"There's no way that makes the party special."
Neil looked up from his crouched position to smile at Charlene. He stood up holding the statue in his hands.
"I don't know, it looks cool."
"It looks lame and fake. We need a centerpiece for the Halloween party and that's the best you can come up with?"
Neil stood up. He towered over his girlfriend. Genetics and years of playing basketball gave the white Neil a large presence. His girlfriend, Charlene, two years younger, preferred science and academics. She crossed her arms and smiled at him with a knowing smile. Her goth look felt more at home these autumn days on Halloween, but Neil loved the fact she would look the same at Christmas.
"What?"
"You think it's cool."
"Well, I mean, I don't know, it just has a--" Neil looked at the statue. He couldn't quite say why the statue in this dusty department store caught his eye. Looking at it, it looked authentic. Nothing about it looked particularly interesting, however.
Neil shrugged. "Look, I don't know. It just caught my eyes. Put some of those LED lights behind it and it will look spooky."
Charlene took it off his hands. "My. It's heavy. Definitely not plastic. What the heck is this doing here?"
Neil shook his head. "Who knows. Let's get it back to the house, so we can start getting ready. Your Mom is leaving for the night, right?"
"Yes, and she doesn't care that we are having a party," Charlene said. She took a step closer and caressed the side of Neil's arm. "Or what we get up to after."
Neil smiled, thinking of those things to get up to with her later.
Charlene shivered.
"What's wrong?"
Charlene looked at the statue. "I don't know. I felt like a...shock, or something from this statue."
Neil grinned. "See? It is creepy. Perfect for our party."
***
Neil took a step back and admired the head table. The lights, fake spider webs. The beer and other drinks. Snacks. And that statue, illuminated by creepy LED lights. Loud thumping music kept Neil nodding along to the beat.
"Hey, awesome party!"
Neil turned to see a man dressed in a gangster suit with a fake tommy gun. Neil clasped the man on the shoulder.
"Hey, Larry. Glad you could make it."
"Man, with all these beautiful women here, how could I not?"
"So, you're over Mary."
"I didn't say that. The beer may be saying that," Larry said with a cackle.
"Well, enjoy but please don't--"
"Nothing like what happened at the ski trip will happen here. I promise. I wouldn't want you looking bad to Charlene's Mom."
Neil nodded. His eyes caught Charlene, dressed as a sexy ghost, making her way down the stairs. Neil smiled at Larry, patted him on the shoulder, and walked toward her. He dodged the throng of people dancing and yelling at each other over the music.
"What's wrong?" Neil asked.
"My mother still isn't ready," Charlene said with an eyeroll. "I swear she's doing that thing again where she wants attention."
"She likes them young, does she?" Neil said with a grin.
"Ug, don't. I once caught her in bed with a classmate," Charlene said with an eyeroll.
"Well, the party is going well. Your Mom isn't going to ruin that. Hell, even Paula and her rich cheerleader friends are here."
"They're here because Paula still wants you," Charlene said, folding her arms and pouting.
"Hey, she can look like a sexed-up cheerleader all she wants, all I want is you," Neil said, wrapping his arms around Charlene.
Charlene giggled. "Even the statue looks good."
"I know! I think I did a--"
Everyone stopped talking as a new figure appeared at the top of the stairs. She wore a long blue dress that barely covered her nipples from below, and left her shoulders and chest bare. She looked like Charlene, but older. And she left the entire room stunned.
"Moommm," Charlene muttered under her breath.
"Ow, son of a bitch!" Larry called out.
Neil looked over. Larry, not concentrating, tried to open a can of beer and cut his thumb on the sharp metal edge. A few drops of blood fell on the statue as he tried to reach for some napkins.
Neil felt his blood tingle with excitement. He looked at Charlene and saw the same effect in her eyes.
"The fuck?" Neil said.
Charlene gulped. "I, uh--"
"Sorry, everyone," Charlene's Mother said in a sultry tone, making eye contact with all the men, "I was late for my own party. Don't let me stop you from enjoying yourselves."