Page 35 of The Witching Hours

He leaned closer and almost whispered, “October 31st.”

“October 31?” He nodded. “That’s Halloween.” He nodded again. That’s when I made one of those mistakes I regret to this day. What came out of my mouth was way too loud and accusatory. “YOUR BIRTHDAY IS ON HALLOWEEN?!?”

Everybody heard. They started laughing and saying things like, “So that’s why you look like goblin vomit.”

R.W. turned red as August watermelon, but he wasn’t just mad. I could tell he was embarrassed and hurt. Who knew R.W. could get his feelings hurt? I felt bad about being the cause of it.

I leaned over to say I was sorry, but he shoved me away. I left him alone. For a while after that he didn’t come around after school. So, I decided to ride over to his house and say I was sorry.

His big sister came to screen door. She hollered for R.W. and disappeared without inviting me in.

He walked right through the screen door without looking at me and let it slam behind him. I followed after him until he stopped and said, “What do you want?”

“I was thinking about your birthday,” I said.

“Oh. Ha. Ha.”

“No. I was wondering if you’re still having a party?”

“No,” was all he said.

“Well, lots of kids spend that day getting ready for trick or treat.”

“I know,” he said softly, still refusing to look at me.

“But maybe we could do some trick or treating then get together for a while at the creek.”

Finally, he looked at me. “At night?”

“Well, why not? Our folks will think we’re running around the neighborhood getting candy. They’ll never know. I can maybe bring some cupcakes or something like that. If everybody brings a flashlight, we’ll have good light.”

He looked at me with suspicion. “Who’s everybody?”

“Well,” I said. “Who would you want to come?”

“Well,” he said. “Darlene. Penny. Louise. Like that.”

“R.W. You just named girls.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you want any boys to come?”

He shrugged. “I like girls.”

I hesitated, thinking he must be joking. It seemed downright weird to me, considering everything he had to say about women being worthless, but I figured it was his birthday and he could have who he wanted. “What about Cherry?”

“No. Cherry’s fat.”

That made me mad. “R.W!!!” I yelled. “SHE IS NOT! And you’re never gonna have any friends if you don’t stop being so mean. You’re no prize yourself, you know. If Cherry doesn’t come, I’m not coming.”

“Okay!” He surrendered. “She can come.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Cherry.” He sat down in the tire hanging from their tree and made it swivel back and forth, acting like he didn’t care what I said. “No.” I shook my head to let him know I meant business. “Say it. There’s nothing wrong with Cherry.” He scoffed. “If you want people to think there’s nothing wrong with you, then you have to think there’s nothing wrong with them. Say it!”

“Alright! There’s nothing wrong with Cherry.” He turned his head and said something under his breath.

“What?”