Scott Saves Halloween

Braddock Home – Yvonne's Bedroom – 4:00 pm

Sam stood at the doorway of his mother's room and watched with concern. Mom was tired again. She was so tired the last week. He wished his dad could come home. But he could not.

He had done what he could to help Mom. He played with Sara every day when he got home from school. Sam hated playing Queen's tea party but that was what kept Sara quiet so Mom could rest. He would rather be playing pirates and climbing trees.

Sam waited as Aunt Ann helped his mom back into bed. It was only four pm but mom was so tired she barely made it up the stairs with Aunt Ann's help. He wished he was bigger so he could help her up the stairs.

Yvonne laid back on the bed and looked to Ann "Thank you."

Ann took Yvonne's hand "Hush sister. You do not need to thank me. I am happy to help. You rest now."

Yvonne saw five year old Sammy in the doorway. He looked so concerned. She hated worrying him. Yvonne beckoned him "Come here Sammy."

Sam came forward quickly "Mommy are you okay now?"

"Yes Sammy. I just need a little nap. Aunt Ann will be staying the night. Thank you for getting Sara to take a nap earilier" Yvonne said. Then she asked "Would you like to lay down with me for a little bit?"

Sam nodded. Yvonne patted the bed. Sam carefully crawled up and laid his head on his mommy's stomach. Her hand started to brush through his hair.

Yvonne smiled up at Ann. Ann smiled back at Yvonne. Both could see that Sammy was comforted by Yvonne's touch. He was only a little boy but he did so much to help with William gone constantly.

Ann asked "What would you like for dinner Sammy?"

Thinking about it Sam answered "Something quick. Cause Sara and I want to go trick or treating."

Yvonne looked at Ann with panicked eyes. Oh my gosh! She completely forgot it was Halloween. She had been so tired she did not even get the kids a costume. "Ann I didn't get to …"

Ann read Yvonne's panic. She said "I'll take care of it." Then to Sam she said "How about hot dogs."

Sam nodded. Then said "Mommy what are Sara and I going as? We didn't go shopping for costumes."

Ann quickly said "Why don't you go wake up Sara from her nap. We will figure something out."

Sam sat up "We don't have to go. Mommy's tired and she needs you here to take care of her."

Ann reached out and cupped his face "You are so sweet and kind hearted Sammy. How about if I call Scott? He's old enough now to take you and Sara around."

Grinning Sam nodded. He liked spending time with Scott. He hopped off the bed and bolted out of the room to go wake up Sara.

Going to Yvonne's nightstand she picked up the phone and dialed her house.

[Scott answered the phone when his dad asked him to "Braddock's residence."]

"Hello sweetie."

["Hi mom. You want to talk to dad? He's busy trying to get Vicky to eat her dinner so she can go to her Halloween party" Scott responded.]

Ann said "No I needed to speak to you. I need your help tonight. I know you had plans to hang out with your friends and I hate to ask but …"

She really hated to ask him. Scott had been talking about the party at his friend's house for weeks now. They had built a haunted house for all the neighborhood kids to go through and all his friends would be there.

[Scott cringed. That but … always meant it was something he really would not want to do. Before his mom could say anything he said "Aww mom, tonight I'm going to Liam's house. Remember?"]

"I know sweetie. But this is important. I need to stay with your Aunt, she is not feeling well. Sam and Sara have no one to take them trick or treating. You know your auntie has been ill for a while now. I also need your help to figure out costumes for them" Ann explained.

[Scott dropped his head. He was not getting to hang out with all his friends. He was not going to scare kids in the haunted house either. He was really looking forward to doing that. He had a wooden saber sword with fake blood on it and everything. A little dejectedly Scott said "Okay mom."]

Ann nodded to Yvonne and then said "Thank you sweetie. Now let me talk to your dad so I can ask him to drive you over here."

She heard Scott in the background tell his dad she wanted to talk to him. Ann told Erik what was up. He offered to take Sam and Sara to Vicky's party but Ann said that would not work because Sam would not enjoy going to a party with all girls dressed up as their favorite princess. Erik had laughed and agreed. They arranged that Scott would be dropped off at six thirty and he would stay the night too since tomorrow was Saturday.

Braddock Home – Sam's Bedroom – Almost 6:30 pm

Sam laid on his bed and was crying. He didn't like to cry but he was upset.

Aunt Ann said they should find something to make a costume from around the house. So while Aunty Ann made dinner and took care of his mom he had worked on Sara's costume. It was easy but it took a long time.

Sara had a princess dress and wanted to be a fairy princess. So he twisted together lots of pipe cleaners, they were purple, pink and yellow and he made Sara a pair of fairy wings. It took him almost an hour to make them.

