Convincing October

You Make It Easy

This one is for southernTXkindagirl, lindsle & mommapunkin for all the encouragement, comments and votes throughout October's journey! Hope y'all enjoy. One more after this!

Four Years Later 

Pierce

"Unca Piewce!" The sound of her sweet, high pitched screams caused me to wince as I put the finishing touches on the costume I knew would cause me some major ribbing come Monday because no doubt the guys on the football team would be out tonight, too. I fidgeted with the neck of my shirt, readjusted my pants and pulled on the dangly things hanging from my shoulders, wondering if it was too late to fake sickness. Nope. I knew she was waiting for me, albeit quite impatiently, to come out of hiding in the bathroom -- in fact they all were -- but I couldn't bring myself to quite yet. I fiddled with the collar of my puffy shirt irritably before double checking that my hair was gelled back just so. How had she managed to convince me to dress up like this for Halloween? 

Oh, right, the pout paired with her big blue eyes and that sweet as sugar voice, anyone was a sucker. 

Which was how I not only ended up dressing as her Prince charming, but "Mommy" aka October and Mr. Sterwing had been sweet talked into dressing up as the fairy godmother and a mouse. With ears, whiskers and even a tail. Oh, it was a comical sight to see. But, unfortunately, I was at the butt end of the joke along with my brother. 

"Mama if he don't huwwy we gonna miss all da good candy!" I heard her yell, no doubt stomping her little foot in irritation. Our little Opal was a princess, costume or no costume, and there was  no doubt about that. I figured I had pushed my luck enough and made my way to exit the bathroom. The look the little devil tossed my way was clearly one that said it was about time, something that she had down pat, just like her mother. Oh, she looked cute as could be in her powder blue princess dress with her silvery blonde hair in a fancy up-do and a sparkly tiara. Her little pumpkin trick or treat basket was ready and waiting to be filled. She squealed with delight as Sterling grabbed his keys off the counter and demanded he carry her on his shoulders since the mousy was also a horsey. October's sigh of exasperation matched mine as they went up in the air as the little devil was swung up into the air and onto broad shoulders covered in weird grey fuzzy material. 

"You think he's ever gonna tell her no?" October asked, pulling at the shimmery skirt of her dress to get it out of her way. A skeptical noise was her only response. We both knew it wouldn't happen. There were two people in this world that my brother didn't say no to, that was October and Opal. Instead of disagreeing we simply followed after the giggling duo, smiles of amusement on our faces. I fought to hide my own nerves from October. What if I slipped up and let our plan out? 

October

"I can't believe they've already posted the pictures. I don't think I'm ever going to live it down." Pierce grumbled around the snickers in his mouth testily, though I wasn't certain how one could pout while eating chocolate. He'd been griping for the last hour about pictures being taken when we'd run into a group of his teammates out with their siblings, though they hadn't been in costume while trick-or-treating. I could hardly contain my laughter when Pierce had tried to duck behind a tree to hide his appearance, only to walk into fake spider web and scream like he was being murdered. Since then he'd been pilfering from poor Opal's candy stash, trying to eat his feelings. I could hear him shuffling around her bucket from my spot in the front seat. I wanted to get on to him for stealing her candy but I knew I'd probably be wrist deep in the bucket before the end of the night; I was supposed to check for unsafe candy after-all. My feet ached from the all the walking we'd done tonight but the endless laughs and giggles from my little girl made it all worth it. Tiredly I stretched out, more than ready to get out of the huge dress I'd worn to fit our family costume. Bed was an appealing idea, especially when it meant getting to curl up next to the gorgeous man I called mine and fall asleep to the sound of his heart under my ear, those strong arms wrapped tightly around me -- that is until I curled into a ball and started snoring.