#longsusan

Captain Jackson eyed the paper wrapped package in front of him. He shook his head, emptied his glass and poured in another drink, right in the moment when Inspector Reid entered the pub.

Reid walked straight through the room directly towards Jackson. With a bright grin in his face, he sat down and said proudly “I got it.”

He put his parcel on the table, fiddled on the cord to open the knot and unfolded the brown paper. His face softened. “Isn’t it the cutest little helmet you’ve ever seen?”  

Reid turned the undersized policeman’s hat, gazed it with wet eyes and said sentimentally “one day, it will be no costume anymore. The son follows his father on the hard way of law and order.”

“Or he follows his mother on the colourful way of make-up and costumes” surmised Jackson bitterly.

Reid put the helmet down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”  

The Captain moved his package over the table to Reid and gestured him to open it. Then, he emptied his glass again. The Inspector followed the prompt. A moment later, he was confronted with a voluminous pink tulle petticoat.

“Connor’s costume” explained Jackson. He let his head bang on the table a few times.  When he has stopped, he looked desperately up to his friend. “I’ve made four girls in the last eight years and now it seems that my only son becomes number five and my house turns into a doll house.”

“Well, back to the roots, right?” laughed Reid, but Jackson didn’t find it amusing and grunted contemptuously.

Reid moved his chair closer to Jackson. He laid him his arm around the shoulder and said “don’t take it so hard. Maybe it’s just a phase. Look, my Walter James also insisted of some glitter on his uniform.“

“Yes, but he doesn’t want to be a pink fairy in a tutu.” Jackson pressed his face on Reid’s chest.

Reid patted his back. “What does Susan think?” he asked.

“She takes it practically” sobbed the Captain. “She says one of his younger sisters can wear the skirt when he’s grown out of it. “

Reid nodded. “What will you do now?”

“I'll go and buy him the matching pink shoes” said Jackson and got up. “I love my boy, whatever he wants to be.” He wiped his face dry, said goodbye to Reid and left the pub to go on with his further errands.

After Jackson has finished, he returned home.

***

A few days later, it was Halloween. Captain Jackson sat chained in colourful hair ribbons in the living room. Three of his daughters – all dressed as princesses – swarmed around him, decorated him – the monster dragon – with clasps,  false jewellery and more ribbons, because he – the monster dragon – had turned into a good one a few minutes ago. Susan took care about the youngest girl who couldn't walk yet but was indeed able to wear a tiara too and his son – the pink fairy – was outside with his friends to perform the usual ‘Trick or Treat’ procedure with the neighbours.

It was around 6 o’clock when the door suddenly opened and closed again with a loud bang. A pink flash rushed in and disappeared in the upper floor.

A second later, somebody knocked on the door.

Susan opened it. “Mr. Drake” she said. “What a lovely surprise. Please come in. How fare you and Francine? We didn't meet for a long time.”

“Thanks. We’re fine” responded Drake shortly and asked “Is Connor at home?”

Jackson freed himself off his prisoner’s situation - to the immense displeasure of his girls who immediately started to clamour – and went also to the door.  There, he yelled for his son who appeared a moment later at the stairs. He had undressed his fairy costume and looked now like an ordinary boy.

As Connor saw the former Inspector, he put on his most innocent face and said with a bright welcoming smile “Hello Uncle Ben!”

Now, it was not difficult to guess that there was something rotten.

Drake indicated the boy to come closer. Connor followed obediently.

As he stood in front of the adults, Jackson asked him “what have you done?”

Connor widened his eyes as much as possible to emphasize his puppy look from which he knew that it worked for his Uncle Ben and answered “Nothing.”

This time, Drake wasn’t satisfied with it. He said seriously “Don't lie!” He took the boy’s head, turned it that his neck became visible – and the many red spots too. As well as Drake, Susan and Jackson were familiar with this kind of skin marks but wanted to know anyway “what’s that?”

The lad smirked. “It’s not my fault when all girls want to play with the sweet pink fairy?”

“But it’s your fault if you rob their sweets while they are distracted with you” answered Drake. “Don't try to deny it, lil’ crook. I saw you in action.”

Susan shook her head. “I can’t believe that my boy is a lousy thief who fools girls to get more sweets” she said sadly. “Go upstairs, take your swag and make amends. Immediately!”

Connor rolled his eyes and groaned. But nothing was as bad as disappointing the own mother and so he turned around, ran up the stairs to fetch the scammed sweets. When he came back, Drake agreed to escort the robber on his way of excuse and both left the house.

***

Jackson, back in monster dragon position pampered by the princesses, breathed relieved.