Happy Halloween, all. Today's prompt is: trick or treat.
Had a pretty successful day with the boys. Max, now a veteran of four Halloweens and dressed as a rocket ship this year, went trick or treating with a couple friends on Main Street (Natalie was in school, sadly, so couldn't join him) and the three of them went into most of the stores on their own.
Miles, dressed as a spider for his first Halloween, took in all the sights and sounds and seemed to find it all pretty entertaining.
Here's a picture of the two of them in their costumes:
Now we just have to figure out how to survive the sugar-laden days ahead and... oh, right, we'll have arrived at Max's birthday. I'm sure there won't be any additional sugar involved there.
Edit: Well, this is becoming a habit. And I don't like it. I shall try to make this the last time, okay? Stupid sleep.
Mine:
Trick or treat,
Smell my feet,
Give me something
Good to eat!
Or else what?
Listen lady, shut
Up before I start
To go crazy nuts.
Oh the things I'd do
To your dog and you!
If I explained it all,
You'd wish you never knew...
So let's skip that heat,
Keep things upbeat,
And just give me something
Good to eat.
The kids look cute! I guess they got plenty of candy and approving comments on their costumes? And are you through the days of super-charged children on a sugar high, or is there still candy left?
ReplyDeleteI like the rhythm and attitude in your poem (I'm not sure I've ever praised attitude in a poem before!); the taut aggression there is really entertaining. I have a small suggestion for you: in the last two lines move "something" from the penultimate to the ultimate line; I think it scans better. Though when this is performed you'd never know it wasn't, so perhaps it's not that important :) You should totally perform it, by the way.
[Sorry, hit the word limit and have to post twice :( ]
Trick or treat
ReplyDeleteThe crunch of the gravel under the tyres of the car as it drew to a halt in the hotel's carpark seemed to wake both David and Ignatz. Ignatz looked around, not moving much, seemingly interested in knowing where he was, while David knuckled his eyes, yawned, and looked angry.
"I am sorry, Ernest," he said. "I have no idea how I fell asleep like that. I can assure you it won't happen again."
"I slept myself," said Ernest. He opened the car door and got out to avoid having to look at David while he spoke, knowing that Magicians were more attuned to the truth than many. "It is a most relaxing journey, I think. I'm relieved that the Lieutenant here didn't succumb to its soporific qualities too."
David stamped his feet on the gravel and went round to the car's boot to retrieve his case, while Father Ignatz merely stretched. He looked towards the hotel's main entrance: carriage lamps either side of it were burning brightly and the door was very slightly ajar. The windows yielded soft hazes of light from tables beyond, and occasional pale faces faded in and out of view as people moved around.
"There are cases of roads being built as sigils to inflict spell effects," said David. He sounded grumpy. "I shall find a map in the morning and check."
"Is it so important?" asked Ignatz.
"Yes."
"Sirs," said Samual, catching Ernest's eye. "If I might hurry you a little, please? I expect you'd like to see your rooms, and I have an invitation to dinner to extend to you. The Lord-Martial Lord General Sir Macanally would like you to join him in the Soprano dining room at eight."
The tension between David and Ignatz hung between them for a moment longer, and then Ignatz blinked, looked at Samual, and said, "So many titles!"
"Steve," said Ernest. He rubbed his hands together. "And I'm starting to notice the healthy chill on this evening air. Let's go in!"
Inside, the hotel was elegantly furnished in deep reds and expansive purples; rich mahogany beams crossed the ceiling and were supported by slender marble columns dressed with red and purple hangings and curtains. The carpet was deep enough that they all noted their feet sinking slightly into it. On the walls were pictures of famous singers, and the backgrounds suggested that they'd been taken in the hotel or the hotel grounds.
"It's so opulent," said Ignatz, a hand stroking the sheer silk of a column dressing. "The Order would be, I'm afraid, horrified."
"It's like the inside of a surgical patient," said David dismissively. "I'm sure if I look closely I'll find an appendix."
"Dr. Suture," said a strong voice behind him, making him stiffen and turn cautiously. "I remember your way with words from when you were a student!" The speaker was a woman who looked as though she might have been carved from marble just two minutes earlier: she had a classical face and figure and was as pale as a ghost. Her dress hung like a roman toga, clinging here and there as she moved giving her a sense of being hidden in plain sight, and her eyes glittered like diamonds under spotlights. She held out her fists, palms down, like a fairground barker, and without smiling asked, "Trick or treat?"
Greg - yes, to both :)
ReplyDeleteMax didn't actually get too bad with the candy. He actually forgot about it a lot sooner than I would have expected. Anyway, we traded for most of it.
I think you're completely right about making that move to the final line. Thank you!
Hah, I love how grumpy David is about falling asleep. I may be able to relate to that feeling :P
And I am so pleased that you've continued on! And with another intriguing, cliffhanger of an ending... I shall expect more!