Then he found a stick outside. That took a long time because Sara didn't like five sticks he found. But then she liked the sixth one. He helped Sara wrap it up in some ribbons she used for her hair. That took another forty-five minutes because the ribbons kept coming undone and falling off. He finally got them to stay on and Sara now had a fairy princess wand. Her costume was done.

But then they had to eat dinner. He raced through it and then ran upstairs to his room to try and figure out a costume for himself. It was now almost six thirty and Scott would be here to take them trick or treating any minute.

The problem was that he spent all his time making Sara's costume he didn't have time to make one for himself. He had really wanted to be a pirate this year. But now he would have to walk around in just regular clothes.

Sam sniffled as he looked around. He couldn't figure anything out. He had nothing that would look like a good pirate. He had his stupid little plastic sword. It was all bent from when Sara sat on it. It wobbled and bent in half if he tried to make slashing moves with it. Stupid sword.

He buried his head in his pillow and cried. He didn't want his mom to hear. She was not feeling good. He would cry now and then suck it up and put on a smile.

Braddock Home – Kitchen – 6:30 pm

Scott hugged his mom and then knelt down by three year old Sara. He smiled and said "My what a pretty fairy princess."

Sara smiled and her eyes danced "Sammy made my costume. See my wings." Sara turned to show off the pipe cleaner wings. Then she turned back and waved her wand "And he made my fairy wand too."

"They are very nice" Scott said. Then he stood up and asked "So mom is Sam ready?"

Ann looked at her thirteen year old son. She was so proud of him. He was sacrificing his own fun so that he could make his little cousin's happy. She said "After dinner he went to his room to get his costume. I'm not sure what he came up with. I was so busy with Yvonne and making dinner."

Scott nodded and asked "How is Aunt Yvonne?"

She tousled his hair "She is resting now. Why don't you go get Sammy so you three can trick or treat. Sara is young so she will be getting tired here soon."

Sara put her hands on her hips "I'm not tired."

Scott grinned "No you are not. Hang out down here and I'll be back in a moment with Sam and we can head out. Do you have a bag for your candy?"

Ann sighed "Oh I forgot. I'll get the kids a couple of pillow cases. Those should work nicely."

The two of them headed towards the stairs as Sara twirled around waving her fairy wand.

Braddock Home – Outside Sam's Bedroom – 6:30 pm

Scott and his mom approached Sam's room together as he headed to Sam's room and she headed to the linen closet. They both stopped and listened.

Ann's face fell. Why was Sammy crying? She started for the bedroom door.

Scott whispered "Mom I've got it."

"Okay but I need you to tell me what it is about. He was so distraught earlier when Yvonne nearly fell coming up the stairs" Ann said.

She knew that Sammy idolized Scott and that he was more likely to talk to Scott about his feelings. They were connected almost like twins were even though they were eight years apart and had different parents. She saw in their relationship the same things she saw in hers and Yvonne's relationship. Twin things.

Braddock Home – Sam's Bedroom – 6:30 pm

Scott opened the door quietly, walked in and closed it. He saw Sam with his face buried in the pillow. Scott heard the intermittent sobs interspersed with 'stupid sword' and 'wanted to be a pirate'.

He quickly deduced the problem seeing Sam in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He must have spent all his time making Sara's costume. He looked around Sam's room quickly. It was ship shape as always. Nothing out of place. That was a bit creepy for a five year old Scott thought.

But Sam's dad was a stickler for order. Sam learned very early how to make his bed and that he was expected to keep his room clean and orderly. It was not too different at his house but his room was nowhere this clean and orderly and he was thirteen.

Scott went to the toy box and opened it. He saw the 'stupid sword' Sam was lamenting about. He closed the toy box and went to the bed.

As he sat down he laid a gentle hand on Sam's back and said "Hey doppelganger what seems to be the problem?"

Sam rubbed his face on his pillow. He didn't even hear Scott come in. He sniffled and then sat up. "I don't have a costume."

"I can see how that would be upsetting. What did you want to be?" Scott asked.

Sam's lower lip quivered a bit "A pirate but I don't have anything that is pirate like and my stupid sword is all bent up."

Scott stood and went to Sam's closet. He looked a moment at the offerings. Then he opened each of his draws. Then he said "Wait here a second okay."

Sam nodded.

Scott left the room and headed to his aunt's bedroom.

Braddock Home – Yvonne's Bedroom – 6:33 pm

Scott knocked lightly and when he heard his aunt say come in he opened the door "Hi aunty. I don't want to disturb you but I needed to ask you a question."

Yvonne smiled "You are not disturbing me Scott. What is your question?"

Scott said "Sam wants to be a pirate for Halloween. He spent all his time making Sara's costume. I wanted to ask if it was okay if I ruined one of Sam's t-shirts, if you or Uncle Will have any belts with large buckles and if I could grab Uncle Will's electric shaver. Oh, and if it is okay if I let Sam carry around my wooden sword that is covered in fake blood."

