13 Bites Volume I (13 Bites Anthology Series)

by Lynne Cantwell

  “I’ll take it.” She smiled and hugged the billowing skirt of the costume, spinning around in a circle. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!”

  “Finally.” Her father sighed and gave his daughter an affectionate squeeze on her shoulder. “I’m glad you found something you like.” As he paid for his daughter’s rental, I could see a flicker of guilt and sorrow cross the man’s features. I had the feeling they both needed something magical this Halloween.

  I was getting ready to close up the shop for the night when I heard the bell again. This time a burly young man stepped in. His cold icy-blue eyes darted around the shop, and he ran his fingers through the hair mussed against his forehead. He gave the appearance of a hoodlum with the clothes that he wore. But I knew that sometimes people wear street clothes as costumes, too.

  I was wary, but ready to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “Got any good costumes in here?” he asked rather rudely as he picked at a jester’s costume with a look of disdain. I studied his energy, and the more I looked, the more I wished I hadn’t. His clothing was definitely not a costume. His whole demeanor said violence — including the mottled reds mingled with dingy oranges of his aura. Here was someone who was strongly physical and creative in his violence.

  “I’m sure I can find you something,” I said quietly as I stepped around to the front of the counter. I knew the longer he was in the shop the more potential risk I would have. I wasn’t going to do anything to upset him.

  “Maybe a superhero,” he laughed as he looked at the wall of costumes. When I turned to look where he was pointing, I saw him snatch a few vampire teeth and tuck them in his pocket. I knew my suspicions were correct. I didn’t care about the theft. I just wanted him out of the shop.

  “No, I don’t think so,” I said as I led him toward the animal costumes. As we passed by a display of Goth-style jewelry, I noticed he helped himself to a few necklaces. I cringed, but again didn’t say a word.

  “This is the perfect costume for you,” I told him, pointing to a huge hairy gorilla costume. It would bring out his animal nature. If he truly wanted to live using only base instincts, then the costume would suit him just fine.

  “Huh.” He looked at the costume for a long moment. There was a slight chance I’d offended him, but it was a chance I was willing to take. He stood there, weighing something in his mind as he stared at the costume.

  “You know what? I think it’ll be perfect,” he smiled.

  I was a little surprised when he actually paid for the rental. Even though the cash didn’t come close to covering the thefts he’d managed in the short time he was in the shop, I let that go. The last thing I wanted was to face his anger.

  As I watched the door close behind him, I couldn’t help but shudder in both relief and dread. I deal in costumes, not judgment. While I can and do offer suggestions, in the end it’s up to the buyer to choose whatever they think suits them best.

  Chapter 4 - Princess Mari

  “Mari, are you sure about this?” Sid asked me for the thousandth time. He shifted uncomfortably in his Robin Hood costume, worry in his eyes.

  “You look fantastic,” I told him and gave him a quick peck on the lips to show my approval. “And tonight I’ll be your Maid Mari.” I tried not to giggle.

  It was amazing - I felt just like a princess in the gown that I had chosen. I had always wanted to wear one but felt it was way out of my league, even for a fantasy. Now here I was, stately, regal and ready for my prince.

  With Robin Hood on my arm, I felt protected and safe. And besides, Sid looked so cute!

  When we walked into the party, I could feel him suddenly tense up. Most of the other guys were dressed as gangstas, hoodlums, gorillas or monsters, with some Star Wars robots thrown in.

  “You look great, honey,” I assured him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He sighed and headed for the bar to get us a couple of drinks.

  When he came back he was smiling at me, his eyes softening that way they do when we kiss. It made my heart pound in my lacey bodice. Maybe Maid Mari could steal a couple of kisses on the patio!

  I had met Sid almost by accident — literally. We didn’t run in the same circles, and I doubt we would have ever met if it hadn’t been for that one time. But the moment I saw him stepping off the bus and then helping up the poor old woman who had fallen on the ice, her packages spewing everywhere, I knew we were destined to be together.

