Short Stories

Hey Princess

Overview: Janey-Quinn plans to stay in on Halloween, rereading her favorite book and finishing up some homework assignments early, but her plans go awry when she suddenly finds herself at Emma Kane's Halloween Bash--the coolest party of the year at Sylvery High.

*   *   *

That Night

*   *   *

"Janey, what on earth are you still doing home?" my mother asks me loudly as she walks by my bedroom and sees me sitting on my bed on my laptop.

I immediately switch to Word, pulling up a random file. It happens to be an essay I wrote in fifth grade on Queen Elizbeth I. I read over the words carefully, pretending to revise the work. Not that I was doing anything I shouldn't be doing, but I at least feel as if I should look like I'm being productive. 

"I'm staying home this year. I thought I'd just finish up this assignment and reread a book or something," I reply, looking intently at the screen, correcting some of the grammar.

"You can't," she says.

I shrug. "I can. And I will," I say, thinking that she means that I can't bail on my best friend and our longstanding tradition of watching a selection of Halloween movies all night. 

"Janey-Quinn, I forbid you to stay home this Halloween," she says authoritatively. She crosses her arms over her chest and smiles at me. I know she's planning something. I figure it can't be good.

I groan. "Can't you just let me have a quiet night at home with my report and a nice book? Maybe even a cup of tea!" I whine.

"You're really pathetic," she sighs. "Come on, I have a costume I think you'll love."

I get up and follow her to my parents' room. She leads me to the old trunk they keep at the end of their bed to add "vintage flair" and opens it up. I'd always assumed it was full of linens and pillows, but I soon discover I am wrong. It appears to be spilling over with my parent's high school memorabilia. I see yearbooks, photos, and a white gown and a white masquerade mask with a feather detailing on the side.

"I went in this costume on the night I met your father," she says dreamily. "I think it'll be perfect for tonight."

"What's tonight?" I ask hesitantly.

"I'm sending you to Emma Kane's party." 

Emma Kane's Annual Halloween Bash. The Kane's say it's simply a way to bring the neighborhood together and celebrate an under-appreciated holiday, but we all know it's an excuse for the adults to drink and for teenagers to dress in provocative costumes and attempt to hook up. It's the coolest party of the year. Some kids at my school would kill to go to that party. I'm not one of them. I prefer to stay away from Emma Kane--queen of Sylvery High, also the school I attend every Monday through Friday from September to June. It's a costume party and everyone in the town is invited. Well, everyone except the ones Emma Kane practically promises to murder if they show up.

Somehow I've got a golden ticket in.

"You want me to get drunk and make out with boys in obscure corners of an unfamiliar house?" I ask, shocked. 

She smiles in a way only moms do. "You'd never get drunk, at least not yet. You're too much of a wimp for that." 

"Thanks, Mom," I say, very offended. 

"Go put this on, J."

I put on the dress and return to my mother, waiting for the critiques. I spin lazily in a circle for her.