“Because Halloween is around the corner, and you don’t have anything to decorate your house with,” Griffin replies.
Yesterday, Griffin came home and announced that we were taking Raven shopping for Halloween. Apparently, the idea was inspired by the town decorating Main Street, which they do every year.
Griffin and I normally don’t go crazy for Halloween, but we decided to lean into it this year. Halloween is typically a big night at The Wandering Raven, so we’re not home to hand out candy or anything. We don’t even decorate. But this being Raven’s and Noah’s first Halloween, we want to make it a good experience for them. Plus, that’s what the parenting blog we’ve been reading said to do.
We’ve been leaving Camden in charge more and more recently, and he has risen to the occasion. So, we had no problem with leaving him in charge today and taking Raven to Abilene, while Noah is in school, to do some shopping.
The Halloween store we found seems to pop up every fall and has all the things one could possibly need to fully celebrate Halloween. It has everything from laughing skeletons to fog machines. However, I’m not a huge fan of the life-size scarecrow that popped out at me when we walked in.
“You don’t have a costume either,” I add as I dig through the rack.
Slutty nurse? No.
Slutty schoolgirl? No.
Slutty librarian? Possibly…but no.
“Oh no. No, no, no, no. I’m not dressing up.” She steps up to my side and pulls the costume I have out of my hands. “Wonder Woman?” Her outrage is amusing.
“Why not?” Griffin questions.
Raven throws her hands up. “Because this is ridiculous.”
“When’s the last time you dressed up?” I look down at her.
“When’s the last timeyoudressed up?” Raven throws back at me. “Besides, I’m manning the dunk tank at the carnival, so a costume is pointless.”
Griffin tilts his head. “What carnival?”
Raven sighs. “The Mystic River Elementary Halloween Carnival. That’s why I’ve been going to those PTO meetings.”
My forehead wrinkles. “Isn’t Kaitlyn LeBlanc in charge of?—”
“Yep,” Raven answers irritated.
“Oof,” Griffin grunts.
Rubbing my chin, I question, “Isn’t the dunk tank where people throw balls at a target, so you’ll drop in the water?”
Raven nods. “Yep.”
Griffin gives Raven a hard look. “We’re going to ignore the fact that you weren’t going to include us in your Halloween plans and focus on the dunk tank.”
Raven returns the look and changes the subject, her stubborn side coming out. “How about we focus on Noah’s bully?”
My eyes dart around. “What about him?”
“Mrs. Burke told me to tell ‘them’ that she did what they asked. Do you know who she’s referring to?” Raven crosses her arms.
Griffin and I are silent.
“What did you say to her?”
I blurt out, “Dorthea’s husband may have an IOU with us.”
Raven’s mouth falls open. “Did you blackmail an old woman?”
“A crotchety old woman,” I mumble.
