The Peregrine Passage

Chapter Five, Part One: Adam

It's been a couple of weeks since I've seen Hazel and it's now the morning of Halloween. I shoot out of bed and put on the costume that I carefully laid out last night. I'm dressing up as a pirate and I couldn't be more excited. I've got the hat my mom bought me a couple of years ago at the local craft store, one of Piper's billowy white tops which I'm wearing as an unfortunately tight shirt with my fancy-occasion belt looped around it, and I stayed up late making an eye patch with some felt and a string of yarn.

I quickly realize that the hat is about three sizes too small, but it will have to do. There's one thing for certain in Maple Ridge: you don't skip out on a Halloween costume. You can be either two years old or thirty, but participation in the holiday is mandatory. One of the guys on the football team, Ethan Harris, is throwing his annual huge party tonight and I can't wait. Things have been a little off since I stopped coming to practice and I'm hoping that tonight will snap everything back into place. I usually hate big parties, but there's an air of excitement surrounding tonight. I feel like anything could happen. Plus, I could really use a distraction from anxiously waiting for Hazel to find a clue. She said that she wanted to read the book first and, since that's our best lead, I don't want to hold her back. That said, it's been two weeks and I'm impatient.

I check the bathroom mirror and swipe on a little bit of Piper's eyeliner. It's uneven on one eye and smudgey on the other, but I don't have the time to fix it. I jog downstairs and smile ecstatically when I catch a whiff of pumpkin. That could only mean one thing: my mom made her famous ghost-shaped pumpkin pecan pancakes for Halloween. I was worried she wouldn't have the time this year, since she's consistently in the office before we wake up and after we go to bed. My dad isn't exactly present in the kitchen, so it's been mostly diner food or frozen meals lately. Whenever Mom has free time, though, she always tries.

I slide into a barstool across from the kitchen counter. My mom is leaning back against the counter, dressed for work in a navy blazer and matching skirt. She and Piper are arguing over how to make the maple glaze that goes on top. I might be fighting, but at least they're talking. That's significant progress considering how things have been with the two of them since Piper graduated.

"Adam, will you please explain to Mom that you can't microwave maple syrup and powdered sugar, then expect good results." Piper turns to me, exasperated and with pleading eyes, but I hate to get in between the two of them.

"As long as it tastes good, it doesn't matter much to me." I smile at my mother as she scrubs the frying pan in the sink. Piper shoots me a glare.

"Kiss-ass."

My mom ignores Piper's comment and breezes over to me with a plate of pancakes balancing on her forearm.

"That's my boy. I've got to head to work, but have a nice day today, alright? Don't forget to take lots of pictures. Who knows when I'll be able to see you in this getup again?" She puts her free arm around my shoulder, squeezes, and then sets down the plate in front of me. The warm aromas are to die for and there's a huge dollop of whipped cream on top of the stack of pancakes. I grab some maple syrup from the pantry and completely drench them. I wolf down a couple in a matter of seconds, then put the rest into a plastic container to save for lunch. I take one for Hazel to try, too, since she loves pumpkin pancakes so much. These might be pumpkin pecan (very different, if you ask me), but surely she won't care too much. Mom and Piper wave goodbye as I head to the front door.

When the screen door shuts, I inhale deeply through my nose, smelling the fall air for a moment. It's cloudy out, but not raining, and there's a spooky chill in the air without it being too cold. I take Sawyer to school, deciding I can't pass up a drive through town today. I might be running late this morning after the pancakes, but maybe after school, I can go for a ride to look at all the shops fully decked out as people get ready for the trick-or-treaters and the town pumpkin carving competition. I have a hard time looking at the road as I catch a glimpse of the gazebo in the town square. It sits right across from the school, fully covered in orange twinkle lights. It really does look magical.