  He seemed to feel the same way — at least he was always eager to be with me. And lately he seemed to find it hard to tear his eyes off of me. It made me a little uncomfortable sometimes, almost like he might eat me up if I wasn’t careful, but it also made me feel sexy and desirable — and what girl doesn’t want that?

  We’d been dating for a few months now, and things had begun to be pretty serious lately. He was special to me and I thought maybe it could lead to something a little more permanent. But more than anything, I wanted him to see what I saw in him, that he was a good man who had been dealt a bad hand.

  He had never had it easy. He had raised himself on the streets after his physically abusive father kicked him out at 15. But now he had me, and I intended to love him, and love him some more until he got the point.

  “I’m glad we came,” he said gently as he handed me the drink.

  “Why is that?” I asked.

  “Because I can’t get over the fact that I’m with the prettiest girl in the room,” he beamed. I could tell that his words were meant to make me feel good — not just to boast about his good fortune. I wasn’t just a badge or trophy to him, like the way some of the guys treated their girlfriends.

  It always amazed me that he seemed to hold a special place in his heart for me, even after everything he’d been through.

  “Thank you.” I’m sure my cheeks flushed — they certainly felt warm enough — then I slipped my arm around his waist. “At least I know that I am safe, since I have Robin Hood to protect me!”

  “That’s right,” he grinned, as we joined the others at the party. “You belong to me, princess, and I will always keep you safe,” he joked. I knew he was just teasing, but I loved it. It meant he was having fun; he was letting go and just enjoying himself, and that meant the world to me.

  “I knew she’d find the thief with a heart of gold,” my friend Becky laughed as she walked over to where we were sitting.

  “I’m not a thief,” he said defensively. “Well,” he cleared his throat and curled his lips into a devilish smirk. “I’ve never been caught, so you’d never be able to prove that.”

  “Oh, you’ve been caught, all right,” our friend Louis laughed. “Caught by a princess.”

  “That’s right,” I grinned, pulling his face to mine and giving him a deep, sensual kiss. “And you belong to me, my Robin Hood.”

  Chapter 5 - Gorilla Man

  Darkness was falling and I was getting restless.

  When I pulled the mask down over my head, I suddenly felt invincible. Energy pulsed down through my limbs, filling my muscles with strength and animal vitality. I wanted to roar and beat my chest.

  All my life I’d been battling urges inside of me that begged to be released.

  Oh, I’d let it out sometimes. Getting in fights at school, bullying the wimps whenever I could, harassing and teasing the women I met, and even stealing stuff when I felt that urge. So far I’d been careful — making sure no one could pin anything on me. I’d been able to not let things get too out of control, but I knew it was really only a matter of time.

  I finished putting on the rest of the costume and glanced over at the mirror. Damn! I looked just as powerful as I felt!

  Now that I was transformed into a big hairy gorilla, I felt free, in a way I’d never been before. I could truly be who I was in my secret heart of hearts. Like this, no one would recognize me, and regardless, no one would be able to stop me.

  Invigorated by my newfound freedom, I ran out into the streets of the neighborhood, just like all the other
costumed people on Halloween night. But, unlike them, I was hunting.

  My pulse raced and my excitement grew. Tonight I could let the anger out. Tonight I would be myself. I would do what I wanted, where I wanted, when I wanted. There was nothing and no one to stop me.

  Halloween was a great night for someone like me. People were out partying, inhibitions lowered and expecting to have a good time. No one would think anything of a hairy gorilla running up to them. Well, at least not at first. I grinned under the mask.

  I scared several small groups of kids — some of them even cried. I took bags of candy and ran off with them. Some tried to catch me, but I had longer legs and superior strength. It just made me even bolder and I laughed as I ran away.

  As the night drew on I became even bolder, smashing windows with rocks and taunting people passing by. My newfound freedom was like an intoxicant, heady and empowering.

