Less.

Where Mannequins Go....

Less: Day 2

"Arlo! Are you ready?"
"In a minute, mom. Just putting on my head," said Arlo as he put on his pumpkin head.
"Who are you going with?" His mother said from downstairs.
"Beth and Zipper!"

"Do I know this Zapper?"
"It's Zipper mom. And yes, it's Chris."
"Why Zipper?"
"Because he's the fastest at doing up his jackets."
"That's really stupid," she said.
"I know."
"Is there room for one more in your posse?"
"... why?"
"Because your brother-"
"Oh mom, seriously? He's a dumb little kid. Can't he go out on his own?"
"He's seven, Arlo! Don't talk about him like that, and let me remind you, you are only eleven not a man just yet."
"But I-"
"Come down here and talk to me face to face please."
Arlo doesn't walk down the stairs but lets his socks slide, each step holding a thumping sound.
"Walk, Arlo. I don't know how many times I need to tell you." Her voice sounded from the kitchen.
"Sorry," Arlo muttered under his breath.
"Now, let me have a look at you. Oh my, aren't you cute? Not too keen on the t-shirt but it will do."
"What's wrong with My Chemical Romance?"
"It's just screaming music, but we can't all be Ed Sheeran, can we? Now, how's the head feeling?" she chuckled.
"It smells," he said.
"Of what?"
"Pumpkin!"
"That's because- never mind. When are you leaving?"
At that moment, a knock on the door sounded. Arlo's mom opened it to find Beth.
"Hey, Beth! Loving the costume. It's...it's spooky."
"Thanks. It's my dog's. It was on her bed, but I'm sure she won't mind."
Beth was very tall for her age. She was 5 '7, she had a smile that was full of multicoloured braces, and for Halloween, she was simply dressed in a white bed sheet that had not been washed properly so it now resembled clotted cream. The sheet had two large, uneven eyeholes and went just over her knees not quite covering her broken, yellow Converse.
"Hey, guys, are you ready to go, Arlo?"
"Yes, I am- "
His mother looked at him and lifted her eyebrows so high they looked as if they would rise up her forehead, jump off, and help her wash the dishes. Arlo knew what that meant.
"Please, mom, you can't be serious!"
"He is coming with you, and that's it. Beth doesn't mind, do you, Beth? George, can you come in here darling." She didn't let Beth answer before a small boy dressed as a racoon bounced into the room on his tiptoes. "Honey, remember what I said about walking on the tips of your feet." George nodded.
"Look at him, he's dressed as a rat. This is so embarrassing," said Arlo.
"I'm a raccoon," George said proudly.
"You're a butthole," Arlo said.
"Arlo, you'll be staying in if you don't behave. Now, go have a good time and be nice to each other. I will find out won't I, Beth?" Again, Beth's mouth opened, but no sound could escape before Arlo's Mom pushed them out of the house and onto their front lawn. She closed the door and shouted behind the wood, "don't be too late, okay? And be good!"
"Woo! My first-time trick-or-treating with the big kids! If I remember, Spooner Street has the best candy, wait no, Moore Street has the best. I got so many Reese's Pieces from this one lady," George said.
"We aren't going to trick-or-treat you butt-horn," barked Arlo.
"We are gonna see where the mannequins went!"
"What?" said George.
"Some crazy guy has stolen all the mannequins from the town, and no one knows why. Zipper heard they are out in Burbury Park, and we are going to find them," said Beth, her voice slightly muffled by the bed sheet.
"But I don't want to," said George.
"And I didn't want you here, so I guess we gotta go together," retorted Arlo.
"But I'll tell mom."
"See, this is why I didn't want to bring a baby, cuz he needs his mommy," Arlo said, as he pushed George back.
"I'm not a baby!"
"Then prove it! Come with us and try not to poop yourself."
"Okay, but I want candy!"
"Will you shut up, idiot? I already got candy, so mom doesn't get suspicious." Arlo went behind a bush they had in their front garden and pulled out two large sacks of candy. "Look, just dip your hand in. You can have more later, but it stays behind this bush until we get back, yes?" Arlo watched his brother stuff his paws into the bag.
George nodded. His already chocolate-coated cheeks were hidden under the raccoon face paint.
"Sup, ladies," a voice said, a figure slowly appearing behind the bush.
The approaching boy was wearing a green raincoat, and his hands held a very cheap-looking iron man mask.
"Zipper, how's it going?" Beth said.
"It's going- why is munchkin here? and why is he dressed as a mouse? Are we taking him to grams-grams or something?"
"I'm a racoon," George repeated.
"My mom made me bring him," said Arlo.
"Offt that blows. Is he gonna be able to keep up?" said Zipper.
"Yeah, you will, won't you?" Arlo looked at his brother sternly, and George nodded.
The children began to walk through a sea of costumes: Mandalorian, Elsa, werewolves, skeletons, and many more. As they escaped the neighbourhood, they even saw a child dressed as a giant cookie. This made George rather hungry.
They walked up the grassy bank that looked over their neighbourhood and waited for the streets to die down.
"We should wait here, the later the better. Also, I can vape and play my Switch."
"Vape?" asked Beth.
"Yeah, a vape break." Zipper took a large inhale from what looked like a yellow flash drive. Clouds of smoke fired out of his flaring nostrils. Then came aggressive coughing.
"Are you okay?" Beth said, beating Zipper's back.
"I'm- f-I'm fine, let's just stay here."