November 1 a.k.a. the worst day of the year, was Nathan’s birthday. Nathan hated November 1. Having his birthday the day after Halloween was like trick or treating around a dental school, no fun. Each year Nathan would play it cool, pretending he too forgot about his birthday in the rush of Halloween excitement. He’d smile and laugh along with all his friends as they spoke animatedly about which costume to wear or which witch to dress as.
Nobody ever came to Nathan’s parties. Nobody wanted to go to a party the day after Halloween. They were too busy riding out the sugar high or brushing until their gums bled to spare him any time. The few times anyone did bother it accompanied shamefaced looks from the parents as they passed him unopened bags of candy and spare costume implements. Nathan had a collection of warty noses and plastic fangs somewhere buried in his room as a result.
This year, turning thirteen, Nathan knew nothing would be different. So it came as no shock to him when his mother pulled him aside quietly on the twentieth and asked him if he might want to celebrate Halloween and his birthday at the same time. Of course Nathan said yes. It would be ungrateful if he hadn’t considering how hard his parents worked to make sure his birthday was special when nobody else did. It didn’t, however, mean he had to like it.
Now a mere day away from thirteen and feeling extra pouty, Nathan sat in his cow costume on the front step waiting for his mom and dad. He crossed his arms, letting the long sleeves of his felt onesie flop aimlessly.
“You look so cute!” exclaimed a girl walking by in a pumpkin dress.
It was, in Nathan’s esteemed view, a crappy pumpkin outfit. Her orange dress was skintight, not at all plump like a real pumpkin, and sported a number of holes, far more than a real jack-o-lantern would have.
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Sniffing, Nathan frowned and looked pointedly away, letting his body language convey a clear message. He had no time for older girls! Some of the other boys in his class were already dating, and while Nathan certainly noticed girls he was too upset to talk to one tonight, no matter how much skin her dress put on display. He felt comfortable wallowing in his own despair. Even when his parents dragged him out tonight, Nathan internally resolved, he would stay unhappy and morose. That way-
“Oh come on!” Pouted the girl as she walked closer to him, “you’re the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in that costume. What’s got you in such a bad mood?”
Skipping over in a way that did very interesting things, the girl took a seat next to Nathan on the porch. Then she tousled his hair and asked, “Why so glum, cutie cow?”
Nathan wanted to ignore her. He really, earnestly did. But having a girl this pretty sit this close did weird things to his psyche. In a few seconds, he was babbling, explaining everything about his birthday and Halloween. She listened in silence, occasionally making a humming noise in acknowledgement. When he finished, she gave him a long look. Nathan began to fidget and sweat. He hadn’t meant to say anything, but then she made that encouraging noise and leaned in to hear him better and he just kept talking and couldn’t stop and now she-
“You are sooooo lucky,” she whistled.
Confused, Nathan replied, “Why?”
Smiling coyly, she answered, “Give it six or so years and you’ll find out.”
“That long?” Nathan asked disappointedly.
The pumpkin appraised him for a few seconds before leaning over and whispering, “Here’s a taste.”
Then she kissed him. At first, Nathan was too shocked to register what happened. Then his mind caught up to his body. A moment later, he lost himself again. The whole world was chocolate and candy suckers and melting sweets layered on her hot breathe running down his throat like ice water on a hot day. Too soon, it was over and with a wink, the pumpkin was gone before Nathan had the chance to reconnect his brain to his body. Nathan touched a hand to his lips in amazement, resolving never to doubt the wondrousness of his birthday again.
“Honey,” his mother called as she stepped out onto the porch, “you ready to go?”
“Yeah!” exclaimed Nathan, leaping up, ready to face the night.