by Judy Delton
“Well, I guess it proves who had the scariest story,” said Lisa. “Mine wasn’t scary at all compared to Kevin’s.”
“Neither was mine,” said Mary Beth. “And my aunt helped me.”
They were right. There were a few more stories, but everyone knew who would get the prize.
When the stories were over, Mrs. Peters suggested a songfest. She led the Pee Wees in one song after another. She ended up with the Pee Wee Scout song. All the Pee Wees joined hands and sang this song the loudest and clearest of all.
Molly felt warm and loving toward all her good friends. She had told her story and made her costume, and if only her father had one of those jobs she found, she would be perfectly happy.
Halloween was just about over. The Pee Wees filed into the Peterses’ house for hot chocolate, while Larry put out the fire.
While everyone was drinking their drinks and comparing their treats, Mrs. Peters announced the prizes.
“All of your costumes are very good,” she said. “They are wonderful. But I have to give the prize to Molly and Mary Beth because theirs is so original.”
The Pee Wees clapped and clapped. Molly and Mary Beth went up to get their prize. They each got a giant box of crayons, seventy-two apiece.
Molly loved new crayons. They had the paper still wrapped around them, and all of their points were sharp. And she loved winning.
“I think we all know whose story was the scariest,” laughed Mrs. Peters, calling Kevin’s name. He came to get his prize. His prize was a new red notebook.
Molly looked at Sonny. He was sitting on his mother’s lap with his face buried in her shirt. Poor Sonny did not seem to be having a good time, even on Halloween, the best day of the year.
“And now!” said Mrs. Peters. “The most important thing!” She held up a neat pile of badges over her head. “Our Halloween badges for helping others. All of you made it a happy Halloween for everyone.”
Everyone got a badge. After all Molly’s worry, she had a wonderful badge with a big orange pumpkin on it. Why did she always worry more than anyone else? she wondered. In the end she always got her badge. She had not missed one yet! She had to grow up and not panic so easily. She was too young to worry so much.
By the time everyone said good-bye and went home, it was very late.
“This is the latest Molly has ever been out!” said her father. “Even later than New Year’s Eve.”
Just before she went up to bed, she overheard her father say to her mother, “I can’t understand where all these job applications are coming from. I got some more in today’s mail. There were even some on my desk. Do you know anything about them?”
Molly decided she would have to tell her dad.
“I wanted to help,” she said. “There were lots of ads in the paper, so I called them. They all can use you! You can take your choice of those jobs.”
Mr. and Mrs. Duff smiled.
“Your dad can’t do all these things,” said her mother. “You have to have training if you want to be a nurse. Your dad has training in accounting.”
Molly’s face fell. It wouldn’t be as easy as she thought to get her dad a job. She did not see any ads for accounting jobs. Did she have to start worrying all over again?
“I appreciate the help,” said her dad. “But I think I have something. It’s not for sure, so we didn’t want to tell you yet. But it looks promising.”
“Really?” shouted Molly, giving her parents both a hug.
Maybe it wasn’t a job that she found, thought Molly. But her dad had a job. Or an almost-job. If he didn’t get this one, he would find another by himself. Maybe not right away. But he would. Molly knew that. Her last worry was almost over.
She crawled in between her clean white sheets and fell asleep right away. She did not think of ghosts and goblins under her bed or outside the windows. And she did not dream about them either.
Not even once.
Scouts are helpers, Scouts have fun
Pee Wee, Pee Wee Scouts!
We sing and play when work is done,
Pee Wee, Pee Wee Scouts!
With a good deed here,
And an errand there,
Here a hand, there a hand,
Everywhere a good hand.
Scouts are helpers, Scouts have fun,
Pee Wee, Pee Wee Scouts!
Pee Wee Scout Pledge
We love our country
And our home,
Our school and neighbors too.
As Pee Wee Scouts
We pledge our best
In everything we do.