they consisted of poles planted in the ground

they consisted of poles planted in the ground with wires strung along the tops to set off grenades and mines if the

children wandered into his yard. He hated children and shuddered at the thought that he once used to be one. Exploding children was the best Christmas present he ever gave himself.

Mr. Mustard couldn't wait to light them on New Years. He'd worked for months making the kiddie rockets.The paper mache effigies of neighbor kids were his revenge for their pumpkin

-throwing antics last Halloween. "Paper my house, will you? I'll give you paper!" Cackling with glee, he carefully stacked the explosive papier-mache children in his cellar. He

didn't want to handle them too roughly, lest his Pinata wife called child services again. He lovingly folded them all little newspaper origami hats and

taped them to their heads. "Children," he said, "the day we've dreaded has arrived--today Mommy will be smashed to smithereens at a birthday party because she is a Cupcake pinata

The father pinata decided today was as good as any to tell the kids about what they truly were. "Pinatas like us live in constant fear of being smashed. What happened to Mom will

likely happen to one of you kids. It is unfortunate that most Pinatas have a short life span, it is the price we pay. Queen Maria of Spain had determined that the Pinata

should be filled with fresh bowls full of tuscan bean soup, lamb and tomato kebabs, and arroz con leche. When the excited schoolchildren cracked open the pinata especial