by Laura Acton
Loki perked up. He loved hearing about when Dan was little before Sara’s death. He had overheard the cousins sharing those memories as they talked to Dan the past six days. “Do tell.”
Erik glanced at Danny. The nurse shaved him yesterday, and the golden stubble was back now. It reminded him of what Scott did for Danny. Erik turned to Loki. “Well, it was Halloween twenty-three years ago about four o’clock when it all started,” Erik said as he began to the tell the story of how Scott saved Danny’s Halloween.
Flashback – Twenty-Three Years Earlier – October 31
General Broderick’s Home – Yvonne’s Bedroom – 4:00 p.m.
Dan stood in the doorway of his mother’s bedroom and watched with concern. Mom was tired again. She was so tired the last week. He wished Dad would come home, but he couldn’t.
He did what he could to help Mom. He played with Sara every day when he arrived home from school. Dan hated playing Queen’s tea party, but that was what kept Sara quiet so Mom could rest. He would rather play pirates and climb trees.
Dan waited anxiously as Aunt Ann helped Mom back into bed. It was only four, but Mom barely made it up the stairs with Aunt Ann’s help. Dan wished he was bigger so he could help her up the stairs.
Yvonne laid back on the bed and peered up at Ann. “Thank you.”
Ann took Yvonne’s hand. “Hush, sister. You don’t need to thank me. I’m happy to help. You rest now.”
Yvonne noticed five-year-old Danny in the doorway. He looked so anxious. She hated worrying him. Yvonne beckoned him, “Come here, Danny.”
Dan rushed forward. “Mommy, are you okay now?”
“Yes, Danny. I only need a little nap. Aunt Ann will be staying the night. Thank you for getting Sara to take a nap earlier. Would you like to lay down with me?” Yvonne patted the bed and Danny carefully crawled up and lay his head on her stomach. Her hand brushed through his hair as she smiled up at Ann. Both recognized he was comforted by her touch. He was only a little boy, but he did so much to help with William gone frequently.
Ann asked, “What would you like for dinner, Danny?”
Thinking about it Dan answered, “Something quick. Cause Sara and I want to go trick or treating.”
Yvonne gaped at Ann with panicked eyes. Oh, my gosh! I forgot it’s Halloween. I’ve been so tired I didn’t even buy the kids a costume. I can’t disappoint Danny after all he’s done. “Ann, I didn’t …”
Ann read Yvonne’s panic. “I’ll take care of everything, don’t worry, rest now.” Turning to Dan, Ann asked, “How about hot dogs?”
“Yes, please. Mommy, what are Sara and I going as? We didn’t go shopping for costumes.”
Ann said, “Why don’t you go wake up Sara from her nap. We’ll figure something out.”
Dan sat up and studied his mom and aunt. “We don’t have to go. Mommy’s tired, and she needs you here to take care of her.”
Ann reached out and cupped Danny’s adorable face which was a replica of Scott at five. “You’re so sweet and kind hearted, Danny. How about if I call Scott? He’s old enough now to take you and Sara around.”
Grinning like a loon, Dan nodded vigorously. He loved spending time with Scott. He hopped off the bed and bolted out of the room to go wake up Sara.
Picking up the phone from Yvonne’s nightstand Ann dialed her home.
Scott answered the phone when Dad asked him to. “Broderick’s residence.”
“Hello, Sweetie.”
“Hi, Mom. You want to talk to Dad? He’s busy trying to bribe Vicky to finish her dinner so she can go to her Halloween party.”
“No, I needed to speak to you. I need your help tonight. I know you had plans to hang out with your friends and I hate to ask, but …” She truly hated to ask him. Scott had been talking about the party at his friend’s house for weeks. They built a haunted house for all the neighborhood kids to go through, and all his friends would be there.
Scott cringed. That, but followed by a pause always meant he had to do something he wouldn’t want to do. Before Mom could say anything, Scott said, “Aww, Mom. I’m going to Liam’s house tonight. Remember?”
“I know, Sweetie. But this is important. I need to stay with your Aunt. She isn’t feeling well. Danny and Sara have no one to take them trick or treating. You know your auntie has been ill for a while now. I also need your help to figure out costumes for them,” Ann explained.
