Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) (10 page)

I
t was starting to get dark outside as the Ellis-Chans scarfed down their dinner of bologna-and-cheese sandwiches and carrot sticks. Annie was wearing a Glinda the Good Witch costume, and Mrs. Ellis-Chan looked like a giant apple.

“You guys better get dressed for Halloween,” Annie said. She drained a glass of milk and then belched. “There's not that much time.”

Mr. Ellis-Chan, Casey, and Bobby all stopped chewing, then abandoned their meals and raced up the stairs.

After changing into his costume, Bobby flexed his muscles, admired himself in the mirror, and then took a bow as the imaginary audience cheered. “Well, what do you two think?” he asked Koloff and Beatrice. They swam side by side, then spun around.

When Bobby went back downstairs, he was shocked to see what was waiting for him in the living room. His father stared back at Bobby and appeared to be in shock too.

Mr. Ellis-Chan was wearing a Troy Eagle skateboard shirt, skater shorts, a brain bucket, and kneepads!

“I don't have a skateboard,” Bobby's dad said, “so I patched this one up.” He held up the broken Troy Eagle Super 74. It looked like there were miles of gray duct tape wrapped around it. “I hope you approve of my Bobby Ellis-Chan costume.”

A huge grin crossed Bobby's face. “I approve,” he said, motioning to his own costume. “Do you?”

Mr. Ellis-Chan's grin mirrored his son's. “I approve a hundred and fifty percent,” he said, holding out his hand so Bobby could give him a high five.

Bobby was wearing a LA Earthquakes jersey with number 17 on it — his dad's number. Plus he had borrowed Annie's helmet and pads and was holding a Freezer football.

Annie strolled into the room carrying a giant cauldron filled with bags of treats. “Well, you two look weird,” she said. Bobby thought she looked really pretty in her Glinda costume, but didn't say anything for fear she'd slug him.

“I think we all look great!” Mrs. Ellis-Chan said as she joined them. “But what about Casey — where is she?”

“I'm almost ready!” they heard Casey shout from her room.

The family gathered at the bottom of the stairs to wait for Casey's grand entrance. “Get ready,” she called out. “Get set…. Look at me!!!”

“Where's your costume?” Bobby asked when his little sister joined the rest of the family.

“This is it,” Casey replied, striking a pose like a fashion model.

“What are you supposed to be?”

“A regular girl,” Casey answered matter-of-factly. “It's a costume, Bobby. It's
pretend
!” Instead of her usual Princess Becky gown, sparkly shoes, crown, and Wandee II, she was wearing jeans, a sweater, and tennis shoes. “No one will ever know it's me!” Casey whispered.

“Okay,” Bobby whispered back. “It'll be our secret.”

 

The sidewalks of Rancho Rosetta were crammed full of kids and their parents. All the houses were lit up inside, making them look like giant jack-o'-lanterns. Laughter and squeals of joy filled the air. In the distance, Bobby could see Chess and the guys making their way toward him.

As the Ellis-Chans joined the rest of the trick-or-treaters, Casey perked up when she saw a familiar face. “Holly Holly Holly,” she shouted, running to catch up to her. “Holly, try to guess who I am! I'll give you a hint … it's me, Casey!”

Bobby and his father exchanged smiles. All around them were astronauts and aliens, princesses and pirates. But as far as they could see there were only two real superheroes — a football player and a skateboarder.