The Costume

Written for: "No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED"   by QPdoll
Prompt: Halloween

Kaci coveted her sisters pink and purple princess dress for the last two years. This was the year she had grown enough to be able to wear it, and just the thought sent excitement racing through her. Halloween was fast approaching and she knew just what she wanted to be. Unfortunately, her big sister, Mandi, refused to let her have it. They’d been arguing over it for a week straight, and Halloween was only two days away. She had to find some way to get her hands on that dress.

She stared at her desk, at all the items she collected throughout the summer in preparation lined up in a pretty row. There was the sparkling tiara with pretty rhinestones, the face glitter, and her favorite piece had to be the silver star magic wand that she bought at a garage sale just two weeks ago. She smiled looking at it, remembering the day she brought it home, dancing through her bedroom imagining what she’d look like for trick-or-treating this year.

Her mom had taken her to several stores looking for a costume, but nothing caught her eye the way the pink and purple dress did. Kaci’s finger ran over the tiara feather light, hope beginning to fade. If she didn’t get that dress she’d have nothing to wear for the big day. She was being stubborn refusing a backup costume, but she couldn’t help it. That beautiful dress with the puffy purple sleeves, and pink lace running down the front was all she could think about it. She’d even had sweet dreams where she wore it.

Kaci spun around knowing her mom would be coming to check up on her soon since she called lights out ten minutes ago. Time was running away from her now. Her eyes caught the little pink music box that sat on the table next to the bed and a thought popped into her head. Kaci bit her bottom lip, wondering if she could bribe Mandi with the music box. Mandi always came into her room and twisted the little knob to make the music play and the ballerina spin around. Though her sister never said she loved the music box, or that she even wanted it, Kaci knew she did.

Moving to the table, she picked it up without a second thought. She walked to her bedroom door and peeked out into the hallway. Mandi’s bedroom door was closed, but light filtered out into the hallway. Kaci didn’t want to just knock on the door and present her with the gift, so she tiptoed to the door, praying the creaking of the wooden floor wouldn’t give her away. She took one long last look at the pretty box, and set it on the floor against her sister’s door.

Kaci scurried back to her room, closing the bedroom door with a soft click, turned off the light and got into bed. She could picture it so clearly. Her sister would stumble upon the gift and finally give her the princess dress in exchange.
~~~
The next morning Kaci sat at breakfast waiting for Mandi to come down and present her with the dress, and when she showed up empty handed, Kaci’s heart plummeted. Mandi poured a bowl of cereal, sat next to her, but didn’t even look Kaci’s way. That icky feeling crawled through her and wound its way to the pit of her stomach. She was so saddened she couldn’t even finish her Honey Nut Cheerios. Kaci stood, grabbed her bowl and placed it into the sink, pounding her way through the house and to the staircase.

Tears burned her eyes with every step, but Kaci refused to let them fall until she reached the comfort of her bedroom. She pushed the door open and stopped mid step, her heart pounding like a dog’s tail against the ground as she stared at the Princess dress lying on her bed. She gasped, looked down the hall and back to her room.

A squeal of delight escaped, echoing off the walls as she rushed forward and lifted the dress, holding it against her spinning in circles.


WC:691