Scott dropped his head. He wouldn’t be able to hang out with all his friends. Darnit, he wouldn’t make kids scream in the haunted house either. Scott was looking forward to doing that. He had a wooden saber sword with fake blood on it and everything. Dejectedly, Scott replied, “Okay, Mom.”
Ann nodded to Yvonne. “Thank you, Sweetie. Now let me talk to your dad so I can ask him to drive you over here.”
She heard Scott in the background tell Erik she wanted to talk to him. Erik offered to take Dan and Sara to Vicky’s party, but Ann told him Danny wouldn’t enjoy going to a party with all girls dressed up as their favorite princess. Erik laughed and agreed. They arranged for Scott to be dropped off at six thirty and to stay the night with them too.
General Broderick’s Home – Dan’s Bedroom – Almost 6:30 p.m.
Dan lay on his bed crying. He didn’t like to cry, but he was upset. Aunt Ann said they should find something to make a costume from around the house. While Aunty Ann made dinner and took care of his mom, he worked on Sara’s costume first. It was easy but took a long time.
Sara had a princess dress and wanted to be a fairy princess. So he twisted together a lot of purple, pink, and yellow pipe cleaners to make Sara a pair of fairy wings. It took almost an hour to make them. Then he found a stick outside for a wand, but Sara didn’t like the first five he brought in. They wrapped the stick in ribbons she used for her hair. That took forty-five minutes because they kept falling off. He finally got the ribbons to stay on and Sara now had a fairy princess wand.
Her costume was finished right before dinner. He ate his hotdog in four big bites and raced upstairs to his room to figure out a costume for himself. It was now almost six thirty and Scott would be here to take them trick or treating any minute. The problem was he spent all his time making Sara’s costume, and he didn’t have a chance to make one for himself. He wanted to be a pirate this year, but now he would have to walk around in stupid regular clothes.
Dan sniffled as he glanced around. He couldn’t figure anything out and he had nothing but his stupid bent plastic sword Sara sat on. Now the dumb thing wobbled and folded in half if he tried to make slashing moves. Stupid sword.
Burying his head in his pillow, so Mom wouldn’t hear him, he cried. He would cry now and then suck it up and put on a smile when Scott got here. At least Sara would have fun and be happy.
General Broderick’s Home – Kitchen – 6:30 p.m.
Scott hugged his mom then knelt by three-year-old Sara. “My, what a pretty fairy princess.”
Sara’s eyes lit with merriment. “My Danny made my costume. See my wings.” Sara turned to show off the pipe cleaner wings. She turned back and waved her wand. “And my Danny made my fairy wand, too.”
“They’re very nice.” Scott stood and asked, “So, Mom is Danny ready to go trick or treat?”
Ann smiled at her thirteen-year-old son. She was so proud of Scott. He was sacrificing his own fun so he could make his little cousin’s happy. “After dinner, Danny went to his room to get his costume. I’m not sure what he came up with. I was so busy with Yvonne and making dinner.”
Scott leaned on the counter. “How’s Aunt Yvonne?”
She tousled his golden blond hair. “She’s resting now. Why don’t you go get Danny so you three can trick or treat? Sara is young, so she’ll be getting tired here soon.”
“I’m not tired,” Sara said as she put her hands on her hips and scowled.
Scott held in his laugh at her cute face all twisted up. “No, you’re not. Hang out down here. I’ll be back with Danny. Do you have a bag f
or the candy?”
Ann sighed. “Oh, I forgot. I’ll get the kids a couple of pillow cases. Those should work nicely.”
The two walked towards the stairs as Sara twirled around in the kitchen happily waving the fairy wand and chanting, “My Danny is the bestest big brother.”
General Broderick’s Home – Outside Dan’s Bedroom – 6:30 p.m.
Scott and Ann approached Dan’s room together. Scott was on his way to Danny’s room and Ann to the linen closet. They both stopped and listened.
Ann’s face fell. Why is Danny crying? She started for the bedroom door.
“Mom, I’ve got it.”
“Okay, but I need you to tell me what it’s about. Danny was so distraught earlier when Yvonne nearly fell coming up the stairs,” Ann said.
She knew Danny idolized Scott and Danny was more likely to talk to Scott about his feelings. They were connected almost like twins were even though they were eight years apart and had different parents. Ann saw in their relationship some of the same things she saw in hers and Yvonne’s relationship.
