Page 4 of Pretty Princess

Inside the playroom, their new friend Hayley was having a tea party with some stuffed animals.

“Hi, Hayley!” Avery exclaimed after taking out his binkie.

“Avery! You look awesome.”

Avery preened, he loved hearing that. He squinted trying to figure out what costume Hayley wore.

Laughing, Hayley hopped up before he grabbed a hat from the bed. He plopped it on his head and Avery nodded.

“A scarecrow.”

Hayley bounced. He was almost as bouncy as Avery.

“I love Halloween, don’t you? I always want to dress up in the scariest costumes, but I chicken out at the last minute. So, I try to find costumes that just scream Halloween.”

“Halloween is the best!” Okay, so this was the first year he’d celebrated in a long time. For sure the first year that he’d spent any real money on a costume. His grandmother had always sewed him something so he would at least fit in with the other kids. After he’d gotten too old to trick or treat, Halloween had just become another night to him.

This year was different though. Avery had already experienced so many new things. He had to look forward to two more really big holidays coming up too.

“Would you like some tea?” Hayley went back to the fancy tea set.

“Yes please,” Avery sat cross-legged at the table. He picked up the pink bunny and set it on his lap. “Do you have any cake? Tea is always better with cake.”

“I’ll get it!” Caleb waved his hand. “I made it fresh today.”

“Awesome!” Avery clapped.

Caleb walked over to his play fridge and pulled out a plastic cake. It was pink and sparkly. Just the type of cake that Avery would expect from his friend.

Halloween was going to be so much fun!

Mitch

Mitch floated from the living room to the back yard, then the playroom, and back to the living room. He was enjoying himself. Catching up with old friends from the club and visiting with some newer ones. Trying to help out where he could so Caleb didn’t get overwhelmed.

Another friend commented on his costume and Mitch grinned in response. His costume might be a little clique, but Mitch was getting a lot of laughs.

A lot of people called lawyers sharks. Wearing a shark costume was just too much fun.

The shark outfit had been one that he had purchased to play with Avery. They had several different onesies that allowed them to pretend to be animals. It was one of Avery’s favorite games.

He’d lost sight of Byron over half an hour ago. His Daddy had been helping Grant carry more bags of ice out back and then he’d been gone.

Not that Mitch was too worried.

Byron would find him soon enough. He always did.

Finishing his water Mitch walked into the kitchen and tossed the bottle into the trash. He knew Avery and Hayley were in the playroom, working a puzzle the last time Mitch had been by. He’d go make sure they had drinks and didn’t need anything else.

He wasn’t surprised that Avery had spent most of the night hiding away in the playroom. His friend might say he was okay with all the strangers around, but a part of Avery would always be hidden from those he wasn’t close with. Mitch just wanted to check that his young friend wasn’t freaking out.

Just as he walked past what he knew was a closet; the door opened.

Mitch jumped, right before he was yanked inside.

“Shh,” Byron placed a finger against his lips. “Not a word or we’ll be found out.”

“What are you doing hiding in a closet?” Mitch asked with amusement.

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