An Exchange

Chapter Seventeen - Halloween and Penny's 18th

Penny

I had never really experienced Halloween before. Ghosts, skeletons, and fake cobwebs decorated the neighbourhood. Ryan invited me to a party at his house that his parents were hosting for some of his dad's old football friends, but since Halloween fell on a Sunday and I'd already committed to go trick-or-treating with Jonas, I told him I couldn't make it.

Jonas was ecstatic when he found out I had never gone out trick-or-treating. His parents had told him the year before that he was too old to go out anymore, so when I told him Halloween wasn't very widely practiced in Australia, he found it the perfect excuse to go out one more time. He had gone to Pat and begged her to let him take me and she only agreed on the condition Giles escorted us to supervise him. I found out later Jonas was a chronic candy stealer and would often do tricks even after he got his treat.

We were in the bathroom doing our final touches on our costumes and make-up, when Giles came in and laughed at us. "You two are crazy."

"At least I look awesome," Jonas, dressed as a zombie footballer, turned to him. "What are you supposed to be?"

"I'm dressed as Giles Hamilton."

"You're so lame."

Giles ignored him. "So, Penny, what are you supposed to be?"

"I'm a zombie too," I answered.

"In a school uniform?"

"Yes." I straightened the pleat on my old school skirt. "I've been wanting to ruin this thing, so being a zombie private school girl with my zombie football player brother seemed to be the perfect opportunity."

"Very nice."

"Oh!" Jonas straightened and turned to Giles. "I see how it is. She's got your approval, but I'm crazy."

"You've had plenty of opportunities over the years to do this, she hasn't."

"Whatever, hypocrite."

Giles punched his shoulder.

The doorbell rang.

*

Ryan

I could fit some time in with Penny before my dad's party. It would only be an hour, but that would be enough time to show Jonas I had good intentions and to watch Penny enjoy her first Halloween.

I pulled up out the front of her house and saw kids already pounding on doors up and down the street. I climbed out and locked the SUV, then saw movement next door. I glanced up and panicked. I tried to keep my eyes averted in hopes that he wouldn't see me, but then he called my name. I turned and, knowing I couldn't escape, tried to be polite. "Hey, Mr. Hamilton."

He walked over to the driveway to meet me. "How are you doing, Ryan? I haven't seen you in a while."

"All right, I guess."

"I heard you already have a few colleges wanting you to play for them next year."

"Yes, I do."

"Any that you're considering?"

"I'm thinking about UCLA."

He nodded. "Good school."

I glanced toward Penny's house, hoping to find an escape. To my luck, Giles' two younger sisters called out for Mr. Hamilton.

"Well Ryan, good luck." He shook my hand and went back into the house.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned toward Penny's house. That had been awkward. I had expected him to say something about Giles and Penny, and thankfully he hadn't. I walked up to the door and rang the bell.