RAISING SUMMER

THE SPOOKY TRUTH

I'm running behind. It's my first time throwing a party and I'm running behind. I finished decorating the spider cupcakes. I threw all of the plastic fake eyeballs in the kitchen sink, I poured dish soap in the sink and filled it with water. After I was done washing them, I took a clean dish towel and dried them individually and tossed them into the fake blood punch. Today was a special milestone in Summer's life. She was already 6 months old and it was her first Halloween. I was so overwhelmed trying to make everything perfect. Lucy said she would never remember it but it was still driving me nuts.

I began looking around the house for Summer and Luke. I turned the corner as a figure caught my eye. Without any thought or hesitation my foot jumped up in between the figure's legs as I kicked the figure in a place any man would consider a crime. A thud hit the ground with a howl and I instantly recognized Luke's voice.

"Holy mother of Earth!" He cried in pain as he collapsed to the ground. "Jane! What the hell?" He shouted in agony.

"Luke?" I asked pulling off the mask, and he looked at me with a pained, angry expression.

"Go get me a little bit of ice." He asked weakly, attempting to sit up. "Make that a lot of ice." He requested while groaning in pain. I walked into the kitchen and filled a gallon zip lock bag with ice and handed it to him.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was you. On the bright side you probably won't need to use a condom anymore." I stammered. He glowered at me.

"Too soon?" I guessed at his unpleasant response to my joke.

"YOU THINK!" He shouted angrily.

"I'm just gonna go......" I trailed off.

"Thank you, you go do that now." He shooed me away.

I walked down the hallway into the nursery only to find Summer awakened from her nap. She rubbed her tired little eyes softly. I picked out her costume from inside of her closet. I drew black little whiskers on her rosey, pink, chubby cheeks. I outlined a cute little pink buttoned nose over her own. I fastened the gray costume onesie over her diaper and through her tiny little arms and feet. I placed the little half circle ears on her little head. I looked at our character costumes in the mirror while I was holding her. I carried her out to Luke as the doorbell rang. I answered the door as Lucy stood behind it with her little brady bunch. All different pacman characters I chuckled.

"Oh my goodness, how adorable are you!" She shrieked.

"Hey mommy look at it! It's a ratatouille!" Lucy's daughter pointed at me and Summer enthusiastically. Summer was Remy, Luke wherever he was, was dressed as Linguini and I was Colette.

"Thank you so much. Let me guess?" I put my finger up to my lips in question.

"Inky?" She shook her head with a grin.

"Blinky?" She was definitely pinky but at this point I was messing with her.

"I'm pinky!" Lana laughed.

"You all look so cute!" I complemented.

"Thank you so much?" She smiled rubbing her baby bump. The neighbors and their little rascals slowly trickled in

Luke had Summer on his shoulders to lean into our matching costumes. Which earned a little laugh from Lucy and the others. The party went on for hours. There was a movie playing on the projector outside, apple bobbing, pumpkin carving and obviously candy. Everyone in the neighborhood seemed to be having a good time.
Lucy pulled me aside.

"Do I sense a shift?" She eyed Luke and then me.

"No comment." I smiled.

"Oh, come on Jane!" She begged.