Happy Halloween!
I do not own.
"Hey sweetie, wanna come help me and your brother map out our candy route this year?" Rex called to his daughter.
"Si, we're looking for maximum candy haul this year." Rafael said.
"Uh, I thought mom told you." Violeta said. "I'm not going trick or treating this year. I've been invited to a Halloween party."
Rex's smile faded. "What? What Halloween party?" He stammered.
"Megan invited the whole class to her Halloween party." She answered.
"Whole class? You mean boys too?" Rex's voice went up an octave.
"Well, usually that's what whole means." Violeta shrugged.
"And mom said okay?" Rex asked in surprise.
"Yeah, Megan's mom talked to Mom and she said it was ok." Violeta replied.
"More candy for me!" Rafael announced before turning back to the map.
Rex glanced at him with consternation before turning back to Violeta but she was already walking out the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?" He scrambled to catch up to her.
Violet's turned around. "I'm going to soccer practice with Uncle Federico."
"Oh," Rex paused. "Well, be back right after practice."
"Dad, I'm going out with Aunt Annie afterwards." Violeta reminded him.
"Well, come home right after that." Rex said authoritatively.
"Sure dad." Violet's rolled her eyes.
"And don't roll your eyes at me young lady, only your mother can do that." He watched her leave with a scowl.
0o0
"Why did you let her go?" Rex demanded to Circe.
Circe looked up from the pot she was stirring. "Let who go where?"
"Don't play dumb with me. You remember what happened." Rex snapped.
"Rex, if this is a game..." Circe said tiredly.
"No, you said Violeta could go to a Halloween party. You know we go trick or treating every year." Rex
"Oh that. Violeta is a little too old for trick or treating." Circe lifted the spoon to her lips.
"You're never too old to go trick or treating." Rex declared.
"You're too old. That's why you use the kids as cover." She pointed out.
"This isn't about me, it's about Violeta going to a party… with boys." He growled.
"Oh, is that what you're worried about?" Circe sighed.
"Do you know what happens at these Halloween parties?" Rex asked angrily.
"No, what?" Circe asked.
Rex opened his mouth to argue but realized he didn't know either. "Well, I'm sure it's not good." He finished lamely.
"Look, Megan's mother will be there. I'm sure everyone will be safe." Circe said reasonably.
"That's not the point." Rex protested.
"Then what is the point?" Circe looked him in the eye.
Rex was about to respond but couldn't think of anything to say. He stormed out. Circe shook her head and returned to her stirring.
0o0
"Ok, mom I'm ready to go to the party." Violeta announced coming down the stairs.
"Oh, don't you look so cute in your tiger outfit." Her mom smiled.
"Mom, I don't want to look cute." She groaned.
"Sorry, sorry. I mean good costume. Come on, let's go." Her mom grabbed her keys.
"Wait," Rex interrupted. "I'll drive you." He snatched the keys from her hand.
"Huh?" Both Violeta and her mom gaped at Rex. He stood in his Han Solo costume.
"Sure, I'll bring you to the party." Rex said.
"But what about taking Raffy trick or treating?" Circe asked.
"Yeah, what about taking me trick or treating?" Rafael demanded. He was dressed in a dark Jedi robe.
"Don't worry, I'll just drop her off and we'll trick or treat around the area." Rex reassured them.
Violeta looked helplessly at her mother who shrugged.
"I guess it's not a big deal if dad drove you over… and then left." She looked pointedly at her husband.
"Sure, sure." Rex declared as he put an arm around her daughter. "It would be a chance for me to meet your friends."
Violeta did not look happy but didn't say anything. Rafael glanced from his sister to his father.
Rex ushered both his kids out the door.
Circe bit her lip and hoped she hadn't made a mistake.
0o0
A few minutes later Rex pulled up to a brightly lit and decorated house decorated with fake cotton spider webs, pumpkins, and witches on broomsticks hanging from the trees.
"Pffft, you call those scary Halloween decorations? I've coughed up scarier things." Rex muttered.
"Okay, dad. Thanks for the ride. Bye." Violeta jumped out of the car and rushed up the walkway.
"Not so fast," Rex hopped out of the car. "What's your hurry?" He strolled after her.
"What about Trick or Treating?" Rafael yelled from the car. When both his father and sister disappeared into the car, Rafael slumped back against his seat in a huff.
"Hello, you must be Megan's mother." Rex stuck out his hand to the woman who opened the door. Violeta squeezed past her to avoid being associated with him.
"Megan's in the living room." She called after Violeta before turning to Rex. Taking his hand, she smiled politely. "Nice to meet you Mr. Salazar."
"So, what do you have planned for the Halloween party?" Rex got right to the point.
"Well, we're going to decorate some pumpkins and watch some scary movies." She answered.
"That's it?" Rex asked surprised.
"Well, I suppose if we have time, we can make caramel apples but I thought it would be a lot easier to make them for the kids. But if you want to stay and help…" Megan's mother began.
