34
Truman would be leaving around Thanksgiving, so he, Nelle, and Big Boy spent the next afternoon after school concocting a party so magnificent, people would remember it for a hundred years.
The first idea Truman had was to make it, of course, a Halloween party. Since they had missed celebrating last year, the motion was immediately approved. The second idea he had was to have it on a Friday night.
“But no nine-year-old has a party at night,” said Big Boy.
“Exactly,” said Truman. “That’ll make it memorable by itself. Besides, who wants to have a Halloween party in the day?”
“Oh!” said Nelle. “If it’s a real Halloween party, then we’ll all get to wear costumes!”
Truman laughed. “Of course, silly. It’ll be a masquerade ball! Everyone will be required to dress up, even the adults! And we’ll have a big contest for best costume and I’ll be the judge.”
“What about us?” asked Big Boy.
“Well . . .” Truman scratched his head. “How will you win best prize if you’re a judge?”
Big Boy hadn’t thought of that. “Will there be candy?” he asked.
“Of course! The winner will get . . . chocolate! As much as he can eat!”
Big Boy was already drooling. “Oh, I wanna dress up, then. Can we do bobbing for apples too?”
“Yes! And bobbing for apples too!”
“What about,” Nelle said, “building a ride for your Tri-Motor airplane?”
Truman hemmed and hawed. His precious Ford Tri-Motor airplane was his most prized possession, especially after it had been wrecked and rebuilt. He was willing to let Big Boy and Nelle ride it, but everyone?
Truman sighed. “Well . . . okay, I guess I could ask Bud if he can build us a ramp . . .” he said, his imagination percolating. “Maybe the ramp could shoot down the back steps from the porch. And then the plane will build up so much speed, it’ll actually . . . start to fly!” Nelle and Big Boy cheered.
“This’ll be the best party ever!” said Nelle.
“Of course, we’ll need Jenny on our side,” he said. “I don’t think she’s ever had a party here, let alone the biggest party Monroeville has ever seen.”
“Well, the adults can have their own party, in the living room,” said Big Boy. “They can drink punch and listen to her Victrola record player.”
“That’s a swell idea, Big Boy.”
“Why, Jenny can invite the most important people in town . . . maybe even the mayor,” said Nelle.
Truman had stars in his eyes. He could see it all—a hundred kids and adults having the time of their lives. They would set up a carnival in the backyard, complete with circus acts and games of all kinds. “Queenie can dress up as a circus dog and I’ll get Black John White and Little Bit to perform!”
Black John had a white suit and hat that Bud had given him for a gift out of gratitude for all the years he’d worked for him. He wore it only inside his shack on his wedding anniversary. Nobody had ever seen him in it except Truman, who’d walked in on John and his wife by accident. Truman thought that with a little white makeup, Black John would look just like a fancy ghost.
Aside from being a voodoo priestess, Little Bit also on occasion sat on the porch and played an accordion her father had left her when he passed. She too could dress up like one of the spirits she was always going on about. (Later, when Little Bit had her doubts, Truman reminded her that on Halloween, all spirits like to dance. She came around to seeing it as a way to get on the ghosts’ good side.)
“I don’t think you should invite Black John and Little Bit, Truman,” said Big Boy. “Some people might have a problem being at a party with, you know . . . black people.”
“Oh, nonsense! We’ll dress ’em up so good, no one will even know it’s them! Besides, we have to invite Edison. He can do his choo-choo imitation and we can ride his train from game to game. He’ll be the frosting on the cake!” said Truman.
Nelle and Big Boy shrugged. It was Truman’s party and he could do whatever he wanted.