Dear Diary,

Momma sleeps again. Deep double sleep, because There is Here. I not sure if There is Here 'cause of Tikibada's special day, or he chose today because today is the day every year when There is Here. It's not that important either way, 'cause even if There is Here 'cause it's Tikibada's special day, he still might not be able to put There back There.

Also Momma needs her sleep. Mom and Momma told me once a long time ago that I need sleep to grow, but I watch Momma, and Momma needs sleep to heal. Not to heal things like scrapes and bumps and cuts and bruises, but deep things. I don't know the right words, and I sniffed that Momma didn't like me sniffing her for words, so I ask maybe when she wakes.

Sometimes, when she can't hear, I listen to Momma talk to herself. Momma is big and strong and tough, and she talks to herself to heal her self from things deeper than scrapes and bumps or cuts and bruises. Maybe if I talk to myself my self will get stronger too. Or maybe I'll turn silly, like Momma and Mom and Marie and their new friends. Siobhan is the silliest one of all, mostly, even though she can't be so silly now that she's got a baby growing in her belly. I thought that was weird when Momma told us, but then my new sisters came out of Marie's belly.

Maybe Momma's not so silly after all, if she was right about my new sisters. Maze and Ria both seem to think she's not silly, not so much any more. Then again, I think they might be turning silly too. Maybe it's a thing that happens to everyone when they turn grown up.

But no, that can't be. Ria's Mother Tallulah isn't silly. She does silly things with Momma, I think, and with Marie, I know, but I think she does them because Momma and Marie like them, not because she's silly.

Okay, that's enough talking to myself. There's trick or treating and guising to be done!

Okay, the guising is mostly done, at least the dressing up part. Marie helped us all pick out our guises, and made the cloth bits. Alex has a 'form like mine now, it even says Aetos-Diaz! Lindsey is guised as a tree woman; Maze called it a dryad. She's all covered up in leaves and bark. Ria dressed up as Momma, with a 'form that just says 'Diaz' and she dyed her hair all black and Shaped a Spell to make her eyes go like Momma's. Maze had Marie make her claws, and fangs, and Ria Shaped her Spell to make Maze's eyes red like the Nightmares. David had Marie make her a big poofy pink dress and a tiny shiny hat so she can be a princess. Diamond's guise is blocky and pointy and shiny and red, because she wanted to be a ruby.

The new sisters got guises too! Isadora got lazy, because she is Isadora and that's how Isadora is. Her guise is just a udder and a pair of horns, so she can be a cow. Anise wanted to be a Maenad like Marie, and was gonna rolled in flour to make her all white, but Marie is silly and said she had to wear a tiny white top and tiny white panties. I do not know why Anise did not like that very much, or why Marie insisted, but I told Anise that if she didn't wear the guise right she couldn't trick or treat, and wouldn't get candy, and she put them on. Then dove in the flour again to make herself all white.

Felicia did the same guise as Anise, because she is a little copycat so duh of course she did.

When Erato seed that Anise and Felicia's guises was just flour, she went in the stable and rolled in the dirt in Baby's room. When Marie asked her why, she said her guise was a potato. Sometimes my sisters are so weird, because before Marie could say no, Borysthenis said she wanted to be a carrot, and Garde decided to be an onion. Erato's guise is not really dirt. Marie sewed her a fluffy sweater and poofy pants, all brown with little spots like a potato. Borysthenis got skinny pants and big shoulders in orange, with a green feathery hat. Garde got a super poofy round white coat and pants and a skinny green hat.

Then they all went and rolled in the dirt to make their guises better. Mom was not happy, but Marie laughed. So did Siobhan.

Siobhan got all red when Hailee dressed up in her guise. She didn't make her hair or skin white like Siobhan's, but she wore a robe like Siobhan wears in the 'firmary. She even had a hat like Siobhan's. By the time we all had our 'guises on, the sun went down and Momma fell asleep.

Mom kisses her on the forehead like she does with us sometimes, then turns to where we all stand waiting. "Does everyone have their basket?" We all hold up the baskets Momma made for us. Mom nods, then asks, "what do we say when someone opens the door?"

Mom had told us something, and Tallulah said the same, but that was stupid, and we'd all 'greed. So we all yell, "Trick Or Treat!" as loud as we can.

Mom does not look happy, and she starts to say something, but Siobhan says, "I think that's exactly what Tabitha would want them to say. Don't you?"

Mom makes a face, then smiles and laughs. "So true. So, so true. Well then, lets..." She stops talking when I raise my hand like we do in school. "Yes, Isnomi?"

