Chapter Seven

Treat

Dear Diario,

I learned a lot this week. First of all, some people don’t really want a trick when they say trick or treat. They just want a treat. I thought hiding behind a tree to scare Josh and Bella would be funny. It wasn’t. I learned that if people say they don’t like to be scared, I should believe them. But I’m not going to feel bad anymore. I’m not perfect, but I’m not mean, either. I’m just going to try harder to be a good friend. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s trying hard at whatever I do.

Shalom,

Lola Levine

On Sunday morning, I make an announcement. “I don’t want to be a zombie for Halloween,” I tell my family.

We are in the backyard. I am throwing a ball to Bean, Ben is juggling a soccer ball, and Mom is watering plants. Dad is raking the leaves.

“Why not?” Dad asks.

“I hope it isn’t because of what happened with Josh and Bella,” Mom says. “Because you still get to be you, Lola. And I know you like to be scary.”

“I know,” I tell Mom. “I’m just going to try something different this year.”

“It sounds like you know what you want to do,” says Dad.

“What’s your new costume, Lola?” asks Ben.

“Well,” I say, “I thought it would be fun if I went dressed as Bean and he went dressed as me!”

“That’s an awesome idea, Lola!” Dad says. “We still have some fur from last year when you were a werewolf.”

“And we can make a costume for Bean out of one of my old soccer shirts,” I say.

“Good plan,” Mom says.

“Hey, everybody,” Ben says. “What’s the best game to play on Halloween?”

“I don’t know, Ben,” I say. “Tell me.”

“Hide-and-ghost-seek!” he says, laughing.

I smile and shake my head.

On Sunday afternoon, we start working on our costumes. Mine is pretty easy. I’ve got furry ears, and I’m wearing all black. Dad paints my face with a doggy nose and whiskers, and I even have a furry tail. Dad and I cut up an old Orange Smoothies soccer shirt and make a costume for Bean.

“He’s black and orange,” I say. “Perfect for Halloween!” It takes the whole family to finish Ben’s Halloween costume, which involves about a thousand cotton balls. They keep falling off.