Sunset Memories

Chapter 11 - Eggs On Halloween

The rest of the week passed quickly. 

     We ate hot fudge sundaes in the coffee shop. 

     I touched my guitar, but couldn't play it. 

     I drew more sunsets. 

     Danielle taught me a recipe for the best hot chocolate on Earth. 

     My ribs healed slowly and painfully. I was in a wheelchair for the first couple of days. 

     Simon fingered me whenever we saw each other. 

     Girls that were younger than me flirted with me every so often. I saw Danielle watch tensely. 

     October came, Mother Nature biting colder than ever. 

     It was Halloween.

     At school, I was walking around normally, though my ribs sparked with pain whenever hard pressure was put on them. Danielle, Max, Hanna, and Astrid seemed to become my bodyguards when I was around Simon so that he didn't beat me up again, though his still swore and me and winked at Danielle.  

     ''What're you guys doing for Halloween tonight?'' I asked as we sat in a corner at lunch. 

     ''I'm staying home,'' said Max glumly. He'd been sick with the flu last week and was still recovering. ''Mom says I can't spread my germs door-to-door.'' 

     ''Astrid and I are taking my cousins out,'' Hanna said. ''Tobias and Leon. They're twins, so they're going as Batman and Robin.''  

     ''Cute,'' said Danielle, who was sitting beside me and eating a cookie. ''What're we doing, Luca?'' 

     ''Um . . . I think we're staying home. Unless we dress up like teenagers and collect candy for free.'' 

     She laughed, as did everyone else. 

     ''What're your brothers doing?'' Hanna asked. 

     ''Well, I think Curt's going to a party,'' I answered. ''And Alexander's probably going to hit on girls, scare little kids, and egg houses.''

     ''Better tell the girls to wear a really disguised costume, then,'' Max smirked. 

     I laughed. The bell rang for class. 

     When Danielle, Curt, and I got home, Mom made us dinner and put out a box of candy in front of the door. 

     ''Don't eat any,'' she told us firmly. ''There's another box in the basement, but that's for if we run out, which we probably will. Yes, I'm talking to you, Luca.''

     ''Curt's the sugar addict,'' I said accusingly. 

     ''But he's not here tonight.'' She made towards the door. ''I'm counting on you two to not scare the kids, okay?'' 

     I said Yes, Mother, and Danielle nodded. 

     When Mom, Curt, and Alexander had left, Danielle sat down on the couch and turned on Big Bang theory. I saw my guitar leaning against the wall, and picked it up. I tuned the strings and started strumming an E chord softly when the first round of kids came to the door. 

     ''Süßes oder Saures!'' 

      Danielle got up and handed out candy as I watched, hidden from the couch. She smiled at the kids and told them to have a good night, adding how much she loved their costumes. I grinned as she came back in.