Archive of Our Own ^beta

Sid tumbled down the stairs bleary eyed and grumpy, it was yet another school day, and he was getting rather fed up of having to go to school every week day, and extra Catechism classes on Sunday. He was somewhat surprised to find the kitchen was decorated with brightly coloured streamers.
“Whats going on?” he asked sitting down at the table.
“Its my Birthday” Beth giggled “and Halloween”
“Oh” he nodded “never celebrated a birthday, do we get cake for breakfast?”
“NO!” she giggled “but we can have a party later, and go out guising with the Kings, Mrs M said” she looked round “didn’t you Mrs M?”
“Yes, if you’re good, the King children can come round and we can have some cake, and then you can go out guising, I’ve spoken to Mrs King” she put toast in front of them and Sid dived for the jam.
“Whats guising?”
“Its mischief” Beth told him “Glad was telling me all about it, you knock on doors dressed like evil creatures and scare people and they give you treats to go away”
“And why am I just hearing about this now?” Sid laughed
“It's only one day a year Sidney” Mrs McCarthy warned “All Hallows Eve, the night when the veil is thinnest, and remember those we love who have gone on to heaven”.
“Oh”
“We can light candles for your parents later” she said gently “so they know you remember them”.
“Thanks Mrs M” Beth smiled and snaffled her toast then looked at Sid “are you alright?”
“Yeah” he shrugged “not sure my Dad is in heaven, or my Mum for that, but I’ll light a candle”
“I’m sorry” she whispered
“Nah it's alright” he laughed “but Mrs M this cake?” he asked “like in the books with candles and stuff?”
“Yes Sidney”
“Mrs M? Can I have one?”

In the playground of St Pauls Primary at lunchtime the children had been allowed to take card and coloured pencils and scissors and string and make their masks for the night's revels. Beth had been sitting with the other girls in their class during their meal, but came and sat beside Sid on the playground floor as he coloured.
“What is it?” she asked
“A demon?” he shrugged “I dunno, is it scary?” he asked
“Hmm? Not really?” she admitted “he's smiling, it's sort of nice?”
“Well yeah, he’s enjoying himself, scaring people?” he laughed “lets look at yours” she passed it over and he gave her a curious look “what the hell is that?”
“It's a Rakshasa” she told him “they are like demons, they eat people and practice magic” she smiled happily at her mask.
“Is it blue? And it has a button nose?” he laughed
“She’s got fangs” Beth took the mask back and put it over her face “and I can’t make the eyes red or I won’t be able to see?”
“Fair enough I suppose, you haven’t told me about them yet?” he laughed, in the 8 weeks since he’d come to live in Kembleford she had told him all sorts of stories of her home, and lots of the stories her Ayah had told her, he liked listening to her, she would put on different voices for each character and throw herself into acting them.
“Oh maybe later? Have I told you the one about the Golden Deer?” she asked
“Nope” he shook his head “are there warriors in it?”
“Of course” she grinned
“Great” he smirked. “It's pretty” he told her “your mask”.
“Thanks Sid”.

The official line from the British Government was that children shouldn’t be allowed go guising because of the blackout, so St Pauls had closed an hour early so the children could still celebrate. No candles were allowed in the graveyard this year, so just after 2pm Father Brown held a memorial in the Graveyard, and then the Kings came back to the Presbytery for cake.
Sid had never actually seen a real birthday cake before, he couldn’t take his eyes from the pink frosting and the dripping brightly coloured candles. When Beth blew out the candles and everyone shouted “make a wish” Sid made one as well, he wanted a birthday cake.

Mrs McCarthy checked that the children all had a containers to keep their swag in, the little girls had shopping baskets and the boys various pails, and then with capes made of bedsheets and towels, and their card masks, the children went out into the lane to join their peers. Some houses had carved turnips and swedes in the windows and some had chalk on their doorstep.
“Oh it's like Rangoli” Beth squeaked, grabbing Sid’s hand “isn’t it lovely?”
“I don’t know, I've never seen Rangoli apart from the ones you draw?” he smirked “I bet it's better if you do this in the dark?”
“Oh yes” Beth nodded “maybe when the war is over” she told him “we could come out with candles then”
“And cause mischief” Sid grinned wickedly.

Sitting on the floor of the parlour sharing out their treats Sid and Beth grinned, “do you think if we went out again with different masks we’d get more?” Sid asked
“Probably but its too late, the ARP will be out” Beth whispered “I think this might have been the best birthday of my life”
“Yeah pretty good day hey?” Sid agreed
“It's Christmas soon” she grinned “imagine Christmas?”
“Do we dress up at Christmas?” Sid asked, tipping his head to one side to try and fit a caramelized apple in.
“Theres a nativity play at school, and one in the church” she nodded “I want to be an angel”
“Typecast” Sid snorted
“Maybe you could be a wise man?” she asked all wide eyed
“Knowing my luck, I’m going to be the donkey” he shrugged “I’ll get more apples though, so not all bad”.