After Charlie devoured her lunch, Grace, Michael and Reggie went with her for a walk as promised. She wanted to walk to the pier to see if everything was ready for the Halloween party.

"Okay," they agreed. Reggie strolled along with the group, sniffing and wagging his tail. He was happy to be with his family. Grace hooked her arm in the crook of Michael's as they ambled along. She took in a deep breath of the chill, acrid air and laid her head against his shoulder.

"Okay?" he asked.

"Very okay," she sighed.

Charlie exuberantly skipped and chattered as they made their way towards the Pier Restaurant. "I love Halloween! It's going to be so much fun at the party!"

As they rounded the last curve and began the downward ascent towards the pier, Reggie suddenly began to pull forward on his leash.

"Take it easy, boy." Michael tightened his grip on the lead. Reggie continued to pull harder and he began to emit a guttural whine.

"Reggie," Michael instructed, "heel!" He looked quizzically over at Grace. "I don't know what's gotten into him, he never acts like this on our walks."

"Look!" Charlie shouted pointing towards the restaurant and the pier beyond.

Grace was surprised at how much had been done since she had been there last. Orange and black crepe paper was draped along the heavy chain and wood fence that encircled the pier. The restaurant had a cloth garland of orange and black with beautiful full circles of ruffled fabric in a deep purple, set at each peak in the garland. It had been wrapped around the entire frame of the restaurant several times. The high porch that was built on three sides of the restaurant had ghosts and goblins tacked along it and carved out jack-o-lanterns set on each post of the wood rail. The 'piece de resistance' was the extra effort several boat owners took to decorate their docked vessels to look like pirate ghost ships, with tattered black sails and skeleton crews. Grace could see that tonight promised to be memorable.

"Look, look," Charlie pointed to the many special decorations unable to contain her excitement.

"It's great!" Grace who couldn't remember when she last celebrated Halloween, was beginning to feel the magic vibes this holiday had to offer.

Reggie still struggling against his leash growled his disapproval.

"Okay, I guess Halloween isn't Reggie's cup of tea." Michael conceded as they headed back.

Charlie, skipping ahead said in a matter of fact way, "he just doesn't like the monster."

"The costumes and decorations probably are unsettling to him," Grace agreed.

Charlie came to a sudden stop. "Not the costumes Aunt Grace, the monster. Reggie doesn't want him to be near us."

Grace looked over at Michael as he reached down and took her hand. "Well, if I were that monster, I'd stay away from Reggie, if I knew what was good for me."

Charlie smiled and nodded as she began to skip towards home again. Grace and Michael walked in silence, never letting go of each other's hands.

~~~~~

He put the magazines he purchased at the porn shop, under his mattress. Enough foreplay he told himself. It's time to get ready for the real thing. He got his costume out of the closet and laid it on the bed. He had chosen The Phantom of the Opera. He smiled as he thought how perfect it was for his purpose. It consisted of a black cape with a black and white harlequin print on the inside. The mask was white and covered slightly more than half of his face. It twisted over his mouth just enough to give a grotesque appearance. He would wear a long sleeve black turtleneck, black pants, socks, and shoes. He truly would be a phantom.

~~~~~

Rosa waited until she got home with Alex and Jessie to give them their treats. She had gotten three mugs on her last trip to Vera Cruz. She had them filled with candy and trinkets for each girl.

"Happy Halloween!"

"Thank you!" both girls exclaimed at the same time.

"Don't eat too much candy or you'll be sick."

"We won't," Jessie promised.

"Where's Charlie and Aunt Grace? Alex asked.

Before Rosa could answer, the front door opened and Reggie came bounding into the kitchen.

Michael came in with a worried look on his face. "Mom, I thought I told you to keep the doors locked."

"Sorry Mijo, I just got back from picking the girls up at the bus stop."

Michael looked at her sternly and then turned to look at Grace and the girls, "I want the doors kept locked is that clear?"

"Si, el Comandante!" Rosa said as she saluted him. She turned to give Charlie her gift.

Grace tried to suppress a smile as she bent down to look at the colorful mug Rosa had for Charlie.

"Gracias," Charlie said throwing her arms around Rosa's neck.

"Well, I need to be going. Have a wonderful time tonight and you girls don't eat too much candy!"

"We won't," Jessie promised again.

"Thank you for the cup and treats," Alex added.

"It was my pleasure. Have fun tonight and be careful. I'll see you all tomorrow."

For a moment, everyone stood silent and still, then Reggie moved in, sticking his snout in Charlie's mug.

"No Reggie! This is mine!"

Grace straightened up and rushed towards the stove exclaiming, "I better get dinner started!"

"Come on Reggie, you've got food over here," Michael coaxed as he tapped his dish.

The girls settled in the family room to watch cartoons until it was time to eat.

~~~~~

He stood admiring himself in the mirror. His dark form, accentuated by the stark white mask with its twisted and distorted edge, wrapped his features in a question mark. 'This is perfect,' he thought as he puffed himself up with a renewed bravado that the costume gave him.

~~~~~

Reggie couldn't get settled. He paced back and forth stopping to lay down for no more than two minutes before he was up and moving again. Michael attributed his anxiety to the girls' uncontained excitement. "Okay boy," he soothed as he patted Reggie's head.

Once excused, the girls raced upstairs amongst squeals and laughter to get into their costumes. Even Alex was getting into the mood.

"Fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy ride!" Michael told Grace.

"I can see that!"

In less than ten minutes, the girls came bounding down the stairs in full regalia.

"We're ready!" Charlie yelled as she ran into the kitchen.

"You look great," Michael said as he wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to suppress just a little of her exuberance. Next Jessie, then Alex entered. Jessie looked as excited as Charlie, while Alex, even though attempting to smile, seemed subdued.

"Oh, look at you," Grace gushed as she grabbed her camera and started taking pictures. "You guys look wonderful!"

"Let's go," Charlie whined pulling on Michael's hand as she tried to lead him towards the front door.

"Okay you little monsters let's see what we can scare up!" he shrieked.