A fictional story about fictional characters.
*****
"No, not that. Anything but that," Red Foreman implored his wife Kitty, " you know I hate...people."
"I've thought about this long and hard, Red," Kitty explained. "Last month I put up with your visiting mother for over a week, and you promised that you would owe me big time...anything I wanted, you said. Well this is what I want. I want to give a Halloween party...a costume party...and you will participate and pretend to enjoy it. Now don't give me that pained look; if you just let yourself, you can have a good time. You can drink beer and make snide comments about all our friends."
"Well, you do make it sound almost tolerable... who would you invite," Red wanted to know.
"The kids, of course, and Bob and Midge and any friends you want from PriceMart," his perky spouse declared.
"I don't have any friends at PriceMart," Red responded, "I'm their boss and they're all dumb-asses."
Kitty sidled up against Red, rubbing his back and looking up into his eyes pleading, "you promised Red...and I will take care of all the details; and I bet the kids will help."
"Yeah...don't hold your breath on that," Red scoffed, trying to sound disgusted, but already knowing that Kitty had won this round. "You better pick a good costume for me," he continued, "if it's stupid I'm not wearing it."
"Oh, I already know what I'm going to put together for you," Kitty beamed, knowing she had worn his resistance down, "and trust me, you will be the most envied one at the party."
The following day the whole gang had gathered in the Foreman's basement (as usual) after school and were discussing the news that Red was letting Kitty throw a Halloween costume party. Eric challenged them, " bet you will never guess who I'm going to be."
"Luke Skywalker," five voices answered in unison. It was certainly no secret that the tall, gawky teenager was obsessed with the Star Wars character.
Looking crestfallen that they had guessed his costume, Eric responded, "maybe...and Donna is coming as Princess Leia."
"I am," Donna asked, surprised that Eric would not even consult her opinion. Seeing the saddened look on Eric's face and once again realizing that she should support the boy that she loved, Donna added, "well, of course I am...who else would I dress up as."
"Well, it sounds lame, count me out," declared Stephen Hyde, the self proclaimed rebel of the group.
"Oh you'll come...and you'll enjoy yourself," ordered the suddenly bold Eric, "you wouldn't want to disappoint my mom would you?"
Since the Foreman's had been kind enough to let him live in the basement and Kitty had been like a mother to him, Hyde acquiesced and answered, "all right, I'll come, but I'm not having fun...and I want beer."
"Ha, ha, you caved like a big...cave," laughed Michael Kelso, the self proclaimed teenage lothario of the group, pointing at Hyde.
Hyde pretended to punch the perennial joker, and then did pound him hard in the left biceps, replying, "you flinched man."
"Well I can't wait to dress up," stated their foreign exchange student friend, Fez, "but my costume is a secret."
"What are you going as...Little Fez Riding Hood," joked Kelso, "yeah, my costume is a secret too."
"There is only one choice for me," interjected the debutante Jackie, "my lifelong dream...a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader."
"Are you sure you can fill out one of those costumes," chuckled Kelso, elbowing Hyde.
It was obvious to all that the petite Jackie, cute as a pixie, had been shortchanged in the breast department. "Oooo, nice burn Kelso," agreed Fez.
Hyde once again slugged Kelso in the arm, warning, "hey that's my girlfriend, so knock it off...it was a nice burn though."
Kelso and Jackie had dated, but she had tired of being taken for granted and insinuated herself as reluctant Hyde's "significant other" almost without his realizing it.
Just then Eric's slender blonde, older sister, Laurie, came bounding down the cellar stairs. Every male, including Eric, couldn't help but notice her bra-less chest bouncing beneath her t-shirt. Laurie had a well earned reputation of being the town slut; a label she thoroughly enjoyed. "So what are you delinquents talking about," she asked, "if it's Dad and Mom's party, I have already thought of the best costume, but you'll have to wait until the party to see it. Hi, Kelso."
She and Kelso had "hooked up" on a few occasions, which had contributed to his problems with Jackie. He suddenly became shy and embarrassed and looking down at his feet merely mumbled, "Hi, Laurie."
Knowing just which buttons to push, Laurie also greeted Hyde, "hey, Stephen...looking good," and she sauntered back up the stairs.
"I hate that bitch," Jackie announced for everyone to hear.
"Just ignore her...I do," advised Eric, "let's not let her spoil the party for us. If I know Red there will be plenty of beer."
"And maybe some of my special brownies," smiled Hyde, meaning his marijuana laced "Alice B. Toklas" concoction.
For the next two weeks, Kitty spent every moment away from her nurses job at Point Place Community Hospital working on the preparation for her Halloween party. She decorated the house with black and orange crepe paper streamers, cardboard skeletons, numerous candles and jack-o-lanterns; and it seemed like she helped all the kids with their costumes. Red had gotten in the spirit (somewhat) and had ordered an entire keg of beer, "to keep the good times flowing," as he put it.
On the night of the party (Kitty had actually scheduled it before Halloween night so they wouldn't have the distraction of trick-or-treaters), Kitty baked her favorite mini-pizzas and made a huge bowl of punch. She used Hawaiian Punch because it was "the color of blood," and had surreptitiously spiked it with vodka to lighten the mood of any "grumpy Gusses." Hyde had surprised her by commandeering the kitchen for a couple hours that afternoon to make his contribution to the party: a double batch of his "special recipe" brownies. Kitty had given him a jar of bright orange candy sprinkles for the top, and left him alone while she put the finishing touches on the decorations.
Since all the kids had turned eighteen the previous summer, Red had given them permission to have two beers each; but "if I catch you taking any more than that, I'll bury my foot up your ass."
"The place looks great Mom," Eric assured Kitty as he came down the stairs into the living room in the costume she had sewn for him. He really did look like Luke Skywalker, right down to the boots and the "authentic" lightsabre. "Wow, look at you," he exclaimed, "has Dad seen your costume; maybe you should cover up a little."
Kitty was dressed in a very tight one-piece bathing suit, bare legs and high heels, with a big fluffy cotton tail and rabbit ears on her head. It was obvious she was masquerading as a Playboy bunny. "Yeah, I've seen it," Red thundered as he came down the stairs with a pipe in his hand. He was attired in blue satin pajamas, corduroy slippers, and a red velvet robe; doing his best Hugh Hefner impression, "all my Pets dress that way when they're at the mansion."
Hyde came in from the kitchen saying, "I left the brownies on the counter with the other food...whoa...Mrs. Foreman, looking hot."