Discussion and meeting about Halloween party, mid-October, 2012

The nine student council members, with Zach, the president, moderating it, meet in the cafeteria after school to discuss various school issues and plans. "For our last item on the Student council agenda - the 'harvest party.' I propose a resolution that, starting this year, we hear-by change its name to 'Halloween party', lift all restrictions on costumes, and invite the community to attend," Zach states. There is murmuring by most of the students.

Kate gasps, "No!"

"Do I have a second?" Zach asks.

"Second!" Zoe shouts.

"All who oppose?" asks Zach.

"Nay!" Kate shouts.

Zack sighs, "Discussion."

"I think its terrible idea," says Kate. "It's always been a harvest party."

"And it's always been boring," says Derik.

"We have to have restrictions on costumes," Kate states.

"Why?" Zach asks. "Because we might get kids dressed as wizards, witches, or vampires? How many times have those kids seen Harry Potter or Twilight? How many times have you seen Harry Potter and Twilight, Kate?"

"It's not the same thing!" Kate exclaims.

"Oh, I think it is," Zach says.

"The costumes are an extension of what they read and see at the movies...," Zoe says.

...or on TV," Zach finishes her sentence.

"We've always invited the community!" says Kate.

"And how many of them showed up?" Zach asks. "How many of them turn around and leave when they see homemade piñatas and ..."

"...how boring it is!" Derik says.

"My sources tell me only five families showed up last year, and two of those families are represented here today," Zach tells her.

"But we did have fun, right Michael?" Kate asks.

"Eh... It was okay... ...at best," Michael says and looks away from Kate.

"It was boring!" says Derik.

"What are you afraid of Kate?" asks Zoe, "that people will have a little fun?"

"No!" Kate exclaims, "I'm afraid we'll violate the verse that says "Don't put on the appearance of evil"."

"Don't quote the Bible to us, Kate," says Zach. "What about when Jesus said "Go into the highways and byways and invite everyone you see to the feast"?"

"I don't think that's what Jesus..." Kate begins.

Zoe interrupts her, "...how can they hear the Gospel if we don't bring them in here?"

"And not scare them away with a 'harvest party', says Derik.

"We need cool lights, scary decorations, loud music, and hot costumes," says Zach. "Then we can give them the Gospel."

"I... I still don't think it's right though," stammers Kate.

"Time for a final vote. All in favor?" Zach asks. There is a unison of voices saying "Aye". "Opposed?" There's one quiet "No" from Kate. "Resolution passes eight to one," Zach states. "Any other items?"

Kate feels her face burning as the blood rushes to her head. The sounds in the room fade away, and the room seems to darken as she tries to pray. The meeting ends in a few minutes and Kate goes home with no one speaking to her. She drops her backpack and Bible bag in the hallway, and begins to cry.

"Honey, are you home?" asks her mother, Mae.

"Yes...," Kate says as she tries to quit crying.

"Awe, what's wrong? Did the meeting go badly?" Mae asks.

"Think of the worst meeting ever, then add two scoops of 'horrible'," says Kate.

"Awe, honey, come here," Mae says and hugs Kate. "Tell me about it?"

"We're going to have a Halloween party with no costume restrictions, thanks to Zack," she tells her Mom.

"That's terrible," Mae says, "Did you disagree and complain?"

"Yes, but I was the only one," Kate says, "I felt so alone."

"Michael didn't disagree?" Mae asks.

"No!" Kate exclaims. "That's what made it worse. All those years of being friends and he sided with Zack!"

"Well, tomorrow I'm going in to see Pastor Cross and complain to him," says Mae.

"It won't matter," Kate says, "Everyone says that Pastor Cross and Mr. Justice will agree to anything that Zack and Zoe want."

"I can still put my 'two cents' in with him," Mae replies.

"Oh, I wish Jonah was here," Kate says.

"Why don't you get ready for dinner and spend some time in prayer," Mae suggests. Kate goes into her room, changes clothes, then turns on her MP3 player and kneels to pray by her bed.

Song by Twila Paris "Warrior Is A Child" plays:

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while

'Cause deep inside this armor the warrior is a child

The next morning in the hallway

"Hi Kate!" Michael says in a happy-go-lucky voice.

Kate, raising her voice a little, says, "Don't 'Hi Kate' me, Michael Fortress, I'm furious with you!"

"What? You mean about the Halloween party?" Michael asks.

"Yes!" Kate almost hisses because she's so mad. She points her finger right in Michael's face and says, "You sided with Zack and left me high and dry! I felt humiliated and betrayed!"

"Over a party?" Michael asks.

"It's not just 'over a party'," Kate says. "It pulls at the very fabric of what this school stands for - what Grandpap worked thirty-five years for - to keep this school above the rising tide of our evil culture!"

"I'm sorry, Kate, I didn't realize it was that important," Michael says.

"Well, it is, and you've been here thirteen years," Kate says, "and you should know that too!"

"So, are we studying tonight?" Michael asks, trying to change the subject.

"No! Absolutely not!" Kate yells. She slams her locker door and storms away.

Michael, slightly bewildered, raises his hands up, and exclaims, "Women?!"

Derik comes up to his brother, having heard most of the conversation, and says, "Smooth, bro', real smooth."