It was a sunny yet chilly October day in the small seaside town of Hogan’s Gap, California, and Halloween was still three weeks away. Green, black, orange and purple autumn décor lined the windows and walls of the rows of old false-fronted stores and colorful Victorian houses. “Gwen, do cows climb trees?” Mystified, Gwen looked at her little sister, Paulie. “Huh?” “Do… cows… climb… trees?” the six-year-old stubbornly repeated with annoying loudness. “Yes,” replied Paulie brightly. “Hmm,” Gwen looked nonchalantly up at the ceiling and shrugged. “And these cow cookies chased you up a tree?” “No.”