||Series Removed|| OTB

17 - Harvest Hoedown

17

Considering the situation I was in, it felt absolutely ridiculous to be stuck in the bathroom of Tomás' apartment, trying to wiggle on a pair of the tightest denim trousers ever crafted. My musician friend repeatedly knocked on the door with an audible scowl, and rattled the door handle in an attempt to freak me out.

"C'mon, Dan! We don't have all day, let's get this rodeo on the road!"

"...I don't want to."

Hesitating for another half-minute or so, I finally walked out to a barrage of snickers and howls from Tomás and Alisha. Lowering my dusty-brown Stetson to hide the shameful expression underneath, it was the first time I'd ever dressed up as a cowboy... and hopefully the last.

"Guys, I don't know... Isn't this kind of offensive?"

"Only to my senses," the giddy musician sneered as he looked me up and down. "C'mon, Harry's waiting with the kids outside. Beth still has no idea what's happening..."

She wasn't the only one, I thought to myself as the three of us descended the tower block's staircase two at a time, in full 1800s period dress. Alisha's bold cowgirl costume had lashings of red and black down to her miniskirt and bare legs, whereas Tomás' glistening leather chaps left nothing to the imagination.

After I had parted ways with Charlotte, Tanner directed the raid team to an old costume shop on the outskirts of Patch, where the civilians were receiving their attire for tonight's celebration. Completely free of charge, the Harvest Hoedown seemed to be an event that raised even the shopkeeper's spirits.

Nightfall was just upon us as we passed through the makeshift security checkpoint, and through the open gates of the farmhouse. Harry, Stacie and a hastily-blindfolded Beth waited patiently for our arrival, and I couldn't keep a large smirk from spreading across my face as I heard the birthday girl's confused pleas.

"M-Mister, what's going on? Why do I have to wear this... I feel stupid!" She couldn't tell yet, but Alisha had dressed her up in Wild Western clothes and a cute pink cowgirl hat. Putting my hands over her eyes, I removed her blindfold and slowly revealed the farmhouse.

Beth's eyes twinkled in awe, taking in the scenery with a childlike gasp. Fairy lights decorated the mayor's fence around the back yard, illuminating the feast of food and drinks spread across the wooden picnic tables. There was even a raised platform set up against the house itself, so I assumed there was also going to be staged entertainment.

"This... Mister Daniel, I thought..." She choked, shaking her head in disbelief. Beth had made it clear that she didn't want to be an inconvenience, but not one of us could stand by and let her birthday pass without some kind of celebration.

"It's okay." I whispered, patting her back as she started to bubble with emotion. "I know it's a little different this year, but we all wanted to spoil you... just this once. Happy birthday, sweetie."

Holding onto my arm tighter than ever, she would only let go after I agreed to join her at the nearby table distributing free Pollies as Alisha took the girls to join the gathering queue. Harry scratched his head and turned to face me, confused after what I had told him earlier.

"Dan, tell me you didn't."

"What?"

The thug nodded back towards the party area, where Tanner had caught wind of our presence and was waving us over. After being made to climb out of Charlotte's bedroom window, the teen's indecent request for her underwear had rightfully been unfulfilled. Looking back at Harry, then Tomás, I gave a curt laugh.