Spooky Halloween adventure

by Bill Tiepelman

Hocus Pocus Tortoise

The Hocus Pocus Tortoise It was Halloween night, and Carl wasn’t feeling the spooky spirit. While his neighbors adorned their lawns with inflatable skeletons and fake gravestones, Carl preferred something quieter—Netflix and boxed wine. However, when he stepped outside to take out the trash, he noticed something strange at his front door. A tortoise. But not just any tortoise. This one wore a purple witch’s hat, with a buckle gleaming in the moonlight, and its shell was carved like a jack-o'-lantern. A small cauldron bubbled beside it, and Carl swore he heard... cackling? “Alright, I’ve seen weirder stuff after a couple glasses,” Carl mumbled. He approached the tortoise cautiously. “What’s your deal, little guy?” The tortoise blinked slowly, then—much to Carl's disbelief—spoke. “Not so little, are we now? I’m a magical tortoise, buddy. Call me Hexley.” “A talking tortoise. Yeah, sure, why not. How many drinks have I had?” Carl rubbed his eyes and looked around, but the street was empty except for Hexley. “Alright, let’s play along. What do you want, Hexley?” “Oh, it’s not what I want, it’s what you need,” Hexley said with a sly grin, his eyes twinkling beneath the brim of his oversized witch hat. “I sense you’ve been avoiding the fun, Carl. Don’t think I don’t know about your sad attempt at avoiding Halloween by binge-watching rom-coms.” “Wait, how do you know my name?” Carl stammered, stepping back. Hexley’s shell glowed faintly orange as he chuckled. “Buddy, I’m not just any tortoise. I’m the Hocus Pocus Tortoise! Halloween is my domain. And right now, you’re my project.” Chaos Unleashed Before Carl could object, Hexley waved a claw in the air, and suddenly, Carl’s once-boring front yard exploded into a full-blown Halloween carnival. Pumpkins swirled through the air, turning into enormous jack-o’-lanterns with flaming eyes. Skeletons danced on his lawn, and somehow, his trash bin had transformed into a candy dispenser shooting full-sized chocolate bars. “Whoa, whoa! Stop, stop!” Carl shouted, nearly tripping over a rogue black cat that dashed past him. “I didn’t ask for this!” Hexley grinned wider. “That’s the beauty of it. No one asks for a magical tortoise to ruin—or rather, improve—their evening. But here I am.” He waddled slowly toward Carl, his shell glowing with every step. “Now, how about we liven you up a little?” With another wave of his claw, Carl felt a strange tingle in his body. He looked down and—what the hell?—he was now dressed in a pirate costume, complete with a hook for a hand, an eye patch, and a bottle of rum. “I look like an idiot!” Carl yelled, though part of him found the situation strangely hilarious. “That’s the point, matey,” Hexley said, now perched atop a conjured treasure chest. “You’re supposed to let loose! Life’s too short to be boring. Besides, the neighborhood Halloween party starts in ten minutes. You’re going as Captain Carl.” “I don’t even like parties!” Carl protested, but Hexley just shook his head. The Wildest Night As if on cue, his phone buzzed. It was a notification from the neighbors: “Halloween Block Party. Join us, Carl! Don’t be a buzzkill this year.” Carl sighed, knowing Hexley wasn’t about to take ‘no’ for an answer. “Come on, Captain Carl,” Hexley said with a wink. “It’s not every day you get invited to the party of the year by a magical tortoise. Let’s go make some chaos.” And so, with a combination of resignation and curiosity, Carl grabbed his bottle of rum and followed Hexley down the street. His neighbors were already gathering, dressed as zombies, superheroes, and werewolves, but none of them had a tortoise with a pumpkin shell casting spells left and right. Before he knew it, Carl was the center of attention, thanks to Hexley. The tortoise had turned the punch bowl into a fountain of margaritas, the party snacks into gourmet appetizers, and at one point, he enchanted the music playlist to only play ‘Monster Mash’ on a loop. But somehow, everyone loved it. By the end of the night, Carl found himself laughing more than he had in years. He’d won the costume contest (because of course, a magical tortoise’s creation would win), danced like an idiot, and even made a couple of new friends. A Bewitching End As the party wound down and the crowd began to disperse, Carl sat on the curb with Hexley beside him, nursing a final drink. “Okay, I’ll admit it,” Carl said, wiping his brow. “You were right. I needed this.” Hexley gave a slow nod. “Of course, I was right. I’m always right.” He smirked, tipping his witch hat. “Now, next year, we’ll turn it up even more. Maybe I’ll turn you into a werewolf, or a sexy vampire. We’ll see.” Carl chuckled, shaking his head. “No more surprises. One night of magical chaos is enough for me, thanks.” Hexley just grinned. “We’ll see about that, Carl. We’ll see.” And with that, the Hocus Pocus Tortoise vanished into the mist, leaving Carl to wonder if any of it had been real at all. Except for the fact that he was still in a pirate costume, and his lawn still had a skeleton breakdancing under the moonlight. “Next year’s gonna be even weirder, isn’t it?” Carl muttered, as he stumbled back inside, kicking a pumpkin out of the way. “Dammit, Hexley.”     Bring Hexley's Magic Home If Hexley's mischief has sparked your Halloween spirit, you can bring a bit of the magic home with you. Whether you're decorating or gifting, these Hocus Pocus Tortoise products will cast a fun spell on your home: Hocus Pocus Tortoise Framed Print – Capture the essence of Hexley’s whimsical charm with this high-quality framed print. Perfect for adding a spooky yet playful vibe to any room. Hocus Pocus Tortoise Puzzle – Love a challenge? Piece together this magical tortoise while sipping on your favorite Halloween treat. Hocus Pocus Tortoise Greeting Cards – Send some spooky fun to friends with these delightful greeting cards, featuring Hexley in all his Halloween glory. Hocus Pocus Tortoise Coffee Mug – Start your mornings with a bit of mischief! This mug is the perfect companion for sipping your brew and plotting your own magical adventures. Whether you're decorating for Halloween or simply love the idea of a magical tortoise making your life more interesting, these products are sure to make Hexley a part of your world.