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We gather in the living room, and I sit down on the couch while Gloria plops onto the floor in front of me.
“What made you be Dorothy?” Kyle asks Gloria, resting in a chair. “Is that your favorite movie?”
Gloria nods. “My favorite in the entire world!” She kicks her feet back and forth, showing off her sparkly red shoes. “Do you like my shoes?”
“Very much,” Kyle answers before lifting his leg. “Much cooler than these Nikes I’m sporting.”
Gloria squeals. “What’s your favorite movie?”
He glances around the room. “Promise not to tell anyone?”
Gloria holds her pinkie out. “I pinkie promise to infinity.”
He leans in as if telling her a secret and then loops their fingers together. “It’sThe Wizard of Oz.”
She claps her hands again. “Yay!”
I finish her pigtails at the same time Trey walks in, wearing his football gear.
Gloria frowns at the sight of him. “Where’s your costume? You’re supposed to be the Scarecrow!”
Trey’s shoulders slump. “I told you, I’m not trick-or-treating this year.”
Gloria crosses her arms and sulks. “And I said you have to.”
“Sorry, but I’m too old for trick-or-treating,” Trey answers.
She hops up and looks close to tears when she stomps her foot. “That’s not fair!”
I stand and drape my arm around her. “Let’s have a girls’ Halloween night.”
She sniffles and scowls at Trey, shooting him a stare that’d force me to cave in seconds. “You always come with me!”
He offers her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Glor-Bear. Aunt Chloe said she’d take you though.”
“Fine, I don’t want you to come anymore,” she declares, hiding her face in my waist.
“What about this?” Kyle comments. “I’m handing out candy at my house.” He signals between Gloria and Chloe. “You two trick-or-treat it up.” He winks at Gloria. “Save me the Reese’s Cups, and Trey can hang out at my house. I made tacos, so come over when you’re finished.”
Trey gives Kyle a glance. “You made tacos?”
“Sure did.”
“His mother made tacos,” I correct with a smile.
“Your mom still cooks for you, bro?” Trey asks. “That’s lame.”
“For your information,Imade the tacos tonight. My mom only makes my date-night meals,” Kyle argues.
“That’s even lamer,” Trey comments. “You’re supposed to impress chicks.”
Trey goes to Kyle’s, and Gloria and I go trick-or-treating for a good hour before we go to Kyle’s for tacos. Trey might be too old for trick-or-treating, but he has no problem with raiding Gloria’s candy bag.
Claudia picks the kids up late, and then I let Kyle use his handcuffs on me.
* * *
“I love this place,”Lauren sings out, skipping into the restaurant. “Oh, the memories here will last a lifetime.”
