* * *
The evening of the Halloween Party had arrived, and the air was cool and crisp. The leaves crunched under their feet as Paivi and Michaela walked up the ridiculously long driveway that led to Amanda Montoya’s house.
Amanda’s parents were well known in town. Mrs. Montoya was one of the top realtors in the area. There wasn’t a house for sale in St. Andrew that didn’t have her picture in the front yard. Her large, white SUV was covered with her picture and the logo of her real estate firm. Mr. Montoya owned a very successful chain of supermarkets called ‘Alfredo’s.’
The girls had known Amanda since their grade school years at Prairie View Elementary. They had been Girl Scouts together, and even though they didn’t see her all of the time, she still invited them to all of her events.
Paivi and Michaela were always thrilled to go to Amanda’s parties because a party at the ‘Montoya Mansion,’ as it they referred to it, was not to be missed. Amanda’s parties always out-did all others. At Amanda’s tenth birthday, her parents had ordered a small carnival to be set up in their huge back yard. There had been a Tilt-a-Whirl, a little roller coaster and a huge Ferris wheel, along with a ton of carnival games.
There was no telling what the Halloween party would have in store for them. Scattered throughout the front yard were real gravestones. Moss hung from their decrepit exteriors and there was a slight fog drifting among them, skimming across the dead leaves on the ground.
“Wow, Amanda’s parents have really outdone themselves, if that is possible!” Paivi pulled her cloak a little closer around herself, trying not to shiver.
Paivi and Michaela had decided to dress as vampires. Cute vampires, not icky ones. They both had on long, crushed velvet dresses. Paivi’s dress was a deep burgundy. She topped it off with a long black wig and a set of fangs. Michaela’s dress was a deep purple. She didn’t need a wig, as her hair was already long and dark.
“Ooo, come on, this is creepy!” Michaela grabbed Paivis arm, quickening her pace. As they neared the door, they passed one last gravestone, a pile of leaves lay at its base. Suddenly, the pile jumped off the ground and lunged at them.
“Uhhhhhh,” it moaned, echoing through the front yard.
The girls let out a blood-curdling scream and ran to the front door, knocking frantically. The leaf-creature was advancing on them. They started pounding on the door, screaming. The door creaked slowly open and the girls didn’t bother to wait for an invite. They tumbled through the door, nearly falling over each other. They had not yet noticed the large figure standing before them. The sound of a chainsaw ripped through the foyer, the figure held the machine over its head. Its face was covered with a white hockey mask. The girls screamed again and fell into a heap against the front door.
At that moment, the light switched on, illuminating the foyer. Mrs. Montoya appeared, dressed in an elaborate witch costume. She carried a tray filled with goblets that were emitting a green smoke.
“Hi girls,” she said, smiling in their direction. “Sorry about that.” She gestured to the large figure next to her. “Honestly, Fredo, you are going to give these kids a heart attack!”
“Hi girls! We were just having a little fun, weren’t we?” Mr. Montoya removed his mask. “Boy did we get you good!”
He laughed heartily.
“I take it you ran into Chase in the front yard.” Mr. Montoya boomed as a leafy figure waved through the window next to the door. Chase was Amanda’s younger brother.
Paivi and Michaela picked themselves up off the floor and straightened out their costumes.
“Man, Mr. M., you had me scared out of my mind! That was crazier than the last haunted house I went to!” Paivi’s heart was still pounding in her chest.
“Well, go on down, everybody is in the basement. Have fun!” he shouted, revving the chainsaw again.
Mrs. Montoya laughed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him!”
The girls followed her down the spiraling stairs into the basement. The Montoya’s basement was hardly normal. It was considered a wing of their already expansive home. There was a full second kitchen, where Mrs. Montoya was setting down the smoking drinks.
“Here girls, try a ‘Witch’s Brew.’ Amanda is down here somewhere.” She emptied the tray and turned to leave. “Have fun!”