"We got one more!" I hold up the extra basket Momma made. Then I run over to the closet, because I know who Momma had made it for. I knock on the door inside the closet, because I am a Polite Big Girl and that's what Polite Big Girls do.

Tikibada slides the door aside and says, "sister Menace, to what do I owe the pleasure this fine evening?"

I hold up the extra basket. "Trick or Treat!"

All my sisters who followed me to the door shout, "Trick or Treat!"

It is very loud.

Tikibada hides his frown. "Well. Don't you all look lovely and scary and brave! Just a moment." He disappears into his Workshop. i do not step in, because I 'member how it feels wrong and bad. Instead I stand and listen to him while my sisters stand behind me, doing like I do. He pours his me on some things, and they hiss. Then he does it again, and they crackle. Then he shows up again with a big tray on his hand. "Here we go. One for each of our Heroes," he drops a candy each into Alex and Ria's baskets. "One for each of our Maenads," another each for Anise and Felicia. "One for the Princess and one for the Ruby. One each for the Potato, the Carrot, and the Onion." He pauses and looks at the others for a moment. "One for the Dryad, one for the Nightmare, one for the Cow, and one for," he pauses, smiles first at Siobhan, then at Hailee who holds her hand. "Our little Healer."

Then he turns to me and frowns just a little. He drops the last candy in his basket and asks, "and what are you this evening, sister Menace?"

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I roll my eyes, pour my candy from his basket to mine, then hold it up to him again. "No, Tikibada. Dis ith fow you."

I win. Because for the tiniest instant he doesn't hide. "But I don't have a costume."

"Das oh-tay. You scary anyway."

My sister murmurs agreement, and Tikibada takes his basket from me. "Then I shall surely accompany you this evening, sister Menace." I reach up to take his other hand, and he looks down at me. "Shouldn't you have your costume on, though?"

I sigh, because Mom said Loff's me was to scary, and I could not make the other mes I wanted work right. So I nod, and wrap Wuff's me around me. I bork loud, and Mom says, "Not so loud in the house, Isnomi.

My brother and sisters just laugh, and Tikibada says, "shall we be off, then?"

"Everyone hold hands," says Mom, and we all take someone's hand. Tikibada reaches down and takes my hand, and each of the other 'dults take two of my sisters by the hand. There are not enough 'dults, so Marie makes more Maries to make enough 'dults. Tikibada and I lead everyone to the Bore, then to the basement, then to the second floor of South House, where the 'partments are. We knock on the first door.

"Trick or Treat!"

The women in the first 'partment give us each a Treat, because they do not want tricks from Tikibada or me, because Mom has made sure there are not stupid people living in the Homestead.

At the second 'partment, there is a little boy Nick who lives with his mom. He looks at me, and I look at Mom. "Pardon, but would your son like to join us?"

His mom looks down, and Nick nods a lot. "I don't mind, but he doesn't have a costume." Nick pulls on his mom's hand, whispers in her ear. She frowns, then looks at Mom. "Can you wait a moment?"

"Of course."

His mom goes in their other room, and I hear snicker snack of scissors. I know scissor sounds, because Marie is best with scissors, even if she only needs them for fiddly bits. When she comes back, she has two bits of white cloth. She pulls one over Nick's head, and he sticks his arms through two holes. "I am a ghost! Woo!"

"If you're sure?" Nick's mom asks again, handing him a white cloth sack.

"We'll bring him back safe and sound, never fear." Mom leans in and whispers in Nick's mom's ear.

Nick's mom smiles a silly smile, then gives Nick A Look. "You be good for the Lady now, Nicholas."

"I will!" Then Nick is with us, and we go to the next door.

By the time we leave South House for North House, there are eight more in my pack, four with guises like Nick's that they made up on the spot. The other four are bigger, and a little silly, but Ria and Maze say they should come along, so they come along. Two more Moms come along too, so there are maybe not quite enough Moms, but our pack is big now, crowding the hallway.

North House does not have any kids, and most of the 'dults in North House have their own 'partments. Some do not open when I knock. Then Tikibada knocks, and they open up and give us all treats. Momma's old porta-jay Mackenzie doesn't give us candy or cake, instead she has little bracelets made of beads and string for us. I'm not sure, but Tikibada smiles and nods, and I am not going to be Less Polite than Tikibada, so I smile and nod and woof thanks.

Then we come to a door where, when Tikibada knocks, someone growls and shouts out some 'dult words. Mom hisses, but Tikibada says, "may I, Mom?"

She nods, and he turns the door handle. The door handles are not supposed to turn that way. It makes a crunchy sound, and Mom asks, "should I even ask?"

Tikibada smiles and says, "if Hero O'Brien didn't want to remain in his room until the Holy Day is over, he ought have answered his door."

