Ch 7

"It's Halloween! It's Halloween!" Aaron shouted running around the kitchen as he returned from school.

I glanced up from my paper. "Yes, Aaron it is Halloween."

"Aren't you excited, Kevin?"

"I suppose." Nothing like taking three children trick-or-treating when your a man in your twenties. It's every dream come true.

The kitchen door opened with the Carter sisters filing in. "Hi, Kevin."

Leslie greeted.

"Hi, honey."

Angel searched through the cabinets. "Do we have anything good to eat?"

"Nope," Aaron complained. "Kevin!"

I set down my paper. "Yes, Aaron?"

"Could you make us something?"

"I thought you hated my cooking."

"I do and so does everyone else."

BJ rolled her eyes. "Aaron go make yourself a bowl of cereal."

He wrinkled his nose. "Cereal? That's what I had for breakfast."

"Did you like it?"

"Yeah....."

His teenage sister placed the box in his hands. "In that case have it again."

He sighed. "Fine."

I stood walking to the refridgerator. "What do you girls want?"

"Could you make us some microwave popcorn?" Angel requested looking up at me.

I patted her head. "Sure thing, kiddo."

"They get popcorn and I get cereal!" their brother grimaced.

"Do you want popcorn?"

"No."

"Cereal?"

I ran my hands through my hair in exasperation. "Then, what DO you want?"

"Pizza!"

"We don't have pizza, dumbo," Leslie grumbled.

BJ stuffed a fruit roll-up in the boy's hand. "Here! Eat this and shut up!"

Aaron shrugged. "No problem."

I turned to the teen. "Why didn't he just get the damn fruit thing in the first place?"

"UM!" two small voices echoed.

"What?" I asked turning to the younger Carter children.

"You said the 'd' word," Angel reminded me.

I threw the popcorn in the microwave. "Sorry."

BJ set at the table. "Kids, why don't you go look at your Halloween costumes?"

"Mom's not here," Aaron complained.

"Aaron, she told me this morning she'd leave them on your beds."

"REALLY?"

She nodded.

"YAHOO!" the twins shouted in unison rushing off toward their bedrooms.

I bent down to Leslie's level. "Aren't you going to look?"

Leslie looked at me with confusion lingering in her eyes. "Kevin?"

"I don't think I wanna' go trick-or-treating..."

"Why not?" I placed my hand to her small forehead. "You feeling sick?"

"No, I just wanna' go with BJ and Nick to their party."

"I see," I stated sitting down.

"Could I?"

"Well......sweetie, you might not have much fun. The people there will be

older and bigger than you. Wouldn't you prefer to be with your siblings?"

"I......I dunno."

I lifted her into my lap. "Well, what about me?"

"You?"

"I'd miss you if you didn't go."

"You would?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna' need all the help I can get keeping Aaron under control due to a candy-high. I'd really appreicate it if you'd help me."

"You mean it?"

"Yep."

She gave a half-grin. "Okie dokie."

I boosted her under my elbow as the microwave alarm sounded. The twins came running in hysterically as I dumped the food into an empty bowl.

"KEVIN! KEVIN!"

"What?"

"We have no trick-or-treat bags!" Angel whimpered.

"OR COSTUMES!" Aaron wailed.

I set Leslie down to the floor. "NO COSTUMES?"

The children shook their heads.

"Holy shit!" I cringed.

BJ shot me a look. "Kevin?"

"WHAT?"

"Since when is shit holy?"

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