FAIRY TALES AND FRIGHTS closes up at 10 p.m., and by 10:30 p.m. the afterparty is in full swing. The young people have a warm bonfire built, and the music is blaring from Gladys’ van, the Mystery Machine. Most people have stayed in their costumes from the house, but some have changed. Mae is still in her Little Red Riding Hood costume, but Martin’s no longer The Big Bad Wolf. Instead, he’s dressed as—well, as Martin Maycord.
“Where are Gladys and Nate?” I say. Helen and I are sitting at a distance, close enough to keep an eye on everything but far enough away not to cramp their style.
“I guess they’re changing into their costumes,” Helen says. “By the way, what did they finally agree on?”
I shrug. “Last I heard, it was Han Solo and Princess Leia.”
Helen is looking past me towards the f
