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Later attouches to our look for the party He brought his stage ives hilitter here and there that gives his face an ethereal yet sinister glow He even has prosthetics to give his ears aup our hair, we’re picture-perfect and ready to brave the crowds Even my parents are i out the craftsmanship of ives a look at ” My dad only chuckles and says, “If he’s got the goods, show ‘em!”

I snort, finding that to be a weird colance at Toby for his reaction, I find his elven face tightened as he gives ot reservations aboutfor the mayor now Even still, he treats them respectfully and o, he even has the kindness to say, “Have fun handing out candy tonight! Spruce kids always get excited when there’s someone new to trick-or-treat at, especially on this side of town Hope you have full-size candy bars,” he adds as a joke, and hs too hard while my mom only smiles, crisp and reserved, and says, “Do reht Don’t stay out too late”

I guess that’s as good as we’ll get for now

The ride out to the Strong ranch is long, but Toby is , back, poorly-lit faret there, and the party is well underway I park ravel, then ith Toby up to the house It’s about ten times as spacious out here than it is at my house, and their property seeht A porch wraps around the big two-story house decorated with spiderwebs and glowing orange lights Carved pumpkins lit up with candles line the pathway to the porch, and e pass through the front door, a corny Dracula laugh plays from a hidden speaker I hold Toby’s leash, but he leads the way as we navigate through a thick crowd of costueneral madness In a few houlish, clever finger foods, all catered by T&S, of course We’ve also already found solass doors of the kitchen that lead back out onto the porch and the swithe fa with is a Zombie Kelsey, who just finished up a private chat with a silver-looking Robot Billy Tucker-Strong at the dessert table She launches straight into a story with Toby about a new idea for the yearbook she thought up in the shower Frankie, who is some kind of killer doctor co down his front, asks , e didn’t audition for the winter show, and then whether we plan to do anything else in the spring, because hethe final play of the school year (as their “star senior”), and he totally has a part in s and a pair of devil horns, insists that we come to support the winter show even if we’re not in it—especiallytheatre family, and there will always be a seat with my name on it

The punch runs right through me I lean into Toby and ask where a bathroo off his leash to Frankie, who gives Toby a suggestive look and laughs, I cut across the crowded room (and bump into no less than three different Frankenstein’s monsters on the way) and make my way upstairs I head down a short hall, the noise of the party fading behind ned to waiting, I lean against the wall nearby, fold my arms over my armored chest, and stare ahead at a picture on the wall It appears to be one of Mr and Mrs Strong, with a high-school-aged Tanner crouched in front of them next to a ten-year-old boy I can only presuives s I’m not sure what to do with