We troop across the Parking Lot and grab a plastic bag to hold Eli’s goodies. Ruth and David take off into the darkness and leave Payten behind with Carole.

The cars handing out treats are surrounded children and parents; the children swarm to the candy like a bunch of maggots going after a dead carcass. We race to keep up with Eli, leaving Carole and Payton to be swallowed up by the crowd. In record time my son has blazed through the dozen cars. We head into the auditorium for food. Payton streaks by in her light green and lavender flower costume.

Where’s Carole? More important, where the hell are Ruth and David?

Carole hobbles by, struggling to keep up with her cane. “Payton, honey, wait for Grandma!” Andrew’s eyes meet mine and reflect the same concern that I feel in my stomach.

Eli makes a second round through the cars, going slower this time. Halloween festivities are in full swing when Paige hits her stimulation threshold. We find Carole chasing Payton around the Parking lot, Ruth and David still MIA.

“We’ve leaving.” I give Carole a hug. “Bye Payton!” She zips off towards a car with a princess theme.

“Bye,” Carole breathes heavily, leaning on her cane.

I’d be exhausted too, chasing that little Tasmanian devil around all night!

We run into Ruth and David on our way out of the parking lot. They laugh and fall against each other like drunk teenagers. We shout good bye but they don’t acknowledge us.

“Did you notice how Ruth smelled tonight?” Andrew asks on the drive home.

“She was wearing some strong perfume!” I fan my hand in front of my nose and make a face.

“Not her perfume, this was something different.”

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