The Saddest Song - By Susie Kaye Lopez Page 0,32
needed more of. Max looked happy and that made me happy. I thought of Garrett and how proud he would be of us.
After school on Monday we did our homework at my house so that we could go through my parents’ old Halloween costumes. Mom and Grandma made them every year and I thought we could borrow a couple for Colin’s party. Mom had said that she and Grandma would have plenty of time to alter anything we chose by Saturday. She wasn’t home when we got there so we did our homework first. Max finished before me and was in the fridge looking for a snack when mom came rushing through the door.
“You beat me home!” she exclaimed, dropping her purse on the counter and hugging Max. She kissed my cheek and said, “Grandma sent you two a loaf of her Pumpkin bread.”
“Yum! With chocolate chips?”
“Of course.”
“Sounds delicious,” said Max politely. I looked at him confused.
“You remember it don’t you? Grandma sends it to your family every year.”
“She does?”
“Garrett loved it. He could eat a whole loaf by himself.” I said, realizing suddenly why Max had never gotten any.
“Well, obviously Garrett didn’t want to share!” Mom laughed, and we joined in.
“Typical Garrett,” Max smiled. “Let me see what I missed.”
He took a piece from mom. “Wow, this is awesome.”
We finished half a loaf of the bread then went with mom to the guest room and watched while she reached into the closet and began to pull costumes out, two at a time.
“This is Cinderella, and this,” she said pulling another hanger out, “is Prince Charming.”
“Wow,” Max said, clearly at a loss and obviously trying to turn it down without hurting her feelings.
“Mom, no Cinderella. It’s too much. We don’t have to match. Max, pick out whatever you want to wear and I’ll pick mine.”
“What! They were made to be worn together Rainey!” Mom said, upset.
“Yeah, we should choose a theme we both like,” Max added.
“You sure you don’t mind matching?”
He nodded. “Sure, why not?”
I shrugged. I didn’t care that much so I decided to let him choose. Mom proceeded to show us a pilot and stewardess, priest and nun, Aladdin and Jasmine, pirate and gypsy, cowboy and Indian, and several more. Mom and Dad had been going to the same party since I was a toddler. This year they were going as a king and queen.
“Well? What do you think?” Mom asked, looking at both of us.
“Max, you choose,” I said, putting him on the spot.
“I will wear whatever you like except Prince Charming or the priest,” he smiled.
“Okay, which do you like best between the cowboy or pirate?”
“Let’s go with the cowboy. You will make a perfect Indian,” he said, tugging on my long dark hair.
“Oh, Max is right! You won’t even need the wig. You’ll be perfect in this!” Mom held up the brown suede one shouldered dress, complete with fringe and a feathered headband.”I have the matching moccasins here somewhere.”
She stood on her tiptoes and searched the shoe boxes until she found the ones she wanted.”Here honey, try this on and I will pin it and Grandma will help me alter it tomorrow.”
“Uh, can I do it later?” I suddenly felt self conscious. Maybe this party was a mistake.
“Oh, go and put it on Pocahontas.” Max laughed, and I reluctantly headed for my room, dress in hand. I heard my mom say, “your turn,” as I closed my door.
I returned a few minutes later as an Indian in a very form fitting dress. I wondered whether or not Grandma could make it a little bit longer. Mom was as thin as I was but she was four inches shorter. I tugged the back down as if I could make it grow longer.
“Oh Rainey! You look gorgeous!” Mom ran her hands down the dress looking for loose fabric. “It fits like a glove!” She kept going on and on but I wasn’t listening. I was watching Max and my reflection in the closets mirrored doors.
“Gotta hand it to Grandma, she makes a hot cowboy costume, “ I teased Max.
He wore a cream colored long sleeve thermal shirt pinned to fit skin tight, covered by a brown suede vest that matched my dress, and cowboy boots and hat in a darker shade of brown. An elaborate leather holster complete with fake gun rested on his hips. We grinned at each other in the mirror.
“Rainey, maybe you should have a spray tan Saturday morning. You are the palest Indian