Scaring People

"Halloween is coming," Brian told Justin while they settled themselves in front of their fake fireplace as they so often did in the evenings.

"I can't believe you just said that," Justin sounded astonished as he replied. "You usually just sit around and do nothing about holidays until I push you into getting ready for them, and we're almost ready for Halloween, so what's coming next. Why are you bringing up the subject of Halloween? You're scaring me, Bri. It's too late to change the plans. Brian, please don't want to change the plans."

"Well isn't Halloween all about scaring people? Isn't that what we're supposed to do? But no, I don't want to change the plans," Brian replied, "Why would I want to change the plans? We're still going to Gus' on Halloween night and then to the party at Woody's later, just like we said we would. And it's a lot better than last year too. I don't have to go as SpongeBob SquarePants. I got to pick my own costume this year."

"Well that's because you learn from experience and don't repeat your mistakes, so you didn't let Gus pick your costume this year like you did last year," Justin laughed, "And you are smart too, Bri. Telling him you wanted to surprise him was a stroke of genius so he wasn't disappointed at all about not deciding for you like he did last Halloween. But why you decided to go as a prison inmate still escapes me."

"Preparing for my future life, I guess," Brian conjectured. "Actually I just liked the costume. Baby, there is absolutely no symbolism in the fact that I'll be toting around a ball and chain."

"Well there better not be," Justin chortled, "But what if people think there is? Maybe I should feel insulted? But I don't at all, Bri. I think you look real nice as a convict and I know you don't ever think of me as a ball and chain."

"Never, Baby," Brian assured him with an enigmatic smile, "Nobody's going to make that connection. And I can't imagine anybody I'd rather be doing Halloween with than Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter was not really my idea, Brian," Justin reminded him, "You know Gus said he hoped he'd see Harry Potter on Halloween, and I thought I'd make sure he did, just like you did with SpongeBob SquarePants last year. So I'm just kind of filling in for you. I'm just trying to help out."

"I don't recall you volunteering to be SpongeBob SquarePants last year to help out," Brian said.

"That was entirely different, Honey," Justin told him. "You told Gus you would dress as the character he picked so I couldn't fill in for you. Nobody could take your place with Gus."

"OK so you're dressing as Harry Potter to please Gus," Brian admitted, "But why do I have the feeling that you really kind of think of yourself as able to do magic when you want to? Never mind, Baby, maybe I think you can do magic when you want to, too. Sometimes I think Harry Potter doesn't have anything on Justin Taylor."

"Didn't I already say you learn from experience?" Justin laughed. "There's just another example."

Brian threw both arms around the kid and kissed him. "Are you trying some of that magic now?" Brian exclaimed, "I have this irresistible urge to just hold you and kiss you and I don't know what. Is this some Justin Taylor magic you're pulling?"

"Brian, Honey," Justin answered him while kissing him back, "You know we magicians can't reveal our secrets. It's just not ethical."

"Now you're scaring me, Baby," Brian exclaimed. "You're really scaring me."

"Didn't you say that's what Halloween is all about?" Justin asked.

The discussion came to a fairly long but temporary halt at this point, but an hour or so later it resumed because it wasn't over. "Are you going to tell me why you brought up the subject of Halloween earlier, Sweetheart?" Justin urged Brian.

"Why don't you just read my mind?" Brian challenged him.

"Because I like to save my magic for more important things," Justin cajoled, "Don't you think I should save my magic for more important things?"

"Yes I do," Brian agreed completely, "I really think you should save your magic for more important things. Not that it shouldn't be used regularly though."

"I promise to use it regularly when necessary," Justin decided, "But it isn't all that necessary most of the time, so how about telling me what's up?"

"Well, It's just that Mikey and I were talking about scary movies we used to like to watch at Halloween, like you said you and Daphne used to always watch Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Brian told him, "And before we were finished it turned out that Mikey and Ben, and Hunter and Malcolm are coming over here two nights before Halloween and we're going to watch scary movies, if it's all right with you. You're supposed to toast some marshmallows and we're going to have a scary time for just the six of us. I know the heat isn't on in the fake fireplace yet but you know how to turn it on so how about it?"

"Scary movies are hard to rent around Halloween, Bri," Justin warned him, "What if we can't get the ones you want?'

"Don't worry, Sunshine, me and Mikey thought about what we wanted and we arranged to borrow them from my friend Freddy who has that big collection of movies on tape." Brian assured Justin, "That's not a problem. B. K. thinks of everything when he plans something."

"Is B.K. going to get the marshmallows too?" Justin wondered, "Or will that be left up to poor J.T.?"

"There's something the matter, Baby," Brian decided, "You're not happy about this deal, and I thought you'd be enthusiastic. It can be cancelled, you know. We're not going to do anything you don't want to do."

"No, I don't want it cancelled," Justin responded, "But you know those old scary movies that you like really do scare me. It's OK when it's just us two but I'm afraid I'll look silly in front of the other guys."

"Baby," Brian assured him, "I guess I didn't tell you all the plans. The way I figure it, you're going to be sitting on my lap the whole evening and I'm gonna have both my arms wrapped around you. Any monster will have to get me before it gets you."

"The idea sounds a lot better to me when I know all the details, Sweetheart," Justin allowed, "B.K. does think of everything. By the way, what movies did you pick?"

"We decided on Bride of Frankenstein and The Mummy. They're both real old black and white movies from the 1930s," Brian answered, "And they are really scary. Those old black and white pictures were the scariest ever. OK with you?"

"Whatever you pick, Bri," Justin said, "I'll be fine. I'm quite satisfied with your plans. It's your party. I just have to figure out how to toast the marshmallows while I'm sitting on your lap with both your arms around me."

"Well maybe I can let you loose just for a little while so that you can perform that chore," Brian suggested.

"Like hell you can," Justin objected, "That would be just the moment when the bride of Frankenstein or the mummy would show up. You said you'd be protecting me and you're going to be protecting me."

"OK, we'll work it out your way," Brian conceded, "But what are we going to do if one of the others gets scared?"

"Don't know," Justin told him, "But they are not going to sit on your lap with both of your arms around them. They'll just have to find somebody else's arms and somebody else's lap."

"I think it will all work out just fine," Brian predicted, "Now you're sure you're OK with the whole thing?"

"You know, Bri, there is just one other little thing," Justin admitted, "I might still be scared after the movies are over and the other guys are gone. What about that?"

"That's easy, Kiddo" Brian answered, "You'll just have to stay on my lap with my arms around you till you're not scared."

"Might take a long time," Justin warned, looking at the odd smile on Brian's face. "What are you thinking, Brian?" he asked.

"I'm just wondering whether you're being Harry Potter again," Brian told him, "Or just the old ball and chain."

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