"If you want time off to go..." Julian started saying.
"No. I was going to ask what you were planning," Rob told him and wondered why Julian was so eager to let him go.
"I ordered a costume for Danny. It should arrive soon," Julian said.
"What about trick or treating?"
"Oh. I don't really know. I suppose we could stop by a few houses of the people we know," Julian said but he sounded very unsure.
"Let's ask these guys what they have planned," Rob said. For Danny's sake, they had to make the most of a holiday like Halloween.
Julian told everyone that he had a costume for Danny but not Lenny. "I special ordered a bee costume for Danny a while back, but we didn't have Lenny then."
"I think I can make something for the little doggie, if it's not too complicated," Lara said. "I'm pretty much finished with ours."
"Really? Thank you," Julian said. "Danny's bee costume has a striped black and yellow cape. That's all Lenny would need."
It turned out that all the trick or treating was happening in town because the houses were kind of far apart. "It's called Halloween Town. It's like mall trick or treating. The merchants set up trick or treating tables on the sidewalk and people come in with baskets of treats to give out. Afterwards everyone is coming over to my place to eat. You guys are invited too," Lara said.
"Thank you. We should have you guys over one of these days," Julian told all of them.
"Your house is spooky," Rico hinted. "We're doing it potluck anyway. What do you say? Halloween at your place?"
Everyone looked at Lara. When she shrugged, they turned to Julian and Rob. Rob didn't think he was part of the decision, but Julian looked at him like he had a say. "Sounds good," Rob said and Julian nodded.
"We have a plan," Wyatt said.
"You'll need to deck the place out," Rico told Julian.
"I can get some Halloween decorations," Rob said and got a nod from Julian.
"The more bloody and hideous the better," Rico instructed him.
"No," Rob told him.
"I trust your judgment," Julian said to Rob then eyed Rico pointedly.
When they were ready to go, it was time for the kids to pack up their leaves. Rico got some paper bags and markers and had them write their names on them. Danny held his marker and watched the other kids writing.
"You can just do a drawing," Sam told him.
"Not my name?" Danny said, looking disappointed.
"You can do both," Rob told him. "Julian can help you write your name. And Lenny's too."
With Julian guiding his hand, Danny clumsily wrote Danny and then Lenny.
Now Danny looked happy. Going to the car, he proudly carried the paper bag with the leaves and his and Lenny's names on it. Everyone left at the same time and there was a lot of waving and yelling, "Bye!"
At home, Julian got an urgent call from a client so Rob helped Danny get ready for bed. Danny knew the routine and told Rob and Lenny about it. He was snug in bed when Julian was done and ready to tuck him in.
"Are me and Lenny gonna get a story?" Danny asked as Julian watched Lenny try to climb into bed with him.
Julian helped out the little dog, while Rob got Danny's favorite book. "You still like theSuper Strong Little Bee, right?"
"Yes," Danny said while putting his arm around Lenny.
"I thought since you had Lenny now..." Rob said handing the book to Julian.