General Broderick’s Home – Dan’s Bedroom – 6:30 p.m.
Scott opened the door quietly, walked in, and closed it. He found Danny on his stomach on the bed with his face buried in the pillow. Scott caught the occasional sobs interspersed with ‘stupid sword’ and ‘wanted to be a pirate.’
He swiftly deduced the problem seeing Danny in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Danny must’ve spent all his time making Sara’s costume. Scott surveyed his cousin’s room. The room was ship-shape as always—nothing out of place. Creepy for a five-year-old, Scott thought.
But Danny’s dad was a stickler for order. Danny learned early how to make his bed, and he was expected to keep his room clean and orderly. Not too different at his house, but Scott knew his own room was nowhere this tidy and he was thirteen.
Scott went to the toy box and lifted the lid. He spotted the ‘stupid sword’ Danny was lamenting about. Scott quietly dropped the lid. He went to Danny’s bed and sat down. He laid a gentle hand on Danny’s back and rubbed light circles. “Hey, Doppelganger. What seems to be the problem?”
Dan rubbed his face on his pillow to wipe his tears. He didn’t hear Scott come in. He sniffled, turned over, and sat up. “I don’t have a costume.”
“I can understand how that might be upsetting. What did you want to be?” Scott asked knowing the answer but not wanting to embarrass Danny by letting him know he heard him crying.
Dan’s lower lip quivered slightly. “A pirate, but I don’t have anything pirate-like, and my stupid sword is all bent up.”
Scott stood and first went to Danny’s closet to survey the offerings. Next, he opened each of his dresser drawers. “Wait here a second, okay?”
Nodding Dan wondered what Scott would do.
Scott left the room and headed to his aunt’s bedroom.
General Broderick’s Home – Yvonne’s Bedroom – 6:33 p.m.
Scott knocked lightly and waited until Aunt Yvonne said he could come in. He entered and said, “Hi, Aunty. I don’t want to disturb you, but I needed to ask your permission to do something and see if you have a few things.”
Yvonne smiled. Scott was so kind to come and help. She would need to do something special to make up for him missing out on his Halloween plans. “You’re not disturbing me. What do you need?”
“Danny wants to be a pirate for Halloween. He spent all his time making Sara’s costume. First, is it okay if I ruin one of Danny’s t-shirts? I also need to know if you or Uncle Will have any belts with large buckles and if I could grab Uncle Will’s electric shaver? Oh, and if it’s okay if I let Danny carry around my wooden sword covered in fake blood.”
“Um, sure. Use one of Danny’s older t-shirts though. What do you have in mind?” Yvonne asked at the strange list of things.
Grinning, Scott said, “You’ll see.”
Scott headed into their bathroom as Aunt Yvonne told him where he could find the electric shaver. Then he went to the closet and found one of Uncle Will’s belts which would be perfect. With those items in hand, Scott headed back to Danny’s room. He made a stop in the hall bathroom and searched the cabinets until he found the other things he needed.
General Broderick’s Home – Dan’s Bedroom – 6:35 p.m.
Scott found Dan sitting on the edge of the bed this time. Danny’s tears had dried. “Got what I needed and permission. So don’t freak out.”
Dan only nodded as Scott grabbed one of his old t-shirts from the dresser drawers. His mouth and eyes gapped wide open when Scott ripped it. He gasped when Scott took scissors and cut the sleeves, so they were jagged. His eyes nearly popped out when Scott dribbled iodine on the t-shirt staining the shirt a sort of reddish color. Did Scott really get permission to do all that?
Scott was deep in thought as he worked on the shirt. He stopped and glanced at Danny and asked, “You got some string and black construction paper?”
Dan ran to his art supplies drawer and got out black paper and string. He held them up to show Scott
Scott set down the shirt and took the string from Danny. He unrolled some and wrapped it around Danny’s head, and snipped off a length several inches longer. He took a white crayon out of the box on the table and drew a shape of an eye patch. “Cut this out while I work on your shirt.”
Carefully, Dan used the scissors to cut the shape out Scott had drawn. He didn’t follow the line exactly, but it was close. “Done.” Dan held up the black piece of paper.
Scott looked up from making the shirt dirty-looking using crayons of brown, black, and gray. “Good. Now poke a small hole on each side and thread the string through it.”
