Part 27 (2/2)

”That about sums it up.”

Thirty-eight.

It's always the badly dressed people who are the most interesting.

-JEAN PAUL GAULTIER.

Scarecrows, scarecrows everywhere.

On contest day, three days before my grand opening, I dressed like a cliche: baggy black jeans with a few bright, temporary patches. A white, pirate-type blouse, and a long voluminous, silk scarf in bright Pucci colors. With them, I wore my Jack de La Rose patchwork spikes and, close to my shoulder, the matching bag.

Once people started arriving, I got so busy I had to lock the bag beneath my checkout counter, wrap the scarf around my neck twice, and let the ends riff in the autumn breeze.

For several hours, I couldn't keep track of anyone, while my parking lot bustled with people, not cars, and scarecrows kept multiplying.

”You look like you're freezing,” Eve said, as she handed me a hot caramel latte.

”A little bit.” I s.h.i.+vered and warmed my hands on the cup. ”Your hair is black,” I said, ”but so is your lipstick. You rarely wear lipstick. And what's with the eye makeup? I like.”

”You're dressed as a scarecrow,” Eve said. ”I'm dressed as a Goth. Costume seemed appropriate.”

”You didn't have far to go.”

She gave me a hand-on-her-hip pose. ”Neither did you.”

I chuckled and s.h.i.+vered.

Eve wrapped the scarf around my neck one more time. ”Would it kill the outfit for you to get warm?”

”I'm going in to see if I can find a jacket.”

”You will,” she called after me. ”You have hundreds.”

”A coordinating jacket,” I admitted.

Eve's laughter followed me inside.

”How are you doing, Aunt Fiona?” I asked as I searched the racks and she put more of my vintage collection on hangers.

”Trying to do my bit while guarding the place,” she said. ”The cabinet looks as good as new. You can't even see the ax slash in the top.”

”Dante protected it,” I whispered. ”He said when the blow from the ax knocked it over, he used his energy to lower it slowly to the floor. That's why not even the gla.s.s in the doors or shelves cracked.”

”Did he see who threw the ax?”

”Yes, somebody wearing a baggy black leather jumpsuit with a skeleton painted on it, mask, toque, and all, except that he saw red curls sticking out the bottom of the hat as she turned and ran.”

”She?”

”Since it's a skeleton, I thought for sure it was Vinney, until Dante mentioned the red curls. It was Lolique.”

”Did you tell Werner?”

”Sure. I told him my ghost saw her.”

”Oh, right.”

”Be careful around her,” Aunt Fiona said. ”I'm glad Dante saved your cabinet.”

I put on a red suede peplum jacket, pulled my blouse ruffles out at the sleeves, and checked the look in my three-way mirror. All I need, I thought, is an eye patch.

”Not bad,” Aunt Fiona said. ”Say 'argh.' ”

I grabbed a pair of red leather gloves. ”I do look rather piratical, don't I? Though I don't think, strictly speaking, that pirates wore red or colorful patches.”

”You look adorable, as always,” she said, smoothing the back of my jacket.

Sherry came in and kissed my cheek. ”Sorry we're late.”

”Only a little. Everyone waited till the last minute to set up, though they should be done by now.” I checked my watch. ”The judges should be arriving shortly. Dad put two tables outside. All you and Justin have to do is keep them stocked with punch and treats.”

Sherry made a face. ”I haven't opened the boxes, yet, and the smell of the treats is getting to me.”

”Why? Are you sick?”

Justin kissed my sister's cheek. ”Only in the mornings.” He grinned.

I screamed with delight as Lolique and McDowell walked in trailing a cameraman from the local cable channel, who started filming the hug fest.

I waved my hand in front of the cameras. ”No, no, no. You're filming the flower before it blooms. Come back for my grand opening, all of you, on Halloween.”

McDowell leaned close, which the cameras caught. ”Guess I'm not the only publicity hound in the area,” he whispered, while it looked like he kissed my cheek.

I had to fake a smile to keep from shuddering.

”We got you a local news spot, and I'm your ace reporter for the day,” Lolique said. ”You can thank us later.” Then she threw some probing questions my way. But I had no intention of going live with an interview. ”Let's go see the scarecrows,” I suggested for the cameras, feeling stupid, like a reality show host with something amazing in store.

Outside, we'd set up a riser with a podium. There, I gave McDowell a microphone, fool that I am, so he could talk about his favorite subject: McDowell.

While my family set up refreshments, Eve and I took a walk through scarecrow heaven. Local shops had entered to advertise. Smart marketing for them. Good publicity for me. We admired angel scarecrows, a pizza man, witches, devils, punk, Goth, and a rock star with a guitar, every kind of scarecrow I never imagined.

”Mr. and Mrs. Councilman are going to have a hard time choosing,” I said.

”What the heck is the councilman's first name?” Eve asked. ”Besides Schlub and Old Goat?”

<script>