"Fair."

Then we are done North House, and Mom turns to me, "ready to head home?"

I shake my head and turn to Marie. Lancaster House.

Marie grins, Mom rolls her eyes. "Really?"

Marie nodded. "Tabitha's Plan."

Mom looks at her. "Tabitha told you of some plan for today?" Marie just shrugs and grins. Mom shakes her head. "Is everyone ready?"

We all cheer, and more Maries arrive. We jump to Lancaster House, right in front of Lucas' room, that he shares with his parents.

I knock, and after some footsteps, Lucas' dad answers. "Oh, Goddess. Bonnie, you simply must come see this!"

A few moments later, Lucas' mom carries him into the room. He's sucking on her like babies do, because he's mostly still a baby. He looks up and smiles at us though, and I wave at him. "Trick or Treat!"

Lucas looks startled by the noise, but he is what Momma would call a trooper and does not cry. Lucas' Mom says, "well, now we know why Tabitha delivered those."

Lucas' dad smiles. "I did not think Tabitha would embrace any of the old traditions, but I shouldn't be surprised this is the one she chose." Then he looked around. "Where is she, by the way?"

Mom steps forward before I can answer. "Doing what she needs to do that the little ones can have this."

Which I do not really understand, but Mom wouldn't lie to Lucas' dad, so I guess it must be true. "Well then, let's see what we can do." He opens a box beside the door and pulls out treat after treat, one for each of the kids in my pack. When we are done, Marie steps forward, holding out one more orange basket. Larry's dad reaches for the box again, but Marie makes a noise, shakes her head, then nods toward Lucas. He frowns, but turns to Lucas' mom. "I don't know..."

Lucas' mom does the smart thing and looks at me. "What do you think, Isnomi? Should Lucas join your merry band?"

"Yes!" I am not the only one who shouts, and Lucas jumps again, but laughs when Marie hands him the basket. He clutches it with pudgy little hands, and Lucas' mom sighs, hands Lucas to Stheno, then says, "give me a moment to get into something warmer. Coming, dear?"

Lucas' dad follows her into their bedroom, and Euryale sits up from the couch and looks at Marie. Marie smiles, shakes her head, and says, "green." A few minutes later, when Lucas' mom and dad come out of their bedroom in warm clothes, Lucas is covered in green loopy vines like the plant pumpkins grow on; I seen one at Grandmother's village when we visited. I do not know why people want to dress up like plants, but my sisters aren't the only ones now.

We go through all of Lancaster House, both sides and the back, and more kids join us. More moms and dads, too, including Liam and his dad. Liam puts on his 'form, and says he's a Hero too, which I guess is okay for now, since two of my sisters are dressed like that too.

Mom looks at me when we're done. I stare up, expectantly, until she sighs and says, "where to next, my little wolf?"

I howl in joy. Grandma's house!

All the Maenads at Grandma's house join us, and bring their babies along. Some of them aren't so baby any more. It's cold out tonight, but we all huddle together, tromping the snow flat and moving like a herd of sheeps, the 'dults on the outside keeping us warm.

When we get to Drivers', and Mrs. Driver sees us, she is Very Loud. I'm not sure that chocolate cake will last in the basket, so I try to eat mine, but Mom gives me A Look, so I take one bite and put the rest in my basket, which is getting full.

There are other kids out on the streets here, most in groups like ours, with 'dults walking with them. All of them converge on Drivers', and Mrs. Driver is Very Loud when she sees each new group. She was loudest with ours, though, and we were first.

Mom sighs, smiling. Marie just looks at me and asks, "Where, Scamp?"

I think. I don't know if others have started, but some of my sisters look tired. Also, my basket is almost full. One more stop. "Nysus!"

I might have warned Diana. When we knock on the door, she has treats all ready to hand out. Her brother hands out little brown bottles. Mom frowns, but he smiles at her and hands her a very big clear bottle.

Our baskets are full. I look at Mom. "Home?"

"Are you certain?"

I nod, and she turns to Marie. "Let's be off home then."

They take us all to the Courtyard. I shout, "c'mon!" and lead my pack through the Dining Room, up the Bore, and back to the Bedroom. As they follow me, Marie thinks, Scamp?

Momma needs us to... Keep her warm.

Parents?

Guess rooms.

Marie sighs at me, but the 'dults all go to guess rooms, and my pack and I, my sisters and all our friends from South House and Lancaster House, pile in around Momma.

I've never seen the bed full before. I draw the curtains, and we all snuggle in and go to sleep, still in our costumes, bags and baskets of treats clutched to us.

I eat my cake first though.

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