Chapter 3
Later on at a quarter to 7, April suggested they take the subway to get to the Village Halloween Parade. Finding a parking space would be most difficult and the parade makes it even worse. Casey dreaded getting on the subway looking the way he did but April assured him he'd be fine. It was both Halloween night and they were living in New York. No one would really care!
The festivities had already started up when they arrived. The area was wall to wall chaos of people in and out of costumes. Blue barricades were up along the streets to block them from entering the path the parade went through. The seven of them got out of the subway at Canal Street and slowly made their way over to 6th Avenue, walking alongside more bizarre people in costume. The Turtles felt a little relaxed but since it was cold, like Leonardo predicted, they each kept their clothes on.
"Aren't you guys cold?" Donatello asked as he sized up April and Shadow whom wore nothing on their shoulders.
"I'm fine." Shadow told him, rolling her eyes to April. "But she brought me a dumb sweater, anyway."
"Just incase!" April squeaked as she wrapped her arm around Superman--er, Casey. "Are you cold?"
"No, the tights keep him warm." Raphael teased.
Greenwich Village was completely ready for the Halloween Parade with its orange and black colored decorations. Booths were set up with either delicious food to eat, games to play, or souvenirs of T-shirts and gifts to buy. Rolling carts gave out more candy and toys galore to the passing crowds, just the thing for more kids to have after Trick or Treating.
Everyone had an absolutely wonderful time watching and listening to the sights and sounds of the event. A huge pirate ship with pirates rolled on by, a skeleton puppet loomed over Washington Square, and various other puppets were being used, including ones people could volunteer to operate. A TV camera crew was setting up their equipment to televise the event, giving the four turtles a good reason to duck away into the crowds. If Splinter saw his sons flash across the screen, he would have a massive fit and order them all 20 flips as punishment!
"Shadow!" A girl screamed out from somewhere.
"Who's the Fembot?" Michaelangelo asked.
"Oh, hey, it's Jenalyn! She's a girl I know from my school." Shadow pointed several yards down the street to a girl dressed as one of sexy Fembots whom tried to seduce Austin from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
"I like to see girls of that...caliber?" Michaelangelo quoted Dr. Evil while lifting a finger to his mouth. "By caliber, of course, I mean both the size of their gun barrels, and...the high quality of their characters...two meanings...cali..ber...it's a homonym."
"Cute, Uncle Mike. Wait here, I'm gonna go say hi." Before she could get stopped, Shadow took off and immediately disappeared into the crowds.
"Wait! Damn it, April!" Casey looked down to her waist. "You could have used Wonder Woman's magic lasso to hog tie her!" He turned to the Turtles for help but they were too busy being scrunched together, trying not to be gawked at by the mass of people surrounding them.
"Guys, guess what?! Jenalyn and I are going to be in the parade!" Shadow rushed back over with glee on her face. "She's gonna be with this Austin Powers guy and a bunch of other Fembots...and I found some Egyptian Pharaohs and we're all gonna walk together! Isn't that cool?!"
"That's cool!" Casey grinned, glancing to April. "Maybe we'll find some super heroes and walk with them."
"Well, look no further." Michaelangelo said as he removed his hat and trench coat, standing there in nothing but himself and battle attire. The other three turtles gasped but they soon discovered they were the only ones who looked surprised!
"Mike! What are you doing?!" April shrilled. "You don't have a costume!"
"This is my costume, April!" Michaelangelo grinned. "I'm a Mutant Ninja Turtle character!" Standing there in a proud pose, he glanced to his brothers with a nod. "Um...ahem! And I'm feeling a little lonely out here!"
Raphael removed his mask and costume, also revealing his true identity. "I'm right with ya, bro!" That was two now out in the open. Donatello looked to Leonardo as if he were saying, 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' and within seconds, all four turtles stood there minus their clothing.
"I'm saying a prayer right now we don't get caught on tape." Donatello said as several eyes began to turn to them.
"Or let's hope this doesn't come back to haunt us." Leonardo added.
"Good one, Leo!" Raphael pointed with a laugh. "Get it? Haunt? Halloween?"
"So far, no one's said anything." Donatello looked around. "Maybe we can get away with it."
"Whoa, hey, yo! Those are awesome costumes, dudes!" A group of guys called out as they walked by.
"Hey, turtle guys! You got some killer abs!" One of the girls screamed out from a trio of cocktail waitresses.
Michaelangelo grinned. "Maybe you're right, Don! What do you say, Casey? Shall we join you and April?"
"Well, I was speaking more of the super heroes from the Justice League...." Casey sized them up and down. "Aw, hell, let's all walk in the parade!"
The music and cheering picked up as all seven walked up 6th Avenue in the most strangest parade ever. Christmas parades usually had a cheery, warm feeling while the Halloween parade was full of bizarre, various surprises. Shadow walked with the Pharaohs, Jenalyn got involved with an Austin Powers crew, April and Casey found more super heroes, and the Turtles proudly walked along with the beasts and mutants of the group.
