allergic,” I said.