Trick and Treat (Patreon)

I’m getting real nervous here.

The party was amazing. My family is kind of strict, and very, very religious, so Halloween has always been one of those off limits holidays, like Yom Kippur or  Ramadan. My parents would even make a point out of observing All Saints day as a day of remembrance, with its own rituals of praying at each tombstone at the graveyard after a spartan lunch.

But then I met him, Samuel Black, in the library. He looked kind of out of place with his rebellious hair that was short where it should be long and long where it ought to be short. But he was courteous and knowledgeable, and really helped me finding the books I needed for my essay on the Council of Nicea. We got to talk on our way from the library, and he asked me if I had any party plans for Halloween.

That’s where I, for some reason, unloaded on him how everything even close to mysticism was off limits, and that I’ve never been to a Halloween anything. He asked if I wanted to, if there was a way. Knowing there wasn’t one I said yes. He then got a very serious look and asked the question again, if there really was a way, and no one would be the wiser. This time I stopped and searched what I really felt. I realized that I was curious of what I had missed out on, and more, that I was envious, a sin. He told me to meet him after school by the boat house on Halloween. That I could make up my mind there after looking the horse in the mouth.

I was really torn all week, but I was too curious to not show up when and where he’d told me. I arrived first, slightly ahead of time, but when he showed up I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was almost naked, except for his sneakers, a black tutu and a pair of black feather wings worn as a back pack. To crown it all a black halo was suspended by metal wires above his head. “How do I look” he asked. Exactly the way to freak out my parents the most, I thought. He really looked like a fallen angel, with his lithe body and clean face.

“Promise to not freak out now. Be calm, still and silent.” and he grabbed my hand. The switch was instant. I looked at my pudgy face atop my shirt and sweater. It’s weird how telling someone that freaks out to calm down is completely wasted effort, but telling someone calm to not freak out makes such a big difference. As the afternoon sun caressed my bare abs I was completely calm. Amazed and confused, yes, but calm.

“So I have arranged an invitation to probably the best Halloween party in the city. You can go there, like that, and have the night of your life. While you do that I’ll sit in for you, eat boiled fish and be solemn. You like that?”

I was still a bit dazed, and probably didn’t raise as many concerns as I should have, but the offer was beyond tempting. Who else get a chance to try out being someone else? To walk in someone else’s shoes this literally? “How did you do this? What’s the catch?”

“It’s too complicated for tonight. Just go and enjoy yourself. I’ll pick you up after the party at 5 in the morning.”

It’s now 6:30.