Why Does Right and Wrong Seem So Far Away? An Anne and Richard Halloween Tale

"Please can we have a Halloween Party?"

October 2013 

“No, no, no,” Anne said firmly. It was difficult to watch the disappointed face of her son Edward dancing in front of her. But it had to be done. There was no way that Richard would agree to them having a Halloween Party. Recently, he had been far too busy at work and was more and more tired each day. Edward walked slowly away from her, his head low and his face empty.

“Maybe…maybe Aunty Isabel will have a party…” Anne didn’t know why she said this. There was no way that her sister would hold a Halloween party. The thought should never have crossed her mind, let alone leave her lips. She regretted it even more when she saw the excitement pulse back into Edward.

He ran from the room, calling for Johnny and Katherine.

“Johnny! Kate! We’re having a Halloween party at Aunty Izzie’s!”

Why would she even suggest a thing like that? Isabel had barely left the house for seven years. Why would she want a bunch of children running around her feet, screaming excitedly about death and monsters? A few years ago, Isabel had had a little baby boy, but it had almost killed her. It took her over a year to mend, staying in hospital for a very long time. During that time, Anne and Richard had taken care of her other two children, Margaret and Teddy. The little baby had died and Isabel had never been able to have a child since. But it had also made her very weak and frail. However, the worst thing of all was that her husband George had gone mad with worry. He had become a terrifying criminal and one night, during an escapade with the police, he had been shot and had died. Needless to say, Isabel had never recovered from any of these events and she preferred to stay at home. Sometimes, if she got very ill as she often did, Anne and Richard would look after Margaret and Teddy. Recently, she had been improving but Anne still woke up in the middle of the night, fearing the worst.

“Wait, Edward! Edward!” she shouted, chasing after him, “Edward, I don’t think Aunty Izzie is free this week. Maybe, just maybe, I can persuade your father to let us have a little party. For you and your friends…Margaret and Teddy will come along also. But I can’t promise anything, sweetie. You are old enough to understand now that your father’s job is very tough.” She was so desperate to make him happy. He was a small, thin and wiry child and was rather lonely. The other children weren’t very nice to him and she wanted to give him a reason to be happy. To see a smile on his ghostly pale face, she would do anything.

Edward nodded slowly. But she could see that he was hoping for the best and had mentally decided that they were going to have a Halloween party. How determined he was. His grandpa would have been proud. 

© 2013 by Eliza Wood. All rights reserved. 

Inspired by The White Queen