"You do not even understand how important this is to me," Maya whined, pouting in a way that did not flatter her face at all. "This is important. So important that I might very well wet myself with how important this is!"
"Woooow," Phoenix began, nodding with understanding but not actually understanding her. "TMI, Maya." She flailed slightly as she stepped closer, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Nick! Seriously!" She got very serious now, standing up straight and making exaggerated hand motions that were still very constricted to about a two inch radius. "If you do not take me outside right this very moment, so help me I will drag you by your ears through the neighborhood."
"That doesn't scare me, Maya." Holy crap, yes it did. She could, and he knew she could. She flailed a little plastic pumpkin bag in his face. It swiped the tip of his nose several times.
"Why won't you take me trick-or-treating, you jerk? Are you trying to rob me of my happiness and childhood bliss?"
"No. You're just getting too old; I don't think people will give you candy when they see you, even if you did dress up." The corners of Maya's mouth drooped into an extreme frown.
"You're such a snob, Nick. You might not give such people candy, but that doesn't mean other people won't." She put her hands on her hips in the way a scolding mother might.
"I just don't want you to be disappointed is all. Most people wouldn't even think about it!"
"What if you dressed up, too?"
"Not on your life."