The Love Pug

by J. J. Howard

  It wasn’t until I was lifting Cupid out of his stroller that it hit me—the big thing that I’d forgotten! I let out a groan. My whole plan had been to bring Cupid, Hallie, and Frankie together at the carnival so Cupid could do his matchmaking trick. But Cupid had been strapped into his stroller the whole time, so he hadn’t been able to leap forward and kiss each of them!

  I carried Cupid up to my room, feeling foolish. But, I told myself, it had been pretty hectic all day at the carnival. I’d kept Cupid in his stroller, safe, for a good reason. It wouldn’t have been worth it to matchmake Frankie and Hallie if it meant my pup got injured or loose. (Or got me in trouble for breaking the no-animals-at-the-carnival rule.)

  I sat down at my desk to write in my journal. There would just have to be some other event—before the dance, of course—when I could get Hallie, Frankie, and Cupid all together. And then another idea struck me: a party!

  My birthday was in a week. I’d told Dad already that I didn’t want a party, but I could tell him I’d changed my mind. The party could be something small and casual, at our house. But it would be a natural way for Frankie and Hallie to come together, since usually everyone was so busy with after-school activities.

  I tapped my pen to my lips. The party would need a theme, obviously. Or something to make it special. As I looked down at Cupid, who was still in his cute green jacket, I realized what it could be—a costume party! I already had the perfect costume for Cupid that I hadn’t been able to use last Halloween.

  I opened my journal and began to make a guest list.

  The first step to any successful event was, of course, a good plan.

  “Here you go, Autumn,” I said as I handed her one of my birthday party invitations.

  They were pretty clever, if I did say so myself. I’d ordered various doll-size outfits online, along with tiny clothes hangers, and each printed invitation was attached using the hanger’s hook.

  For Autumn’s invite, I’d chosen a tiny dress with red sequins. It was one of the fancier ones. I wasn’t proud of the feeling, but I did sort of want Autumn to be impressed with my invitations.

  “Oh wow, these are really … extra,” Autumn said, but I was pretty sure she was only acting cool. I could tell from her face I’d surprised her, and there was no way she’d be missing my party.

  “Fully extra,” I agreed. “Wait until you see the party.”

  As I walked away I realized I’d just promised to top the last school party I’d hosted at my house—which had included a really great nacho bar and a take-home bag of goodies. Now I needed to go even bigger.

  But I soon faced a new problem when I sat down beside Hallie at our table in the cafeteria.

  “I know what costume I’m gonna wear to your party,” she told me excitedly. “I’m going to be a zombie.”

  I immediately thought of Frankie. Now, I know people should like each other for who they really are, and not what they look like on the outside … but I do get the feeling that wearing a bunch of makeup that makes it look like your flesh is decaying is probably not the best way to convince a boy to ask you to a dance.

  “No!” I said. The word just burst out of me—I couldn’t stop it.

  Hallie looked surprised. “What do you mean, no?”

  I took a breath. “Not, no,” I sputtered, then took a deep breath before going on. “I just mean, are you sure you don’t want to save being a zombie for Halloween? I mean, it’s such a Halloween look. Besides, I was kind of thinking we could do something together.” That was a little white lie, but I was starting to feel desperate to keep Hallie from looking all decayed at my party.

  “Em, I can’t really afford to shop at the kinds of sites that you—”

  “I could get the costumes!” I jumped in.

  Hallie made that face she always makes when she’s about to be stubborn. “You don’t need to buy my costume,” she told me.

  “I don’t mean … I mean, I didn’t …” Suddenly I felt like I’d wandered into the deep end of a swimming pool, and although my feet kept trying to find the bottom, they just couldn’t, and I was sinking fast.

  Hallie and I didn’t ever really talk about money. The thing is, my grandfather was some kind of fancy engineer and made a lot of money, which he left to my dad when he passed away. So I know my dad and I are very lucky since we don’t really have to worry about how much stuff costs, but Hallie and her mom do. I always offered to pay for whatever I could, and sometimes I’d even sneakily cover things. But Hallie gets sort of weird about me paying, sometimes.

