A Brethren's Halloween

Usually Halloween is one of the funnest nights of the year, ghouls walking round, kids
with scary masks, adults running to catch up with their children,
Halloween decorations
hanging from the walls of the houses.

But for Maddie Bloom it isn’t. Being a brethren Maddie doesn’t celebrate
Halloween
and is always jealous when kids come knocking on the door saying
“Trick or Treat”.

Mother always says “I don’t celebrate Halloween,”
and shuts the door on their face.

Father is always telling her to put a sign up saying
NO TRICK OR TREATERS
but I don’t ’think Mother can be bothered writing signs,
besides she is busy everyday,
shuffling round the house in her slippers
with either the laundry basket, the dog, Me, dirty washing, dishes,
or newspaper in her hands.

Everytime I ask her if we can go to the park she says “No I’m busy,” and walks off.

But this time i’m prepared to ask her. I’ll go up to her in 2 minutes tonight and say.
“Mother, I would wish to go trick or treating this year. Just once please”.

I can’t wait to ask.

She’s walking up the stairs now as I write this.

There she is walking past my door. “You alright Maddie dear?” she asks casually.

I look at her for a second or two. I stutter,
“Mother, would I be able to go trick or treating tonight?” I finally said.

She stared at me. Then she dropped the laundry basket and screamed.

I blocked my ears
“How could you ask that Maddison Bloom!” She yelled pointing at me,
her fingers trembling…”You, you, you monster!” She yelled running out of my room.

I sat there on my bed staring down at the front page of my book
The Night begins to shine .

I looked at it, I felt bad.

What was the point of asking. The answer was pretty obvious.
Tomorrow was Halloween and I knew I wasn’t going to go.

I sat there reading the blurb on my book

Belle Seymour is out of luck..no trick or treating for her.
This year she is moving out of her house just as Halloween starts,
and that's a big problem. Will she be able to go trick or treating or not

I had an idea.

My mind lit up.  I would escape out of the house enough time to trick or treat.
Easy I’d just splosh some makeup on and put my black tights
and a purple skirt on along with my denim coat. It was possible.

The night came and I was ready,
I grabbed a basket and put black eyeshadow around my eyes and got changed.
I could hear the loud snores of Mother and Father.
 The snores were as loud as a gorilla, and for a second
I actually thought a Gorilla had crept into our house.

I climbed out my window into the backyard. The grass was so soft and had dew in it.

I tiptoed over to the gate and stared up at the sky.

The sun had  almost set. It was getting dark, it was already 6:17pm.
I slowly and carefully opened the  gate and crept out.
There were few trick or treaters left and the curtains were closing and fast.

I quickly ran up my neighbours driveway and rang the doorbell.
I heard shuffling and then Mr Bucket appeared,
he was wearing brown leather slippers with fluff out the end
and a dark grey dressing gown
and he had the glasses Father brought for him for his birthday.
“Trick or Treat!” I said smiling. He froze.

I forgot Mr Bucket knew I was Brethren!

“Miss, I don’t think you should be out here. Where are your parents?
And why are you trick or treating anyway?” He said with a frightened look on his face.

“My parents are sleeping
they said I could only come to your house and get lollies, but strictly ONLY this year,”
I lied.

He frowned.

“One small candy and that’s it.
I’ll be taking you back home and talking to your parents
whether they are sleeping or not. Strictly NO excuses,” He spat in my face.

I thought hard of an excuse.

“Well, you see. Mother said no talking to strangers or walking with anyone.
I have to be back now.”

He frowned again. “Don’t be silly, I’m walking you home!” he said arguing with me.

I sighed. I should just let him. I nodded my head and accepted the fact I was in trouble,
I mustn't argue with an adult anyway.

“Can I have my candy?”

He chucked a piece of candy in my basket and grabbed my hand and walked over to my
house.

I opened the front door slowly and there was Father standing right in front of the door,
looking at both of us. His arms crossed and his eyebrows raised.

“Want to explain Maddison Bloom?” He said angrily.

There was Mother walking up the hall in her pink and white striped dressing gown.

Mother looked at me and screamed. “Monster she yelled and backed away.”

Father turned around to look at Mother. “Calm down, Priscilla,” he said quietly.

Mr Bucket looked at me.

“Maddie was just coming to borrow some makeup from my Wife so she could practice
and see what she looked like.
“Well then what’s with the goth style and the basket,” frowned Mother.

Mr Bucket thought hard.

“The basket was to carry the makeup of course and the goth style!
What on earth do you mean goth style?
These are her old pyjamas, although why are you wearing the skirt?” He lied.

I couldn’t believe Mr Bucket, the one who always shooed me away
whenever I came close to his yard,
the one who told me to stop throwing toys over the fence,
the one who always tells on me! He was sticking up for me.

I needed to think of something good.

“The skirt is for the touch. I wasn’t really going to sleep in it,” I lied.

Father stared at me and put his hands on his hips.
“Maddison, I can’t have you lying to me,” He said his face close to mine.

I could feel him breathing on me. I stepped back.

I didn’t know what to say. I could just say nothing or I could lie again.

Lying isn’t good
 The words crossed my mind a thousand times spinning tiredly around
my mind. I felt a rush of pain through my head. I stared helplessly up at the sky,
making it obvious I was lying.“Maddie, I need you to tell me now dear,” Said Father
putting his tough hand on my shoulder making me shudder. I felt unable to speak or
move. My mind was blank. Everything was falling to pieces. What’d I’d done wasn’t
right. If it wasn’t for Mr Bucket, I would have been out trick or treating still. I can’t
believe how much of an imbecile I’d been. Sneaking out of the house, trying to get
treats at what- I stared down at my watch, 8:15 PM!

I felt red in the face I couldn’t believe, why had I done this. I felt terribly embarrassed
and bad. I swallowed hard. “I just wanted to..
See what it’d be like wearing a skirt. I’m not lying truly.
I praise the lord and I will never do it again. I just wanted to borrow makeup. Sorry,”
I stuttered. Feeling ashamed.

Mother looked at me, she had that
I’m never going to believe you, and I will never like you again.
“I’m not a downright fool, why on earth would you need to borrow makeup from
Mrs Bucket if you are already wearing makeup.

“I wanted a change,” I yawned. “I’m tired. I need to go to bed now anyway. Goodbye,”
I said and rushed past them to my room.

I saw a note on my bed