This is Halloween

Thatch was the most fearless (and feared) creature in all of Scare School. Over the years, he had come face to face with many scary entities-bog monsters, bunnies, the dentist-without so much as flinching. But he had yet to encounter the most unspeakable horror known to man-meeting his girlfriend's parents.

Fortunately, Halloween was three days away, and a party was being thrown just down the street from Carly's house.

Thatch rolled his eyes as he passed by the Bradley house. The Creature Catcher was sitting on his porch, trying in vain to regain control of his devices. "I'm telling you, Rebecca," he told his wife, "this thing always goes haywire around this time of year."

With no need to evade the Catcher's fruitless pursuit of creatures, Thatch transformed into a bat and made his way to 419 Canary Lane. Sneaking in through a second-story window, he snuck down the hall to Carly's bedroom door ("first on the left," she had said). "Psst," he hissed at the door, "Carly, it's me. Can we please get this over with?"

"Thatch? You're early," she replied, "I've just barely started on my makeup."

"Well, hurry. I've been anxious about this all day."

"Thatch, it's just my parents. It's not like the minute you say, 'Hi,' they're going to start shoving garlic down your throat."

"Oh, thanks for putting that image in my head."

"I'm just saying. It'll be fine, Thatch. Don't worry."

He wished he could tell her that it wasn't that easy. He had been dreading this day from the moment it was planned. He forced himself to take a deep breath and relax. All he had to do was shake her father's hand, her mom would probably want to take a few pictures, and then they'd be on their merry way, but he couldn't stop thinking about all the ways he could mess this up.

"Carly, are you almost ready," her mother called from downstairs, "Who are you talking to?"

"It's just my boyfriend, Mom," she called back, "We'll be down in a minute."

"We?" her dad added, "You mean he's already here? And he's upstairs? With you?!"

"Calm down, Dad," she said, slightly irritated at his outburst, "He's just waiting in the hall." Then, to Thatch, "Okay. You can open the door now."

When he did, he was not ready for the sight in front of him. Carly's skin was a pale gray, and her hair was dyed black with a white stripe down the middle similar to Triclops's. She was wearing a black robe, red contact lenses, and the cherry on top, fake vampire fangs. Suddenly, Thatch's nerves ebbed away.

"Well," she said, "How do I look?"

He fell to one knee at her feet. "Marry me."

"Hey, slow your roll, Fangs," she giggled, "Be glad my dad didn't hear you say that."

"Carly!"

"We're coming, dad," she yelled back, "Now remember, Thatch, just be cool. It'll be over before you know it, and then we can go to the party."

When they made it downstairs, their "costumes" were met with rigorous applause, sincere from her mom and sarcastic from her dad. "Look at you," her mother exclaimed, "Carly, you look adorable!"

"Mom," she protested, "I'm a vampire. Vampires are not adorable, they're scary."

"I don't know, Carly," Thatch added, "I did melt a little when I first saw you in that get-up."

As if just noticing him, her mom held out her hand for him and said, "Oh, where are my manners?"

Shaking her hand, he told her, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Bradford. My name is Thatch."

"Quite a name," her dad added under his breath.

"Richard," her mom said, glaring at him. "I don't think I've seen you around town. Do we know your parents?"

"No, actually, I just moved here," Thatch said, "from Transylvania."

Receiving shocked looks from them and a simultaneous, "What," Carly reacted quickly.

"He said 'Pennsylvania," she said, "Thatch just moved from Pittsburgh about a week ago." Nudging him, she asked, "Didn't you, sweetie?" He nodded timidly in reply.

"So, Thatch," her dad said, "Seems like you've been having fun with my daughter."

"Richard!" her mom hissed at him, "Be nice!"

Glancing at the clock, Carly changed the subject. "Hey, it's already seven thirty. We're gonna be late."

As they were heading out the door, her dad whispered in Thatch's ear, "I've got my eye on you, Junior."

When they were finally far enough from the house, Carly said, "See? I told you there was nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure," Thatch replied, "because I'm sure your dad hates me."

"Oh, no he doesn't," she assured him, "That's just how dads are. And anyway, that's not important now." As they approached the residence of the party, she added, "What matters now is that we enjoy ourselves. Now come on, it's party time!"

…

A part 2 should be posted eventually, if not soon. Hope you enjoyed, and happy Halloween!