  I took another deep breath and tried one more time to get out of the deep end. “You’re the most creative and artistic person I know. I’m sure you’ll come up with an amazing costume idea,” I said. “Even if it is something like a zombie, even though zombies still give me nightmares,” I added, trying to lighten the mood.

  Hallie gave me a half smile. “You hate scary movies—you never watch them. How would zombies even get into your dreams?”

  “Blame Theo,” I told her, feeling lighter now that the weight of our almost fight seemed to be lifting. “He’s made me watch a ton of that stuff.”

  “Blame me for what?” Theo asked around a mouthful of apple as he sat down beside me.

  “Emma says you got her to watch horror movies,” Hallie told him. “When did that happen?”

  “Last fall. First, I pretty much dared her that she wouldn’t watch Poltergeist. And then when she made it through that one by holding her hand in front of her face for more than half of it, I challenged her to watch a few more.”

  “I can’t believe it,” Hallie said, shaking her head. “You always say no to me when I try to get you to watch anything scary! You wouldn’t even let me rent Coraline.”

  “I’m kind of with Emma on that one. Those black button eyes are way creepier than ghosts or zombies,” Theo said with a shudder.

  I beamed at Theo for taking my side. “Oh, I almost forgot!” I reached into my small shopping bag of invites and found Theo’s. For him, I’d chosen a tiny astronaut suit complete with a miniature space helmet.

  “Wow, Emma—you’ve really outdone yourself this time!” Theo said. “And this space suit’s so cool—I think George definitely needs to wear it.”

  “That’s what I was thinking,” I said, feeling happy that Theo appreciated my creative invites.

  “Who’s George?” Hallie asked.

  “It’s just this stuffed rabbit that I’ve had forever,” Theo said. “He sits on top of my computer in my room. Sort of like a good-luck charm.”

  “Theo used to have to have George with him all the time,” I added with a grin.

  Theo rolled his eyes. “Are you sure you want to start trading embarrassing stories from when we were really little? Because I’m older. I remember more. Like this one doll that got lost—”

  I put up a hand. “No! I yield. I’m sorry.” I turned to Hallie. “Theo is all grown-up now and terrifically mature, and George is just a … souvenir of his youth.”

  Theo had been taking a swig of milk, but he snorted some of it out as I finished my statement. “A souvenir of my youth? Emma, sometimes you really do say the craziest stuff.”

  I smiled even though Theo was teasing me. I was still just so glad that I’d managed to defuse whatever had happened between Hallie and me.

  * * *

  The rest of the week seemed to drag. Who could stand to listen in class when there was an event to plan? Almost everyone had told me that they were coming to my party on Saturday, and after school each day, I checked off at least one item on my planning to-do list.

  When Saturday afternoon finally arrived, I got a bunch of stuff set up in the kitchen. Then I checked the time. Hallie was supposed to come over and get ready, but she hadn’t shown up yet, so I went upstairs and put on my costume. I was going as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, partly because I secretly wished that my school had an old-fashioned uniform like the ones they had at Hogwarts. I’d ordered it online and was h
appy with how well-made the skirt and sweater were. I was relieved it all fit, because I had to match Cupid.

  I pulled on the knee-high socks and smiled at how cute they looked. For just a moment, I wished that there were a boy coming to this party that I wanted to impress. But then I decided I was just being silly, and got out the costume I’d been dying to put on Cupid since the fall: He was going as my sidekick, Harry Potter.

  I’d gotten his costume online too—specially made, even. I’d had to send in his measurements. I’d planned ahead with plenty of time before Halloween, but then my order had gotten delayed! We’d had to put together a backup costume at the last minute, which I wasn’t happy about. But today was the perfect opportunity to show off what had eventually come in the mail. At least the waiting had paid off. The tiny wizard cape, glasses, and tie fit him perfectly. The costume even included a little stick-on lightning bolt scar, but I figured I’d try affixing that right before everyone got here.

