Of Witches, Dinosaurs, and the Occasional Monster

Allie Beaufont, age nine, fidgeted as her mother adjusted the skirt of her Halloween costume. The fabric was cheap and uncomfortable, and Allie was not feeling very happy.

"Allie, would you hold still?" Her mother huffed exasperatedly, giving a particularly hard tug to the skirt.

"Stop it! Mom! The skirt itches!" Allie shouted, pulling away from her mother and smoothing her skirt down.

"Stop playing with it! Just leave it," her mother commanded.

"I hate this costume! I don't want to be a witch!"

"Oh yes! For the ten-thousandth time, I know! But I wasn't going to waste hours of my time on a zombie costume. Dumbest thing I ever heard, zombie costume!"

Allie frowned, saying, "Jeanie's mom made her a zombie costume! And it was epic!"

"You ungrateful little turd, stop messing with your skirt! Oh, there you are, Henry! What have you done with your hair?"

Allie's seven-year-old brother was dressed in his dinosaur costume, looking like the happiest boy on earth. Allie was jealous. Henry actually had a costume he liked, while she was stuck in this black and purple monstrosity.

"Henry, get back here! I need to brush your hair!"

"No," Henry shouteed, giggling as he avoided his mother's swipes with the hairbrush.

"Ugh, you little brats, stand next to each other. Look smart," their mother said as she grabbed the camera from the table.

Allie smiled as nicely as she could while her mother took pictures of her and Henry. She felt a pinch on her arm and screamed.

"Henry! Mom, Henry pinched me! Punish him!"

"Did not! It was a ghost!"

"Aaaaaaah! Stop grabbing my hair!"

"No, my tail! MOM!"

Their mom looked livid as she screamed, "Both of you, shut up, or you'll be sitting at home while all the other kids get candy! Is that clear? Allison Marie! Is that clear?"

"Why don't you ask Henry?"

"Allison!"

"Yes, it's clear."

"Henry, do you understand?"

"Uh-huh."

"Get outside, don't forget your candy baskets," their mother growled as she grabbed the keys.

"Do you think she's secretly a monster?" Henry whispered to Allie.

"Oh, totally."

"We have to go to the McElroys' house, they always give out massive peanut butter cups."

"Good idea, Henry. Onwards, Sir Dragon."

"Of course, Lady Witch."

"Don't run in the road! Morons!"

"Let's run away from her, Henry! She won't catch us!"

"Hahaha! Let's go!"

"Oh I'm going to punish them so much for this. YOU IDIOTS!"