Chapter Nine: Halloween
(October 31st)
"This is Halloween, this is Halloween."
-The Nightmare Before Christmas
"There is a child outside the door demanding candy," Vergil tells me, motioning at the front door. I lean back in my chair to get a look at the kid. The kid is dressed as a giant orange pumpkin. He smiles brightly when he sees my face.
"There's candy in that bucket right there," I tell the kid, while pointing at a bucket full of candy off to the side.
The kid's face lights up with joy as he grabs hold of a small pack of skittles. "Thanks, lady!" He laughs childishly before disappearing around the corner.
"What was that?" Vergil asks, with a perplexed look on his face.
"It's Halloween," I reply.
"What's… Halloween?" He asks.
"Dude. Really? You don't know what Halloween is? What did you do as a child?" I gasp, slightly appalled.
"…Just answer the question," He sighs.
"Whatever," I roll my eyes. "Halloween is a holiday where people give out free candy to kids. It's pretty fun, trust me. I miss being a little kid. I remember when I used to make Liam go up to all of the scary houses. He used to come back crying his little eyes out." I know. You don't have to tell me. I'm a horrible older sister, but I guess I had a sixth sense because he grew up to be a jerk.
"Trick or treat!" A set of kids yell in the doorway.
"Candy is over there," I tell them.
"What is the reason for this celebration?" He asks.
"To scare away so called "demons"… But all the smart people know that dressing up as a giant pumpkin, Navi, or James Sunderland isn't going to scare anything away. If anything, I think they'll be more inclined to eat them…" I reply with a simple shurg.
"I agree."
|Some time later|
"Just shut up and put the sheet over your head," I yell at Vergil, who is avidly refusing to be "paraded" around like some sort of animal. Finally, by pinning him in between the bar and my body, I manage to slip the sheet over his head.
"This is ridiculous," He groans.
"No, what's ridiculous is that Nelo is sitting guard by the front door. I don't know what you did to that kitten, but I'll find out," I say giving a brief glance at our kitten.
"He's smart. I didn't do anything to him," He says, only his eyes at lips visible through some holes I cut. "I'm not going outside dressed like this."
"Oh yes you are. This is a first hand experience, Verg. Once in a lifetime event. Now get your arse out that front door," I hiss pulling a sheet over my head.
|Some time later|
"Aww! Aren't you two just adorable!" An old lady squeals, as soon as she opens the door.
"We're sheets with holes cut out," Vergil grumbles behind me. I elbow him in the side to silence him.
"My… uh… buddy here doesn't understand the concept of Halloween. He's from… Russia. Hardly speaks a word of English," I laugh. I feel Vergil shift uncomfortably beside me.
The lady blinks a few times. "Oh, well, it's a grand holiday, sonny. Trust me. Free candy is always a great day for kids around here. Listen to your friend," She places a piece of candy in each of our bags. "Have fun you two. Be safe." She waves us off.
"I severely dislike this holiday."
"If you're hating it, I'm loving it," I giggle, tugging him along the path to the main road.
Vergil and I trek down the street, going house to house, telling lie after repeated lie, and receiving candy after candy. This must be how Liam feels whenever he lies.
|Some time later|
"A bag full of candy! How exciting is that?" I say, showing him my bag of candy. Vergil stares at me clearly not amused at any of this. "Oh come on! You can't tell me you're not having even a tiny ounce of fun." I huff, crossing my arms.
"I am not having even an ounce of fun," He says flatly.
I roll my eyes at him. I turn to walk down the driveway just in time to see something white roll across my arm as a car passes. Then I hear a "splat". I direct my attention back to Vergil to find that an egg has exploded on him. He looks down at it, then up at me.
"May I express my severe dislike for this holiday once more?"
Aeroga: I love Halloween, but now I'm far too old to go trick or treating. I envy people younger than me. The last section of this happened on my last Halloween excursion two years ago. Some asshole threw an egg, it rolled over my shoulder, then splattered all over the 12 year old kid I was babysitting. (It was hilarious). Then while we were walking home, someone threw a cup of coffee at the 12 year old kid's best friend. Needless to say, they didn't go out trick or treating ever again.
Next Chapter: Vergil and Florence get into a debate over whose brother is better.
