Chapter 27: Canada Strikes Back

-set during "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns"-

I've loved Canada growing up. It was almost literally my next door neighbor, and I spent a lot of weekends there. On the Island, or in Vancouver. Robin and I related a lot on the subject. She too had visited Port Angeles as much as I visited her town. It was a subject that we talked over a few times, but it wasn't until Halloween was approaching that came a turning point when we finally connected as friends.

"Canadian Whiskey, Ollie. A good one" Said Robin, one night at the bar.

"Hah. You got it Ms. Canuck. A special occasion? You don't usually order it unless if your celebrating something."

"Actually, yes." Then Robin got up really closely, lowering her voice. "You know how Barney's bashed on Canada a lot before?"

I snorted. "Robin, you're referring to a guy who just last week referenced the Stanley Cup Riot and saying it had something to do with the lack of suits there."

"Well, now he gets a taste of his own medicine!"

"Why?" I asked, grinning. I could see that whatever Robin was gonna tell me, it was awesome.

"His grandmother was born in Manitoba! He's one quarter Canadian!"

"Oh my god!" I breathed. "That. Is. Awesome!"

"I know!" Sniggered Robin. "Now I'm making fun of him. Can I ask for your help?"

"Sure, but I'm busy here." I gestured to the bar counter, with the dirty pint glasses. "I'll get Alice to give this to him."

I had Alice take the whiskey to Barney, then laughed from afar as he spewed it out.

Later, Robin came back up. "So, Ollie. You got plans for Halloween?"

"Sometimes. I have a costume I wear every year."

"Well, if you're not busy, you're welcome to come up to the roof party. I'm have plans to make Barney go as something humiliating."

"You didn't." I laughed.

Robin shrugged. "He had it coming. So, Halloween?"

"I'll be there. Thanks."

A few days later, I woke up for Halloween. I got up, and put on my costume. I was about to leave the apartment, when there was a knock at my door.

"Who's there?" I asked, cautiously, trying to get into character.

"It's me." Said Juno's voice from behind the door.

She opened the door, and stepped in. We both started laughing at the sight of each other.

"Again?" She asked, sniggering.

I had worn a green hood, and donned and bow and quiver to go along with it.

"I forget who the hell you're supposed to be." She laughed.

"I'm Green Arrow!" I said.

"Riiiight." She said. "Because his name is Oliver, too. That's geeky, man."

"Speak for yourself." I replied.

Juno was wearing a brown robe and a cream colored tunic, holding up a purple lightsaber. She was a Jedi knight.

"I should have known that you would be going as a Jedi. Remember that year you tried going as Princess Leia?"

"Of course. You wouldn't let me hear the end of the fact that the clips caught my hair so hard, I had to get them cut out."

"That was funny." I reasoned.

Juno smirked. "Yeah, it was. Why don't you ever go as someone else? You look more like Nathan Drake from Uncharted."

I laughed. After I showed her those games, Juno kept comparing me to him. I will admit though, that she's right.

"So what's your plan?" She said.

"Friends from the bar have a Halloween party. What about you?"

"I'm not sure. I'll probably just wing it."

"Really? You don't know what's gonna happen? I thought Jedi could predict the future."

"Haha! Actually, they meditate to find out what will happen. They don't predict."

I laughed. "You know, J. I know I only understand you like a big brother, but I know some guy will on a romantic level. When that day comes, I'll be glad I was there to see it."

I arrived at the party later that night. Robin greeted me, dressed as a Vancouver Canuck.

"Hey there, Robin!" I said.

"What's up, Hood?" She replied. All of the sudden, we both laughed at the unintended pun there.

"So who are you supposed to be?" She asked. "You don't look exactly like Robin Hood."

"I'm Green Arrow. He's in my opinion an underrated DC comics superhero. He's awesome, and the reason I've gone as him for several years is because his alter ego is also named Oliver."

"I see what you did there. Nice."

"So where's Barney? I gotta see the humiliation."

"He just called me. He'll be here soon."

All of the sudden, the fire escape was lit up by Barney coming up on a platform. He had no shirt, star spangled boxer gloves and shorts, and an Uncle Sam hat. He started pumping the crowd, chanting "USA! USA!"

I scratched my head. "I don't get it. What's so humiliating about that?"

Robin shook her head, unimpressed. "He was supposed to show up here as a Mountie. If he had done that, then I would have stopped bashing him about him being Canadian."

"Well, I guess we can start bashing him again." I said, smiling.

Robin grinned, as Barney worked his way over.

"Ok, instead of wearing the serge, like I asked you to," said Robin "you show up half naked. It's nearly November!"

"No problem. I ain't cold." Shrugged Barney.

Robin smirked. "Huh. That's interesting. It's almost like you've adapted from generations of exposure to sub-zero temperatures." She got up real close to him. "Canada."

Barney cringed. I laughed. "Hey, Mr. Canuck! I got you a Molson from the bar!" I held up a bottle of it. "That'll be a loonie and a toonie." I called over.

Barney shook like he was having a seizure. "Why are you joining in? You're not even Canadian."

"I may not be, but I've been there like it's a second home. You'd be surprised at how awesome it is."

"I just wish she'd stop!" He said, sitting down, exasperated.

"You had this coming, bro." I sat down beside him, pulling my bow off my back.

"What's with the bow? Are you Robin Hood, or something?"

"No! Why do people keep thinking that? I'm Green Arrow! There's a difference!"

"Bro, I'm looking at you, and there's no difference."

"Well for one thing, I'm not wearing the stupid hat!"

"I'll give you that. You do pull the hood off."

"Thanks. But back on what you're saying about Robin. It's simple: you make fun of Canada, and they fight back. Robin told me that time you got in a fight with some guys in a Tim Hortons in Toronto. It's like that."

"They needed the speech."

"Not really. Canada's not that different from America. Trust me, I've been there."

Robin made the fourth of the gang to connect with as a friend. It wasn't until about 2 months later that I finally connected with Lily, making me a friend of each of them. But as you might have guessed, that's another chapter for another day.