Fake Family for a Halloween

Part 5

 When we entered the living room, I got a good look at my daughters' outfits for the first time. They had chosen almost identical dresses with polka dots, but in different colors: Sheila was wearing a red and white dress, and Kristin had a black one with white polka dots. Both girls had bright makeup and retro hairstyles.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang and I went to see who it was. I thought it might be Arthur. But I was wrong. It was a group of neighborhood kids dressed as kittens! They all shouted "Trick or treat!" in unison and I had no choice but to give them the sweets that I had prepared beforehand.

The father of our family, whom we pretended to be today, arrived about twenty minutes later. While we were waiting for him, three other groups of children came in search of treats.

As soon as Arthur walked through the door, he approached me, put his arm around my waist, kissed me on the cheek, and said, "Hello, my dear!" I took a step back and looked at him in disbelief. "Why are you looking at me like that, Mrs. Ortiz?" He laughed, and then walked over to the girls, who were already rushing to greet him. "What beauties you are today!" he said to our daughters. "And how lucky I am to have three such lovely ladies accompany me today."

"Dad, you look cool today too!" Kristin said, and I couldn't agree more. The striped three-piece suit in dark blue seemed to have been tailored for Arthur, as it fit him perfectly. I looked at him with envy, wishing I could look the same and not have to wear women's clothing.

Noticing that I was staring at him, Arthur smiled, took off his hat and held it to his chest. Then, he took my hand and kissed it. At that moment, with his neatly trimmed beard, he looked like a gangster from an old movie. I belatedly realized that he was treating me like a woman. I turned away in embarrassment, causing the man pretending to be my husband to laugh again.

"Well, Mrs. Ortiz, maybe it's time for a walk?"

"Yes, it's time to go! And tonight, you should call me Elizabeth!"

"What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman!"

"Stop teasing me, Arthur!" I said, realizing that I was blushing again.

"But I really think so! To be honest, I thought we would be a laughing stock among our neighbor's. But when I saw you, I realized that today I could walk proudly alongside such a wonderful woman who was also my wife!"

Arthur approached me again, put his hands on my waist and tried to pull me towards him. I immediately pulled away, looked at the giggling daughters nearby and sternly said, "Let's go, girls!"

I put on green pumps that matched my blouse, grabbed a lady's purse, turned off the lights in the house, and went outside. "I hope this evening will not be the saddest experience of my life," I thought as I looked at Arthur, who was already waiting for me and offering me his arm.

Our first stop was at Mrs. Jacobs' house. The girls knocked on the door, and as soon as the hostess opened it, they said the magic words: "Trick or treat!"

"Oh, what beauties have come to visit me!" the woman said kindly, then adjusted her large glasses and started to stare at all of us, and my heart sank in anticipation of being discovered. "So, Sheila, Kristin, and Arthur! Who is this darling with you?"

"That's my girlfriend, Elizabeth!" Arthur said happily, hugging me. "Or should I say that tonight she is my wife!" I just awkwardly smiled and nodded in greeting.

"What a lovely family you are! By the way, where's William?"

"Unfortunately, dad is busy at work today," interrupted Sheila.

"I see! Well, have a happy Halloween!" The woman poured out sweets and returned home.

As soon as the door closed, I breathed a sigh of relief. But alas, it was only the beginning of the evening, and it was too early to relax!