Len Gilbert, the chemistry teacher, was speaking at the staff meeting. "We changed all the locks on the supply cabinets and I have the only keys. Every time I leave the lab, I lock the door. I guarantee that they are not going to get their stink bomb chemicals or their fake fog from the chem lab."

The principal, Al Feeney, nodded. "Thanks Len. These particular students have used both of those in the past. We need to look for something new this year. Coach?"

Coach John stood and rubbed his bare head. "I have both assistant coaches watching the gear lockers. Everything is locked up. You won't get a hundred basketballs rolling down the halls this year. Although that ramp they built to launch them was sheer genius."

Al looked around the room at his staff. "OK. Looks like we have done everything we can do. Tomorrow is Halloween. Be extra vigilant. Report even the slightest anomaly to me right away."

Mr. Cuthbert, the school psychologist raised his hand. "Do we know who is doing this?"

"I have my suspicions," Fenway replied. "I just can't prove it yet."

Tuesday, October thirty first, dawned sunny and cool. Students streamed into the building bright eyed with expectation. There was an electric buzz in the air. What would happen this year?

They didn't wait long.

"Al, there are about twenty students forming a food committee in the back corner of the cafeteria. They say they are responding to your call for students in the newsletter. I have a copy right here and it is not something we put in. You'd better come down here."

"Al, Len here. The chem lab was unlocked this morning and all of the cabinets are opened. I can't tell if anything is missing because all of the supplies have been rearranged. You had better come down here."

"Principal Feeney, it is Mrs. Conripple. She needs you in the girl's bathroom."

It was while Feeney was responding to this last call that he realized all of this was just a diversion. He heard his own voice. "Good morning students, we have an exciting day planned for you on this beautiful Halloween morning..."

Someone was imitating him on the public address.

Al ran back to his office to find that he had been locked out. By the time the janitor got there to open the door, an assembly at the auditorium had been announced for three o'clock. The office, of course, was empty. His own laptop had been loaded with the fake audio and patched into the public address .

Al took the mike and congratulated the students on a "very creative prank" and then advised that there was NOT going to be an assembly this afternoon and that everyone should remain in their scheduled rooms.

The whole school collectively held their breath the rest of the day, speculating what else might happen.

Just before three, Al's phones started ringing. All of the students had started to move. Al went out into the hall. It was a massive scene from the Walking Dead. The halls were filled with students dragging past him with blank stares and crooked arms. Some had pulled on old ratty t-shirts, or smudged their faces with pencil dust. They were ignoring their teachers and were heading, lemming-like, for the auditorium.

A teacher came up and asked Al what they should do. He shrugged. "Follow them in and enjoy the show." As he entered the auditorium, he thought, "Well boys, the first set is to you, but the game isn't over yet.