The wind was blowing and there was a crispness in the air as the sun ☀️ began to fade this Halloween 🎃 night. Swim practice had been canceled for the evening as Logan, Joey, Bailey, Wilbur, and Mosby gathered to begin an evening of trick or treating.
As they began putting on their costumes for the evening the air was full of excitement and anticipation as this was going to be the year that they would summon the courage to stop at the lone house on cemetery road.
Over the years growing up they had heard of all the stories about the mysterious house that sat alone at the end of the road. They had heard of the strange noises, the flickering lights and the strange woman who would appear in the windows. No matter how spooky the stories were tonight was going to be their night to discover the truth behind the stories.
As the five stepped out into the night air you could hear the distant laughter from the trick or treaters in the neighborhood as they moved from house to house with pumpkins 🎃 lit and the promise of treats at each house. But this was not going to be an ordinary night as they turned down Whispering Lane.
As they were walking Logan began to get an eerie feeling as the leaves 🍁 were falling a little more with all the trees lining the street. “Guys, I think we should go back most of these houses are dark and no one is home. Mosby replied we need to get to the house on cemetery road, we all made a pledge that this was the year.
As they stepped onto cemetery road, the leaves crunched beneath their shoes adding to the creepy atmosphere. Each house they passed seemed a little darker and creepier than the last. Their eyes however were fixed on the house at the front of the cemetery and the small orange glow over the front porch that emitted the only light around.
Suddenly a gust of wind sent a swirl of leaves dancing past, making Joey shiver and clutch his bag of treats a little tighter. Mosby tried to lighten the mood with a joke about ghosts and witches but even his laughter sounded a little nervous as they opened the creaky gate and headed down the path as if drawn by the glow of that orange light from the porch.
Before they could even knock on the door a light went on and they could hear a voice from inside
, “I smell children” and as the door creaked opened an old lady dressed in black appears. She asks what brings you out on this cold windy night children? Halloween they replied. Trick or treat. Why I have no treats but I can offer a warm cup of cinnamon cider or perhaps a magical wish. The old woman’s eyes twinkled in the dim light, and the scent of cinnamon and apples arose from the cup she offered. Logan stepped forward first, curiosity outweighing her fear now, and asked, “ what kind of magical wishes?” The old woman’s eyes opened wider smiling and whispered, mysterious and inviting, as she beckoned them closer her voice dropping to a whisper. Why don’t you come inside where it’s warmer and find out.
They hesitated at first but then they noticed a small glow flickering from an upstairs window making their hearts pound faster and Wilbur, always the boldest nudged the others forward whispering that they could not turn back now. Together they opened the door wider and stepped into the hallway., into the unknown ready to discover what mysteries and maybe even magic awaited them on this Halloween.👻
The hallway was full of shadows flickering on the wallpaper dancing with the candlelight lining the hallway. Each child tried not to stare too long at the images that lined the walls their eyes fixed on the old lady walking gently ahead of them. As they walked down the hallway they suddenly heard the chimes of an old grandfather clock which startled them for a moment. At the end of the hallway there was a room with a small table with chairs and the old lady invited them to all sit. As they sat down anticipation filled their hearts as the old lady reached for a tea pot and began to pour a mixture of warm cinnamon apple cider in each of their cups. She began to speak in a small gentle voice weaving stories of wishes granted and adventures begun within those very walls. The children leaned forward, captivated as the sense of magic grew stronger with a hint of what could happen next could change their Halloween forever.
Scattered on the table were several gems. Tonight each of these gems, the old lady said held a single wish and she encouraged the children to each take one. As the children’s fear mounted Bailey was the first to grab one and the others followed. The woman told the children that tonight, these wishes would set their destinies in motion. Outside the winds howled but inside this warm parlor the children knew that whatever awaited them beyond those walls, their lives had already begun to change in way only magic could explain.
With the gems resting in the palm of each of their children and their courage booming inside they each began to make their wish for the evening. Smiling the old lady rosed from her seat and beckoned the children to a narrow doorway framed by heavy black curtains. Beyond the promise of adventure shimmered, an invitation into a world where wishes could shape destinies and courage could open doors that they never dreamed existed. The children gem in hand and hearts pounding followed to see how far the magic would lead them on this Halloween night.
Beyond each turn, the house seemed to shift, unveiling new rooms filled with curious artifacts and glimpses of enchantments that seemed out of touch.. The old lady now seemed to be a guiding story with every step taking them on a journey where they overcame every fear and their confidence grew stronger with each step and would continue to grow long after this Halloween faded.
In that moment the children realized that their adventure was not about magic or the adventures that this house held, but it was about the courage each of them had to go outside of their comfort zone, open a closed door and believing in the magic that lives inside each of them.
Evil Halloween Practice we did this week (yardage and intervals are prep Gold group changed some what)
Warm up
- 400 swim(200 free-100 back-100 breast with a glide)
- 300 swim(150 free-75 back-75 breast with a glide )
- 200 swim (100 free-50 back-50 breast with a glide)
- 100 swim (50 free-25 back-25 breast)
BLOODY PULLOUT SET with fins
9x50 @50 (25 fly 25 free) pullouts as follows #1 is 1 pullout each wall #2 is 2 pullout each wall #3 is 3 pullout each wall #4 is 4 pullouts each wall #5 is 5 pullouts each wall #6 is 4 pullouts each wall #7 is 3 pullouts each wall #8 is 2 pullouts each wall #9 is 1 pullout each wall
ZOMBIES IN THE GRAVE KICK SET with fins
16x50 @50 back (25 kick arms pointed straight up flags in swim and 25 swim back) Dont let your hips and legs sink) you need to engage your core
GHOST SET
- 6x100 @1:30 (25 fly+75 free)
- 6x100 @1:30 (25 back+75 free)
- 6x100 @1:35 (25 breast+75 free)
You may ghost (skip) one 100 that's it No skipping
TWO HEADED MONSTER SET groups of 3 (2 swimmers at front swimming 1 swimmer at back holding one leg of each swimmer and kick) important don't out swim the other head you need to work together as a team
16x25 no interval just rotate positions and go!