  The costumed party-goers were thinning out. I ran up to single women, arms raised and howling loudly. I collected several purses this way, then ducked into a back alley to rummage through them. As I tossed aside tubes of lipstick and packs of tissues, looking for cash or jewelry, I heard someone cough behind me.

  “Is that really all you’re good for? Snatching purses?” the weathered old man asked. He was sitting on a square of cardboard with his back pressed up against the brick wall.

  “Stay out of it, old man,” I barked in his direction.

  “It’s Halloween, for Christ’s sake; that’s not an excuse for being a thug. Why don’t you have some respect and try being a good person for a change?” the old man growled.

  His words made the rage in me rise right to the surface. I tossed the purses down and surged towards him.

  “I warned you,” I said sharply before landing a swift kick in the man’s side. He fell over, holding his side and moaning.

  “Asshole,” he wheezed. That only made me angrier, feeding the fire and rage inside me. I kicked him again, looking around for something I could use to smash his head in and stop his whimpering.

  I heard a gasp from the end of the alley, but I was too fired up to pay much attention. My emotions were racing with the almost delicious thought of smashing the old man’s head like an overripe melon. I was shaking in my excitement.

  Chapter 6 - Robin Hood, Reluctant Hero

  The party was finally winding down. I was glad Mari had insisted on coming. She was so gorgeous tonight that I could hardly keep my hands to myself. The night chill hit us as we walked out the door. I took advantage of it as the perfect excuse to put my arm around her — after all, I had promised to protect her. And I could hardly be blamed for pulling her close so I could keep her warm.

  We were kissing playfully as we walked, so caught up in our own world that it seemed impossible to notice anything else. Over Mari’s laughter, I heard a cry coming from the alley we were walking past. When I peered down it, I saw an elderly man, his body crumpled on the ground. A huge gorilla was hovering over him, delivering kick after kick into the old man’s side.

  “He’s going to kill that poor man!” Mari cried out and tugged at my hand. “We have to do something!”

  “Just leave it alone,” I warned, and tried to steer her away from the alley. I didn’t want her to see the violence, and I didn’t want to interfere in anything that might get her hurt. “It could be a drug debt or something; it’s none of our business.”

  “What do you mean?” she cried out with frustration and pulled me back towards the alley. “We saw it. Of course it’s our business. How are you going to feel when you read about the dead man in the alley in the newspaper tomorrow?”

  She was right, of course. But I still didn’t want to get involved. I peered down the alley in time to see the gorilla land a punch directly to the old man’s jaw, just as he was trying to get to his feet. He followed it with another kick to the man’s side.

  That was enough. I couldn’t just stand by and let the gorilla have his way.

  “Call the police,” I said, handing her my phone as I turned towards the men. She started pressing buttons as I headed down the alley. It was somewhat unworldly to see a gorilla in the alley, and I had to remind myself that it was Halloween and this was just a guy in a costume. Some part of my brain wondered if I was making a mistake by confronting the gorilla. But Mari was right — and if we didn’t stop this guy, we could be next.

  I dove at the gorilla, trying to knock him down in a tackle. But this guy was huge. All he did was grunt and push me away. I scrambled to my feet and took a swing. I had learned to protect myself on the streets and I knew where his vulnerable spots would be.

  I managed to connect and he stumbled back a few steps. I saw Mari standing close to the elderly man, who was groaning in pain. I wanted her to stay back out of the way, but she was intent on getting him to safety. Unfortunately, he was too injured to move, and they were too close to the scuffle. I had to do something, fast.

  I shoved the gorilla hard, forcing him backwards onto the square of cardboard that the old guy had been sleeping on. I grabbed the cardboard and, in one swift movement, I yanked it out from under the hairy feet of the gorilla. He tumbled backwards and struck his head against the wall.

  “My hero!” Mari declared, throwing her arms around my neck. “Sid, you’re trembling!”

