everything will be ok this time, right?

 “no, it’s fine, there’s no need to pay for that. it’s just halloween. besides, i tracked down a denim jacket and a bandanna, so rosie the riveter should be easy enough.” 

    “it’s not problem. i’m glad you found something, though. rosie the riveter is good, though. have you decided what you’re doing for halloween yet?”

     “it’s not like i asked to live in a haunted house, ben. well, if the topic of moving ever comes up at the dinner table, i’ll make sure to tell my mom that ben greene suggested orange county.”

      “well, sorry, i was just trying to give my two cents. haunted houses are not ideal. how is your mom, by the way?”

     “okay, you can’t just tell me that all of a sudden, ben — now i’m never going to sleep tonight thanks to you.”

     “i wish i could say i’m sorry, but i’m not the one who died in your house, alaska. maybe you should just move, it seems like the safest option. i heard orange county is lovely.”

“Sure, Ben, whatever you say. I’d better see some Jedi style handstands at the party tomorrow then.”

“Just trying to get me to show them off even more, Gray? I’ll do it, though. I’ll attract hella attention, though, so caution. My attention might be taken away from you for five seconds, I hope you can handle a few minutes without your best pal.”

    “it still counts as a costume if you just grabbed a bunch of things from your closet, right? i really don’t have time for anything else.”

   “you can have one of my leftover costumes? i can get it altered for you so it can fit. i imagine it’ll be way too large for you right now.”

     “why is it that around halloween time i start to think my house is haunted? because i swear i heard a ghost downstairs last night.”

    “maybe because it is. i’ve been in your house, al. i’ve seen shadows. not just around halloween.”

     “in case you didn’t already know, halloween is definitely my favorite holiday.”

   “because all of your friends come back from the afterlife?”

“I think that only happens if you actually have upper arm strength, dude.”

“Fuck you, Gray, I have upper arm strength. You’ve seen me on a pull up bar, I can do wonders.”

“Okay, first off Spider-Man is the shit, so if you meant that as an insult you’re just plain wrong. And, uh, considering that Luke’s the only one of those costumes that doesn’t involve tights, I’m gonna say you’re probably making the right call going with that one.”

“Yes, I meant it as an insult, how old are you? What do you have against tights, Gray? They are surprisingly stretchy and comfortable, except for in the ball area, I will admit. But people are going to be admiring my arms in this Luke costume, I’m telling you.”

“Not as cool as Han Solo. But that’s okay, you aren’t cool either. What are the other two?”

“Is that what you’re going as, Gray? And I’m offended, I’m cooler than you, Mr. I-Sometimes-Wear-Spiderman-Boxers. They were Superman and  Robin Hood.”

Pulled a Jesus. I died and came back to life.

You sure did, Emmy. I missed you. We should catch up.

for you and your denial | brayson

maybe like a do over | brayson