August

"I've finally settled on the amusement park for our vacation, Beej. I know Beatie will love it and there's plenty there for us to enjoy, too." Lydia settled beside him on the parlor couch with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Hey, I thought we could go to Grislyland. You know, Bartholomew Batt, the Sappiest Place on Earth. I could face off against him again and really grind him into the dust this time." Beetlejuice grinned evilly.

Lydia laughed and leaned against his arm. "No, it has to be an amusement park, not an abusement park. Not when the kids are so young."

He frowned then in disappointment. "Okay," he said grudgingly. "Where are we going?"

"Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. There are lots of great rides there, and a small zoo – really kind of a wildlife park – and carnival games and we can even go to the factory next door and watch them make chocolate. There's a huge garden with a butterfly atrium for the kids and you know they'll love that."

Beetlejuice perked up a bit. "Hey, this is sounding better if they're offering free snacks."

Lydia punched him lightly on the arm and ignored his phony howl of agony. "Wretch," she said. "You know it'll be a lot of fun and I can take Beatie on the water rides while you watch Chazz. Seriously, Beej darling, it's the perfect place. For us as well as the kids. And, this is important – they've just had a cancellation, so we can stay at the Hershey Lodge!" She snuggled up against him, clutching at his 'wounded' arm. "Come on, my sweetheart. We'll all have such a good time there. Please?"

Beetlejuice, as he always did, gave in, but did not wholeheartedly agree and went around quietly singing, "It's a batty, batty world," for the rest of the day. Lydia was ready to murder him until she realized it was his revenge for her choice of summer vacation fun so she had to ignore it.

When they did finally get to Hersheypark, staying at the lodge, Lydia and Beetlejuice split their responsibilities as fairly as possible. Lydia went on the water rides with Beatie while her husband was happy to hang out with baby Chazz. Beetlejuice went on the roller coasters and Ferris wheel with his daughter while Lydia watched and waved Chazz's small hand at them, and both parents rode the carousel, taking turns holding their son. Everyone enjoyed the carnival-type games, and Beetlejuice won a stuffed pink pony which he accepted with much embarrassment and gave to his daughter, who immediately asked him to carry it for her. He did. Without even grumbling.

Beatie was a little disappointed that 'Chickie's and Pete's' wouldn't give them free food (since they were obviously named after her), but the dippin' dots more than made up for that. Beetlejuice discovered kettle corn and at once had a new favorite snack. But the runaway winner in the food department was the Demon Dogs. The whole family, except for Chazz, had lunch at the Demon Dogs stand all three days they were there.

Lydia took nearly a hundred photos of her family, but her favorite was Beetlejuice holding Beatie as she fed a fish to a seal. The look of joy on his face combined with the look of amazement on Beatie's made it one that would be on the wall of the parlor as soon as they were home.

ooooo

They had been home for nearly two days, yet various mementos and photos were still strewn about the house. It was Lydia's turn to cook and dinner was just about ready when she heard whispering outside the kitchen door. Out of habit she glanced at the mirror she used to keep an eye on Chazz while she cooked. In it, she could see the reflection of Beatie just beyond the door, being instructed by her father with hand gestures and several winks.

"Mama," said Beatie, entering the kitchen with a backward look at the door, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can." Lydia turned to face her daughter with a smile, carefully not looking at the hallway through the door.

"If I'm really good this year, can we –" Beatie paused to twist a button on her shirt shyly. "If I'm really, really good, can we go back to Hersheypark next year?"

Beatie's Mama, Beetlejuice's one true love, bit her lip to contain her amusement, then smiled again at her daughter and at the open door. "I don't see why not. If you're all really, really good this year."

Out in the hallway, Lydia could just make out her husband thrusting triumphant fists into the air and grinning at the ceiling.

Lydia shook her head, still smiling, thinking there was no family like hers anywhere. And that she couldn't be happier.