Silent Pain

Suspicious Halloween

I don't think I'm going to dress up this year. I already told my parents that I didn't want to hand out candy. I was going to stay in my room all night, but then I remembered that Kate and I got invited to Javier's house for a Halloween party, so I'm going to that instead. Being with my friends will be better than being alone in my room. Kate said she'd drive me under one condition, I have to have some kind of costume. Of course she'd make some kind of 'condition', but she's funny that way. I smiled half way and put on the witch dress I used in 2017 and put on a wig. When we got to Javier's house, this was like no other Halloween decorations I've seen before, then I remembered. Javier's Mexican, so they don't celebrate Halloween, they celebrate the day of the dead, or as his parents say, "día de los Muertos". Javier showed us the regular Halloween decorations in his amazing finished basement which is where all the other invited guests were.

Before we went downstairs, Martha Hernandez showed us their family's ofrenda. Javier pointed out his great-grandparents, great-aunt Isabella, great-uncle Berto, and even his great-great grandparents. After words, Javier, Kate and I went back downstairs. "Your dinner will be down shortly mijo"! Martha calls after us. "Okay mamá". I couldn't tell who was who in that basement since everyone looked like they were trying to hide themselves. We started watching Halloween movies and about thirty minutes later, Martha and José came down with chicken wings, vegetable plates, and cupcakes. On a second trip, Martha brought down a tray of tamales. Javier told us how awesome they were and how to eat them. He wasn't kidding, they were definitely something I'd eat again. After we finished watching another horror movie, Javier played some music. He asked me to dance with him while Kate danced with another boy. "Aren't you glad you came"? He asks. "Yeah, this is better than being alone".

The night went on, then when it was just Kate, Javier and me, we sat on the back porch looking at the stars. "Sydney? Are you thinking about Allen"? "Yes, I'm remembering all the time we spent sitting outside looking at the stars, and now I can't help but see his face in them, like it's a sign that he's looking at me from heaven". "I believe he is muchacha". Javier said. I looked over at him and he was smiling at me, so was Kate. I smiled back. "You know, I really thought this Halloween was going to be depressing, but thanks to you two, it was happier than I thought." "That's what friends are for Sydney, we'll always be here for you." We sat outside until Javier's mom came out and told us it was almost eleven o'clock. "You have school tomorrow cariño". "Goodnight mamá, goodnight papá". "Goodnight mijo". José says as Javier goes upstairs after walking Kate and me to the door.

Kate unlocked her car and climbed behind the wheel as I got in on the passenger side. We drove through the neighborhood and didn't see any trick or treaters. Kate stopped in front of my house. "See you tomorrow in school Sydney". She says as I get out. When I got inside, I was surprised to see the lamp in the living room on. Mom was downstairs on the phone. Dad was coming down the stairs to hear what was going on. "Okay, thank you". "What was that"? I asked, "Your meeting with Rebecca and her parents was moved to tomorrow after school because of Rebecca's absence." "Just out of curiosity, did they say why she was gone for a long time"? "She got into some trouble because security footage in a nearby bar caught her, Daniel and Antonio sneaking into a bar and getting drunk two hours before Allen's car accident."