My grandfather had a fairly new silver Dodge Saint Regis back when I was a sophomore in college, which eventually became my car when he got a new one. On the particular late-winter weekend of our story, Grandpa was going away for a visit (or perhaps to a conference) and didn’t require the use of his car until late Sunday afternoon. My Dad, on the other hand, needed the use of car – any car -- since the Schlosser family vehicle had conked out on him and was in the garage being fixed. My Grandpa offered him the use of the Dodge, and Dad accepted gladly. So Grandpa dropped off the Dodge at our house on Friday evening, leaving it to the tender mercies of my family while he went away.

Harry Horse loved to watch television. He loved the cartoons and the sitcoms. He watched the movies and listened intently to the talk shows as the sounds drifted through the open window in the kitchen...

The package was sitting on the porch when she got home from class, even though she had repeatedly told Aunt Katy not to send it this year.

At breakfast, Cat sits on the deck of the pool, outside the glass doors to the kitchen. Bang, bang. She hits the door with her paw. This means “Johnny, feed me” in Cat’s special language. I get up from my chair and feed Cat.

Sally Slithers moved to South Hall in September. "Oh dear, there are too many mice here," she said. So Sally went to the pet store and bought a great big boa constrictor. She named her snake Sammy Slithers. Sammy's favorite place to sleep was in the bathroom.

Tall Ted Thompson parked his traveling turtle tank on Tenth Street in front of Tonawanda Town Hall. Tall Ted's traveling Turtle Aquarium was a big attraction in Tonawanda. Timmie Torlish and his twin sister Trish ran to push their noses against the tanks windows to take a look at the turtles as Tall Ted walked up Tenth Street to talk to the mayor.

Mighty the black Labrador watched the Hadley's mount their horses. All their equipment was packed on their saddles. "Take good care of the farm, Mighty," said Mrs. Hadley as they rode away. The Hadleys were going on an overnight camping trip.

Mighty the black Labrador lived on a small farm. Every day she inspected the vegetable garden, looked for intruders and watched the horse. She took good care of the farm for the Hadleys. One day, Mighty was walking in the pasture where Dixie, the Hadley's horse was grazing. To Mighty's surprise, Dixie refused to go near the stream to get a drink of water. Mighty decided to investigate. She ran down to the bridge.

This Halloween, you may want to check out some of these haunted spots throughout New Jersey.

The Xenos family lived in a rambling old house called Xanadu. Xavier was a xylographer, which meant that he worked all day engraving words on wood. His wife Xenia made lovely xenogardens which were gardens in which all of the plants - like cactus and sage brush - thrive in dry weather. .