Some Like it Hot by K J Larsen

Author:K J Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, Inc.
Published: 2013-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

The first boy I kissed was a vampire. His pasty face gave me a white mustache but I didn’t care. I was a warrior princess and I was wearing the shit out of Mama’s make-up.

It was Halloween night. For two whole hours our south-side gang owned the streets of Bridgeport. When our sacks got heavy, Billy and I hung back and shone a flashlight in our bags.

There was soooo much candy.

That’s when he kissed me. Billy couldn’t help himself. He loved candy.

The wax vampire fangs tickled my mouth. The quick, full-on smooch tasted like cinnamon.

Billy Bonham was delicious.

“You’re going to marry me someday, Cat DeLuca,” he said.

We were eight.

***

Billy told me the women who beat him in strip poker lived across the street from the ghost house.

He was talking about a Halloween night when vampires and ninjas ruled the streets. It was the first year Mama didn’t hover over us from the sidewalk. We took down Bridgeport block after block until our bags bulged, and we were tired and cold.

“My taffeta is scratchy,” Sophie said. “I want to go home.

My switched-at-birth sister was the only glittery-pink princess in our South Chicago gang that year.

I checked my bag. I had enough Jawbreakers and Jolly Ranchers to seriously bond with my dentist and his torture devices.

“I’m ready,” I said.

The others agreed. Billy was the last holdout. He screwed up his face and crossed his arms across his chest.

“I ain’t got no Hot Tamales,” he said.

“We all got red hots,” Rocco said.

Rocco beamed his flashlight on Billy’s face. His lips were red. He sniffed. Cinnamon.

Rocco frowned. “You ate the Hot Tamales. You’re supposed to wait until your Papa checks it.”

“I ain’t afraid of no razor blades.”

Rocco signaled the gang. “We’re going home.”

Billy’s gaze cut to the next house. It was dark and spooky. I was pretty sure Jason Vorhees was waiting for us inside the door.

Billy flapped his vampire cape. He howled. “One more score!”

I shuddered. “Not that house. It’s…creepy.”

“It’s Halloween, you big chickens!”

I called to my brother, “Rocco, wait! We’re supposed to stick together.”

I turned back and the blood-sucking vampire was gone. I tore after him.

“Stop, Billy. I don’t like it here.”

“Cluck cluck cluck!” He tromped up the dark steps and banged on the door.

I caught up on the porch and tugged at his sleeve. “Nobody’s home.”

“There’s a light on in back.”

“If they’re home, they’re outta candy. And I’m pretty sure they eat kids.”

I felt my stomach clench. There was the sound of bushes parting and a zombie emerged from the shadows. He did the creepy death that known zombies do—their outstretched arms devour small children.

We screamed. My legs turned to cement. Not Billy’s. He was all about saving the candy. Boots pounded the pavement and Billy jetted past the others. He didn’t stop until he was home.

Billy didn’t hear the old man laughing. Or his wife scold him from the porch.

The old woman wrapped two fat slices of pumpkin bread and added them to my bag. There were chocolate chips and yellow raisins.

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