It felt so strange being on spotlight like this but people didn't think anything of it. Like vampires walking in the daylight, it was wonderful to walk and not be called a freak of nature. At least everyone was some sort of freak that evening. Hundreds assumed they were in costume as strange turtle beasts with ninja experience. The walking went on for several hours with more people joining from further streets up ahead.
Soon, the Turtles were bumping shoulders with all types of costumed creatures, even the ones that seemed just as life-like as they were! A bunch of Japanese samurai filled the area they walked in, followed by men and women dressed in fancy kimonos. Everyone knew that the parade was a vast range of not only fictional things but lively citizens from different countries as well.
Hours later, the parade was slowly coming to an end as it reached 23rd Street but to the spectators, it meant more partying afterwards. 10 p.m. was nothing compared to them. Jenalyn approached Shadow after her Austin Powers group separated and the two shared plenty of giggles for a moment.
"So, wasn't that fun?"
"Oh, it was a blast!" Shadow exclaimed. "And look, my parents and uncles got into the parade, too!"
"Your uncles are wearing killer costumes." Jenalyn looked over to the four. "What are they supposed to be?"
"They're ninja turtles!" Shadow grinned, pushing it no further to explain in detail.
"Wow." Jenalyn looked again with an equal grin. "Hey, speaking of fun, I know something we can do when this is over."
"What? Tell me, tell me!" Shadow pleaded as she explained quietly.
April and Casey pulled themselves out of the parade full of big laughs and bigger smiles. Eventually, they caught sight of the four turtles whom were still getting huge compliments on the 'costumes' they each wore. Several children wanted to run up and touch them while adults became more and more interested in knowing how they designed the costumes.
"Heeeey, guys!" Michaelangelo waved as he rushed over to greet them. "I just got through talking with this talent scout and he's interested in putting us in our own movie! Don't think that'll happen so to be safe, I did the famous 'don't call us, we'll call you' excuse!"
"Good on you, Mikey." April sighed. "Much as a movie career would pay you big bucks, they'd want you to come out of those 'costumes' sometime."
Mike nodded. "Yeah, I know. But, hey, I'll have to admit, this was the most fun I've ever had in a public place. Right, guys?"
"Yeah, it was fun." Donatello agreed. "I had this mutant lizard girl hang around me during the whole parade! She couldn't stop pinching my face and arms to see what kind of material they were made of. I told her it was reptilian skin but that only got me an earful of laughter!"
"One little boy in a purple dinosaur costume kept following alongside of me." Raphael laughed a little. "He kept calling himself Barney and asking if I would be his best friend. Man, I was glad when his Elvira mother came over and took him away."
"I know what you mean." Leonardo rolled his eyes. "One little girl wearing a 101 Dalmatians costumekept tapping on my shell to see if it was real. When the music started to play, Who Let the Dogs Out? the girl started woofing at me! Even at one point, she started singing, 'who let the dogs out? Me! Me! Me!' It wasn't until several minutes when the dog catcher--er, I mean, her dad, came and distracted her attention away from me."
"Personally, I liked it when that guy in the Batman costume started hitting on me." April said, grinning to Casey. "I love a man when he wears his rubber."
Casey looked back with a scowl. "Oh, yeah? Well, you should have seen that Dolly Parton chick puttin' her hands all over my 'S' symbol!"
"Casey..." April bit her lip. "That person was dressed as Miss Piggy!" The other four turned and snickered loudly.
"Oh." Casey looked down. "I kind of wondered why she wore a pig snout around her nose."
"Hey, Shadow, how did you make out?" Michaelangelo asked as he saw her come trotting over.
"Quite a bit." Shadow grinned. "Got one of the Pharaoh's phone numbers!" That wasn't what he meant but he chose not to question it any further.
As the time neared 10:30, each of them linked hands to get out of the mob crowd and down a side street to safety. Other than the original seven, they seemed to have taken more people with them, or friends of Shadow's, whom tagged along in the back.
"Man, I'll be so glad to get home and out of this Superman costume." Casey said while glancing to the Turtles. "Got anymore plans for this evening?"
"I'm totally wired!" Michaelangelo exclaimed. "We'll probably head for home and watch a horror movie or something. Wanna come with, Shadow?" He looked over to see Shadow was talking to her friends. "Yo, kid?!"
"Hmm?" Shadow ran over and looked up to him. "What's up?"
"The guys and I are heading back to the lair. I just wondered if you wanted to come with us and watch a scary movie."
"Oh. Um, actually, I was invited over to Jenalyn's house and we were going to do some more Halloween stuff." Shadow looked over to see if anyone was listening before she leaned closer and whispered, "She's got a Ouija board and we're gonna try to contact a dead person! Just swear you won't tell Mom."
"Ah..." Michaelangelo pulled back with worry starting to grow inside of him. He went to say something but she placed a finger on her lips, glancing back to April. "Aw, Shadow." He whispered back. "I don't want you messing with those things. They're not safe."