The girls leaned back against the counter of the bar and surveyed the scene. Music thumped from speakers hidden out of sight. A mix of popular and Halloween themed songs, including ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘Thriller,’ had a few people dancing.
In front of them was a huge recreation room. Off to one side, in front of a roaring fire, was a grouping of fluffy couches and opposite on the wall ‘The Exorcist’ played on a large movie screen. There were a number of costumed people lounging in the cozy corner.
With all of the costumes and make-up, it was hard for Paivi to tell who was who. She looked to see if Jason was over there, but she couldn’t tell.
In the center of the large room was a pool table, where Dracula, Frankenstein, a hockey player, and a banana were in the middle of an intense game. Off to the side was a poker table, which at the moment was being used for a Ouija board. Candles were the only light on that side of the room. Paivi could hear gasps and shrieks as the crowd around the Ouija board read the messages it gave them. She could see Amanda, dressed as a mermaid, sitting at the table.
Beyond the table was a wall of windows with large French doors that led to a stone patio and fire pit. Paivi could see more people outside sitting by the fire, roasting marshmallows.
“Hey, let’s go say hi to Amanda and then go out and roast some marshmallows before it gets too cold. I am absolutely dying for one!” Paivi wondered if Jason was outside.
Oh, stop it, she told herself. What is the point? He would be here with his girlfriend.
Anyways, maybe she would meet a cute guy at the party to tide her over until Jason and Melissa were no more; there were definitely plenty of them around!
“I love roasting marshmallows!” Michaela squealed.
They headed towards the group at the Ouija board.
“Is it bad when most of your marshmallows end up in the fire instead of in your mouth?” Michaela laughed.
They approached Amanda’s chair, attacking her with hugs from both sides, careful not to crush her elaborate mermaid’s costume.
“Hey!” She jumped up, turning around to hug them both. “You guys look fabulous!”
“Uh, guys, I think the board has a message for Paivi,” squealed one of Amanda’s friends, Darcy. “Look, Marina is writing it down while it moves.”
Darcy gestured to their hands on the small device gliding across the Ouija board.
“What did it spell out, Marina?” she asked.
“Just a second, I don’t think it’s done.” Marina waved Darcy off, her eyes following the planchette eagerly.
Their hands continued to move with the device.
Paivi started to get nervous. What was it going to do, tell her I KNOW for the eightieth time?
“Okay! I’ve got it!” shouted Marina. “Oh my god, Paivi!”
Paivi could feel her heart start to sink.
“Paivi loves Jeff!”
“Who is Jeff? Is he here at the party?” asked a girl dressed like Princess Leia from Star Wars.
Paivi laughed and felt a sense of relief wash over her. “Jeff? I don’t think I even know anyone named Jeff. I guess he’ll just be my mystery man!”
The banana shooting pool had overheard the girls’ conversation and raised his hand.
“Hey, my name is Jeff! Who loves me?”
They all laughed.
“According to the all-knowing Ouija, Paivi here does!” Amanda pointed her out. “Jeff, meet the new love of your life!”
“Nice!” He walked over to Paivi. “Hi, I’m Jeff the banana. Damn glad to meet you!”
He pumped her hand in an exaggerated handshake. Paivi blushed.
“Hi Jeff the banana. It’s a pleasure?!” Sh
e wasn’t so sure.
“I’ll be seeing you,” he pointed his two fingers at her like pistols, pretending to shoot, blew the smoke off of them and winked, “later! But right now I’ve got to finish my game! Bye!”
Amanda turned to Paivi and Michaela. “Do you guys want to play? We can pull up more chairs.”
“That’s cool, we’ll come play in a little bit. We want to go roast some marshmallows! Did you get stuff to make S’mores?” asked Paivi.
“Girl, you know I did! Hey, Michaela, try not to drop all of your marshmallows into the fire this time!” Amanda’s laughter followed them out the door into the crisp evening.