A Flame From The Past

31: Halloween

Halloween... Candy... Cars... Car Crashes...Children... Cavities... Candy...

A million thoughts rushed through my mind, just exasperating how this day was utter chaos. But I knew I just needed to buck up and keep at it, because at the end of the day these kids would be smiling like never before.

I always remember Halloween as a kid spent sitting in the house with the light off, listening to my dad yell from his room to scare off the eager trick or treaters. But there were a couple of good ones that were filled with bags of candy, and heartfelt smiles as my mother dressed me up in my costume, watching me twirl gleefully.

I wanted the same for these kids, I wanted them to remember Halloween as not a holiday they couldn't participate in, but a holiday where they felt appreciated and they had good memories.

"Carina...", a voice whimpered, walking into the room hovering down.

"It doesn't fit", Jasmine cried, her tears trailing down her face as she looked at it with desperation. She displayed her fairy costume as it shrugged off her shoulders and she slouched down, turning from the mirror. She pulled my hand from the streamers I had been putting up.

I couldn't have a sad fairy, I needed to fix this. She sighed sadly, letting out small whimpers as I held the fabric together. I looked for my needle, my thread at all and it was far gone, back at Luca's presumably.

"Luca's coming with my kit. I'll fix it. I promise", I looked at her, wanting her to know how important my promise to her was. And that I would fix the costume as soon as the kit came, now all I could ask of her was patience.

But I knew watching the other kids parade around in their costumes would only continue to make her spiral, so she sat next to me, pouting.

That is until my prince showed up, he was like a showbiz dad. He had completely become absorbed in all the activities. His clipboard clicked, he had little tissues in his pockets, and a pencil behind his hair. He was the spitting image of a very involved parent, running in with everything I needed.

And he was the kids superhero as Jasmine's face lit up, running to his side.

Watching him now, watching him this morning I knew I couldn't tell him. The messages would fade on their own. He's so happy, I'm happy, I don't want to ruin us.

We created something so special all these years later. I didn't want him to be concerned about this, about how it may affect us.

He was dedicated, dedicated to us, dedicated to Ray, dedicated to all the other kids. He showed them this glamour, seeing someone so famous in front of you in the broad daylight, showing them that dreams can come true.

Luca was dedicated, dedicated to every activity I bet this school would have. Normally every year, the principal would have to drive to my place and back to school a couple of hundred times, delivering the costumes, the supplies, and anything else that needs a larger form of transportation. But this year, thanks to my persuading boyfriend he rented us a large van that could fit everything I needed and more in just one trip.

"I'm here", he hollered, as he walked in carrying his large bags in each hand. The kids crowded him, like always. So admired by his 'coolness'. I swear they truly don't believe I'm cool enough to date him, nobody could be on the same level he was to the kids.

Before I could even greet him, he was pulled out of the doorway, rushed to play in the field with the other kids. I heard the bickering of whose team he should be on, and Luca's experience with trying to reason with children. It didn't succeed.

Even Jasmine was getting sick of this battle of Luca.

And just as I had finished the last stitch on the fairies shirt Luca walked in, escaping the masses.