Andlat's Story Spot

"Alright, Dad's gone. You can leave me alone now." Nolan muttered, tugging down one of his sleeves over the paper wristband as he led the way through the gate. "Uh-uh. Dad said we have to stay together." Miles reached out to grab his brother's hand to stop him from getting too far ahead. He spun and glared, an instinct that was much less threatening now that his eyes met his brother's chest. He looked up, cheeks turning slightly pink. Stupid growth spurts. Little brothers were supposed to stay that way. "No one else has to." "You don't know that. Plus, this way you don't gotta go down the haunted trail alone, right?" Nolan grunted something that sounded like 'I'm not afraid'. Miles chuckled and reached out to ruffle his hair. "Stop!" Nolan dodged, pulling the hood of his black Nike sweatshirt over his chestnut curls protectively. "Fine. Don't want my hand to smell like that stupid Gunflint shampo...

After weeks of begging, Andlat is finally allowed to go to the town Harvest Festival without even a single frill or bit of lace. He's meeting with his big boy friends after all, but will he be able to make it the haunted house through without seeming like a scaredy kit? As he walked up to his friends, Andlat thanked his lucky stars that he had decided against wearing his Halloween costume to the town’s annual harvest festival. Neither one of them wore a costume. They were clearly too big for costumes and Andlat wanted more than anything to fit in with them. Daddy Jack clearly did not know what he was talking about when he had tried to pressure Andlat into wearing it. “They're cool, daddy!” Andlat insisted. “They're too big for costumes.” “Well,” Jack said, stretching the word out as he often did. “Don't fuss when you're the only one wearing boring clothes.” “I won't.” Andlat had remained firm. Now, he was vindicated. Even his brush felt fluffier! He felt like he...