It’s the Tuesday before Halloween and we’re finishing up thoughts on the final Zentner book, when the discussion ultimately derails to Halloween.
“Hughie. What’s our favorite little man going as for Halloween?”
Hughie looks at Samuel. “Haven’t really thought about it.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, yes you have. Don’t pretend like your uncle and I didn’t spend the past few weekends putting the costumes together.” Hughie looks at me with pleading eyes, like he’s embarrassed or something. “He’s going as Toad. Niall and I are Mario and Luigi. We’re a bit into Super Mario.”
“Aww I love Mario. We play Mario Kart and Smash all the time in our halls. Toad’s actually my go-to in Mario Kart.”
This makes Hughie perk up. “Me too! Danny always plays as the Princess.”
This elicits a number of cackles around the room. “Listen. She was the best character to be in one of my favorite games growing up.”
Noah raises his hand. “Was this when video games were invented?”
“You get a zero for the day,” I say, grabbing for my coffee.
Noah leans towards Hughie. “So, what are the heroes of Mushroom Kingdom doing on Halloween?”
“Not sure. School was supposed to be doing a party but then two people in class fought over who could be Harry Potter. There were punches and everything! They ended up cancelling the party. I don’t understand who would even want to dress as Harry Potter anymore.”
“Amen,” Lily says. She, in one of our office hours, had gone into detail over her disdain for JK Rowling’s stance on trans rights. She had confided in me that one of her siblings had transitioned, and couldn’t stand how much love still came from the Harry Potter fandom.
“I’m sure Danny’s got something up his sleeves.”
Hughie looks at Noah. “What are you doing? Grown-up stuff?”
Noah laughs. “Kind of, kinda not. Samuel and I are going camping this weekend, at a place not far from here. I used to go camping with my best friend all the time but haven’t been since…well, I haven’t been in a while.”
Hughie’s face scrunches. “I’ve never been camping. I mean I’ve slept outside before but not like real camping.”
I can see the class trying to come up with something to say. Over the past few weeks Hughie has shared and, in somecases, overshared his experiences with his mom. There were even things that Niall never told me, or maybe he hasn’t been made privy to. I have tried to keep the classroom as a kind of safe space for both the students and Hughie. I’d only tell Niall something if I thought it could hurt Hughie moving forward, especially emotionally. But it truly seemed like Hughie’s done a great job compartmentalizing these things, and just says things matter-of-factly.
It sounds ridiculous, but sometimes I’m jealous of the kid. Especially on nights when the nightmares come. Which, luckily, have been less frequent as of late.
Samuel smacks the top of his desk. “Danny! You guys should come to the campground! Take this kid camping for Christ’s sake.”
“It seems like a bit short notice. And, no offense to Hughie, but do you really want a ten-year-old at your Halloween outing?”
“I’m literally sitting right here.”
I laugh. “I know, I know. And we can go camping some other time if you’re interested.”
“But, if Uncle Niall was okay with it, could we go this weekend?”
It was hard to come up with a reason we couldn’t. Niall did take the weekend off with the idea we could do some Halloween related activities. I did do some prep for it, ordering some of the Halloween treats you couldn’t find here in Ireland. I had made sure to order some of the Halloween themed Avery sodas from back home, because I knew Hughie would get a kick out of Zombie Brain Juice and Bug Barf and the other grossly named flavors.
But I do think we may have fell flat on the overall plan.
“We could all go!” Lily says, then looks at the class. “I mean, or most of us. I’m sure at least some of us have plans.”
It turns out that some of the class did indeed have plans. But who I consider the core group, do not.
Daniel:I have a weird question
Niall:Intrigued.
Daniel:Not like that you perv. What would you say about camping this weekend?