  Cupid didn’t look entirely pleased at being dressed up, but I kept feeding him small bites of his favorite treat. He let out a few small sighs but didn’t fuss as I tied on the tiny gold-and-red-striped tie.

  “Oh my gosh, Cupid!” I cried. I gave him a hug—carefully, so as not to muss his cape, and stepped back to see the full effect. Then I scooped him up and held him beside me in front of my full-length mirror. “Adorable!”

  “Yes, you are the fairest of them all,” said a low voice behind me, and I nearly dropped Cupid as I jumped.

  “Sorry,” Theo chuckled, standing in my doorway. “I just couldn’t resist since I caught you admiring yourself.”

  “I was admiring Cupid’s costume,” I told him, and rolled my eyes toward the ceiling.

  “Well, yours is pretty cute too. I just came early to see if you needed any help setting up.”

  “I really do!” I said, relieved. “Hallie was supposed to come early, but … anyway, never mind. I need to finish getting all the snacks set up downstairs.”

  “Aren’t you going to comment on my costume?” Theo asked.

  He did look pretty good in his Doctor Strange costume. “We’re both wizards, how funny.”

  “Excuse me, I prefer master of the mystic arts.”

  “Oh, lord. Come on, master, let’s get the snacks ready. You too, tiny Harry Potter.” I called Cupid away from the nap he’d already started taking, with his cape flowing out around him on the floor.

  Cupid and I followed Theo down the stairs. I realized as my stocking feet slid a bit on the wooden floor that I’d forgotten my shoes and would have to go back up to get them.

  “So how come you changed your mind about having a birthday party?” Theo asked. “It seems like just the other day you were announcing that you didn’t need a big thing this year.”

  I shrugged. “I just changed my mind, is all. I’ve been trying to figure out how to have a costume party before Halloween anyway.”

  “Great costumes!” Dad said as we reached the bottom of the stairs.

  “You don’t know who we are, do you, Dad?”

  Dad stroked his chin and glanced down at Cupid. “Well, I believe that Cupid is that character Harris Potter. I know that much.” Then he looked up at me with a triumphant smile. “So, you’re probably Harris’s … sister, am I right?”

  Theo laughed. “Harris Potter! Mr. W, you crack me up.”

  “Was I right?” Dad pressed.

  I giggled. “Close, Dad, very close. Can you help us put out the snacks?”

  “Of course,” Dad said as we all headed into the kitchen. “But who is Theo?”

  Theo smiled. “It’d be more of a pop culture deep cut for you, sir.”

  “He’s a wizard,” I said drily.

  “Oh, okay. Very nice wizard costume.”

  Now Theo rolled his eyes, and I threw him a huge bag of pretzels to open.

  “Oh no, I forgot to make the punch!” I slapped a hand to my forehead in dismay, ignoring Theo’s chuckle at my dramatics. “I don’t know how I’ll get everything done before people start getting here.”

  “I take it Emma overplanned again?” Theo asked Dad.

  “I don’t overplan …” I started to protest but then realized Theo was probably right. “Okay, I give up. I guess that’s fair. I’m just glad you’re both here to help.” I walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door. “Dad, would you mind making the punch? All the ingredients are here together in this part of the fridge. And, Theo, can you preheat the oven to three-fifty? I have a few hot appetizers.”

  “Hot appetizers for a middle school party. Yeah, you don’t overplan.” Theo smirked, but he did start pressing buttons on the oven.

  “I just admitted that I did!” I said, and my voice came out higher than I’d intended. “Sorry, Theo. I’m just nervous, I guess. I’ve never thrown a costume party before.”

  Theo put one hand on each of my shoulders. “Hey. It’s going to be great, Emma. Everything you plan is great.”

  The way he was looking at me, so serious, made me feel even more nervous. Suddenly my Hermione cardigan felt much too heavy, and I smiled at him before stepping back and then shrugging out of my sweater. “Thanks. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”

  “I don’t either,” Theo said. He frowned for a second and then turned back to the stove. “Where’s the preheat button again?”

  “Wow, you do not take after your mom.”

