Really Maddy clapped too and bounced in her seat I’m going to be a zombie pioneer girl We can be Halloween almost-twins Maddy and Darcy laughed at the coincidence They were in fourth grade now None of the girls wanted to be regular princesses and fairies Scary or gross costumes were much more fun The ride ended too soon Maddy was explaining how she planned to do her white face paint when they arrived at Darcy’s house
Darcy jumped out Mom continued down the block and around the corner She pulled into the garage Maddy climbed out of the car thinking about what to use for fake blood She had some kinks to work out Good thing she had four weeks to figure it all I just remembered she said out loud What said Mom Her voice was muffled She was leaning into the trunk She’d gone grocery shopping while the girls were at the movie
The block party I’ll get to wear my costume at the block party too And that’s always right before Halloween Maddy’s neighborhood closed for an all-day block party every October It was so much fun There was a water balloon toss a barbecue and a pumpkin carving contest The kids got to ride their bikes in the street The local fire truck even visited They let the kids take pictures manning the steering wheel But the best part was the costume parade The kids kept their costumes
a secret until the party Then they showed up at 11 a.m. on the dot all dressed up People even brought their dogs Last year Lucy the poodle wore an orange tutu Mads said Mom But Maddy was pounding up the basement stairs She flung open the door to the kitchen and ran across the room She planted herself in front of the calendar It hung from its nail on the pantry door She looked at the space for the next Saturday in October