"No, no it's okay. I have to take my son Trick or Treating." Rex glanced at his car before nearly giving himself whiplash when he turned around again. "Rafael?" He ran back to the car. Megan's mother shrugged and closed the door.
Rex reached the car and swung the door open to reveal the Rafael was gone. Rex frantically spun around looking up and down the streets to see if Rafael was close by. Forming his Rex Ride, he took off down the street. "Rafael!" He shouted. Some Trick or Treaters stopped to look at him curiously, but no one responded to him. Wearing a dark costume did not help make Rafael more visible. "Rafael!" Thinking he couldn't have possibly gotten that far on foot. He turned his bike around and checked the opposite direction.
0o0
Violeta was decorating her pumpkin when she heard a tap at the window. Looking over, her eyes widened. "Raffy?"
"You brother?" Megan asked looking over as well.
The kids at the party rushed over to the window.
"Hi!" Raffy waved.
"Aww, is that your little brother? He's so cute!" A girl said.
Violeta made a face. "He's 12. That's too old to be cute." She said. "Why are you here?" She asked Rafael.
"I got bored waiting. I went across the street to trick or treat but she gave me socks." Rafael lifted the offending "treat" from his bag.
"That's the crazy cat lady. She never gives anything good." Megan said. "Why don't you come in? Mom bought lots of candy…" Before she could finish the doorbell rang.
"Megan? Are you expecting Rafael?" Her mother asked from the front.
Violeta saw her brother peeking from the side. "That's my brother. I think dad lost him."
"Oh you poor thing. Come in. I'll call your mother to let her know you're here." Megan's mother said.
"Can I have some candy?" Rafael asked.
"Of course." She pointed to a bowl before heading into the kitchen.
Rafael grabbed a handful of candy-coated chocolates and shoved them into his mouth.
"Do you want to paint a pumpkin?" Megan asked him.
Rafael nodded vigorously. Violeta handed him a pumpkin and some paint.
0o0
Rex was now flying overhead trying to spot Rafael. He spotted someone in a dark robe. He landed next to the kid and grabbed him.
"Hey!" A blond kid yelped. "Stranger danger!" He shrieked. Pulling out his light saber he began hitting Rex.
"Oww, sorry, kid. I thought you were my…" He was whacked from behind.
"Kidnapper!" A woman screamed hitting him again.
"No, no. I thought he was my…" Rex tried to explain when something sharp and stinging flew into his eyes." "Auugghhh!" The lady had pepper sprayed him.
Rex rubbed his eyes as the mother and child ran away. His phone rang.
"What?" He snapped eyes still tearing.
"Rex! You lost Rafael!" Circe asked sharply.
"What? No…" Rex tried to deny it.
"Where is he?" She challenged.
"Uh, hey you're breaking up…" Rex hung up. Wait. How would Circe know he lost Rafael? The panic started to lift and he realized, he must be back at the house. He quickly rushed back.
0o0
"Rafael? You're father's here." Megan's mother announced.
"Awww, can he stay?" The kids asked.
"Can I stay?" Rafael echoed as he shoved another cookie into his mouth.
"Well, we're about to watch a movie that I think might be a little too scary for you." Megan's mother said.
"Come on Raffy. If we leave now, we can still hit several houses before we have to get home." Rex walked in.
"Ok." Raffy got up. He shoved some more candy into his bag and some chips into the pockets of his robe before following his father out.
0o0
Later that evening, Rex returned with both kids in tow. Circe was waiting with arms crossed.
"Rafael is fine." Rex said before she could say anything. "I knew he is fine. I mean he is old enough to go on his own. And he had fun with Violeta. In fact, next year we might have a Halloween party at our house."
Circe's stance didn't change but she was less annoyed. "Go inside kids. Don't eat any of the candy till we check it."
When they were alone, Circe took a deep breath. "Look, Rex, I know you're worried about Violeta growing up. But you have to trust they'll make the right decisions when the time comes."
"I know but…" Rex sat down on the porch swing. "I miss when they were little."
Circe sat next to him. "I do too but you're missing them now." She placed a hand on his arm. He patted her head and kissed her forehead.
"We're good parents." He said.
"I'm a good parent. You lost one of our kids." Circe joked.
"I found him." Rex smirked.
Laughing they went into the house. The phone rang and Circe picked up.
Rex was about to go upstairs.
"Rex? Do you anything about a kidnapping?" Circe looked at him.
"What did you say? Can't help kids are calling me." Rex ran up the stairs.
Circe narrowed her eyes as Rex disappeared.
I'm still on hiatus. I'll be honest, guys. I had a rougher time than usual last year and I'm still recovering. It wasn't as bad as that time 10 years ago, but it's sapped me of any desire to write anything long (or anything at all). I'm just going to try to throw out little nuggets during holidays. Please support the writers that are continuing to write. Send them a favor, follow, and comment.