Halloween

The last week of October comes faster than I can ever remember. My new relationship with Alison is still new enough that each time we end up together it feels special, but established enough that some of the worry is gone. Tonight, she is sitting in the livingroom with me nibbling on a date bar and sipping her tea. It's a Wednesday and my tenant clearly has something on her mind.

“OK, Alison.” I set down my cup and look at her worried face. A month ago, I'd be worried that our arrangement was about to be terminated, now I'm a little more confident. “Out with it. What has you so gloomy?”

“Well, Mr. P, I might not be able to - you know, get together this weekend.” Before I can figure out what I did wrong, Alison is quick to explain. “It's Halloween this Saturday and my friends and I worked out this idea for matching costumes.” She licks her lips nervously, “I don't like to break our arrangement like that but, I promised I'd do this with them.”

“Well, that sounds like fun.” I smile at my tenant, more than a little curious about these plans of hers. I seem to remember her saying something about her family refusing to let her go trick-or-treating so this plan of hers to dress up and go to a party strikes me as a little odd. “What are these costumes of yours going to be?”