"Um, sure. What do you have in mind?" Yvonne asked at the list of things.

Grinning Scott said "You'll see."

Then he headed into their bathroom as Aunt Yvonne told him where he could find the electric shaver. Then he went to the closet and found one of Uncle Will's belts that would be perfect. Then he headed back to Sam's room. He made a stop in the regular bathroom and searched the cabinets until he found what he needed.

Braddock Home – Sam's Bedroom – 6:35 pm

Scott found Sam sitting on the edge of the bed this time. His tears had dried. That was good. "Got what I needed. And permission so don't freak out okay."

Sam just nodded as he watched Scott grab one of his t-shirts. Sam's mouth gapped open when Scott ripped it. Then he took scissors and cut the sleeves so they were jagged. Next Scott dribble some iodine on the shirt staining it a sort of reddish color.

Scott was deep in thought as he worked on the shirt. He looked at Sam and said "You got some string and black construction paper?"

Sam nodded and went to his art supplies drawer. He pulled it out and put it on his table.

Scott set down the shirt a moment and grabbed the string. He unrolled it and wrapped it around Sam's head and then made it longer and snipped it off. He took a white crayon out of the box on the table and drew a shape of an eye patch. "Cut this out while I work on your shirt."

Carefully Sam used the scissors to cut the shape out that Scott had drawn. He did not follow the line exactly but it was close. "Done" Sam said and held up the black piece of paper.

Scott looked up from making the shirt dirty using crayons of brown, black and gray. "Good. Now poke a small hole on each side and thread the string through it."

Sam did as Scott instructed. He smiled when he realized it was a pirate eye patch.

"Okay put your oldest pair of jeans on and then put this shirt on" Scott said.

Quickly Sam complied. He looked in the mirror after he put on the shirt. It looked like he was filthy and had been in a terrible fight. He grinned as Scott tied the eye patch in place. Then Scott made him sit down on his desk chair.

"What ya gonna do with the Vaseline and dad's shaver?" Sam asked.

Scott opened the Vaseline and took out a small amount. He rubbed it all over Sam's jawline. Then he opened the electric shaver and dumped all the little pieces of Sam's dad's beard onto a paper towel. He said "Every pirate has to have a beard. Come lay you jaw on the paper towel."

When they were finished Sam had little bits of his dad's beard shavings plastered to his jaw. Sam looked in the mirror and a huge grin settled on his face.

Scott said "Okay now let's see if we can get this belt to fit around you. I think if I wrap it twice it will work."

"Why do I need a belt?" Sam asked.

"You'll see" Scott said as he put the belt on Sam. "Okay now wait here one more moment. I'll be right back with the best part."

Sam stood looking in the mirror while Scott raced out of his room. He looked at the clock and it was only six forty five. It had taken only fifteen minutes to make a pirate costume with Scott's help.

Scott entered the room with his hands behind his back. He said "Okay now give me your best pirate scowl. Cause you know pirates don't smile."

Sam scowled into the mirror trying to make it look fierce. As he was doing so a really cool pirate saber appeared in front of him. He looked at Scott in the mirror. His eyes were wide with wonder. He looked at the sword again. It was covered in fake blood. It was so cool.

He turned to Scott "For me?"

Scott grinned "For you doppelganger. Or should I call you Yellow Beard the fiercest pirate on the seven seas."

Sam took the sword and looked up at Scott "Thanks Scott."

"Let's go show your mom. Then we can head out. Pirates need to go a plundering" Scott said with a huge smile.

Sam hugged Scott and said "You're the bestest cuz."

Then Sam ran yelling excitedly "Mom, Mom, Scott made me into a pirate. He's letting me use his cool sword with blood on it. He called me Yellow Beard, the fiercest pirate on the seven seas."

Braddock Home – Sam's Bedroom – 9:30 pm

Scott stood in the door way looking at his little cousin sleeping. Tonight was so different from what he had planned. He would never want it to be different than what it actually turned out to be.

He watched as Sam curled up on the bed in his pjs. Sam's hand was still wrapped around the wooden sword.

Sam was so happy tonight. Sara got tired after about ten houses so they brought her home. But then he and Sam went back out and plundered every single house in the neighborhood. Sam had gotten so much 'loot' as Sam called his candy that Scott had to carry the pillowcase because it was too heavy for Sam.

The hugs, smiles and laughter he had gotten from Sam more than made up for not hanging out with his friends.

Ann walked up beside Scott and put her arm around her son "I'm so proud of you Scott. You did something very nice tonight. You made a happy memory for Sam. You saved his Halloween."

Scott smiled "I made a happy memory for me too Mom."