a boy like that | dandy mott |

Howdy Doody, Dandy!

Rosalie learned that Halloween was Dandy's favorite holiday. He explained this on the walk home from the demented circus that the clown and Dandy decided to throw for unwilling children. Rosalie silently listened to Dandy explain why Halloween was the best holiday, wondering if escaping would be worth it. Dandy didn't seem to catch onto her silence as they returned to the mansion. Rosalie barely understood the next five minutes as Dandy insisted that the maid, Dora, fix up a room for Rosalie. Neither woman seemed to notice that Rosalie feared for her life.

"Oh, I can pay you for tomorrow!" Gloria offered Rosalie. "Dandy doesn't have many friends, see... I want my boy to be happy," she said as Dora left.

"It's fine," Rosalie lied as Gloria smiled. "I want to be here."

Gloria seemed overly pleased before they were startled when Dandy burst into the room, his eyes wild as he addressed the girls.

"MOTHER! ROSALIE NEEDS A COSTUME!" Dandy yelled in excitement.

That was why Rosalie sat with Dandy on Halloween the following day, waiting to see what their costumes would be. Dora told Rosalie at breakfast that morning that Gloria had requested Dandy's costumes be made from scratch his whole life. Due to the short notice, Gloria would find what she could at the store for Rosalie.

"Halloween is my favorite!" Dandy repeated for the hundredth time. Rosalie was quiet beside him as she listened. "I can't wait to go out and terrorize the neighborhood children!"

"I haven't dressed up since I was ten," Rosalie said. She figured Dandy wouldn't be interested, but he nudged her to continue when she didn't explain. Rosalie looked nervous at his attentive stare. "I went as a bumblebee... My parents bought my costume but wouldn't take me trick or treating. I did my makeup, and... It turned out bad. I got laughed at by other kids. I never went again."

Dandy huffed. "I go as the same thing every single year. I hope my dreadful mother made something scary! I just want to scare people."

Rosalie anxiously bobbed her foot. "Why don't you tell your mother what you want to be instead of letting her choose?" she asked.

"She doesn't let me do anything I want," Dandy sighed sadly. "I'd say she's a dishonorable parent. Are yours still alive?"

Rosalie shook her head. Her parents were killed after her fifteenth birthday when the club they visited caught fire. There were no survivors. Rosalie woke up the following day with the police and her grandmother at the door. "They died eight years ago," she replied.

Dandy didn't respond... He wished his mother died. His father went first, though he was nearly as absent as his mother when he was alive. Gloria didn't know how to raise her son as Dandy desired. She claimed she raised Dandy how she had been, but something told him that Gloria was a lying cow.

Dora had been eavesdropping and decided to bring out their tea. Dandy looked at her, his face expressionless, while Rosalie smiled and graciously thanked Dora.

"What is taking her so long?" Dandy moaned as he looked outside again. He wanted to celebrate! Not sit in the damn house!

"I'm sure she'll be here soon," Rosalie assured him. Dora watched in surprise as Dandy turned forward, not bothering to argue or grumble offensive words. Dandy's knees knocked into Rosalie's legs as Dora poured their tea without speaking.

Dora quickly left once they were served. She knew Dandy wouldn't be happy with his costume. Dora disapproved of how Gloria babied her adult son and thought this entire ordeal with Rosalie was a disaster waiting to happen. Rosalie seemed like a nice girl and was certainly respectful! Dandy following in Rosalie's footsteps and not having a tantrum made Dora think that maybe this girl would change Dandy for the better–

Rosalie and Dandy sipped their tea when Dora's hysterical laughter startled them. They looked at each other in shock as Dora cackled in the kitchen.

"Oh!" Dora caught her breath, patting her chest as her giggles died down. "Yeah, right," she whispered as she began the dishes.

-

Gloria entered the dining room and handed Rosalie a white box. Rosalie anxiously took it as Dandy watched gleefully.

"You must open it with mine!" Dandy said. "I can't wait to go trick or treating!" he exclaimed as Dora entered, wearing a costume that resembled a bird. She held a box similar to Rosalie's.

"There is a curfew, Dandy!" Gloria said. "Nobody is going out tonight. We can have fun here!"

Dandy watched Gloria as if she spoke another language. Dora placed the box on the table. "Curfews are for the poor people," Dandy said.

Rosalie nearly rolled her eyes until Gloria urged them to open the boxes. Rosalie carefully untied the ribbon while Dandy demolished the box, ripping into it before silence overtook him as his smile wavered. Rosalie pulled out the package of a zombie, complete with ripped clothing and fake blood!

"Howdy Doody?.." Dandy whispered before glaring at Gloria and Dora. Dandy angrily ripped the costume from the box, throwing it on the floor. "HOWDY DOODY?" he screamed, reaching for a vase on the table before throwing it across the room. Rosalie cowered as glass shattered and littered the floor.

"You ungrateful little-" Dora hissed before Gloria shushed her. Rosalie watched in disbelief as Gloria gathered her purse, promising to buy Dandy something different. Dora glared at Dandy.

"There's no time for that, mother!" Dandy snapped tearfully. Dora escorted Rosalie safely into the foyer before approaching Dandy angrily.

"Your mother may be afraid of you, but I'm not!" Dora scolded. The hatred in her eyes for Dandy was genuine.

"Clean up this mess, maid!" Dandy demanded arrogantly as angry tears streamed down his face.

"I work for Miss Gloria! Not you," Dora replied sassily before leaving. Rosalie watched her go from the foyer.

Dandy wiped his eyes in annoyance. He looked at the broken glass and his costume before he looked at Rosalie, who stood frozen in the foyer. Dandy felt an ache in his chest, but not because of his disappointment over his costume or Dora's words. Rosalie looked nearly blue. Dandy sighed. "I'd never hurt you, Rose," he assured her. "You don't have to be scared."