  She was right. I pulled her close, hugging her gratefully. It was only in that moment that I was able to let go and realize how scared I’d been. Frightened for myself, of course, but terrified that the gorilla might hurt my beautiful princess.

  “It’s all right, I’m here,” she told me, kissing my cheek and holding me tight. “You did a really good thing, Sid; you saved a life.”

  What could I say? I nodded, unable to respond.

  The police swarmed the alley, arresting the man in the gorilla suit and helping the old man to his feet. They asked us lots of questions about what had happened.

  The ambulance arrived and helped the poor old guy onto the gurney. Before the EMTs wheeled him off, he called me over.

  “Son, that was a brave thing to do. Most people would have looked the other way and let an old man die. Thank you.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I don’t normally think of myself as being brave. Tough, sure… but not brave. In fact, if Mari hadn’t been with me, I’d have done exactly what he said; looked the other way. I squeezed the old guy’s hand and tried to smile.

  Hugging Mari close, I felt like the luckiest man in the world. I had a woman who was beautiful, who believed in me and inspired me to bravery, even when I doubted myself.

  Chapter 7 - Just Deserts

  When I opened up the shop on the day after Halloween, I knew I’d be flooded with people returning their costumes. It would be a busy couple of days, sorting the costumes, cleaning and repairing as necessary and returning them to their racks.

  I always enjoyed this part of the process as much as any other. I loved hearing the special stories of how my customers’ Halloween adventures had turned out.

  The very first customer through the door was little Ellen. She was smiling from ear to ear as she bounced into the store. Her father stood behind her, a huge grin on his face. Beside him, her arm wound through his, was a woman that I knew had to be little Ellen’s mother — the resemblance was remarkable. I also noticed that her father had his ring back on where it belonged.

  “It worked!” She ran up to me and threw her arms around my waist.

  “Ellen!” her mother admonished with a stunned laugh. “I’m sorry, she’s not usually so boisterous.”

  “It’s fine.” I smiled at the woman and then down at Ellen. “I see you got your wish,” I whispered.

  She grinned and hugged me again. “Yes! Thank you!!”

  “Sounds like you had a great evening.” I smiled at the family.

  “Well, not really. It was a bit of a rough Halloween,” her father frowned.

  “What happened?” I asked curiously as Ellen pulled her mother off to look at the jewelry,
wigs and makeup at the end of the counter.

  “Well, this costume you picked out was great,” he handed it over to me. “But it was also popular for some reason. We walked down this one street, and there had to be thirty little girls in poofy white dresses. I —” he blushed with shame as he looked down at the counter.

  “It’s okay,” I assured him.

  “Well, I lost track of her,” he admitted. “So I called my wife. We had just started the process of getting divorced. She was furious with me, but thought we should search a little before we called the police. Ellen has run away a couple of times since we started talking about divorce.

  “So Sarah joined me in searching. It didn’t take long for us to find her. She hadn’t really been lost, just getting candy.” He paused and glanced over in the direction of his daughter and his wife. “But I guess it showed us what’s important. We were there for each other, and for her. It gave us some time to talk about a few things. We decided to try to patch things up,” he laughed a little as he shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this.”

  “Oh, you’d be surprised what people share with me. I’m glad you told me your story,” I said with a warm smile.

  My heart was filled with love for the little family that almost broke apart. Maybe they would stay together, maybe they wouldn’t, but I knew Ellen had given them another chance. She would never forget the Halloween when her wish was granted.

  The next customer to drop off his costume was the swashbuckling pirate himself. He still looked shy, and he blushed as he walked up to the counter, but there was a liveliness to his step that hadn’t been there before.

  “Hello,” I smiled at him. “Did you want to return your costume?”

  “Well,” he hesitated, clearing his throat. “I do, but I have to tell you, there’s a slight problem.”

  “What problem?”

  “Well uh, the collar of the shirt…” He cleared his throat again and pointed out several lipstick stains on the collar.