Okay, babies I called, are you ready?
In a minute! Annabelle called from the bathroom.
October 30 had been a flurry of activity as she, Thatch, and Stella had tried on costumes, changed their minds, despaired, and now it was time for me to take them out to trick or treat around the building. I had warned them this could be slim pickings. There are no children in the building so we never ever get trick or treaters, and I could think of, at most, five apartments with tenants who either loved my three or had cats of their own.
Days before, Annabelle, to solve the problem, had posted a sign with a list of possible treats at the mailboxes informing one and all that there were cats in this building who looked forward to Beggar’s Night. As a consequence, several of the more unpleasant neighbors, like the Wife Beater on the fourth floor, had asked me if I was too poor to buy cat food.
No, I said. Why?
Well, then, why are you asking us to feed your fleabags?
That was when I discovered Annabelle’s post and removed it. I’ve got to stop letting them roam the halls without me, I thought.
I told Val about the confrontation, and he laughed. Why are you letting him get under your skin? The man’s an asshole. His wife left him for beating her up. He’s a fool.
I felt sheepish. I know, I said, it’s . . . it’s just so irritating. I’m so glad the Man with the Bike didn’t cause trouble about this.
Don’t worry about him. Val said. The management knows he’s a fool. So, what time should Heidi and I expect our little beggars? They better have big trick or treat bags.
I’m carrying the bags. Someone has to keep them in line. I thought we’d start around 5:00 on the fifth floor.
Okay. We’ll see you tomorrow.
Val pressed the elevator button to the basement while I checked my mailbox. I watched him enter it as he pushed a large bucket on wheels and a mop. Hey, Val! Wait! I’ll ride down with you, I yelled as I turned the walker away from the mailboxes.
And now it was 4:45, and I waited for three cays giggling behind the bathroom door. After a burst of laughter and general sounds of excitement, the door opened a crack.
Annabelle? Are you three ready?
Close your eyes! she called. We’re coming out
I am, I said. I could hear the bathroom door open and giggles from Thatch as Annabelle shushed him.
Okay, Daddy! You can open your eyes.
Annabelle was dressed as a witch, with a black-and-purple-sequined cape and a pointed hat that was tied under her chin. Thatch wore a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck, and Stella wore a black bow tie and top hat. They all wore black masks.
OMG, babies! Look at you three! I exclaimed.
I’m Elphaba, Annabelle stated.
I am Doctor Thatch!
And Stella, said Annabelle, is Fred Astaire.
Very clever, babies, I told them.
Daddy, would you retie my hat and cape? Annabelle asked me. Thatch did a lousy job.
Hey! It isn’t my fault I have paws instead of fingers.
I got down on my knees and retied her hat and cape. I rose to my feet, took the three orange and black trick or treat bags hanging on the doorknob, and opened the doors.
Okay, babies! I imitated a drum roll. It’s show time! We’ll start on the fifth floor.
Three cats bolted into the hall and stopped at the elevator. I hobbled after them.
Ann and Jen, after gushing over their clever costumes, gave them each a small plastic bag of dry seafood Meow Mix. Thank God I remembered to put their names on each bag, I thought, or I’d never be certain that each bag got a treat. I noticed Annabelle mentally clicking off each bag as a treat went into it.
I’m keeping an eye on things, Annabelle explained, so Stella doesn’t eat all our treats this year.
The remainder of the fifth floor offered up nothing, although Maryann came out to see their costumes and apologize for having nothing to give them.
On the fourth floor, the Wife Beater and other neighbors did not come to the door, but Randall gave them small bags of Temptations treats.
I saw your notice on the mailboxes, he explained, and I couldn’t let them trick or treat for nothing.
My notice? Oy! I thought. I’ll say nothing about it. I gave him a sick smile and thanked him.
Jaymie and Roberta were away, and Auntie Judy was the only one on the third floor to put a handful of kibble into each bag. What amazing costumes! she told us. I don’t know how you think of such things. You should be in the Halloween Parade!
I saw Annabelle perk up at the idea of strutting in a parade as my life flashed before my eyes. Kill me now, God, I whispered.
Parade? Annabelle asked as we moved to the elevator. There’s a parade?
A Halloween Parade in the Village, I told her, and we’re not going to it. Never.
Why? Thatch asked.
We’ll have to do it next year, I told them as I hoped they would forget about it in the next three hundred sixty-five days. We missed it this year.
I deliberately steered clear of The Man with the Bike, and we moved on to the second floor where Katie and her cat Lola, who wore a face mask matching Katie’s, waited for us.
Boo! she said as she opened the door.
When we walked down the hall, Annabelle asked, Why don’t we ever have a play date with Lola?
I hadn’t thought about it. Maybe Katie and I can set up something.
My three devils got another treat at the Marine’s home. He’s a good man who once came to Stella’s rescue when she got lost in the hall, ended up on the second floor, and screamed her lungs out. By the time I reached her, the Marine was holding her at the elevator and waiting for me.
We’re doing well, Annabelle said as we got on the elevator for the first floor.
Are we? Thatch asked me.
Better than I would have guessed, I said. These bags are getting heavy.
Your sign worked, Annabelle, Thatch told her.
I told you it would, Annabelle told him.
We’ll discuss that sign nonsense later, I told them. C’mon, let’s visit Heidi and Val.
Heidi and Val were ready for us. There was cider and donuts for the adults and assorted kitty treats for the babies. I had given Val a list of their favorites several weeks before, and he and Heidi had gone all out to make the masqueraders happy. Once the treats were gobbled down, three giddy kitties began to become rambunctious. After a round of tag that ended with Annabelle on top of their television and Val successfully catching the items that she knocked off in her leap, I yelled. That’s it! Get ready to leave.
Grateful that they had broken northing, I thanked our host and hostess for their wonderful hospitality, and I made the cats apologize for getting rowdy. Okay, kids, let’s get outa here before you cause real damage.
Ir’s all Thatch’s fault, Annabelle said as we walked down the hall to the elevator.
No, it isn’t, Thatch protested. Stella began it.
Well, I don’t care who’s to blame, I said. You don’t behave like hooligans when you’re visiting friends. I’m still surprised Val and Heidi are nice to you three after what you did to their tree last Christmas.
I pressed the “up” button, the elevator doors opened, and the four of us walked into the lift. As we rode up to the third floor, I said to them, I don’t know how my mother raised my brothers and me without becoming a drunk.
I unlocked the door to the apartment, and the three cats ran ahead of me into the apartment crying for their trick or treat bags. I gave a bag to each of them, and Stella crawled into hers. As she looked out at us, I opened the cabinet above the sink for a clean glass. I put on my Donald Trump mask.
I’ll be back soon, I said as I opened the door.
Where are you going? Annabelle asked.
I waved the glass. Trick or gin, babies! Trick or gin!
©2021, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 