The Mask

Before the Party

In the not-too-big, yet not-too-small, town of Holden Point, October is a special time of year. The spirit of the season can be seen around every corner. Everyone is festive and there is not a single soul that does not enjoy going over-the-top when it comes to decorations. You see rows and rows of suburb and not a single house missing a fake spider web or a door covered in caution tape, all for the spirit of Halloween. Nobody is quite sure why, but for some reason the people of this town get so excited for the whole month of October; then with Halloween being the last day of the month, it is the topper to the tree. Halloween is so serious around these parts that all public schools are closed. In fact, several newspapers have named Holden Point the most festive town in North Carolina. Many curious people from the surrounding areas will often drive for hours just to spend their holiday in this remarkably jubilant town and receive an experience they could not find anywhere else.

Halloween is clearly a special community event in this town, with huge parties and dances, haunted houses, hay rides and corn mazes, and festivals all month long; but to high school senior, Marlene Hammett, Halloween is more than special. It is the day she has been looking forward to since November 1st last year. Every year since her freshman year, Marlene has thrown the most amazing and popular Halloween party ever. This year, Marlene has been feeling a lot of pressure, though. After all, it's because of her famous Halloween parties that she is so well-known by her peers. They don't care what her favorite color is, or that her hair isn't even naturally blonde, or that she's secretly insecure about her weight (a whole 102 pounds), or that she's freaking out on the inside about where to go to college, or that she knows her reputation can be ruined with one bad party, or that she lies awake at night wondering what is going through Ben's head these days. No, all they really care about is getting an invitation.

Aside from everyone else, Marlene only considers Anna Turner and Michelle Mathis, her two best friends, and Ben Baker, her boyfriend, the only people that matter in her life. She loves her parents of course, but secretly despises them for never having more kids and for always being gone for work. However, she likes to see the positive side to things; her reasons of despise are also the reason for her social status since she is able to throw a rager whenever she pleases - which is what her and her favorite people are getting ready for right now. It is Halloween evening and the guests should be showing up in less than two hours. Marlene is walking around the house checking to make sure that every corner, nook, and cranny is perfect for tonight.

"Michelle, how is the haunted hallway looking?"

"Fabulous! Except, you might want to tape this cord to the strobe light down or something, I feel like someone could easily trip."

"Thanks, I'll tell Ben to get that. Ben!" She calls, "Anna, do we have enough eyeballs in the mystery punch? Or should I get more? Also, do you think we need streamers near the snacks... Or is that doing too much? Oh, my gosh its 7:15 and people are arriving at 10 and I haven't even started my makeup! Ben!!" Where is he? She walks around frantically, unable to keep track of everything going on. She walks out of the kitchen and into the living room to find Ben sitting on the couch, watching some football game. "Seriously, Ben? I'm over here running around, losing my mind, and you can't even get up to ask if I need anything? I clearly could use your help. I mean since when is it cool to ignore me while I'm calling your name for help?"

"Seriously, Marlene, you need to chill", he responds with an annoyed tone.

"ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GETTING AN ATTITUDE WITH ME RIGHT NOW? You KNOW how much pressure I am under right now and you're not even trying to be understanding." She begins crying, desperate for him to be her solace when everything else feels crazy. But he doesn't do that. He is just looking at her with blank eyes as she cries in front of him. She does not even know if stress or sadness is the reason for her tears, but she does not have time to figure it out.