The Saddest Song - By Susie Kaye Lopez Page 0,33
I’ve ever seen,” Mom said, putting another pin in Max’s vest.
“No spray tan, mom. I’ll use that lotion with tanner in it that Caitlynn uses but that’s it. Do you guys think this is too short? I tugged it down again.
“No! You have great legs! You should show them off.”
“Mom!”
“Yeah, listen to your mom Rainey!” Max raised his eyebrows at me, teasing.
“You two take those costumes off and be careful with the pins. I will see if Grandma thinks we can take the hem down a half inch or so Rainey, but I really think it’s perfect.
My Grandma was at my house the night of the Halloween Party. She had added suede fringe to the bottom of my costume making it just long enough that I wouldn’t be tugging on it all night long. Mom had braided my hair and I applied my makeup using just enough bronzer to make me look like I had a perfect tan. For the past four days I applied the lotion with self tanner and I was so happy with the result that I decided to make it part of my daily routine.
“Oh honey, you look beautiful!” Grandma stood behind me while I finished my makeup.
“Thanks Grandma, you did a great job on my costume. Thank you for adding the fringe.”
She handed me a small suede handbag decorated with tiny hand sown beads. It was just big enough for my cell phone and my lip gloss. “Oh, it’s so pretty grandma. Thank you.”
“I ‘m glad you like it. I worked on it all week.”
She smiled and I kissed her soft cheek. My grandmother was tall like me and she looked me in the eyes and said, “Rainey, I’m sure you’re thinking about Garrett tonight and I want you to know that I think he would be proud of you and his brother for trying to go on with your lives. I can see the effort it is taking you to keep going. Just relax and have fun tonight.”
“I will. It’s easier for me because Garrett and I never went to costume parties. I never could have gotten him to dress up. It’s so much easier to do things with new friends that didn’t know him. Do things he wouldn’t want to do. It’s like a different life than the one we shared.”
“It’s still your life Rainey. Just try to find happiness where you can and help Max do the same. We better head downstairs, Max should be here any minute. Look it’s eight.” I glanced towards my clock and saw it turn 8:01. The clock was telling time. It hadn’t turned itself off since the dream. I sighed and followed Grandma down the stairs.
Downstairs mom and dad were finishing the dinner dishes and Max was sitting at the table eating a slice of Grandma’s famous lemon cream pie, his cowboy hat sitting next to his plate. “Max, I didn’t hear the door!”
“Just got here,” he smiled. He stood up and hugged Grandma. She told him what a handsome cowboy he made while mom and dad gushed over their Indian Princess. We suffered through the compliments and several photographs. I didn’t relax until we were safely in the truck waving at them on the porch.
“Sorry about that,” I said.
“No problem. I hate to do this to you but do you mind if we swing by my house? Mom is dying to see your costume and she has her camera ready to go.
I laughed. “Wow we are really entertaining everyone with this party!”
“Yeah, well think about it. When’s the last time you wore a Halloween Costume?”
“Maybe 7th or 8th grade?”
We stopped at Max’s house and after another parental photo op and countless compliments, we finally made it to the party. Colin’s street was lined with cars and we had to park down the hill from his house.
The garage door was open as usual but it had been transformed. Strobe lights flashed, illuminating black cauldrons spilling dense grey clouds of what I assumed was dry ice. Screams and rattling chains completed the effect and I walked close to Max as we approached. Two guys stood on the driveway dressed like Mario and Luigi and I was watching them as someone jumped out from the flashing darkness and grabbed my arm. I stared up at Michael from the Friday the 13th movies and let out a blood curdling scream of my own, throwing myself against Max. I heard a laugh from behind the mask and Michael retreated back