The Master of Me

Chapter 11

Halloween arrived and the city seemed to be in full swing of the holiday spirit. The children went to school that day, dressed in their costume best and paraded a short walk around the area. The city had a festival gathering at the park, near the lake. Local wares such as homemade jams, bread, salsa, and other edible goodies out in full display in booths to be sold. Activities such as bobbing for apples, hay bale rides, pumpkin carving, and more for families to enjoy. After that kids walked about the neighborhood to get last minute trick or treating before night eclipsed the entire sky.

Alue watched in wolf form from the kitchen as Sterling waited with a candy bowl with a green mechanical hand that grabbed when activated. It cackled like a witch and bent forward in response to an outreached hand attempting to grasp the candy within. Most of the time she paid no attention to the squeal of a small child as they said the usual ‘trick or treat’ and he greeted them with a smile and presented the bowl to them. If it was someone he knew the child’s parents more personally, she would hear them converse casually. Then the voice of neither a child nor a parent came to her ears as she heard the conversation unfold.

“Oh. Hey, Julie! What brings you out and about here?” Sterling asked, aware that Julie was, like him, a mid twenties adult, who lived in the smaller townhome subdivisions of the city with no children and wasn’t married.

“Hey Sterling! I was in the area and thought I’d drop by and say hi.” Julie spoke back flicking her autumn leaf colored hair over her shoulder . Alue could tell by the flux in the female’s voice that she hadn’t spoken the truth entirely. Sterling knew this usually meant some form of invitation into his home, but he didn’t want to scare Alue off. Not when she had agreed to accompany him to his parents home.

        “That’s great! I’m actually about to head out for the evening. I’m sorry for the inconvenient timing. Was there something else?” he asked. This made Alue grin a wolfish gesture, ‘So he also had caught on the hidden intent behind her initial statement.’ The she wolf thought to herself and continued to listen on impressed.

“Um . . . yeah actually, there is this party I’m headed to. You know, just something fun and casual. I thought maybe you would like to come along?” Julie offered, her eyes had that pleading look with a subtle hint of desire.

Sterling smiled apologetically, “I’m sorry Julie I already have plans. Thank you for the offer though. I get so busy that I don’t go out often for one reason or another. Maybe next time.” He told her, holding out the bowl to her, “Want some? Heaven knows I shouldn’t eat it all.” Julie grabbed a piece, her face showing disappointment but otherwise put on a semi-false happy smile of hope.

“Sure and next time then. Take care Sterling.” She said, biding him farewell as he shut the door. He made sure to turn off the porch light, signaling that no more trick or treaters should approach the door. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the kitchen, “Ready to go?” he asked Alue as he turned on the alarm system and planned to exit through the garage.

                Alue got up and padded across the tile, following him out to the garage where his Jeep was parked. He opened the front passenger door for her and walked around the other side to get in.

        “Am I the reason you did not go with her? She has an interest in you beyond the bounds of friendship.” Alue asked him, reflecting on if she was holding Sterling back from a social life he had once before she lived on and around his property. 

                Sterling quite visibly jumped just a bit, nearly dropping the keys he held in his right hand. Startled that Alue had changed into her human form.

        “No, you are not the reason I did not go with her. Even if you and I didn’t already have plans scheduled, I would have declined such an offer from Julie anyway. As you pointed out she has an interest in me that I do not have for her. Any form of acceptance would just lead her on to thinking the feeling was mutual, which it is not. Honest Alue, I am not an overly social individual. You do not have to worry that my life has changed all that much since you have arrived.” He told her, placing the keys in the ignition and starting the car.