31. Spooky

“Stand still,” my mother instructs as she carefully starts pinning the bodice of my dress.

From the edge of the doorframe, I can see my little sister Maggie peeking into the room. I can feel her holding back a million questions. Before long, she creeps into the room.
“What are you wearing?” She asks, looking at the swathes of material Mum has carefully hung over the back of the chair.
“A dress,” I tease. She frowns at me and then rolls her eyes.
“No, duh,” she retorts. “What are you supposed to be?”
“An elf,” I reply, trying to keep still. 
“Like the ones in Santa’s workshop?” Maggie presses.
“No, doofus, like the ones in Dungeons and Dragons,” I answer.
“Ally, please stand still,” Mum repeats.
“But she’s-”
“I thought you were going to a Halloween party,” Maggie goes on.
“I am,” I groan as I try to stay motionless.
“Then aren’t you supposed to go as something scary?” She looks the dress up and down disapprovingly, “An elf isn’t very spooky.”
“Mum, can you please kick her out?”
“Maggie, if you’re going to be in here you can’t keep bothering Ally. I need to concentrate, so either sit on the couch and be quiet, or leave the room,” Mum says without looking away from the bodice.
Maggie rolls her eyes again and clambers onto the couch. Her fierce eyes watch intently as Mum begins to carefully layer the skirt with the materials we picked together at the shop.
She pins things into place and asks what I think, after a few adjustments we agree on the final look of the dress. 
“Alright, I can get started on this if you make Maggie lunch,” Mum says, “otherwise it won’t be ready in time for your party,”
“Fine,” I say, carefully stepping out of the dress. “Come on doofus, what do you want for lunch?”
“Chips!” Maggie declares.
“No,” Mum calls as we leave the room.

Once I finally sell Maggie on a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich I get to work on the next part of my costume – hair and makeup. I’ve been planning this whole costume for months. Ever since Tabitha Green at school mentioned she was thinking about dressing up as a fairy queen all I’ve been able to think about is how cool it would be to dress up as an elf. 
I start with the hair. Maggie has been letting me practice my braids on her head and seems to have paid off because now I can do a bunch of different types without any bumps. I carefully create a series of braids and twist my hair into a half updo. When it’s all finished I curl the ends of my hair and bring a few pieces to the front. 
Next, I attach the elf ears. They took weeks to arrive because of some problem at customs, something about them coming from China I guess. Anyway. I manage to securely attach them and put a little blush on them so they match my face a little better. Then, I start adding my makeup. This is the worst part because I have no clue what I’m doing. But it seems to come together. As I’m adding the sparkles to my cheeks Maggie casually walks into my room.
“Woah!” she is staring at my reflection in the mirror.
“What?” I ask, carefully applying my mascara.
“You look like a fairy…wait, no, an elf, I guess, but wow!” she sits down next to me in front of the mirror.
“How’d you do that to your eyes?” she asks, inching a bit too close to my face.
“Eyeliner,” I reply. She presses her little finger to my cheek and takes some of the glitter off. I press my finger into the glitter pot and apply some to her cheeks and nose. 
“It looks like yours,” she giggles. I smile and fix the spot where she poked me.
There’s a gentle knock at the door, Mum’s arrived with the finished dress.
“Ally, you look great,” she smiles as she places the dress on my bed.
“Look Mum, I’m an elf too!” Maggie squeals with delight. Mum bends down and picks her up, chuckling.
“Come on you, let’s leave Ally to get dressed.”

She steps into the hallway and closes my door behind her. When I slip into the dress, everything comes together. I’m so excited that we’ve managed to pull this costume off. I run down the hallway to show Mum and Maggie.
“What do you think?” I say as I twirl around and show them the final outfit.
“You could be a princess!” Maggie dances around with me.
“You look beautiful my love,” Mum says. There’s something sad about her expression.
I want to ask her what’s wrong but before I can the doorbell rings. Maggie rushes off to answer it and Mum follows. I suddenly realise what time it is and race to my room to fish out my shoes.
“Ally! Tabitha is here, are you ready?” Mum calls. 
I race down the hall, tugging my shoes on and slipping my phone into my pocket. When I get to the door Tabitha smiles wide.
“Wow! You really do look like an elf,” she grins.
“Thanks! Love the flower crown,” I reply. 
”Alright, have fun,” Mum pulls me in for a hug, “I’ll pick you up at around 9.”
As we walk down the driveway to Tabitha’s Mum’s car I hear Maggie ask.
“When will I be allowed to go to Halloween parties?” Mum laughs and says, “Not until you’re a big girl like Ally, munchkin.”
Maggie groans and says, “That’s forever away!” 
“It really isn’t,” Mum says as she closes the front door.