  “Yeah, I guess I’m more of a book guy, like Dad,” Theo agreed, sounding like his usual cheerful self. The frown had disappeared. “Although we’re both intrepid travelers … and Dad’s practically Indiana Jones.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Practically.”

  “Okay, punch is ready!” Dad announced from where he stood by the counter, stirring a big bowl of yummy-looking punch. I was impressed. “What’s next?”

  “Cupcakes!” I declared. “They need to be taken out and put on a plate.”

  Dad frowned. “This is so much junk food, Emma. Are you sure you don’t want me to chop up some vegetables to put out?”

  I gave him a look. “You can chop them if you’d like, Dad. But I can pretty much guarantee no one’s going to eat them. Especially since Stella from Morning Mugs made these cupcakes.”

  With a sigh, Dad seemed to give up on his vegetable dream.

  I pulled appetizers from the freezer, and Theo helped me prep them all on baking sheets. Well, he opened bags and I did the rest.

  “I’ll get the egg rolls and pigs in a blanket in the oven, Em,” he said. “I’m older, so I should handle the appliances.”

  I made a face. “I barely trust you with the scissors.”

  Dad pulled the sheets from my hands. “I’ll do it. Are you both ready?”

  Theo side-eyed me. “Emma, you can finish putting on your costume. People will be here soon.”

  “I’m ready, though,” I protested.

  “Shoes? And you took off your sweater and left it somewhere.”

  “Oh, I guess you’re right. You stay with Theo, Cupid.”

  I ran upstairs to put on my shoes and noticed my cell phone sitting on the bed. I saw I’d missed a couple of text messages from Hallie.

  SO sorry Em but I am super sick have the WORST cold. So. Much. Snot.

  Can’t come 2 the party 2nite.

  Plz take lots of pics 4 me!!!

  My stomach dropped. What?? How could Hallie be sick? I’d just seen her yesterday and she’d been perfectly fine. I’d only planned this entire party to bring her together with Frankie so that Cupid could do his magic. This was a disaster of epic proportions.

  I heard music coming from downstairs and realized Theo must have jumped in and picked something to play.

  “Emma! Guests are starting to arrive!” Dad called from downstairs.

  With a frown, I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs. A couple of girls from my grade had come early.

  I put on a big, fake smile, and welcomed them to my (now useless) party.

  What’s wrong? The
o mouthed at me from across the room.

  I walked over to him. “Hallie’s not coming. She’s sick.”

  “Emma, I know she’s your best friend, but the party will still be fun.”

  “You don’t understand. I …” I stopped myself before admitting that the party was mostly a matchmaking scheme.

  His eyes narrowed; he was suspicious of my almost comment. But then I distracted him by asking, “Did you make a playlist for the party?”

  He smiled. “I did. You’ll love it.”

  “Thanks.” I nudged his shoulder with mine. “What would I do without you?”

  “Lucky for you you’ll never find out. Hey, man!” I turned to see that Frankie Castillo had just arrived. Theo stepped forward and held out a fist for Frankie to bump.

  “Hey,” Frankie said to Theo. Then he smiled at me. “Cute costume, Emma.”

  He was dressed as a zombie—just like Hallie had wanted to—in tattered clothes. His makeup looked really good. Had Hallie somehow done Frankie’s makeup? But she was sick …

  “I love your makeup,” I said. “Who did it?”

  “I heard you were a fan of zombies,” Frankie said. Beside him, Theo snorted. Frankie gave him a confused look before continuing. “Anyway, Hallie was gonna do it, but when she texted and said she was sick, I got that kid Travis to do it. He’s really good.”

  Just then Travis walked in the door, dressed as Han Solo from Star Wars. It was actually a pretty great costume.

  I looked at Travis in confusion. I hadn’t invited him—so Frankie must have. Why was Frankie inviting people to my party, though? Sure, Theo could invite whoever he wanted, but that was different. The privilege definitely did not extend to Frankie. But Frankie just smiled at me and gave Travis a fist bump, and then Theo joined in admiring the zombie makeup job.