31 Frights of October

Trick or Thrift

Hariet and Isabel swung open the door to the local value village, it was the first of October which meant the thrift stores had put out all their Halloween decorations and costumes.

Their mother had given the two siblings limitations on picking out a costume this year, money had been tight ever since their father had passed away and it was showing now more than ever.

"Hey, check this one out!" Isabel pulled a black cat masked out of a pile and hid behind it.

"Rawr! I'm a scary black cat!" She teased her brother who was less amused.

Isabel wrinkled her nose as the scent of the mask began to secrete.

"Eugh!" She stuck out her tongue pulling the mask away from her face and tossing it over her shoulder back in the pile. It just nicked the top of her part time jobs branded polo shirt leaving some sticky residue not only on her hands and now shirt.

"Aw man..." she animatedly pouted

"Isabel." her brother shot her an annoyed look. He was nowhere near pleased to be in such a dumpy place by his standards.

Isabel had been shopping in thrift stores for years on the other hand, trying to save money while somehow yet blowing it all.

Hariet plunged his hands into the rack of costumes, he grimaced at the overwhelming mix of textures he felt all at once, recoiling his hand, which now smelt like old lady sweat.

"How do you even shop here..." Hariet inspected his hands snobbishly for blemishes which made Isabel knit her thick brows and roll her eyes.

She adjusted her thick framed glasses.

"I'll have you know this is quite a nice place to shop, you're the only one making a fuss."

"Just pick a costume and let's get out of here."

"You're not going to get one?"

"Do I look like I want one?"

The siblings stood in silence for a moment, broken by Hariet shuffling his feet on the thrift store's carpeted floor.

"Whatever." Isabel scowled at Hariet before moving down the aisle of the store.

She poked and prodded at the costumes looking for one with the least amount of stains, tears and lowest cost.

Hariet moved down the aisle as well, just to the opposite side of it. He tried to take his sister's word for it and see the beauty of this store despite its unappealing scent and the interesting crowd it brought in.

As he scavenged the racks he found a few seemingly nice costumes, just not in his style. He knew someone who would like them though, his sister. He found a poofy black and purple witch costume as well as a ballerina costume which was surprisingly white for something second hand.

He felt the fabrics in his hands, synthetic, slightly itchy but tolerable to someone who was used to extreme outfits. He admired his findings before smiling to himself. Then he realized he would have to apologize for being so snobbish to his sister if he showed her these and his smile flipped. He pursed his lips and considered the outcome.

Stay here longer and don't show her these? Or stay here less and apologize to her?

While he tried to decide Isabel was moving along the racks as well, sea sawing her hands between clothes to try and find one that was just eye-catching enough for her. She came across a few just to notice large uncomfortable stains or tears.

Just as she landed on one that seemed well made and just bold enough the intercom blared out

"30 minutes till closing, 30 minutes till closing." it sounded muffled and yet piecing at the same time, making both Hariet and Isabel cover their ears.