Dan did what Scott told him. He smiled when he realized he made a pirate eye patch. Cool!
“Okay, put your oldest pair of jeans and this shirt on,” Scott said as handed Danny the shirt and picked up the petroleum jelly jar.
Eagerly Dan complied. He looked in the mirror after he put on the shirt. It looked filthy and like he had been in a terrible fight. Dan’s grin grew as Scott tied the eye patch in place. Scott told him to sit down on his desk chair.
“What ya gonna do with those things?” Dan asked.
Scott uncapped the petroleum jelly jar and took out a small amount. He rubbed it all over Dan’s jawline. Next, Scott opened the electric shaver and dumped all the little pieces of Uncle Will’s beard onto a paper towel. “Every pirate has to have a beard. Lay your jaw on the paper towel.”
Dan complied. When they finished, Dan had little bits of his dad’s beard shavings plastered to his jaw. Dan gazed in the mirror and a huge grin settled on his face. His blue eyes sparkled—he is a pirate.
Scott said, “Okay now let’s see if we can get this belt to fit around you. I think if I wrap it twice or three times it will work.”
“Why do I need a belt?” Dan asked.
“You’ll see,” Scott said as he put the belt on Dan. “Okay now wait here one more moment. I’ll be right back with the best part.”
Dan stood gawked at himself in the mirror while Scott raced out of his room. He looked at the clock, it was only six forty-five. It had taken only fifteen minutes to make a pirate costume with Scott’s help.
Scott entered the room with his hands behind his back. “Now give me your best pirate scowl. Cause, you know, pirates don’t smile.”
Dan scowled into the mirror trying to make his face look fierce. As he did a cool pirate saber appeared in front of him. He gaped at Scott in the mirror. His eyes were wide with wonder. Dan stared at the sword again. It was covered in fake blood. It was so cool.
He turned to Scott his eyes radiating excitement. “For me?”
Scott beamed seeing Dan’s reaction to the sword. “For you, Doppelganger. Or should I call you Yellow Beard the fiercest pirate on the seven seas.”
Dan took the sword and peered up at Scott with adoration. “Thanks, Scott.”
“Let’s go show your mom. Then we can head out. Pirates need to g
o a plundering,” Scott said with a huge smile as his heart swelled.
Dan hugged Scott. “You’re the bestest.” He ran yelling excitedly, “Mom! Mom! Mom! Scott made me into a pirate. He’s letting me use his cool sword with blood when we trick or treat. He called me Yellow Beard, the fiercest pirate on the seven seas.”
General Broderick’s Home – Dan’s Bedroom – 9:30 p.m.
Scott stood in the doorway looking at his little cousin sleeping. Tonight was so different from what he planned. Though Scott would never want it to be different than what it turned out to be.
He watched as Danny curled up on the bed in his pajamas. Danny’s hand still wrapped around the wooden sword Scott gifted to him permanently right before bed tonight. Danny was so happy tonight, and that made Scott feel ten feet tall.
Sara got tired after about ten houses, so they brought her home. He and Danny went back out and plundered every single house in the neighborhood. His cousin got so much loot, as Danny called his candy, Scott had to carry the pillowcase because it became too heavy for Danny. The hugs, smiles, and laughter he received from Danny more than made up for not hanging out with his friends.
Ann walked up beside Scott and put her arm around her son. “I’m so proud of you Scott. You did something extraordinary tonight. You made a happy memory for Danny. You saved his Halloween.”
“I made a happy memory for me, too, Mom.”
Present Day – July 26
St. Michael’s Hospital – ICU Room B – 8:00 p.m.
Wow, everything Loki learned about Dan’s family in the past few days made him realize Dan was so lucky. Not everyone had an extended family so caring. “That only took you fifteen minutes?”
Scott nodded. “Yep.”
Their discussion halted when Dr. Markson entered. Two nurses waited outside Dan’s room. It was too small for them to all enter.
Dr. Markson said, “Please step out, we are going to extubate Dan now.”
“Doesn’t he need to be awake?” Erik asked.
“Preferably, but we slowly weaned him once the infection was under control. He is capable of breathing on his own and the longer we keep him intubated, the more complications there can be. So although he isn’t awake yet, we need to extubate him and put him on oxygen as he breathes for himself.”