"Ugh, don't make me blow chunks of Tootsie Rolls." Shadow rolled her eyes. "You sound just like my father."
"And he's right...for once. Listen to your father." Michaelangelo looked over to him, shaking his head. "Listen to ol' Superman over there. At least he's smart to know the difference between good and bad....or more like evil."
"Are you coming with us?" Donatello asked as he approached them.
"No." Shadow told him. "I've already made other plans with my friend."
"Oh, hey, that's cool." Donatello grinned as he and his brothers cringed when some drunk guys walked by and screeched out, 'hey ninja turrrrtles! woooo!' They must have forgotten to throw their protective clothing back on. "Um....we'd better go. Have fun, kid." He said as she reached up to hug him good-bye.
"I will." Shadow winked over his shoulder to Michaelangelo and mouthed the words, "Thanks."
"Whatever." He mumbled as she hugged him next and then went to do the same for the others. "I just don't wanna hear any horror stories come out of it." Donatello blinked and gave him a questioning look. "Don't look at me like that, Don." Shadow ran back over to her group of friends and...Superman. April also bid farewell, wishing them a happy and safe Halloween. Michaelangelo nodded to those words. "Yeah, hope the same goes for everyone else."
A half an hour later, the four were back down in the sewer tunnels, dragging their tired and sore feet along. Splinter looked up from his reading when the four came quietly piling in. They couldn't tell him they were at the Halloween Parade where millions saw them. It would be hard to do but each had to hide that fact by not looking like they had a great time. When they came in, they noticed the TV was shut off. Maybe he didn't watch the parade after all!
"Well....I see you all hit the jackpot." He quietly mumbled before catching their dull expressions. "Is everything all right?"
"Swell." Raphael said as he plopped on the sofa, still in his black costume but with his mask off. "We ended up doing some major trick or treating before April and Casey were led onto a wild goose chase with some girls we ran into."
"Oh?" Splinter said while sitting down next to Raph. "Who were they?"
"Weirdoes." He said sullenly. "That's who they were."
"Oh." Splinter looked to the others. "Did they give you a hard time?"
"Sort of. Let me explain." Michaelangelo sat on the arm of the couch. "They weren't dressed up for Halloween but they looked all dressed up to go ice skating! We figured it was just a costume, right? Wrong! They were seriously going ice skating in Central Park! I told them, 'no way, the rink is closed till mid-November' but they said they go all the time! Just to please them, April offered to drive them over in the van so we chilled at the apartment until they got back. She and Casey went to do that but came back faster than expected, saying the rink was closed and they just drove the girls home. Weird, huh?"
"Indeed." Splinter said with lowered brows. "Did anything else happen that should concern me?"
"Nope." Michaelangelo stated, saying nothing afterwards. Splinter looked around to the others, hoping to get more answers. Leonardo had his head bowed to the ground, Raphael was reading through the TV Guide and Donatello was playing with a hang-nail.
"Hmm...." Splinter gave him a suspicious look. "Something tells me that is not all of it."
"Um, actually, I was wondering something." Donatello said as he walked over to Michaelangelo. "When you were talking to Shadow, what did you mean by you didn't want to hear any horror stories come out of it? Come out of what?" All eyes turned back to Michaelangelo whom suddenly felt hot with nervousness.
"Oh, it's nothing. Really, she's fine. I just tend to worry....well, a lot."
"Well, then, would her parents be more worried about whatever's she's doing tonight?" Donatello asked.
"Hookay, yes, I'm very worried about her!" Michaelangelo looked away as he confessed. "She went over to Jenalyn's house and they were planning on playing with a Ouija board tonight."
"What?!" Splinter's eyes turn wide with shock.
"Oh, jeez..." Raph groaned deeply.
"A Ouija board?!" Leonardo shrilled, standing up to look down on him. "Is she crazy? Those things are dangerous!"
"I know that, Leo, and that's what I tried to tell her!" Mike yelled back. "She just wouldn't listen to me--"
"You should have been more firm or even told April whom was standing right there!" Leonardo returned to the coat rack to reapply his hat and trench coat. By then, Michaelangelo knew he had a big mouth for blowing her cover.
"Leo, where are you going?" Don asked tiresomely. "It's late--"
"I don't care what time it is! She shouldn't be messing with stuff she doesn't know and to avoid getting into real trouble, I'm going to get her out of there." Leonardo stopped at a drawer to locate an address on a piece of paper and stuff it in his pocket. "You said she went to Jenalyn's right?"
"Leo, you're not just going to barge into the girl's house and yank her out?" Mike asked. "Are you?"
"If you're coming along, just watch me!"
"Wait up..." Michaelangelo jumped up and ran over to grab his street clothes. "Touch my candy and die, Raph!"
"Maybe you should just take your sack with you?" Raph grinned broadly.
"Raaaaph!"
"Just kidding! Eesh! What a grouch." As soon as they was gone, the three looked amongst themselves. "So! Anyone wanna watch a horror movie?"
