Green Lomb School Part 4
The last days of October were fast approaching and Halloween was fast approaching. Along with Christmas, it was the children's favourite holiday, as there was plenty of fun to be had.
They started planning weeks, months in advance what costume to wear. Everybody was trying to come up with a special, unique idea.
It was a tradition to keep it a secret until the last minute, not even telling your best friend what you had gossiped about. Family members, of course, were an exception to this, as they helped each other make the costumes.
Mukó worked with his eldest sister Kimu and their mother. They started with the little ones' dresses, leaving the two older girls for last.
The mushroom, butterfly and grasshopper dresses were ready and waiting for their little owners. Kimu wanted to be really scary, so she decided on the wolf. His costume was just waiting for the finishing touches.
Mukó had previously planned to become Vaddi's mother, but changed her mind at the last minute. He was a bit worried about what his mother would say, as everything was already set up and ready to go.
- Mommy! - he called out to her timidly. - 'Would it be too bad if I didn't dress up as Mother Vaddi?
- What are you up to, cricket? - her mother smiled knowingly.
- Well... I would love to be a Bear! - the little girl said.
His mum stroked his bush.
- I knew you would, baby.
- But what made you think that? - Muko was amazed.
- I know how much you love Maci. I can see you're still sad about having to part with him. I thought you might want to commemorate him with your costume.
- So can I be him? - Muko's eyes lit up.
- Of course, my little one. I've already secretly prepared a few things for him," her mother whispered with a conspiratorial squint.
- "Hurray!", Muko jumped into his neck with joy. "Thank you very much!
- You are welcome! - We'll make the costume tomorrow.
For the next three days, Mukó could hardly contain himself. He really wanted to at least let Hudo in on the secret, but he didn't want to spoil the surprise. It was so much fun to guess which of their friends was hiding under each masquerade.
On Halloween day, Aunt Zike let them go a little early.
- Have fun, kids! I'm curious to see what kind of creatures are knocking on my door today. Whoever they are, I'm sure I'll be able to treat them to a treat of their choice," he winked mischievously.
The little ones came out of the door shouting loudly. Everyone rushed to get ready to go home.
As they had to travel long distances, it was customary to start in the early afternoon. They went from hole to hole in groups, usually one class in a team.
The third graders had already arranged well in advance where and when the meeting would take place.
Mukó was sitting on pins and needles waiting to go. As soon as he got home, he put on his costume and paced around in it.
- 'Have a few bites, sweetheart,' said his mum. - You'll be home late, you'll be hungry, like a bear waking up from hibernation.
Muko had a hard time swallowing a few spoonfuls of peanut soup and half a fried tofu.
- All right, off you go," her mother said resignedly.
Muko bounced out of the chair as if there was a spring under her bum, and off she went.
- Bye, Mommy, I'll be back! - she called back, and she was gone.
Carefully - and a bit awkwardly, because of the costume - she jumped from branch to branch, trying to stay in the cover of the leaves. He didn't want anyone to see him before he was ready.
He arrived a little early at the meeting place, the Silky Meadow near the school. But she wasn't the first, Aunt Zike was already there. "Aunt Zike???? What is she doing here? Is something wrong? Wait a minute! She's much taller than that! You're so silly, Muko! It must be one of your friends dressed as Aunt Zike," he chuckled at the end of the monologue, which he had lost in thought.
He ran to his classmate and they waved to each other. It was part of the game: until they found out which of them was hiding which costume, they didn't speak. If necessary, they tried to make their voices as different as possible.
They didn't wait long alone, and one by one the others appeared. First came a woodpecker, then... Oh, another Aunt Zike! And then... Oh, no! A man in a Yogi costume. Then another and another.
In the end there were five bears, four Aunt Zikes, a woodpecker, a dandelion and an unidentifiable but very scary creature, all pacing around the clearing. For long minutes they stared at each other, speechless, and then one of the bears started to giggle. It giggled louder and louder, barely able to breathe. First he doubled over, then he threw himself on the ground and held his belly with his wings disguised as paws, laughing.
- Oh, I can't stand it! - gasped Hawk, who had even forgotten that he was not supposed to speak.
Then the others started to giggle. They rolled on the ground, bumping into each other, tears streaming from their eyes.
So their identity was quickly revealed, but there was little point in keeping it a secret. The dandelion was Nüsi, and the woodpecker was Pocka, who admitted with a wink that he wanted to be Yogi too, but his mother couldn't make the new costume in time.
Nyeti was a fearsome, unknown creature with huge claws and teeth.
- Who would you be? - Rabbit asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
- Who else but Korkó? How can you not recognize me? I'm about to give you a good one! - cried Bunny in a snarling, deepened voice, and started threateningly towards Rabbit. The "prey" ran screaming from him, which eventually turned into a huge chase and wrestling match.
When they had calmed down, they put their clothes in order and set off for Aunt Zike's home.
Their teacher lived in a charming cottage surrounded by bushes, with a dragonfly-shaped knocker on the door. Muko took hold of its wing and knocked.
Aunt Zike opened the door with a smile, but when she saw the small group, her eyes widened.
- Um... You two are talking? - she asked in a strangely squeaky voice.
- "You can laugh," said Hawk, laughing cheerfully, "We did the same when we saw each other.
Aunt Zike tried hard, but finally she just burst out laughing.
- Well, I've never seen anything like it! - he chuckled, covering his mouth with his hoof. Then, in a more serious tone, he said:
- You know, you made me very happy. I am honoured that so many of you chose me. I'm sure Maci would feel the same way if she knew what happened.
- Maybe one day we can tell him about it," said Muko wistfully.
- I really hope so too! - Aunt Zike replied. Then she took a big basket from the door and gave everyone a goody bag.
The children politely thanked him for the gift and said their goodbyes, as there were many places to go. Aunt Zike waved them off with a smile.
The team visited everyone in turn: Mother Wild, Uncle Sakra, Father Bolyga - no one was left out. They were a huge success everywhere. No wonder, they even played on the funny situation. By the end, they were so into their antics that they even managed to make the always grumpy Aunt Rye laugh.
They received so many packages that they could hardly cope.
- Next year we should dress up in identical costumes - suggested Sűlyke.
- Well, if not in the same way, then in a matching way," countered Nyéti.
- "Not a bad idea," Hudo scratched his chin in a gesture borrowed from his dad, "Luckily, we still have plenty of time to think about it.
Little by little, the team members dropped off and everyone headed home. They were happy to recall the day's events, but the seeds of next year's plans were already sprouting in their minds...
